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Reasons to be Cheerful
‘I DON'T EXPECT ‘ ANYTHING. LET THE FUTURE DO ITS THING'
The quality and validity debate over UK hip hop trundles on, but Roots Manuva continues to stride ahead at his own languorous pace. Doug Johnstone keeps up
he likes of Dizzee Rascal and Mike Skinner
might have higher profiles but there's only one
true king of British rap music and that‘s Roots Manuva. London-based Rodney Smith has continued to amaze and delight with his idiosyncratic and original take on hip hop ever since his groundbreaking debut album. Brand New Second Hand. in l99‘).
His new album. Slime and Reason. is as compelling and diverse as anything he's done — his flights of lyrical fancy and musical ingenuity the match of anyone in the genre today — but it almost didn’t happen.
‘I booked into this posh residential studio in Yorkshire with six double bedrooms. a jacuzzi outside and massive gardens.’ he drawls. ‘l was there for six weeks and I didn‘t do anything. just chilled out.‘
It was only on a return home to ‘get my London head on. that his creativity flooded back. and the result is a
record which blends his tendency to laugh at himself and the world with the more intense soul searching of
2005‘s Air/idly Deep.
‘I wanted to push the templates of gospel. dancehall and dub.‘ he says. 'I wanted to have a kind of cheerful weeping and wailing going through it. 1 was trying to rip off old American negro spirituals. twisting gospel hymns inside out. trying to create a sweet melancholy. l‘lalfway high. halfway to nowhere. coming up on some class As. coming down on cheap weed.’
()pener ‘Again and Again‘ is a fantastic reggae dancehall romp. reminiscent of the classic Studio One sound from Jamaica. while elsewhere there is everything frotn lo-li funk to homemade R&B. fucked- up gospel to ragga and electropop. As per usual
82 THE LIST 2" it} Oct 2008
Manuva hauled in various low-key collaborators. this time young producers Toddla T and Metronomy.
‘lt's so easy for me to be non-committal to my own ideas.‘ he admits. ‘When I’m working by myself. just
me and my laptop. I end up having ten million half
ideas. It‘s a lot more grounding to work with other people. it‘s easier to reach a happy conclusion.’
Manuva has never rested on his laurels in the live arena either. He always likes to mix things up. and past tours have seen him delivering everything from NYC- style MC parties to full-band rock outs.
‘I don't think I've fully been able to do the proper show I hear inside my head.’ he says. ‘But I still manage to present a relevant mutation of the recording to the live audience.‘
Slime and Rmson’s vintage Jamaican vibe suggested something else again. ‘This time it‘s more of a soundsystem thing with musical elements over the top.‘ he says. 'We‘ve got a few horns. keyboards. special effects and rearrangements but it's all stripped down in an effort to be true to the record.’
Manuva‘s creative energy and inventiveness will no doubt see many more quality albums in years to come. but don‘t expect him to predict the future.
‘I don't even know where I am this weekend let along in live years.‘ he laughs. ‘lt would be nice to make a film. curate my own festival. but these are wild pipe dreams. I don’t expect anything. Let the future do its thing.‘
Liquid Room, Edinburgh, Wed 8 Oct; Arches, Glasgow, Thu 9 Oct.
www.|ist.co.uk/music
LIST
THE BEST ROCK, POP, JAZZ & FOLK
* Claire Teal Join the former BBC jazz vocalist of the year as she swoons and croons the night away. Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh, Fri 70 Oct. (Jazz)
51¢ The Scottish Mental Health Arts and Film Festival Music is only one part of this excellent series including two special collaborative concerts at ABC. See preview, page 29. Various venues, Glasgow, Wed 7 Sun 79 Oct. (Rock & Pop)
* Ladyhawke The Kiwi electro artist, not the Canadian indie-rockers, working her magic with 808 synths and big pop choruses. See preview, page 64. A802, Glasgow, Thu 2 Oct. (Rock & Pop)
5% White Lies The trio of West London youngsters, formerly known as Fear of Flying do their post-punk thing. See preview, page 63. King Tut’s, Glasgow, Fri 3 Oct. (Rock 8 Pop)
Bic Danananaykroyd Fast and furious punk—tinged angle grinder pop noise. Yay! Cabaret Voltaire, Edinburgh, Sat 4 Oct. (Rock 8. Pop)
*1 Tlndersticks More melancholic orchestral magic from these charming men. City Hal/s, Glasgow, Sun 5 Oct. (Rock 8. Pop)
35!! Roots Manuva See preview, left. Liquid Room, Edinburgh, Wed 8 Oct; Arches, Glasgow, Thu 9 Oct. (Flock 8 Pop)
* James Pants This funk, rap and electro lover started off as a Peanut Butter Wolf fan and ended up signed to his roster. See preview, page 63. Voodoo Rooms, Edinburgh, Thu 9 Oct. (Rock & Pop)
at: Stacey Earle Alt.country singer and Steve Earle's sister will be mixing up Americana, country and folk. Pleasance Cabaret Bar, Edinburgh, Fri 10 Oct. (Rock & Pop, Folk)
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