Kid Acne – Romance Ain’t Dead (Lex)
4/5
By: Gareth Roberts
With song titles including 'South Yorks.' and 'Shut Your Mush', it is perhaps no great surprise that Kid Acne is the latest entrant into the currently rejuvenated UK hip hop scene. He's also from Sheffield, as such the more sceptical amongst you would be forgiven for jumping to the conclusion that he's some sort of serial band wagon hopper.
However, Accers, as he likes to be known, is no rookie. He released his debut album in 2001 and followed this up with the relatively well acclaimed 'Council Pop' in 2004. So, 'Romance Ain't Dead' is clearly no hastily scrabbled together attempt to strike while the iron is hot. Rather it's a lovingly crafted collection of songs that certainly hold their own amongst the current Plan Bs and Lady Sovs of this land.
Treading slightly more uneven ground than said artists, Kid Acne manages to create a mashed up concoction of hip hop beats interspersed with a garage rock mentality. As such the production veers towards the ramshackle yet the tunes are as good as any. Lyrically its fairly typical stuff, tales of urban tit for tats and women trouble, but throughout his Beastie Boys-esque cockiness Accers manages to maintain a healthy level of interest.
'Romance Ain't Dead' is in essence a thoroughly listenable record, and a welcome return from a perennially underrated performer.
Stream three tracks from 'Romance Ain't Dead' HERE.
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