Judging by track one, you could accuse Kevin Martin of going soft. After all, the London producer has made an art out of producing disgustingly dirty dub that tests the strongest of sub-woofer set-ups.
But Angels & Devils, the follow-up to 2008's near-classic London Zoo, kicks off with Void, a mellow scene-setter. Don't worry, bassheads, Martin is soon getting up to his usual tricks, with Ascension serving up thick slabs of shuffling bass, while Function is a raspy, raw rap attack.
The fourth Bug album comes with a concept -- the first half is devoted to more atmospheric fare (the "Angels" part of the album) while the second comes fired up and ready to party with a bunch of top-shelf guest MCs (the "Devils").
It can make for an unsettling listening experience, especially when Save Me, a song that recalls Mezzanine-era Massive Attack, morphs into the woozy, headache-inducing thumps of The One.
But there's no denying the ridiculously rowdy power of Death Grips' cameo, Fat Mac's doom-laden ramblings, or the jackhammer thrills of F*** You.
