The very first thing that comes to mind when I first gave ‘Dirty Thumbs’ a good listen is how different it is from Millennium Jazz Music’s last offering, although this is now produced entirely by Gadget. It sounds a lot more grown up and it’s as if the beats have been tightened and the individual songs just have more pack to them. Not to disregard their last release, but this is just much improved. The other thing you’ll immediately notice is how diverse this release is. No track sounds the same, and whilst having the same producer could easily be on a different record. This had such fresh approach and it almost felt (as poncy as it sounds) like each track was a new chapter in a book. Both Diligent Fingers and Jabba Tha Kut are my two favourite UK producers and beat makers are featured on ‘Dirty Thumbs’, so just by having those two on his record my expectations were high. Could be a good or bad thing.

When I talk of diversity I can easily sight any part of the record, but none no more than the sheer magnitude of difference between the 4 songs, ‘This is How it’s Going Down’, ‘Sinners’, Dan Bull’s skit and ‘From Where The Love Came’. Performed by M.A.B, 777 and Lady Paradox and Emma Louise. M.A.B’s track is what I’d call a straight-up banger; great lyrical flow, very catchy beat and a bit of braggadocio thrown in for good measure. Whilst 777’s offering is dark, introspective and the beat is sampled with church choir, which in turn pertains to the lyrical content something which I wasn’t 100% happy with. The song itself is about the corruption of organised religion, fair enough I can understand that but I found his definition between that and faith a bit too blurred which is  a big rookie mistake. I can understand where his anger is coming from but he darts back and fourth with is direction. It’s a good track and I enjoyed it a lot, and I agreed with a lot of what he was saying, It leaves me confused. Are you directing your hatred towards the Catholic Church or God? The two are NOT one in the same, and I wish he would make that clearer.

The following two tracks is a skit then straight-up Jazz/Hip-hop chilled anthem by Lady Paradox and Emma Louise. Paradox’ lyric rap flow and Emma Louise’s vocal style really compliments ones another perfectly, and the content of the song itself is nothing but positive and well written. I also think the musical instrumentation really stands out in this one, especially towards the end with Paradox’ spoken word ender.

I hate giving album’s a track by track run down because I feel it tends to ruins the sense of surprise if you already know EVERY single song, but I will say this ‘Not a Good Look’ by Awakening Dawn, OShea and J Taylor had me laughing. Not at it, but with it. It’s a cleverly written diss track and needs to be given a good listen.

All in all I found Gadget’s latest offering interesting, diverse and far from generic.
Recommended If You Like – The Pharcyde, Jabba Tha Kut, Diligent Fingers.

1. Intro – feat Jabba Tha Kut
2. I Do – feat Joey Gzus, EdXL, Beit Nun & Louis Unseen
3. Sharpen The Craft pt1 – feat LeeN & Louis Unseen   
4. That’s How It’s Going Down – feat M.A.B 
5. Sinners – feat 777   
6. Dan Bull skit – Are You Listening?   
7. From Where The Love Came – feat Lady Paradox & Emma Louise  
8. It’s Not A Good Look – feat Awakening Dawn, Oshea & J Taylor  
9. Passing Me By – feat EdXL & Diligent Fingers
10. Krush skit – Country Bumpkin Kid
11. You Ain’t Ready Yet – feat LeeN & The Merkers  
12. Sharpen The Craft pt2 – feat EdXL
13. I Ain’t Coming Home Gadget Remix – feat Bigga, Joey Gzus, Carlos Montana, Reggiimental & Jabba Tha Kut   
14. Light Years – feat The Lost Generation
15. Outro – Flip this

Words: Aimee

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