In his own way, Craig David begins to approach the pathological insecurity of his antithesis, those So Solid urchins, on this follow-up to the hugely successful 'Born To Do It'. His 'haters' may come from within the industry and not the estates of South London but they're motivated by the same instinct, jealousy.
Admittedly, David frequently sets himself up as an easy target. We all know too much about him to be convinced by attempts to turn on the R Kelly metaphors and 'fast cars, fast women' persona that he tries out on one of the tracks here. We've seen him at home in Southampton. With his mum. And besides, everything else on 'Slicker...', not least 'Rise & Fall' which tells the cautionary tale of a star that succumbs to vices, reinforces the suspicion that Craig simply doesn't have the time to chase dem honeyz.
Still, this doesn't stop the A&R department from dusting icing sugar liberally throughout this album in a bid to appeal to the US taste for sickly lurve ballads and over-produced cybernetic eroticism. Thankfully, someone can be congratulated for keeping the Neptunes away from the studio. In fact, for keeping this a largely UK affair, albeit one that, at times, borrows heavily from the other side of the Atlantic.
Long-time collaborator and Artful Dodger, Mark Hill, is still in possession of a uniquely British sound when he follows his instincts on the unmistakable 'Hands Up In The Air'. Though he turns on a deadly slow treacle assault for the crooning soul of 'You Don't Miss Your Water' that's compounded by David's fresh-faced vocal delivery. Still, it's a shame that he wasn't permitted to rescue the lacklustre '2 Steps Back', the only track that makes explicit reference to David's roots in the UK Garage scene, from the mediocrity bestowed upon it by Soulshock and Karlin's 2 Step pastiche.
The much hailed Ignorants that impressed so much on the lead-off single, 'What's Your Flava?' confuse a little as they run through styles with a typically postmodern accomplishment that leaves you wondering what sound they choose to make when there's no-one from the record company breathing down their neck. Craig also suffers as this album plots and schemes on what it wants to be and who it wants to appeal to. It is testament to his curious musical charm that, amidst all this contrivance a bloke who wasn't out of his teens when he rose to fame (and is frequently lambasted by the media for that very reason) manages to stamp enough authority to keep the record on track.
All this, and yet 'Slicker Than Your Average' is still way more consistent than your average over-long US R&B release, whilst still being stuffed with just as many potential singles. So why all the haters? Perhaps the beleaguered bastions of the UK soul industry have grown comfortable with defeat. But, with the US already on the ropes, Craig David has the ultimate prize in his sights and more power to him.
