New Flesh - Universally Dirty

Cherry-picking from ragga and dancehall, grime, hip-hop, soca and funk, producer Part 2 has crafted an inspiring LP that shows just how far UK urban music has come since New Flesh's last LP, 'Understanding'. Dirty dancehall themes dominate Backyard and Home Movie. The classical strings, fuzzy guitar and tight subs of Wherever We Go are simply sublime: one of the finest hip-hop tunes to come from the Big Dada stable. Juice Aleem and Toaster bounce off each other like inversely charged electrons, ripping into each other's rhythms and cadences with gusto. Elsewhere the frankly bizarre Chocolate Bubbles is a stunning flight of lyrical fancy from Aleem, who is on fire throughout - proving he is one of the best MCs in the UK. Toaster's infectious chatter dominates Don't Look Now and LSK guests on the tripped out dub of Trouble. Deeply experimental, rhythmically heavy, lyrically astounding, 'Universally Dirty' is a brilliant fusion of carnival beats, dancefloor darkness and lyrical innovation. [Bram Gieben]