Amazon.co.uk Review
The addictive, slow-burning simplicity of Mattafix’s debut single "Big City Life" has gained the song enough mainstream exposure to ensure a giant buzz around the London duo of Preetesh and Marlon. Their inaugural album continues their distinctly urban manifesto, weaving together hip hop, reggae and soul into fibrous, accessible statements about modern living. Against a bluesy backdrop of melancholic beats and dubbed out funk, the pair sing, rap and toast about urban anomie, turbulent relationships, family feuds and lost opportunities. Songs like "Big City Life" and "Gangster Blues" link the deep, introspective soul of Massive Attack to the sparse story-telling of The Streets or the Audio Bullys, while the skippety rhythms and languid chorus of "To And Fro" sounds like a collaboration between London hipsters Spacek and the Pet Shop Boys. Spacious and questing,
Signs Of A Struggle has ‘immediate classic’ written all over it. --
Paul Sullivan
Product Description
All Tracks on "Signs of a Struggle" Are Written and Produced by Mattafix with Additional Production and Mixing by Jim Abyss (Kasabian/Unkle/Placebo), Craig Silvy (Magic Numbers/The Coral), Steve Dubb and Seggs (Roots Manuva/Chemical Brothers) and Johnny Dollar (Neneh Cherry, Massive Attack). The Album's Many Highlights Include the Lovers Rock Anthem and Opening Track, "Gangster Blues", featuring Robbie Shakespeare of the Legendary Sly and Robbie on Bass and the Beautifully Euphoric "Passer By", Guaranteed to Lighten the Darkest of Moods. "to and Fro" is a Quirky, Upbeat Number but Whose Dark Lyrics Tell a Tale of Betrayal, featuring Ex Sugarbabe Siobhan Donaghy on Backing Vocals, While the Highly Emotive "Everyone around You" Has Beats, Strings and Marlon's Instrument of Choice, the Steel Pans all in the Mix. From the Dreamy Simplicity of "Clear and Present Danger" to the Broodingly Hypnotic "i to You", the Fourteen Songs on this Album Hig. And Depth of this You
