Dilated Peoples – 'Neighbourhood Watch' (EMI) Released 05/04/04

Dilated Peoples’ third long player finds them playing registrar to a somewhat uncomfortable marriage – attempting to bind their underground roots with the might of the mighty mainstream. Whilst retaining their socially-conscious rhymes, the production on Neighbourhood Watch (largely the work of Alchemist), would appear to have taken the turning marked ‘Commercial’. “Right now we’re parked in a comfortable spot/By 2004 we’re out to own the whole lot”, they declare on opening track Marathon. Gone are the breezy old school beats and J5-esque vibes of Expansion Team, here replaced by heavier, dark, synthesised undercurrents. The mood is defiantly disaffected. However, perhaps in a bid to avoid out and out mainstream affiliation a la the reborn Black Eyed Peas with their successful brand of hip-pop, DP have disregarded the importance of a decent hook. In lay parlance, it all sounds ‘a bit samey’.

There are several gems glistening amongst the murk however. ‘This Way’ (although produced by Kanye West – the man responsible for some of the most irritating commercial hip-hop tracks of recent times), manages to hit the right balance between credible and playful. And the highly strung Who’s Who with its PE style scratching and urgent guitar loop makes for edgy listening. The strongest track however, is saved ‘til last: DJ Babu in Deep Concentration’s electro-experimenting noises go a long way in pardoning DP for wanting to try out something different.

Lyrically, issues surrounding inbetweener-dom are aptly explored. In the lyrics of the title track they stake themselves in no-man’s land – outside the amorality of both the outlaws and the cops. On Caffeine, their dilemma is neatly summarised by 'I'm an underground cat, but still I like money and cars'.

There’s probably enough material here to keep the heads of the white, middle-class Carhartted masses rhythmically nodding. But unfortunately for everyone else, despite all the cop-baiting, much of Neighbourhood Watch fails to arrest.