Kano: Method to the Maadness

What few grime fundamentalists there are left will be sucking their teeth: the fourth album by east London MC Kano features production by sensitive electronicists Hot Chip, German electro operative Boys Noize and Fraser T Smith (Kylie, Ellie Goulding). Kano has long been a prolific networker, having recently appeared on Gorillaz's Plastic Beach album. And dance music is a grime-must these days, having turned MCs such as Dizzee et al into pop stars. The problem here lies not with these appealing hook-ups but with Kano's inconsistent verses, which never really hit home.