If you’re anything like me, then perhaps there was a brief period in the Naughties where you stopped in your tracks and wondered to yourself, “Whatever happened to Stereo MC’s?”
It’s been a long time since 1992, when Nick Hallam and Rob Birch released their smash record Connected, which thrilled and amazed listeners worldwide with its imaginative mash-up of rap and dance music. I mean, the title track alone made the album worthwhile – it was such a damn perfect song, with Birch’s sharp lyrics layered brilliantly over those mesmerising beats. So what the hell happened?
Nonstop touring, for one. Thoroughly sapped of their creative energy and making a series of disastrous business decisions (producing Robbie Williams’ debut record? Really?), the MC’s faded out of the public eye for nearly a decade, popping up here and there with new records, none of which really stuck in the publics’ consciousness.
I’m happy then, to report that with the release of their seventh proper LP Emperor’s Nightingale, the MC’s seem to have finally got themselves connected to what made them such a special band in the first place. Over these 12 tracks, Birch and Hallam not only deliver the goods we knew they were capable of, but emanate such enthusiasm and belief in their music it’s contagious.
Boy , with its jazzy piano, sampled horns and slow-building synths rising in the background is a really quite inspiring track, with Birch’s vocals sounding strong and assured. The MC’s burst into Massive Attack territory with the throbbing bass-lines of Phase Me, and Sunny Day simply shines as it throws down a gauntlet of muscled-up beats and rapid-fire raps. But nothing on the record stands up quite like the slick and brilliantly hypnotic Manner. Holy crap, this is a great bloody song – I dare you; no, double-dare you to not dance to this sleek masterwork of house-y goodness.
See, these are the Stereo MC’s we knew and loved back in the day – and it’s a real treat to hear them again, at the top of their game. Welcome back, boys. It’s been a while.
BY THOMAS BAILEY
Best Track: Manner
If You Like These, You’ll Like This: MASSIVE ATTACK, GOLDFRAPP
In A Word: Assertive
