Dan Le Sac Vs Scroobius Pïp - The Logic Of Chance (Sunday Best Recordings)

Laura Bruneau | Monday, 19 April 2010

Socially aware duo Dan Le Sac Vs Scroobius Pip have done more in under an hour to sum up the state of the political landscape in 21st century Britain than a slew of manifestos, party political broadcasts and public debates. With an election on the horizon, songs like 'Stake A Claim' remind ordinary people of the basis behind their right to vote and the need to take charge when they find self-serving politicians abusing their power.

Invoking the 90s flavour of Massive Attack combined with the quintessentially British tone of The Streets and a rougher edge reminiscent of hip-hop rude boys Foreign Beggars, The Logic Of Chance benefits from an exhilarating blend of some of the best movements to come out of the UK over the last 20 years. Kicking heavy basslines and retaining an uncommon frankness to their lyrics gives Dan Le Sac Vs Scroobius Pip a strutting confidence that throbs in your chest and wakes up your brain.

Impossible to ignore and refreshingly unpretentious, they take the opportunity in 'Snob' to descry those who take a holier-than-thou attitude to the sanctity of their music tastes, reminding them that all music is "meant to be heard man, anyone can use it". Unsurprisingly, perhaps, the low-point of the album, if you can call it that, is the first single 'Get Better', which was released in advance of the album. Too reliant on generalities and well meaning platitudes, it doesn't cut as sharply against the grain as other tracks on The Logic Of Chance.

Unabashedly focused on recreating the sound of the capital, the composition of the album rebounds between gruffness and romanticism. At times playing off a detached standoffishness and at others getting grotty and dirty, they balance the album well between commercial accessibility and experimentation. Flirting with dubstep on 'Inert Explosions' and exploiting the success of a more pop-infused brand of grime on 'Cauliflower', The Logic of Chance is undercut by the deceptively straight forward spoken word stylings of Scroobius Pip; that owes more than a passing nod to dub poetry and the genius of those like Gil Scott-Heron.

All in all, Dan Le Sac Vs Scroobius Pip's mix of political awareness and ability to stay deeply rooted within the reality of British culture sets this album ahead of the curve and makes it one of the most promising releases of the year so far.

Rating: 4/5