Album Review: The Journey Man by Goldie

On The Journey Man, Goldie 's first proper solo studio LP since 1998's Saturnz Return, the sonic alchemist from the West Midlands manages to craft a sprawling, nearly two-hour collection that sounds vital and inspired, while also delivering a fresh twist on the euphoric drum 'n' bass club anthems that he'll always be known for. While the modes and methods of consuming music have been modified in Goldie's absence, there is no doubt that these pulsating new batch of tunes will sound right at home whether they are filling Spotify playlists or nightclub dancefloors. No matter what creative endeavor Goldie is pursuing (acting, composing, visual arts, or running his label Metalheadz), he has continuously kept his finger on the pulse of the contemporary artistic world, so this new record sounds innovative and entirely in the moment rather than an outdated attempt at trying to capture past glory or capitalize on new trends.

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There's a moment early on The Journey Man, around 75 seconds into opening track "Horizon" -- when Goldie's signature polyrhythmic drum beat kicks in -- that comes off tremendously gratifying for long-time fans of the drum'n'bass legend. The full-length, Goldie's first in 19 years, keeps his formula locked down, deftly realizing that the appetite for street-savvy London-hailing bass music has returned. With stunning vocals from a host of up-and-comers, including Natalie Duncan, Terri Walker, Natalie Williams and (his wife) Mika Wassenaar Price, Goldie masterfully blends bellicose, jagged breakbeats with soulful reveries on tracks like the potent "Mountain," the sexually charged "I Think of You" and the modernised "Tomorrow's Not Today.

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Good old Goldie. Recent single 'I Adore You' induced euphoria with its spine-shivering vocal, anthem-sized melody and rolling d'n'b contours - but only an idiot would have expected more of the same. Apart from 2012's stylish retrospective on Metalheadz, this is his first proper solo LP project since 'Saturnz Return', and it's brilliantly, bloody-mindedly Goldie: a slew of deep d'n'b grooves offset by beatless lounge-blues arias and glamour-soaked jazz club noodlings.

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Goldie is one of electronic music's most important artists. Few have reached the heights he did in the '90s, helping invent drum & bass and finding mainstream success in the process. He's since remained one of the scene's leading lights, acting as a bridge between the purists and those more inclined to crossover. He helped push drum & bass into new frontiers with albums like Timeless and Saturnz Return.

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Goldie created his new album The Journey Man with history in mind. Deliberately working with the size and scale of his breakout double-album debut Timeless, The Journey Man is meant to be a culmination of Goldie's musical career thus far. A self-made "Greatest Hits" collection that looks into the past but doesn't use old songs, instead touching on all the sonic threads that have run through his work thus far and creating new sounds with them.

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G oldie has always been larger than life, and his giant ambition took jungle from an underground concern to music that could sketch out cityscapes in epic widescreen. That ambition is undimmed on this 100-minute-plus solo album, his first in nine years. As well as sleek and well-heeled junglism ….

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