To coincide with the 30th anniversary of legendary U.K label Street Sounds, head honcho Morgan khan is releasing this, the fourth in the Labels old-school Hip-Hop/Electro compilations. A fixture on the British urban scene since the labels beginnings in the 1980’s, each compilation has been held in the highest regard and praised for being some of the best reflections of this particular pocket of the music scene.
Featuring such respected names from the Electro and Rap scenes such as Flashmaster Ray, Davey DMX, Analog Knightz and an appearance from Chuck D, ‘Nu Electro 4’ is a two disc compilation of brand new tracks recorded specifically for Street Sounds anniversary. With Cal Alex mixing disc one into a seamless hybrid of digital synths, beats and rhymes it flows well, The Hip-hop influenced side of this collection blending into the robotic, electronic keyboards and monotone digital vocals of DiamondBack kid’s ‘Chambers of Chaos’ through to the retro B-boy bragging of Yamasaki & Mr Spin’s ‘Empty Handed’. As one long mix over the course of an hour, like so many mixes, the record can fall in the trap of background music with stabs of attention catching highlights few and far between. The synth pop of MTD’s ‘We are the Future’(which is unfortunately let down by a pointless ‘Cockney’ MC tacked on to the end of the track, his weak rhymes nearly souring the whole track) starts off as a potential highlight whilst DJ Cheese’s ‘More of the Raw’ mixes ODB and the MC Lyte classic ‘I Cram to Understand you (Sam)’ to nostalgic effect, For anyone who has ever popped or locked or who spent their childhood or teenage years carrying around a piece of Lino for breakdancing purposes will find a lot to revisit on this compilation.
The Second disc on ‘Nu Electro’ breaks down the tracks into 16 separate tracks and it is sadly where the cracks of this compilation begin to show. What is obviously a respectful nod to the scene’s golden age (even in the labels website the bio proudly includes an article which is an exercise in “ahhh, weren’t the 80’s great” with its reminiscence of ‘Pierre Cardin’ clothing, ‘Eddie murphy films’, ‘Blockbusters’ on TV and club nights at ‘Crackers, Mingles and Bagley’s’)it is also a display of a scene that is firmly stuck in the past, serving as an exercise in nostalgia only. Davey DMX’s collaboration with Chuck D is the weakest track here with one of the most iconic MC’s in Hip-hop Phoning in half-hearted, lazy lyrics about the ‘Golden age’ backed with beats that are devoid of any spark, preferring to move along at a snail’s pace. This would be fine if there was any lyrical meat to sink the listener’s teeth into or a hook that challenges you not to return time and time again. The same can be said for the Imperial Brothers ‘Breathe’ which is 4:36 of lumpen Party rap over the Tinniest of electro-pop. The Meandering ‘Electro Gumbo’ from the Californian Legends Knights of the Turntables sadly goes nowhere and then ends abruptly, like most of the tracks on this comp,and is almost instantly forgettable.
It’s the last two tracks that save ‘Nu Electro..’ from being anything less than average (or even disappointing). The frantic clash of synths’n’scratching that drive Black Electronics ‘Funk electric’ to first place Display enough light and shade and know when to ease back and give the track breathing room to stop it becoming electronic bluster, It’s a furious banger made for huge sound systems. Same can be said for Utilizer’s ‘Resistor’, its pulsating, glitch and distorted vocal line leaving enough curiosity to reel you in for repeated listens.
Maybe you have to be a devotee with crates of 12” of this kind stuff tucked away in attics and garages to truly appreciate Nu Electro Volume 4. It might not even be about progression, more a case of celebration of what Morgan khan’s label has achieved over the last three decades. There has to be something though, some kind of musical branching out otherwise the Street sounds label, however ground-breaking or vital it was, will end up being the TimeLife for ageing B-Boys .
[Rating:2]
