Speech Debelle - Speech Therapy

Rating: * * * *

Verdict: A deft grower from Mercury-nominated British rap newcomer

With a gentle yabbering vocal style like Bjork-meets-Lily-Allen, Speech Debelle is the latest female Brit rapper to emerge from the underground and she delivers the goods with her debut album which is up for the coveted Mercury Prize this year.

Debelle is as brutally honest as Allen, only without the bratty pop-girl antics and is more in the vein of fellow south Londoner and rapper Roots Manuva. In fact, that bloke turns up on the lapping and lilting keyboard beauty Wheels In Motion with a typically weary and dreamy chorus.

Debelle's yabbering is an acquired taste. But once you get into her flow and stream of consciousness, she's mesmerising, clever and funny. About as obnoxious as she gets is the line "your need for attention makes you attract the beef, ironically I used to say you were a mad cow" on the squawky woodwind-driven The Key.

You have to love her honesty and willingness to cough up carefree confessions about everything from getting kicked out of school, to the agonising process and challenges of actually getting this album out on Finish This Album.

Elsewhere there's the reggae jaunt and moochy brass of the delightful Buddy Love and there are succulent strings throughout, especially on the title track which also acts as a fitting finale. Speech Therapy is a sublimely paced and unique hip-hop record.

Scott Kara