Taz, 'Analyse This' (Def Jam UK) Released 05/07/04

In the States, Def Jam has long since lost relevance. By only investing in talent with a proven track-record, or a famous name, it has become as bloated, greedy and success-obsessed as the major labels it once stood against. It is reassuring to see that the UK arm are still prepared to take chances on untested acts like Taz, with only a couple of underground 12”s to his credit. Oh, and an Ivor Novello nomination for his contribution to the Dizzee Rascal album.

Famous friends aside, and despite the record’s smooth edges, which smell of major label interference at the production stage, Taz’s debut album introduces a fresh new voice. It’s not all plain-sailing, of course. On some of the tracks, Taz is clearly too much in the thrall of his Stateside counterparts, both lyrically and in terms of production. On 'Cowboy Film', over a tired flamenco guitar loop, Taz and co-conspirator Kardinal Official explore the same metaphorical terrain as Method Man and Ludicris’s recent 'Rodeo' (hint: they’re not talking about riding wild horses), with notably less successful results. Elsewhere, 'Left Leg In' (surely the only hip-hop record ever to take lyrical inspiration from the hokey-cokey) is an uneventful retread of better American records. These are hopefully just stepping stones, however, as Taz is still clearly searching for his own voice and he is much more impressive when his influences come from closer to home.

'If I Die Tomorrow' is a likeable exploration of his Jamaican roots, and his South London whine holds its own against tougher sounding ragga-influenced MC Rickman. 'Live and Learn' sounds like a grittier version of something from The Streets, in which Taz describes the depressing monotony of living on the breadline in Oval. Best of all, however, is the inclusion on the British release of recent underground single 'Just Walk' which bounces along on a garage-groove and introduces the deranged lyricism of Marga Man, definitely a name to look out for.