Amazon.co.uk Review
The hype is strong for
Ego War. Trumpeted by the dance-music press as one of 2003's "next big things", London's Audio Bullys have been causing something of a stir with their fuzzy soundsystem beats, loud basslines and shouty cockney vocals. Debut single "We Don't Care" was a menacing musical manifesto; a loud, laddish, bass-heavy mash-up of house, dub, hip-hop and bassline garage that seemed to stick two-fingers up at perceived musical boundaries. Clearly, these guys mean business. The duo's much-heralded debut long player expands this manifesto further, taking in elements of ska, punk and electro. It's pretty good, too, mixing genuinely abrasive floor-fillers--"Real Life", "The Snow" (a disco-punk-house mash-up of epic proportions)--with more contemplative numbers (such as the wistful "Veteran" or "100 Million"). Sometimes they come on like the Specials jamming with
Basement Jaxx with
The Streets' Mike Skinner on vocals, at other times like
Magnificent Seven-era Clash with Rob "Stereo MC's" Birch on vocals; only dirtier.
It's not a complete triumph--occasionally Franks' vocals can grate, and there's a certain "sameyness" towards the end--but it's certainly one of the most entertaining dance albums of 2003 so far. Here's hoping we hear more soon from these new heroes of "up-yours house". --Matt Anniss
CD Description
'Ego War' is the debut album from West Londoner's Tom Dinsdale and Simon Franks AKA the Audio Bullys. Drawing inspiration from the likes of The Specials and Ian Dury through to garage pioneers Grant Nelson and Todd Edwards, 'Ego War' is a tough mix of ska, 2-step, hip hop and electro. The raucous debut single 'We Don't Care' is also included.
