JME: BLAM! ****

Grime is not dead!  It is still alive and well, as JME proves here with his new album.

BLAM! The new album from, one of Grime’s finest, JME is definitely a Grime album; not one of those half pop, half dance crossbreeds with spitting over the top, that you hear quite often these days.

The two things you firstly pick up on, is the diversity and the ample energy of the album, as the tracks come through thick, fast and varied. Tracks like “Famalam” which has an electronic feel reminiscent of crystal castles are put with “It’s not a long ting” (featuring Tempa T) which has a Definite Dubstep aspect to it; quite similar to the sort of sound Skream wound be producing just a year ago, or for his previous album,  emphasizes the variety.

The album starts off with head banger “Darker” (featuring Trigger) and picks up the pace with Anthems like; “Your CD’s Dead” and “Hospital”. “Hospital”, featuring some of boy better know, mainly uses a sample taken from the Prodigy’s “Take me to the hospital” from their “invaders must die album”. A concept that, on paper, doesn’t sound like it would work as well, as it has on this track. The good use sampling, combined with the energetic beats and varied styles of spitting; effortlessly come together to make it sound as good if not better than the original. The single “Your CD is dead” is also an immediate anthem; featuring Tempa T of next hype fame, providing a break beat/ two-step crossover with grime which has a popular feel.

Features from Tempa T on two of the tracks, Trigga, some of BBK (Boy Better Know), Wiley and others definitely enhances the album and takes nothing away from JME himself but does do well to break up hearing him on every track. JME has his own style to his Spitting which is quite different to many other Grime MC’s, being very clear, direct and precise whilst still having a lot of energy and ability to still ride the fast paced beats and this really appeals to most especially those who do not usually listen to grime.

This is progressive Grime; JME is actually moving this genre forward keeping it fresh, current and relevant. Having said this; baselines are hard and are the main emphasis of the record coming thick and heavy on many of the tracks, suggesting the intent for the tracks to be used on more of a club stage as opposed to personal listening. A lot of base does beg the question if there is a big dubstep  influence on this record; due to the newly found popularity in this genre. The beats however sometimes feel a little empty, with not a lot of rhythm, and there could be more to make some tracks more complete. That could be seen as a drawback, but the way that JME spits; clear and concise, it’s like you wouldn’t like the beats to be too complex as you want to hear what he’s saying. I think this album is high class and definitely a progressive grime record, with a lot of mind-blowing tracks full of diversity, to which we can fully anticipate more to come, from one of grime’s constant top performers. BLAM!!!

Recommended tracks:

Famalam

Over me

CD is Dead (feat Tempa T)

Hospital (feat Shorty, Frisco, Skepta, Jammer)

BLAM!

Oh (feat Special k and Jewels)

Music Ting 

Words by Joel Knuckles

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