The Herbaliser - Take London (ARTIST ALBUM) [Ninja Tune] - djdownload.com mp3

	Take London
	[ARTIST ALBUM]
	Artist: The Herbaliser Label: Ninja Tune Date: 07.06.05
	Buy US 13.53

The Herbaliser return and, like the legitimate sons of the king banished by the evil bastard, they're taking back everything which is rightly theirs. Yes, that's the whole of London. Blimey.

Over the last decade Jake Wherry and Ollie Teeba have established themselves as one of the most innovative and reliable production duos to come out of the UK's hip hop scene. And this has been achieved, in part, by the kind of constant self-improvement which means "Take London" is their best album yet.

You can hear it on the instrumental tracks on the record - the tender, angry "Song For Mary", the electro-influenced "Gadget Funk" (where you can almost imagine them dragging their old bits of lino out), the wah-guitared space funk of "Kittynapper," the chase scene jazz of "Geddim'" and the epic, orchestral "Sonofanothamutha". The attention to detail, the love of sixties soundtrack and library records, all mixed up with a dose of geezer front and b-boy charisma.

But of course the Herbaliser have also always had an eye for a killer vocal guest. Jean Grae (formerly known as What What) has been a long-time collaborator and here she contributes four tracks, including the storming posse cut "Generals", future single "Twice Around" and the moving "If You Close Your Eyes". The UK end is held up by Nottingham's Cappo (who has released through Son and Zebra Traffic) and the one and only Roots Manuva. Then, just to finish off - and perhaps remind people how broad the duo's taste is - a scintillating tribute to Serge Gainsbourg, "Serge," with a monologue from Katerine.

Take London? Take the world, why not?