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Since his killer track, ‘Sound Tape Killin’, the production on Roots Manuva’s album Slime & Reason, his appearance at the Big Chill last year and the TT & Herve single release ‘Shake It’ (see separate review HERE), it’s be fair to say that I’ve been looking forward to getting Skanky Skanky.

Toddla T (aka Tom Bell) first hit our consciousness a couple of years ago with the single ‘Do U Know’ and ever since, he’s been the almost as busy as Herve on thee remix circuit; Tricky’s ‘Council Estate’, Ben Esser (who got a go on ‘Go Then, Bye’) and many more.

As you might guess from the cover, TT is from Sheffield, aka Steel City and home of the Artic’s and it’s on first track, ‘Boom DJ From The Steel City’ with Monkey mate Matt Helders adding his stick power to the event (Helders did a remix of Manuva’s ‘Again & Again’)

In fact, all Toddla’s regular side kicks are here, Serocee, Mr. Versatile, Roots Manuva and a load of other guests including Benjamin Zephaniah! (I said he was everywhere, see Speech Debelle); as a Brummie side note, Zephaniah is a Villa fan, could Serocee be a blue nose if he’s from Small Heath?

Serocee features on all the best tracks on the album, the Manuvaesque ‘Manadadman’, the last single ‘Shake It’ and ‘Sound Tape Killin’ which is still one of the best bass heavy bomba clot tunes going.

‘Rice & Peas’ is like a light weight Roots Manuva meets Mr. Scruff, “pull up the portion” of a cornish pasty. Talking of comedy, the many spoken intros don’t work for me like ‘Butter Me Up’ but the vocal of Siobhan Gallagher and rap of Tinchy Stryder is one of the deeper dark tracks. On her second track, ‘Sunny Money’, Manuva takes charge in a high speed race down to the M1 to South London dancehall smoke as an ode to the last days of cheap money.

Apparently Mr Versatile has had a previous career as a R&B singer, before he became Mr Versatile but his high pitch ranting are not to everyone’s taste, ‘Road Trip’, ‘No Kip’ and Mr. Stryder save’s ‘Safe’ but it’s worth waiting for ‘Where Mi Key Deh?’ when he seems to come into his own (on his own).

In total contrast to ‘Shake It’, ‘Rebel’ featuring Benjamin Zephaniah and Joe ‘Hot Chip and ‘Forget My Name’ Goddard is almost gospel in comparison and is a bit of an odd one.

The track Gilles Peterson played the other week, ‘Better’ (featuring Jason Lee Bailey & Helders) ends the album on a soulful R&B high and whilst 14 tracks on a debut album might be a couple too far, Skanky Skanky is definitely more good than bad and if you’re after some tune for dancing feet ‘Goin’ Off’ stylee, Toddla is the only T you need.

It’s a winner as someone might say.

Reviewed: Toddla T - Skanky Skanky (1965 Records) Cat. No. 88697 518382 Release date: 25th May 2009
01 Boom DJ From The Steel City feat. Trigganom & Helders (3:29)
02 Coin Off feat. Roots Manuva, Serocee & Shake Alletti (3:36)
03 Rice & Peas feat. Mr Versatile (3:44)
04 Butter Me Up feat. Siobhan Gallagher & Tinchy Stryder (3:26)
05 Manabadman feat. Serocee (3:04)
06 Safe feat. Tinchy Stryder & Mr Versatile (2:43)
07 Sound Tape Killin’ feat Serocee (3:09)
08 Road Trip feat. T Willy & Mr Versatile (3:24)
09 Shake It feat. Herve & Serocee (3:00)
10 Rebel feat. Benjamin Zephaniah & Joe Goddard (4:26)
11 No Kip feat. T Willy & Mr Versatile (3:25)
12 Sunny Money feat. Roots Manuva & Siobhan Gallagher (4:37)
13 Where Mi Key Deh? feat. Mr Versatile (3:50)
14 Better feat. Jason Lee Bailey & Helders (5:27)

Links:
www.toddlat.com
myspace.com/toddlat
www.1965records.com
1965 Records @ The Social, 28th May featuring rockabilly punks The Spivs with support from psych/experimental carpet cutters Lost Boys punk funk energizers The Getaways new band of Holy Ghost Revival peeps Fallen Nobles song writing genius Alex Martin - doors 6pm free www.thesocial.com 5 Little Portland Street, W1
www.factmagazine.co.uk
Gilles Peterson :: 16th April 2009 :: All Winners 2009 Part 1
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Toddla T - Better (1965)