London Zoo, by The Bug (CD on Ninja Tune)

A Norman Records recommendation (3rd July 2008)

Description:	CD on Ninja Tune	UK ORDERS OVER £50 SHIP FREE!
Format:	CD
Label:	Ninja Tune
Price:	£11.29
Catalogue number:	ZENCD132
Availability:	despatched in 2-5 working days (on average!!)

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What we say

Rating: ecstatic This record left our BRIAN D feeling ecstatic.

Funny. Not only Leila comes back to top my Summer then my fave bassbin basher Kevin Martin muscles in on the Dangerous Brian appeasing act (an act brought in by my beleaguered gaffer who really could do without me stamping round the office shouting obscenities every day!) Yes, welcome to The Bug's London Zoo, the gates have been semtexed and all the animals have escaped. Some of them have been rounded up by ol' Kev to splatter his pelvis destroying dub ragga/dancehall nuggets with some real fine MCing. I'm convinced that without this man, entire sub-genres of electronic mayhem wouldn't even have been conceived. He doesn't pull all the stops out though. He likes to keep the flow as master of his particular jungle. Every track is layered with that quietly apocalyptic menace of his, whilst being infused with enough soul & groove to make you grin like a freed lunatic. All his last 3 singles are featured here and fit in very nicely indeed amongst new cuts featuring Ricky Ranking, Space Ape (I think Kode 9 is currently tied up in the broom cupboard) Roger Robinson & Reggae legend Tippa Irie as well as new cohort Flowdan and the indispensable Warrior Queen who adds a gyrating feline touch to these rhythmic bruisers. If you liked (nee LOVED) 'Pressure' then this is a cautious step forward without any dilution of the essence that makes this man's music so bloody amazing. Both Ant & I follow his progress with the gleeful enthusiasm of randy boys trapped in a girls locker room and we're always totally right about everything so follow our gaze and stick this (and Leila) in yr July shopping cart. Otherwise you're a silly Billy! 3xLP/CD on Ninja Choonz.

What the label says:

The Bug is the main project for Kevin Martin, a producer who over the years has also been behind a diverse range of projects. He is part of Techno Animal / Ice / God (all with Justin Broadrick of Godflesh / Jesu), King Midas Sound, Razor X Productions (with The Rootsman), Pressure and Ladybug to name a few. Then there is the running of his Pathological Records label, collaborations with noise jazz outfit 16-17, Pete ‘Sonic Boom’ Kember’s E.A.R. project, John Zorn, Kevin Shields, El-P and Antipop Consortium. He has recorded for labels as diverse as Virgin, Rephlex, Position Chrome, Mille Plateaux, Word Sound, Hyperdub, City Slang, Tigerbeat6, Grand Royal and now Ninja Tune. He has been personally asked to remix Thom Yorke, Grace Jones, Einsturzende Neubauten and Primal Scream, and has compiled jazz and dub compilations for Virgin Records. The new album ‘London Zoo’ is the fruition of all these activities.
‘London Zoo’ is a record that could have only come out of London sound-system culture but whose appeal spans past any singular city or scene. The album was born of three key moments. An introduction to the thriving Dub Step scene (of which The Bug is very much a pioneer before it carried a name) and its key producers (via Kode 9) where Kevin realized there was others on the same sonic trajectory as himself, an introduction to Warrior Queen via his work with Wayne Lonesome on the Razor X Productions project, and a Mary Anne Hobbs Breezeblock session which introduced him to Flowdan (Roll Deep), and Ricky Ranking. All three of which figure heavily in the end result and live presentation.
From the opening strains of ‘Angry’ (featuring reggae legend Tippa Irie) it’s clear that the world has been served notice from the heart of the UK capital. A position further strengthened as Ricky Ranking (best known for his work with Roots Manuva), Flowdan, Warrior Queen, Spaceape, Roger Robinson, Killa P and Aya step up to lay waste to the boombastic rhythms put before them, eventually culminating in ‘Judgement’ where Ricky Ranking leaves us with a prophecy: “so much people are losing their minds, because we’re living in a serious time. I guess it come in like a judgement sign, the people have killing on their mind”.
Available on CD, limited edition deluxe gatefold triple vinyl (limited to 2000 copies)
Angry (featuring Tippa Irie)
Murder We (featuring Ricky Ranking)
Skeng (featuring Killa P & Flowdan)
Too Much Pain (featuring Ricky Ranking & Aya)
Insane (featuring Warrior Queen)
Jah War (featuring Flowdan)
Fuckaz (featuring Spaceape) Fuckaz (featuring Spaceape)
You & Me (featuring Roger Robinson)
Freak Freak
Warning (featuring Flowdan)
Poison Dart (featuring Warrior Queen)
Judgement (featuring Ricky Ranking)