Young Fathers – Tape Two

Young Fathers' lo-fi take on 90s R&B, classic soul and old-school hip-hop is increasingly experimental, and that's no bad thing. Their recent excursions (since Tape One) are characterised by dusty drum patterns, muted synth stabs, gently-scuffed falsetto vocals and rhymes delivered in an intriguing range of voices.

I Heard's yearning vocal hook is softened under a blanket of tape hiss; live highlight Come To Life drips with both menace and euphoria; and the moment where Queen Is Dead coalesces into a wall of de-tuned synths, ululating voices and bizarre beat poetry is as welcome as it is unexpected. Young Fathers have more to show us, further to push, especially in terms of their lyrical content. But watching them grind is becoming increasingly fascinating. [Bram E. Gieben]