The Herbaliser - 'Take London' (Ninja Tunes) Released 30/05/05

Residents of Walford, the Queen and The Libertines you better watch out, cos your city’s going to be taken from under your noses. And it’s about time...The Herbaliser are back, and this time they’re promising to 'Take London'. I’m not too sure where, but why don’t they move it slightly North of the Watford Gap until they get used to the altitude. Baby steps.

By now the release of a new Herbaliser album should mean a few things. Firstly good proper, reliable hip hop. And secondly a plethora of tunes that will carry you through the heady days of summer. This outing will not let anyone down. They’re good solid blokes constantly improving their craft to keep their sound fresh and at the top of the UK game.

As quickly 'Take London' moves from funky, dirty hip hop it jumps to more thoughtful instrumentals and even has a tribute to Serge Gainsbourg. You don’t get that from most artists nowadays. In the Herbaliser world you don’t need words to convey your message. The album swings from tender more instrumental tracks like ‘Song For Mary‘, to whipped up funk pieces like the fantastically named ‘Kittynapper’ or the jazzy ‘Geddim’.

Actually if ever you were to buy an album merely for the fantastic song titles it‘d have to be this one, my personal favourite has to be‘Somdersonofanofthamutha' - try saying that really quickly after a few drinks. They might only be a duo but Jake Wherry and Ollie Teeba certainly know how to swell their ranks with a few well placed guest vocals, and this album’s extra kick definitely comes from Jean Grae. Formally known as What What her appearance on four of the tracks including the kick ass 'Generals' and storming 'Twice Around' she really does kick into touch all the other female rappers/singers that are around at the moment. Amazing.

And then on top of that you get an appearance from the one and only Roots Manuva. Life can’t get any better, this album’s really going to imbed itself onto your CD player and threaten never to leave.