These are interesting times for this musician, who made out like a bandit during the great dubstep goldrush. Be it as part of Magnetic Man or producing acts such as Katy B, Benga was much in demand on many fronts. His quandry is to decide where to go next, and on his new album he tries to cover all bases, with diminishing returns. The poppier slam-dunks such as High Speed, Forefather and Smile (in which he collaborates with Charli XCX) are the best of the bunch, using Benga-smart beats as the foundation for sharp, fun, à la mode, radio-friendly tunes. But, with the exception of the truly distinctive I Will Never Change, the rest of the material doesn't have the same impact. As dubstep moves and morphs, Benga sounds as if he's running on the spot.
benga.co.uk
Download: High Speed, I Will Never Change