Rudimental: We The Generation
3 / 5
Asylum Records 2015 Reviewed By Angela SkujinsDrum and bass banditos Rudimental don’t know how to sit still. After a solid three years of touring, remixing singles and organising a music festival with Disclosure, the four-piece have released their second album We The Generation. As a consequence from all their international acclaim from their debut work Home, the group have collaborated with big names like Bobby Womack, Will Heard and Foy Vance to present a glistening feel-good selection of hits on their new album, that all jeer with a London excitement and pop chorus’ to pair.
Arguably, We The Generation contains the big-room bangers Rudimental are known to pump but tracks like Go Far pullback from intense beats and slink into easy grooves. The whooshing synths that back-up the tentative chops of Will Heard implore listeners to spread the love and not to hesitate.
Similarly, the We The Generation single slips into an increased hi-hat rhythm and a bellowing reggae bass but the vocals of Mahalia bounce off some dancing trumpets that’ll swing into an addictive two-step you won’t shake. Albeit a slower tune, Rudimental know how to shake our bones to an andante snare n bass on this time, while Breath tickles our spine with an irresistible disco vibe and slick synths.
We’re used to sliming our brains with Rudimental’s accelerated party-tracks, but Breath’s downbeat head-bob is more than apt to get this party started. Versatile vocals and a jigging guitar riff will make your feet grapevine to the one and swoosh to each organ slip.
Too Cool features the Ella Eyrne we’re familiar with. As the singer’s determined pipes fight a rapid fire of drummed bullets she stammers ‘You’re too cool to love me’ – a poignant declaration that ‘she doesn’t need you’. Her lyrics don’t venture too far from comfort and are repetitively safe, but whatever is necessary for a club anthem I guess.
Nonetheless, Ed Sheeran even makes a cameo. Lay It All On Me is a pop track ensured to get girls swooning with big piano chords and cheesy feature-film quips, and we’re pretty sure we heard a steel drum pattering away too. Sheeran’s consistent gloss sounds like an extra synth, and slots in nicely with Rudimental’s dance floor productions.
Rudimental have always been a sure thing. Fresh, adventurous and dexterous on the decks, these Hackney boys have ensured again another pop billboard success with We The Generation.
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