Various Artists: New Gen – who’s limbering up on the grime sidelines

Who’s next? Given that we’ve seen such folks as Stormzy, Skepta and the returning Wiley light up London’s grime and urban hinterland in the last 18 months, it’s probably a good time to gauge the would-bes and could-bes currently limbering up on the sideline.

Compiled by the scene's jill-of-all-trades Caroline Simoniescu-Marin, New Gen is a vibrant and brash snapshot of who might be next to feature for a close-up. It's also interesting to work out what's next, with the album's sonic radar merrily wandering all over the shop with garage, dancehall, soca and r'n'b having as much of an effect on the basslines as what directs the current grime strains.

Highlights include Kojey Radical's boisterous turn on Fuck Your Feelings, the magnificent soundscape on Man of the Hour, Stefflon Don and Abra Cadabra's dancehall strike on Money Haffi Mek and Ray BLK's textured tones on Busy.

No doubt, we’ll be hearing from these geezers and ladies again.

[ xlrecordings.com ]