Anyone whose interest has been piqued by the adventurous rhythmic structures of MIA’s recent Mercury-nominated debut should check out Lotek Hi-Fi, who re-enter the fray with their second LP for Ninja Tune’s Big Dada offshoot label and should please fans of this imprint’s leftfield approach. (It’s no coincidence that MIA’s boyfriend, Diplo, also records for Big Dada). So, while the Hi-Fi objective seems to be re-imagining hip hop’s roots and its future, their Caribbean heritage is their principal calling card. The new sound of Jamaican dancehall figures strongly alongside soca, roots reggae, even a ragga-disco style, plus sumptuous classical and soundtrack moments, to generate a genuinely fresh and intoxicating brew. And Lotek Hi-Fi excel on all counts: the slick production of Roots Manuva collaborator Wayne ‘Lotek’ Bennett, the sweet tenor of reggae /street-soul wonder Wayne Paul (also recently heard on the sublime Revolution 5 from Mr Manuva’s glorious dub version of his second album, Dub Come Save Me) and the cavernously booming baritone of multi-talented rapper/clarinetist Aurelius aka Dazzler. Not forgetting Roots Manuva himself, Sandra Melody and beatboxer /rapper Earl J, who pop up as guest vocalists, Lotek Hi-Fi have got all moody bases covered and should get you bogling all the way to the middle of the floor as much as melting into a dark corner. Stirring stuff.

Hobbes