SBTRKT - The Rat Road

  • A sprawling, guest-heavy collection of dance pop tracks that sparkle as often as they flail.
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  • The difficult second album has become something of a cliché, but for SBTRKT, it was reality. Released in 2014, Wonder Where We Land's reception was mixed at best, as critics tried to make sense of the star-studded but jagged hodge-podge of garage, hip-hop and pop. EPs aside, there's only been one follow-up since—2016's eight-track Save Yourself, which SBTRKT confusingly insisted was "not an album," but instead a short-form throwback to something more like his celebrated debut LP. Now, though, Save Yourself actually feels like a sonic bridge to his newest release. Tightening up the chaos that blighted his sophomore record, The Rat Road doubles down on SBTRKT's multi-genre vision and pulls it off slightly better. His cocktail of pop and underground influences sounds more decisive and refined, though there are still moments that fizzle rather than ignite. SBTRKT is clearly determined not to be pigeonholed on this record, oscillating between ostentatious jazz piano on "Go To Ground," the summery synth pop of "Days Go By" and "LFO"'s fusion of analogue synth stabs with traditional R&B stylings from George Riley. "You, Love," where squeakily pitched vocals and orchestral swells frame shuffling drum breaks, is a major highlight and an intriguing continuation of the SBTRKT's shift into breakbeat territory last year, when he surprised fans with his smoothed-over jungle release, "Miss The Days." True to form, SBTRKT packs his album with a crowded roster of guest vocalists, who enrich his sparkling production with bittersweet soul. Leilah adds welcome warmth to "Limitless"'s sludgy electronica, and George Riley makes a fitting clear-voiced counterpart to Sampha's treacly tenor on "LFO." But two of the most interesting vocal collaborations come from D Double E and Kai Isaiah Jamal, whose spoken word-esque deliveries are twisted with a fraught futurism. On "Coppa," Jamal intones in a paranoia-inducing croak akin to Tricky, rapping about capitalism's diminishing returns, while D Double E's distinctive nasal drawl is elevated by a rapturous synthscape on "D Double E Interlude." Yet, at just over a minute each, both tracks are over basically before they've begun. They leave behind a nagging feeling of unrealised potential, which hangs over the album's entire third act, especially "I See A Stair." Meandering synths reach for a transcendent finale but eventually lose their way, leaving Little Dragon's soaring vocals to carry the weight as The Rat Road sputters to a close. But D Double E segues into, "You Broke My Heart But Imma Fix It," which showcases just what SBTRKT is capable of when he sets vocalists aside and allows his production chops to shine. Staccato twinkles merge with frantic hand claps to create a whirling 150 BPM swell, at once breathless and invigorating, yet not overstuffed. It's another example of SBTRKT making a fresh attempt at his sprawling, restless genre blends that refuse to settle into one place—a double-edged sword that leads to both highs and lows. This time around, though, SBTRKT almost manages to stick the landing.
  • Tracklist
      01. Remnant 02. Waiting feat. Teezo Touchdown 03. Rain Crush 04. Days Go By feat. Toro Y Moi 05. LFO feat. Sampha & George Riley 06. Creepin 07. Limitless feat. Leilah & Sampha 08. Go To Ground 09. Wasted feat. Anna Of The North 10. Coppa feat. Kai-Isaiah Jamal 11. You, Love 12. Don't Let 13. No Intention feat. Leilah 14. Forward feat. Leilah 15. D Double E Interlude feat. D Double E 16. You Broke My Heart But Imma Fix It 17. Palm Reader 18. Drift feat. Leilah 19. Demons feat. Toro Y Moi 20. Saya Interlude feat. Saya Gray 21. The Rat Road feat. Teezo Touchdown 22. I See A Stair feat. Little Dragon
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