Altsounds - Trip - River Phoenix [Album]

"Trip is a silver-tongued spitter with a lyrical affinity for the roller coaster ride of city living". That's what it said on the sticker on the CD's card sleeve. After reading it, I had an inkling what to expect. Lyrics about waking up, having a shower, eating breakfast and leaving your house to go to work. Fine for a few joke tracks, but nothing that'll win you any long lasting praise, but then again it sells.

The song itself starts like any other indie rock track you'd hear off the radio, but the voice and lyrics don't seem to follow this theme; it's very much Parklife on the backdrop of a Kasier Chiefs instrumental, which I suppose is something different. But that's just not enough, in my opinion. While Trip may have garnered praise from Xfm and MCed on the live circuit "with a succession of heavyweight players including Grooverider and Shy FX", it doesn't seem like he's taken much inspiration from these acts, at least from this track. I don't mean to lambast Trip; I'm sure he is a very talented artist, considering who he's MCed for and who he's toured with, but if this is the sort of music that will encompass his upcoming album, it might start to wear thin for some people or be praised by the myriad of cliche adverts calling it refreshing, edgy and the best album this year.

This song wins the inaugural Marmite award; either you'll love it or you'll hate it.