Perception

Single-tempo albums can make you wonder why they weren’t just released individually as club tracks. Not so with Southeast Londoner Roska, though. This 2018 album, for example, is him returning after time in the house music mainstream to the sound that he first emerged from: the bubbling, bumping, bass-heavy syncopations of UK funky, and from beginning to end, it’s a total joy. Everything that you used to hear bumping out of every other car in London from through 2008-10 is here: lairy sharp-edged grime synths, party MCs encouraging you to “just vibe tonight,” some sultry female vocals, a little splash of dancehall and a whole lot of what we’ve since come to know as Afrobeats. He’s made absolutely no attempt to alter the formula one bit, which is just fine, because few do it as well as him. But he has finessed that formula. The funk is extra funky thanks to keyboard work from Bristolian Gemmy (on “Syrup”) and Belgian Simbad (“Running”). The MCing isn’t just enthusiastic hosting, but has grime vets Newham Generals aka D Double E and Footsie on typically rambunctious form (“Tonight”), and Afrobeats star Mista Silva in ultra-slick mode (“Winning Team”). The sung vocals from Chrystal, Alesha Lee and Donae’o are bang on on the money too. The whole thing has the feel of dealing with unfinished business — and Roska has taken care of that business with total panache. Never mind questions of ebb and flow of hipness of given subgenres, this is a sterling artistic statement as an album.