Rush released and something of a surprise, Mr Scruff’s new opus is nevertheless the best record he’s made so far. The signs have been good – ‘Donkey Ride’, ‘Give Up To Get’ and ‘Kalimba’ all pressing the right buttons – but with the most recent ‘Music Takes Me Up’, starring Alice Russell, he’s moved up a gear. And there he stays, throughout this extremely entertaining record, moving through funky house-based stuff (‘Get On Down’) to brassy funk (‘Whiplash’), finding time also for a Roots Manuva collaboration in the wonderful ‘Nice Up The Function’. It’s been six years since we last had a long player from Stockport’s favourite son – and with ‘Stockport Carnival’ to round it off, the record proves well worth the wait.
5 Out Of 5
Reviewed By: Ben Hogwood
