Mr Hudson & the Library – ‘Bread & Roses EP’ (Deal Real) Released 23/10/06

Reading the biog for Mr Hudson and crew is a confusing prospect. With a current tour covering the libraries of our fair country and with lyrics about “giving blood and making love”, you could be forgiven for thinking that this “Mr. Hudson” might actually be a hemp-wearing hippy. Whatever his choice of attire though this record is an eclectic and wonderful piece of pop. Piano fuses with mellow hip-hop beats and the title track encompasses a “new-ska” feeling sounding like The Police and The Ordinary Boys, utilising steel pan drums (completely underused and underrated in contemporary pop), and a vocal loop saying “Ok I’ll try”. This EP is a humble and beautiful achievement.