Old Skool hip hop beats by from one of the best hip hop producers in the UK and Verb T. It’s one in the eye for the toxic sound-byte culture of contemporary politics (remember, as Billy Bragg said at Wychwood last week, Cameron’ll always be a Tory). As the vocal sample says at the end of ‘Delusion’, “which one is best? The puppet on the right or the puppet on the left?” ‘Bring It Back’ is the current single off the album and it has been played by 1xtra’s Ras Kwame and Semtex. The video is currently featured on their myspace site (see links below) and is well worth a look.

But can they keep up the standard over 16 tracks? Well, they do start with some of the best tracks, the psychotic jazz chill of ‘4:30 am’ and the next single ‘Chaos (We Came Here)’ with angelic backing vocals by Rosie.

By the time ‘Dreaming’ begins, it’s feelin’ a bit one-paced, along with the deep ‘Behind Ur Eyes’ (featuring Yungun with some excellent bass and strings). The message of ‘Fairytales’ is so relevant at the moment in terms of Big Brother fame emptiness (who gives a **** about Shahbaz and Dawn now?)

The various film/TV sound clips at the end of some of the tracks act as a lead-in to the next ones but I’m not sure that they add very much but the guest appearances work well, especially Karizma’s non-London accent features on ‘Not Enuff Hours’, Red, Ramson, Badbonez and Jehst on ‘Equal Portions’ help by adding further variety.

Kyza joins in on the Japanese garden inspired ‘Condor’ with big brass in the mix (but it’s rude and mentions blades! Is this what Cameron is on about?) The language gets choice towards the end on ‘Run Amok’, ‘Get Dis Happnin’ and ‘Makin’ It’.

Mr. Love produced ‘It’s Murda’ on the album The Sagas Of Klashnekoff and if you’re a fan of Klashnekoff, this is an album for you.

It might be basic British Hip Hop but it’s none the worse for it.

Hectic Mix Nomination - The ‘jazzier’ ‘Makin’ It’ and ‘Back 2 Basics Outro’

Reviewed: Verb T & Harry Love - Bring It Back To Basics (Medication / Silent Soundz) CD / Double Vinyl LP Release Date: 12th June 2006
01. Bring It Back (1:05)
02. Action (3:04)
03. Delusion (4:50)
04. Chaos (We Came Here) feat. Rosie (4:05)
05. Not Enuf Hours… feat. Karizma (3:49)
06. 4.30 am (4:33)
07. Dreaming (3:02)
08. Behind Ur Eyes feat. Yungun (3:43)
09. Fairytales (3:36)
10. The Overdose (3:58)
11. Equal Portions feat. Red, Ramson Badbonez & Jehst (4:29)
12. Condor feat. Kyza (4:14)
13. Run Amuk (3:19)
14. Get Dis Happnin (2:59)
15. Makin’ It (4:31)
16. Back 2 Basics Outro (1:08)

Links:
www.myspace.com/verbtandharrylove
www.myspace.com/harrylove4medicinalpurposes
www.myspace.com/verbt
www.silentsoundz.com
Cameron attacks Radio 1’s hip-hop