Roots Manuva – Banana Skank EP

The Banana Skank EP is a departure for Rodders, with two of the four tracks comprised of raps by Smith and collaborator Kope over four-to-the-floor beats. The standout track is the dark-edged, bass-driven Banana Skank Part 2, which satisfyingly answers the question: 'What if Roots Manuva did a Wiley?'

Unlike labelmate Wiley's more champagne-and-naked-chicks-oriented dancefloor anthems, the Roots Manuva house track is a sinister, post-grime workout, with Smith rapping in a downbeat, almost menacing tone: “Sweet bitterness moves me now...” It's impressive, and he pulls it off.

The original Banana Skank is also given a rather jaunty house re-rub by remixer WAFA – it's not really a patch on the dub-flavoured original. On either side of these dancefloor cuts, Kope and Manuva rap over some dark, dubbed-out digital beats on the icy Natural, and Party Time. A welcome and intriguing move, which bodes well for his upcoming sixth album.