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This item: Treddin' On Thin Ice ~ Wiley Audio CD �4.99

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Grime Wave ~ Wiley Audio CD �6.85

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Product details

Audio CD (26 April 2004)
Number of Discs: 1
Format: CD
Label: XL
ASIN: B0001GCMEA
Other Editions: Audio CD | Vinyl | MP3 Download

Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (11 customer reviews)

Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 10,748 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

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Product Description

Amazon.co.uk Review

It's not often that teacher follows on the heels of pupil, but Treddin' on Thin Ice, the debut album from east London MC-producer Wiley will undoubtedly suffer from comparison with the award-scooping 2003 album by his young protégé, Dizzee Rascal. As the godfather of pioneering garage crew Roll Deep, Wiley is essentially the key architect of the stark MC-led strain of UK garage presently known as "grime", "sub-lo", or "Eski". His Treadin' on Thin Ice isn't quite the magnificent statement that Dizzee's Boy in da Corner was. Sure, Wiley is a good MC, but he seems to lack the all-consuming philosophy and breadth of narrative needed on a 15-track album.

Still, there's much to recommend here: the production is a triumph of expertly-applied minimalism, skeletal Playstation beats meshing neatly with retro synthesiser bass and warped oriental strings. Meanwhile, Wiley's natural propensity towards melancholy is neatly balanced by a handful of genuinely hilarious tracks that poke fun at himself, his peers and the scene: try the genre-defining "Wot Do U Call It?" ("Garage?/ Urban?/ Two-step?"), frisky money-making anthem "Pies", and "Goin' Mad"--a blend of conversational narrative and genuinely-affecting emotion, delivered in a broad Cockney geezer accent, that's reminiscent of the Streets. --Louis Pattison

Review

You could spend a lot of time arguing about what sort of music this is, and on the track "Wot Do U Call It" Wiley does just that. But whether you call it grime, East End hip hop or (the artist's personal choice) eski-beat this is the genre's second defining album -the first being Dizzee Rascal's Mercury prize winning Boy In Da Corner.

Both Wiley and Dizzee are former members of London's Roll Deep Crew and you can hear the music comes from similar sources (computer games, electro, garage, the highs and lows of urban life). That said, Wiley's sounds and words are less abrasive, warmer and more inclusive. While the younger Dizzee wants to push you away, the 25 year old Wiley wants to draw you in to explain his madness and aspirations.

Some of the best tracks appear as inner dialogues,as if you've dropped into Wiley's head to hear him arguing with himself. "Pick Your Self Up" comes across like a motivational speech, our hero convincing himself that everything is going to be alright, no matter how bleak things seem. Another highpoint is "That's What I Need", an endless list of all the things he wants in a girl - all the time knowing no real person could fulfil such contradictory demands. There's a clarity to these words which can't help but engage the listener.

The soundtrack to these musings is as likely to appeal to fans of 'experimental' music as the hoody wearing youth. "Goin' Mad" and "Eskimo" sound like they're taken from some freaky old skool platform game, weird oompah music that is both addictive and unsettling. Tracks like"Doorway" have more in common with arty electronica than mainstream American rap.

And be warned, like the best sort of pop, this album is very catchy. After a couple of listens the music gets stuck in your head and keeps going round and round. Sure, as Wiley admits, 'He does go on bit' -but we can forgive him that, he's got a lot to say and he does it better than most. The most original, and most English, album I've heard all year. --Matt Harvey

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful

Eski-beat 1 May 2004

By "tom_unit"

Format:Audio CD

The first time I listened to this album the eskimo beats came in, totally original and interesting, which compliments the beautiful cold street lyrics that Wiley (and other members of Roll Deep) spit. All around great album, has the crazy beats equaling to the ones of Dizzee Rascals. A very different album, but I would only suggest buying it if you have an open mind for music. For most UK Street-life, and MC/garage lovers, this is a must buy. As I am making this a realistic review, I will make bad points as well as good, as the album isn't perfect (as near to it, as it is), it's a little dissapointing that Raskit (Dizzee Rascal) didn't make an appearance is and also a little suprising. And I think he could of easily had 20 tracks, (like interludes "Avalanche, Ice Rink" are actual beats that Raskit and Wiley have MC'ed over), and maybe some faster lyrics wouldn't hurt, as he is more than capable. A must buy for people rolling deeper.

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Great start, tails off towards the end. 10 Nov 2007

By Mr. J. A. ELLIS-JONES

Format:Audio CD

I've had this album for awhile now and I've listened to it through several times -- I tend to find myself skipping a couple of the interludes now and some of the production on the later tracks I find a bit irritating and repetitive. However, there is no denying who Wiley is and what he's done for the UK Grime scene. His MC-ing shines on the earlier tracks, well thought-out and impeccable timing. I respect Wiley for talking about real life when he spits. A worthwhile purchase

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Eski? Grime? Who cares what it's called! 24 April 2004

By "city_park"

Format:Audio CD

A really fantatsic album which will easily weather the Dizzee Rascalcomparsions coming its way. Taking similar elements to Boy In Da Corner,this album outstrips that album completley in terms of the music. Anyonewith even a passing interest in modern music should get this albumstraight away in order to hear a true chapter in British music beingwritten. Wiley manages to combine the stabbing chords of acid house andSquarepusher/Autechre electronica with grubby breaks and gut shreddingbreaks. It is almost so cutting edge it's avant garde and surelyrepresents one of the most exciting scenes since early punk. His MCing ismore comparable with Mike Skinner than the fierce social commentary ofDizzee Rascal, but he holds his own well particularly on the brilliantGoin' Mad. I challenge you to hear this track and not get goose bumps. Hopefully Wiley's sound won't get entirely swallowed up by the mainstreamas often happens with true mavericks, but either way he has produced oneof the best debuts albums for years. Go get it!

Treddin' On Thin Ice [CD]

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