Dan Le Sac v Scroobious Pip : The Logic of Chance
Released: 15th March 2010
Label: Sunday Best
Le Sac and Pip’s 2008 album ‘Angles’ was a critically acclaimed masterpiece, edgy, innovative and most of all it had something to say. Dan Le Sac’s production combined with Scroobious Pip’s witty take on modern society made even the most cynical of critics stand up and take notice. This isn’t however an album that will have the same effect.
Whereas ‘Angles’ seemed bold and brave and took more of an ‘indie’ stance, ‘The Logic of Chance’ seems lazy, clichéd and repetitive. The original spark has gone, and little has been made in the way of progress or development to justify an album that for the most part sounds like a compilation of sub-standard b-sides.
‘Sick Tonight’ opens proceedings promisingly with a frantic flute solo before destroying itself with an confusing mess of break beats, drum and bass and irritating layered synth sections.
Whilst ‘Great Britain’ sets a trend for the duo that doesn’t seem to wane at any point, in the form of lots of repetitive and weak choruses, that spark they once had seems to be going out. Gone is the satire and wordplay we came to expect from the likes of ‘Thou Shalt Always Kill’ and in its place such lazy ramblings as ‘I come from a place called Great Britain/ But I don’t know if I love or hate Britain'. Not clever, not satirical and the political rant at the songs bridge tips it from being listenable to tedious, as Scroobius rolls off umpteenth stats on violent crime.
When Le Sac and Pip do manage to rekindle their old ways, to give them credit, they do it very well, as can be heard in ‘Last Train Home’ a tale of the perils of late night travel, that’s both frank and honest, and includes perhaps some of Le Sac’s strongest beats and a unique take on Amy Winehouse’s Rehab.
For all its failings, ‘Cowboi’ luckily manages to close the album on a high, putting the heavy beats aside and producing the duos very own ‘Dry your eyes’ - Pip is at his storytelling best, despite tackling the not too comfortable subject of attempted rape, the songs Jamie T-esque chorus makes for an oddly uplifting ballad.
‘The Logic of Chance’ puts more focus on Le Sac’s production than ‘Angles’ which focused on Pips’ words-man ship, and that seems to be the problem. Pip’s vocals seem in stuck in a constant battle with the various techno bleeps, dub-step and drum and bass beats that massacre so many tracks, and so the whole thing for the most part is rendered un-enjoyable.
Write a comment
- Required fields are marked with *.
-->
Posts: 1
Reply #1 on : Mon March 29, 2010, 19:43:16