4Q Magazine

Katy B – On A Mission (Review)

by Rob Pearson on 1.04.11


Katy B – On A Mission, 2011
(Columbia Records)

Within three years of releasing her first charted single Katy B is now on her second UK tour with her first fully solo album. A product of the underground Dubstep and Garage scene of south London the BRIT School graduate from Peckham has refrained from diluting her style for the mainstream market and it’s certainly paid off.

Her first single from the album ‘Katy On A Mission’ was a perfect example of this, the deep sub bass and synths are resolute in their heavy but smooth style, with angelic vocals placed seemingly within. Just enough to tempt the masses into the roots of Dubstep.

Dancehall rhythms are combined with a smooth soulful style in ‘Why You Always Here’, giving the track a certain class that many others in the genre have been lacking. ‘Witches Brew’ and ‘Disappear’ provide a pop-breakbeat respite to the faster Drum’n’Bass and House beats which give this album its energy, but the whole package is glued together with a dollop of Soul and Deep House straight from the mid nineties.

The style and spirit of Katy’s childhood soul singer role models fully emerges right at the end with the last track ‘Hard To Get’ which features a beat and rhythm reminiscent of the old Masters at Work productions with vocals which for some reason reminded me of a young Jill Scott… in other words the perfect combination.

Make no mistake, this girl is guaranteed not to be a one album artist, her style is only just developing. She may be marketed in the UK hip hop and garage scene but she has had the advantage of receiving the knowledge and enlightenment from a plethora of soul and R&B artists that existed back when black music was more than just the ‘urban’ style we hear today.

This is one of the best albums of the year so far, from one of the best new artists on the UK music scene. Watch out for this girl, she may be around for some time, at least we hope so.

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