Roots Manuva - 'Alternately Deep' (Big Dada) Released 13/03/06

 

Really though, it’s UK Hip Hop that owes Smith a debt of gratitude, as few of its protagonists would be where they are today without the hard work put in by the likes of Roots (“Not too proud for the toilet tour”, as he proclaims on this album) and, coming from the trip hop end of things, Tricky.  2005’s ‘Awfully Deep’ cemented Root’s reputation as an astute, socially aware rapper, with just as much care taken over the beats as the rhymes (Roots says of his music: “It’s not just the lyrics that speak, it’s the tone and mood of the groove that speak as well”); ‘Alternately Deep’ brings together tracks that couldn’t be fitted on that collection as well as the odd B-side and download.

 

Of the new tracks, ‘Things We Do’ is a standout with a typically inspired lyric about sorting himself out (“Cut down on the chicken wing/Tidy my flat ‘cos it’s disgusting’), while ‘Grown Man’ is possibly Roots’ biggest nod to US grooves with it’s sublime jazz hooks.  We also get a remix of the lead track from the ‘Awfully Deep’ EP, ‘Seat Yourself’, which twists down new and dark dub corners, and grime producer Jammer lends a hand on ‘Colossal Insight’, turning the original into a tech’d-up horror piece.  Elsewhere, collaborations come from Lotek Hi-Fi, Easy Access Orchestra and his live sidekick Ricky Ranking, but throughout it’s Smith who’s running things.

 

One or two tracks could have been left on the cutting floor, perhaps in favour of newer material, such as the frankly snooze-inducing ‘Get U High’ and ‘This World Is Mine’.  Overall, though, ‘Alternately Deep’ is further testament to Roots Manuva’s growing reputation as one of the godfathers of the UK hip hop scene.