This Time CD

Over the years, Lack of Afro producer Adrian Gibbons has proved adept at knocking out both shamelessly upbeat party fodder and carefully crafted songs laden with raw emotion. This third album - his second for Freestyle - gives ample weight to both, presenting a pleasing mix of scratchy soul (check the Northern Soul revivalism of "Fool" and "What The Hell"), horn-heavy Afrobeat, piano-laden anthems ("Holding My Breath"), Aim-ish hip-hop instrumentals and balls-out funk breaks messiness (the suitably fat "P.A.R.T.Y"). That it remains entertaining and highly polished throughout reflects Gibbons' growing skill as a producer. Basically, he's really nailed it This Time.