MC Tali: Lyric on My Lip

Reviewed by RUSSELL BAILLIE

Herald rating: * * *

Taranaki-bred, Bristol-based MC Tali — Natalia Scott — hasn't been backward in coming forward, having hooked up with drum'n'bass don, Roni Size, and his Reprazent crew and getting to this, her debut album.

Tali's staunch attitude, nippy and tuneful delivery make her a fine cheerleader for the genre on the bulk of these mostly Size-produced tracks.

But a little too much of the album is lyrically stuck doing the club-crowd warm-up routine. A pity, because when the beats relax and Tali sings — as on Don't Let Me Wake Up with its R&B/Missy Elliott grooves; Grey Day with its Portishead-strength melancholy, and the slow-burning Don't Blame Me — she shows there's more to Tali than that MC job description.

(Shock)