Released January 31st

Released on: Digital

Riz MC is also known as Riz Ahmed, a rapper turned actor who has appeared in Dead Set and Four Lions. I loved the hell out of Dead Set, further proof that Charlie Brooker can do no wrong. It’s not his fault that 10 O’Clock Live is so awful; I lay the blame squarely at the feet of Lauren ‘Laughaminute? More like Laughableedingcentury. YOU SUCK!’ Laverne. Unlike that show, Riz MC has lyrics that are clever, witty, poignant, and accurate, over beats that are mostly impressive.

Album opener Radar is a great introduction. Electro breaks, dense bass, astute lyrics, a memorable chorus. People Like People is even better. Lyrics such as people like rockstars that do smack, singers that get trashed and models that might snap. People like boys with a Kate Moss face, girls with no tits and kids with no faith” followed by “people like people to be mixed race” are just bang on the money. Riz displays an intelligence that is far above the stereotypical grime track.

Not that there aren’t grime tracks here. “Don’t Sleep” tells the story of a particularly eventful weekend, full of drink, drugs, and violence, over what is probably the best backing on the album. “Dark Hearts” (my apologies, but no music video should ever try and imitate Blade Runner) and “Hundreds And Thousands” are also grimetastic, but the beats aren’t quite as strong. The album can be divided in two, with the tracks produced by Redinho being the dirtier side of things, as Lazersonic brings the more refined sound, and it is his produced tracks that are the more impressive, in particular the understated “All Of You”.

However, the best is saved till last. “Sour Times” is a masterful and evocative display of emotion and anger in reference to how Islam is seen in post 7/7 society, over a truly stirring classical guitar and violin score. It’s absolutely enthralling, I can’t speak highly enough of it, and for me it’s already one of the songs of the year. It’s a superb finale to an album that delivers for the majority, but not quite the full amount. Definitely a case of “don’t give up the day job” for Riz.

8/10

Posted In Album Reviews, Feb 09 2011. Words - Paul