Roots Manuva, Soul Biscuits, Cabaret Voltaire, Edinburgh, Sept 22

Roots Manuva is one of the most prolific figures in British Hip Hop and the significance of his visit to Edinburgh could be felt amongst the anxious sea of bodies that crammed into a hot and sweaty Cabaret Voltaire. MC Profisee and various DJs and live acts must have found it easy with a captive and highly charged audience, whom they taunted with the likes of Wu Tang Clan classics and other such immortal favourites prior to the main event. Roots Manuva's DJ set began with upbeat dancehall grooves but driven by the crowd it wasn't long before the tune selection turned to his own back catalogue and boy, did it go down well. The obvious highlight was when Witness the Fitness dropped and the dancefloor mob lurched, sprawled and bounced franticly at Manuva's familiar opus. The night was closed by Eddie Temple Morris whose only means to keep the crowds attention was express line Drum and Bass. A hot, highly entertaining and very literally underground night. [Jonny Ogg]