Almost six years have passed since it saw the light “Pop Voodoo” (MCA, 17), the fact that it was more than acceptable to return Black Grape after the peak moment experienced by the group in the nineties, materialized long before around the unforgettable “It’s Great When You’re Straight… Yeah” (MCA, 95). The duo formed by Shaun Ryder (vocalist of Happy Mondays) and Kermit –aka Paul Leveridge– (of Ruthless Rap Assassins) now definitively certifies that return, signing what is their second album of this last stage.
“Orange Head” It is an album drawn between hip hop, ska, funk, electronica and indie-pop with a Madchester accent, which includes a majority of signature songs that, along the way, have barely lost their mojo or that very functional audacity. An LP that, in some way and during certain moments, would not be difficult to relate to “Theatre Of The Absurd Presents C’est La Vie” (BMG, 23), Madness’s latest and most inspired work. Among the highlights would be “In The Ground”, “Losers”the singles “Pimp Wars” y “Dirt”, “Quincy” a to consistent “Milk”. Along with them, other more discreet ones appear, such as the final “Sex On The Beach” and even the occasional questionable piece, case of “Button Eyes” with that unflattering Latin cadence.
“Orange Head” It develops like a somewhat irregular disk that, among its ten links, tends to maintain the essence (nineties) of Black Grape and leaves the majority of cuts that green their laurels without difficulty, coexisting alongside other more dispensable ones that barely contribute to the cause. A reference that, although a step below its predecessor, is nice and invites you to delve into it, accepting it with the usual joy in any satisfactory reunion. Above all, thanks to a latent rhythm that is always active and that, in practice, is contagious.