The Bug – London Zoo Review
I felt very compelled to review this album after seeing the vast amount of positive reviews from Tiny Mix Tapes to Pitchfork. I wasn’t expecting anything when visiting their myspace page but I found that the beats to be incredibly awesome.
The Bug is the stage name of British producer Kevin Martin, from listening to this album the music is a mix of dance, reggae, hip hop, grime and dub/dubstep. He callborates with a various number of singers and MCs, on this record from Tippa Irie, Ricky Ranking, Killa P, Flowdan, Warrior Queen, Spaceape and Roger Robinson.
One of the best parts of this album is that most of these songs are club ready, e.g. can really endear to a dance crowd yet probably create a big enough following to people looking for something creative.
Strictly speaking on the musical beats, some songs are absolutely awesome and The Bug doesn’t mind switching styles and using subtleness in small basslines or random noises. This is an album you kind of have to listen to for yourself as my writing and musical limitations.
I’m not traditionally a fan of dubstep/electronica/reggae or any of the genre classifications that The Bug would have of this album. I’m a noobie in that regard but I’m reeled into the quality of this album.
The group of singers and MC do a great job of keeping this album entertaining, some great talent and great skill. To be honest I’m not very good at understanding lyrics in Reggae so I’ll spare you my interpretations. My favorite contributor has to be Flowdan, he spits at a high pace in some intense trip-hop style drum beats on Jah War. The other contributors all need to be given a hand hear, most are rather anonymous to me but they put this album to new heights.
This whole album is very good and if you’re up for experimenting on something different (because if you’ve followed this blog, I’m usually into all things pop) this album is STRONGLY recommend.
Rating: 5 out of 5
An absolutely amazing record. It belongs on best of the year list both mine and critics. I generally don’t have much to say because my writing skill sucks, just know it’s a sick album that uses a ton of electronic elements all throughout the album to create something special. Lyrically I hear it’s good but it’s not something that’s required of you to enjoy this record (from what I can make it out it’s top notch but I may be wrong so I’m not regurgitating something incorrect).
Just do yourself a favor and check it out.
Jah War ft. Flowdan by The Bug
Skeng ft. Killa P and Flowdan by The Bug
Poison Dart by Warrior Queen by The Bug
Tags: album
