Laid Blak

About Time is re-presented here with seven extra new mixes. Bristol's Laid Blak have trailed a unique path through the music jungle and picked up influential friends on the way. They don't come much bigger these days than this key ally - Ed Sheeran. The red-haired one is a big fan, so much so that he used a section of the band's earlier signature tune, 'My Eyes Are Red', in one of his own album chart busting songs and to close his shows. Sure, the breezy album opener 'Cool Dude' is more low-key, the band taking the brave step of introducing themselves here with a track that is programmed riddims, rattling percussion, piano, keyboards and restrained, jazzy, minimal bass! It's - well - cool, but filled with humour, whistling, street observed lyrics, scatter-fire vocals and am easy confidence that radiates. But after that the fare on offer heats up, seeing a glorious classic dancehall style tussle on 'Mic Man' with the fabulously UPFUL and agile vocals from Tita Lau adding a winning dimension. The guest female singers - Tita and the equally dextrous Tanya Lacey - add a soulful and playful dimension to other up-tempo blasters like 'It's A Pity', 'Hold On', and 'Serious' which head out into anything from lovers rock to a sleng teng, old school step it, rub a dub, wrap it up, mash it groove with fat horns, melodica, wailing guitar, sound system busting bass and kicking rhythms.