Welcome please, to the world of Kieren Dickins aka DELS. The young MC has
been creating a buzz ever since John Peel heard him as a teenager and put him
on the radio. Now he's ready to re-write the rules of rap in the UK in a way that
hasn't happened for years.
"Shapeshift" is a perfect place to start. The beat is courtesy of long-time
collaborator Joe Goddard, better known for his work as part of Hot Chip.
Goddard hooks up some ultra-squelchy, off-kilter electronic madness (as well
as dropping in to deliver a poker-faced middle 8). Over it, DELS does what he
does best, in this case taking us back to a childhood in which his biggest dream
was to be able to turn into something else. It's a proper recollection of
childhood, its fears and well as its fun, not one of those fake lists of vintage
products like Raleigh Grifters. DELS slams it out in a clear voice which shows the
influence of Grime, while the cleverness of his punch lines and metaphors show
he ain't kowtowing to any of the many cliches of the form.