It was like lighting a slow burning fuse.
Early in '99 there was the X-Men bootleg of Whitney's "It's not right...". Then came an awsome Gabrielle remix, fusing deep house and 2step. Then he single handedly invented breakbeat garage with the "Scrappy/Down On Me" 12".
Not bored of landmark releases, he topped them all: "Battle" is a single of the year for anyone who's ever struggled. No question.
Some precedent to follow an album with, you might agree. So while muso's aren't all frothing at the mouth about 'Wookie' the LP it's only because the damage's been done. Wookie's made his mark: if this was 100% new material, it would have made the Ten O'Clock news.
Regardless, it's a great LP. Given his soul-stylings, it could so easily have been limp like R.Kelly or pop-pap like Artful Dodger's effort. Instead it's a collection of known and new breakbeat cuts. And they rock.
And inspite of the latin jazz styling of "Back Up," or the deep soul of "Joy My Pride" this lp is worth buying for those classic singles alone: "Scrappy", "Down On Me" and of course, "Battle."
"Every day is like a battle/but we'll overcome...". If those words don't move you, check your pulse.
BUY THIS CD
