MEEM – MONSTERS DON’T SLEEP OK!

Monsters Don’t Sleep OK! sees Sydney producer Meem bring out the hip-hop flavours in his trademark style of soulful funky beats. Opening number Mr Scruff – Nice Up The Function features Roots Manuva on vocal duties, and his casual rapping style effortlessly blends with Meem’s loose grooves and horn interludes. However, Funky Custard demonstrates that you don’t need the power of the human voice to make an effective track. Custard’s slow bass groove, coloured with flute, cello and synth sounds, converge to make it both sonically captivating and undeniably funky. (It Was) Hard Times channels the new-age soul of late-90s house acts such as Basement Jaxx and Groove Armada, while Pack Yr Pahninah adds Spanish guitar, exotic chanting and sultry clarinet lines into the mix. Unfortunately, a few tracks fall flat – the faux-reggae Meem Sets Fire To Monsters fails to take off, and C’mon Feet is similarly unengaging – but Meem’s sheer diversity in sonic styles makes up for the fact that some tunes don’t work as well as others. The balance between pure beat science and more song-like efforts on the album is also admirable. Get Down Party, featuring Raashan Ahmaad of Crown City Rockers, is the album’s high point – a wicked party track that the producers behind Gorillaz would surely be proud of. Fans of Gorillaz – or anybody who appreciates rich, varied and groovy hip-hop – will find much to love here.

*** ½