Refraction - MPH

One of the fastest-rising outfits in the modern UK garage scene, MPH capitalizes on his growing success with his debut album "Refraction".

And MPH is one of the fastest-rising outfits in the modern UK garage scene for a reason. He's adept at fusing the typically bouncy garage beats with grungier, deep basslines, and he does so to great effect with "Refraction". In fact, that's arguably where its success stems from — danceable, clubby energy with bassy undertones and plenty of shifting low-end to make way for an energetic and simultaneously dirty feel to its 53 minute runtime. Amazingly consistent, MPH keeps the tracklist stable for its length, tweaking the mood when it needs to be tweaked and bringing in vocals when they need to be brought in — whether that's the emotive performances in "My Mind" or "Lights On", the grime and hip-hop of "North LDN" or "Shoot To Kill", or any of the other sampling MPH wields with skill. Sampling ends up being a key part of MPH's soundstages, adding that extra energy where necessary and supplementing the project's danceable vibe immensely. Yes, "Refraction" is very consistent. Perhaps too consistent. Though it has some great flow, "Refraction" feels a little overly serviceable at times. Yes, the basslines used are unique and groovy, and there is enough diversity to keep things interesting, but I can't help but feel that the motifs of the record are rarely expanded upon. "Refraction" is ultimately just a collection of clubby garage tunes with no real rhyme or reason to them, and it could have been so much more — there are some very interesting ideas, both in terms of track structuring and tracklist structuring, that feel skipped over. Whilst it was great fun to listen to, I do feel as if MPH missed a trick or two. Being the debut project of one of the contemporary rising stars of the UK garage scene, "Refraction" may cause some serious stirs within the space, but I don't quite think it can be called incredible as a holistic record.

Other than that, some of the sampling style feels a little iffy to me, a little overblown and/or overly enthusiastic at times, as if I just don't quite get it. Still, MPH has got good career prospects ahead of him, and I commend his ability to mix and match the energetic with the underground and produce a definitive set of tracks here. Unfortunately, "Refraction" doesn't quite escape being slightly boring at times, even with all its energy and diversity. Also, I really cannot tell whether these are actual transitions between tracks, because some of them feel a little half-baked and others are practically nonexistent, but I'll give it the benefit of the doubt on that one.