Album Review: The Streets, None of Us Are Getting Out of This Life Alive

Defunct for the best part of a decade, The Streets always specialised in gritty explorations of everyday life. Given the tumultuous nature of the times, Mike Skinner obviously felt the moment was right to reactivate the project.

The Birmingham native, now 40, again showed his ability to reflect the wider cultural moment in the single ‘I Wish You Loved You As Much As You Loved Him’, with the video referencing Black Lives Matter and campaigns for social change. Musically, the song was vintage Streets: thumping dubstep rhythms with a shout-along chorus that instantly lodged itself in your head.

On the “mixtape album” None of Us Are Getting Out of This Life Alive, skilfully incorporates an eclectic array of collaborators into the Streets universe, making for a compelling listen. ‘Call My Phone Thinking I’m Doing Nothing Better’ wonderfully blends glitch-y electro with Tame Impala’s trademark psych-pop, whilst Idles contribute intense blasts of punk energy to the title-track.

Best of all is ‘I Know Something You Did’, a gorgeous slice of neo-soul featuring an inspired contribution from London rapper Jesse James Solomon. Whilst it may not achieve the zeitgeist-defining status of the Streets’ classic debut Original Pirate Material, this is nonetheless an impressive return from one of the true maverick talents of UK music.

Out now.