Out now, Buggsy's convincing debut album, The Great Escape, has appeal beyond urban music's borders. Containing great production, sharp lyrics, potent delivery and some classic radio-friendly tracks, it's a massive leap forward from the Gully Side video, though parts of that rap can still be heard on I Kno I Kno U. Influenced by roots reggae, dub, grime and hip hop the albums has - with the notable exception of Bris Ting - a characteristically Bristolian dark and dope-fuelled sound.

Opener Riddimholic has an urgent vibe, a plucked harp sample echoing as if deep underground. Next up, the adrenaline-fuelled I'm Waiting, begins with machine-gun rapping, a despondent flute weaving in and out of the chorus's effect-laden vocal. For Bris Ting, brassy horn stabs rise and fall as Buggsy chants, 'Yo! Yo! Yo!' It's a party track and the the most upbeat number on the album. After this, the disc returns to its more moody tone with Born Inna System's bouncing reggae beat and tight social critique.

This album like a red carpet premier is full of the good and the great.

Barsman is the first of two short a capella tracks on the album. In one part, Buggsy says, mocking the stereotypical west-country accent 'Im from Bristol but... I don't say words like Lush.' Ode to weed, Connect The Spdiff, starts like a ragga-tinged version of Portishead's Numb, and has appearances from the rappers Jehst and Farma G. The standout track, Pure Gas, uses white noise and breathy vocals to peculiarly good effect, Buggsy rapping, 'All I ever hear is gangsta this and gangsta that... when everybody knows where the gangstas at, locked down in a cage or in a grave.' Finally, except for a reprise of I Kno I Kno U featuring Gemmy, title track The Great Escape closes the CD. It's a shame, out of an album of 16 tracks, that its expansive film-scoric depths and sweeping strings are kept till last.

The Great Escape is a promising career opener for this up and coming artist. Wisely his trademark Bugs Bunny inspired laugh, 'AGAGAGA', has been used sparingly as I imagine it could begin to suffer from over exposure. In the last third of its length, the album loses some of its initial momentum and with so many quality tunes to choose from, it could have done with being whittled down to a more manageable 11 or 12 tracks. Unconnected to a major label, Buggsy, savvy to the habits of the YouTube generation, also has a number of music videos to accompany the album's top tracks.

Central to The Great Escape's appeal is his laid-back character and humour, which allows him to tackle dark subject matter without ever coming across as too serious. This album, like a red carpet premier, is full of the good and the great. Bristol has over the years produced some well-known national and international artists and with this record as his starting off point, surely it won't be long before we count Buggsy as one of them.

The album is available now from iTunes and a number of local record shops including Weapon Of Choice Gallery at the bottom of Park Street.

Article by Alex Cater.

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Album Review Buggsy The Great Escape

03 October 2011

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