Oxide & Neutrino’s middle finger is still up

Amidst all the media and (anti-) socio-political attention So Solid Crew have found themselves in, Oxide & Neutrino really do mean it is all about music. This is the band’s second album in just over a year and it makes ‘2 Stepz Ahead’ from where ‘Execute’ left off. Its sonicscape has evolved, broadened to explore avenues left untouched on the debut. And, again, O&N have produced a solid disc.

The point of the album is being 20 (as they both are) but your ambition meets different obstacles: ‘They Think It’s Easy’ follows Neutrino from school days via pirate radio to fame, the latter being the subject of brooding ‘Roadz Crazy’; ‘Supa Sensi’ is about gangstas unwillingness to down weapons, ‘Dem Girlz (I Don’t Know Why’ is about boys’ hitting the (insurmountable?) wall of understanding the opposite sex.

The rest of the subjects are street-scenes, herbal and other ‘gears’, partying and plenty of self-aggrandisement. The change is the most noticeable music-wise as elements of hip-hop, R’n’B, some minimalism, even an ‘eastern promise’ (on ‘Garage Beat’) are embraced to create a very moving sonic exhibition that has beats and rhymes to match. It is a very varied and innovative exhibition of tones that are helped along by a number of guests, several being fellow So Solid Crew-men, normally.

Some magical Kraut-rockness pervades through the instrumental ‘War’, a prime electro-funkiness! ‘Amsterdam’ is about freedom to do what you please with your body in pursuit of what pleasures you; ‘Sir Pimpalot’ marches at the rhythm of society’s progressive decline… Sex, suspect morality, urbanity at its near-lowest. ‘Payback’ is brutally honest and that’s what O&N do, be frank with impudence and stand by it.

The MOBO winners and Brit nominees really drop some serious dope. Dramatically good! Through a speaker darkly…

8.6/10