| 01 | | DON’T WATCH THAT (KNICKERS, Y-FRONTS AND JOCKSTRAPS)
| | Listen | | | | | 02 | | EVERYBODY
| | Listen | | | | | 03 | | THIS HERE MUSIC FEAT. SPEECH OF ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT
| | Listen | | | | | 04 | | THE IDEA FEAT. DE LA SOUL
| | Listen | | | | | 05 | | WHAT YOU WANT (TAYLORMADE) FEAT. TAYLOR MCFERRIN, JOY JONES AND JASON YARDE
| | Listen | | | | | 06 | | CLOSER FEAT. MACEO
| | Listen | | | | | 07 | | OH! FEAT. BAHAMADIA AND ZION I
| | Listen | | | | | 08 | | AIM FOR YOUR GOALS FEAT. ESKA
| | Listen | | | | | 09 | | SWEATING FOR YOUR SALARY FEAT. WUMNI AND DELE SOSIMI
| | Listen | | | | | 10 | | SOPHISTICATED AND COARSE FEAT. ESKA
| | Listen | | | | | 11 | | L.O.V.E. (NO MATTER WHAT) FEAT. VULA
| | Listen | | | | | 12 | | HUSTLE (THAT’S WHY WE) FEAT. RICH MEDINA | | Listen | | | |
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After the critical and commercial success of 2003’s Mercury-nominated “Upwards”, MC/producer TY returns with “Closer” – his strongest, most-focussed, most rewarding work to date.
Lauded by everyone from Lily Allen to Robert Wyatt, Ty is an artist who likes to take giant steps with every record he makes. With “Closer” he has reached a career pinnacle, a record packed with sharp hooks, killer basslines and clever wordplay, a humorous, funky and thoughtful stroll through the mind of the man himself and the life he leads.
From the opening bars of “Don’t Watch That” you know you’re in for something special. Lazy guitar stabs and the snap of the break lead you into Ty’s dissection of the rumours that swirl around him: “Apparently I walk with a thousand grand/And love fat girls dipped in marzipan.” “Everybody” utilises the sharpest proto-dancehall to get you moving, while “This Here Music” is pure pop delight. “The Idea” sees Ty joined by long-term friends and collaborators De La Soul, and “What You Want” is the next level of the kind of broken/hip hop he pioneered on “Upwards”. Title track “Closer” wouldn’t sound out of place on a Kanye record – a big, emotional tune over which Ty drops beautiful lyrics. “Sweating For Your Salary” sees him revisit his Nigerian roots, “Oh!” pairs machine funk with incisive words, while “Hustle” finishes the album on an emotional high, a remarkable exposition of Ty’s philosophy.
Ty has spent the time since the release of “Upward” building a formidable live rep and has toured all over the world. In particular, his time in the USA has allowed him to build such a reputation that he could call in guest slots from De La Soul, Speech of Arrested Development, Bahamadia, Rich Medina and Zion I. Throw in vocal contributions from UK-based singers such as Eska and Vula (best known for her work with Basement Jaxx) and you have a reputation for one of the best, most soulful, funkiest, thoughtful Black Music albums you’ll hear this year. Come Closer…
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