Roots Manuva – Colossal Insight
For the first single from his forthcoming album, “Awfully Deep,” Rodney Smith aka Roots Manuva takes one of his trademark body-swerves and reminds us just who the boss is when it comes to innovative, original and straight up catchy Black British music.
Over a kind of electronic-psych keyboard refrain and a steppers rhythm with Moroder hi-hats, Roots comes through with a perfectly judged vocal performance, his voice falling and rising with the music, his thoughts driving a straight line through every clich? and misapprehension about “urban” music and life. Concerned with the moment where the whole world makes sense to you as well as the moment when you wake up and it’s all gone again, “Colossal Insight” is a “grower” in the manner of classic pop. It’s the kind of record that gradually sinks its talons into your psyche, so slowly you don’t even notice it happening. Until, months later, it lets you go and you find yourself in a slightly different world…
With an artist of the stature and credibility of Roots Manuva at this stage in his career (a gold certified album, a Mercury nomination, a MOBO and the love and support of a dedicated fanbase) there?s no need to shout from the rooftops when he comes back. Instead, ?Colossal Insight? reintroduces the Rootical one with a tune which is subtle, classy and naggingly memorable. Just the first step before his album in unleashed, but what a first step it is…
Video Streams: Colossal Insight
Many thanks to ‘Big Dada’ for supplying this special feature. For more information checkout http://www.rootsmanuva.co.uk/
- Roots Manuva – Colossal Insight
- by Big Dada
- Published on January 1st, 2005
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