Album Review by Mark Bayross
Leigh Stephen Kenny, the son of a mixed race young single mother, spent his childhood in 1970s Kent dreaming of being a musician, then the 80s as a disaffected teenager in Leeds under the shadow of Thatcherism. This bittersweet experience was chronicled on 70s/80s, his contribution to Nightmares On Wax’s “Mind Elevation” album, another version of which appears on this, his second album.
Two years in the making, OUTLAW is once again a heady fusion of reggae, hip-hop and soul, taking in influences from dancehall to The Clash along the way. There is a distinctly early 80s 2 Tone feeling here, although its hypnotic lightness of touch strikes a similar chord to much of Massive Attack’s “Protection” album.
Refreshingly, LSK’s music is miles away from much of what makes current “urban” music so tedious – no bling bling posturing here. Tracks like STICK TO YA GUNS and forthcoming single RAP STARR have a humorously autobiographical slant, while the beats and LSK’s flowing rhymes are augmented by female backing vocals and occasional ska-like bursts of brass.
Despite the nostalgia trip, references to modern pop culture (Playstations, Eminem, etc) add a Streets-like contemporary relevance, especially as THE TAKEOVER, a spoof account of hijacking Radio 1, sounds just like one of Mike Skinner’s anti-establishment skits.
OUTLAW provides a welcome alternative to the present sorry state of pop music – whether that’s karaoke chart fodder or what is currently known as r n’ b. With its summery vibe and some thoughtful and often amusing lyrics, LSK can’t really go wrong.
