Terror Danjah - Dark Crawler Review

By Darren Millard / October 2, 2012

rating: 3

Dark Crawler is an enjoyable albeit not wholly essential listen from one of grime's godfather's. It's also only the second full-length album Danjah has released, not just for the Hyperdub record label but over his more than decade long stint as de facto veteran grime producer. The rough and tumble of Dark Crawler's synths, sub-bass and drums sometimes belie their complex construction, but nonetheless this is as thrillingly physical as electronic music gets without sounding lobotomised. Album opener Dark Crawler Intro lulls you in with mischievous laughter and light musical narration that wouldnt be out of place in an old Looney Tunes animation, only to pummel you the next moment with a surge of grimy orchestral stabs. Mirrors Edge begins with a ruminative piano score before squelching into life with the kind of bass lurch that usually gets frowned upon by anyone sober and not entirely convinced by the EDM (Electronic Dance Music) phenomenon thats currently getting American teenagers in a tizz. Things get infinitely more interesting and exciting with Dark Gremlinz, its bubble-bursting beat and frantically layered grime stomp providing a good headphone listening experience as well as sound system worth. The first Dark Crawler Interlude on the album features Riko Dan on vocals, and similar to later guest appearances from MCs Trim, Deadly & Saf One, Mayhem and Kozzie: the aggressive vocal turns ape the concrete thud and punk ethos of Kevin Martins The Bug but without the latter's purposeful political fire. These interludes highlight Dark Crawler's flaws, such as a reliance on dated grime string-stabs and angry MC-posturing that doesn't really have a lot to say. You Make Me Feels terse percussive claps, springy synths and soulful vocals courtesy of guest vocalist Ruby Lee Ryder provide a sweet approximation of Terror Danjahs attempts to spearhead the musical concept of rhythm and grime (or rnb, natch), best exhibited outside of Danjahs ouvre by the vocal tracks on Bristolian producer Guidos excellent 2010 LP Anidea. Penultimate track Moschinos gloopy bass stabs and slamming drums provide a satisfyingly brutalist end-point before Dark Crawler Outro book-ends the album with the final iteration of Dark Crawlers titular instrumental refrain.