Anyone worried by the fact that the Herbaliser's new CD is not on Ninja Tunes can relax – they may have a new label and a new lead singer, but the kings of hip hop have not lost their crown. The Herbaliser – aka Ollie Teeba and Jake Wherry are real veterans of the electronica scene, having been around since the early 1990s and releasing records on Ninja Tunes since 1995. Their new CD "Same As It Never Was" is not a tribute to Talking Heads (which is something I wouldn’t mind hearing – but that's another story), but sees the Herbz taking a more soulful and old school funk direction after they signed to the K7 label.

1. Same As It Never Was
2. On Your Knees (feat. Jessica Darling)
3. Just Won't Stop (feat. Yungun aka Essa)
4. The Next Spot
5. Can't Help This Feeling (feat. Jessica Darling)
6. Amores Bongo
7. Street Karma [A Cautionary Tale] (feat. Jean Grae)
8. You're Not All That (feat. Jessica Darling)
9. Blackwater Drive
10. Game Set & Match (feat. More or Les)
11. Clap Your Hands (feat. Jessica Darling)
12. Stranded On Earth (feat. Jessica Darling)

As ever, there is a veritable smörgåsbord of samples, all mashed up, including R2D2, but this is easily their most accessible album to date. "Same As It Never Was" may kick off in classic Herbaliser style, but it soon becomes clear that this is their party record and it takes on the likes of Mark Ronson and Nicole Willis at their own game.

The new member of the band, 22-year old Jessica Darling - who you'll hear on five out of the twelve tracks - belts out tracks like "Clap Your Hands" in a fine Nea Davenport-esque (or Alice Russell-esque) style and gives the album a nice sense of continuity.

Don't get too comfortable though, any time you think things might be settling down, rappers More Or Les, Yungun Aka Essa and Jean Grae jump in to stir things up a bit.

The closer "Stranded On Earth" dims the lights and shows us that the Herabliser still know how to chill out when necessary.

Same As It Never Was is a solid record, with plenty of big tunes - all of which are perfect for the summer. Some things may have changes, but the Herbaliser can still deliver the goods - whatever record label they are on.

~ Jamie Hailstone

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