Kingfood

"So, what am I doing?" questions a disembodied voice within the opening seconds of Stuart Cullen's third album in as many years for Certificate 18's Electronic Projects. The addition of a school hall recorder and loping electro rhythm section only accentuates the query, although -- like his previous long-players and the well-received pair of Manana extended players released prior to King Food -- Cullen mysteriously manages to draw these disparate elements together, in this case through some heartstring-tugging chords. The way in which the soul positively drips from this collection of lo-fi breakbeat excursions remains the strength of Pilote, taking samples others would discard and bringing them together through what, at first glance, appear to be crumbling arrangements. His speed-garage-tinged "Streams" seems daft at first, all grunt and punch, but again the synths fuse these elements into a thing of beauty. While "Can You Keep a Secret" is King Food's "Turtle," the Tudor hip-hop of "Welcome" proves the album's biggest surprise -- with Brighton rapper Lewin providing a well-observed narration on what previously seemed destined to be solely instrumental. A unique talent offers his best work to date. ~ Kingsley Marshall|