THE STREETS

The late-90s/early-00s cult project led by Mike Skinner – a master of the balancing act between rapper with street cred and singer-songwriter with the underdog attitude – is back. The 15-track album The Darker the Shadow the Brighter the Light breathes new life into The Streets’ much-loved trademark features. Such as the highly danceable hip-hop, drum & bass and house grooves blending subtle two-step rhythms and riotous four-to-the-floor simplicity, embedded in an adventurously eclectic production that doesn’t shy away from UK garage and grime, rounded off by Skinner’s familiar lyrical wizardry. Surprising moments – such as the sudden emergence of a melancholic acoustic guitar riff in which you could almost bathe – produce an authentic club-night feeling where you might wander the various dancefloors in search of the best music.