New Flesh

Universally Dirty

Published Sep 1, 2006

Universally Dirty is, technically speaking, a very diverse album, but for some reason, every song sounds more or less the same. UK trio New Flesh run the stylistic gamut from hip-hop to grime to dancehall to dub to reggae with every song swimming in synthesisers. These synths bang, bounce, hum or whirr and it doesn’t matter, because tracks tick off with little noticeable variation. MCs Juice Aleem and Toastie Tailor do little to mark the proceedings, barking out mostly meaningless, sometimes juvenile raps that give you almost nothing to sink your teeth into. Certainly, the MCs never approach the lyrical depth of infinitely superior compatriot Dizzee Rascal. Having said all that, Universally Dirty is still worthwhile if you like to dance to UK hip-hop; it just isn’t particularly good for anything else.
(Big Dada)

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