Narc. Magazine Online
Reliably informed
Jonathan Coll reviews the new release from The Streets
679 Recordings
Released: 20.10.23
Mike Skinner is a titan of the UK music industry. His work around the turn of the millennium set the wheels in motion for a burgeoning grime scene, and is often spoken about as some of the most influential music of the last few decades.
It’s this context which makes grappling with his more recent work all the more difficult. His latest album lacks the storytelling and coherency of its predecessors, although there are times on the album where that old flame still flickers. Troubled Waters feels like the spiritual successor to Blinded By The Lights, revamped with a drum and bass instrumental and world-weary lyricism. It’s not Mike Skinner’s fault that it’s no longer 2003, but his tunes just don’t move me like they used to.
