2 Ruff, Vol. 1 in Bloomington, MN

Designated as a mixtape rather than a full-length,
2 Ruff, Vol. 1
(the fifth
Chase & Status
release to hit the Top Ten in the U.K. album charts) is a brief but potent set of dancefloor heaters. While nearly every track sports guest producers and vocalists, it feels like it's meant to resemble a pack of raw dubplates rather than a more polished studio album.
Stefflon Don
leads the charge with her guest turn on the brassy, ragga-tinged opener "Selecta," then drill rapper
ArrDee
breathlessly recalls a debaucherous night out on "Liquor & Cigarettes." The release seems much less drill-influenced than the preceding
album, however. "Baddadan," a
Flowdan
-featuring anthem that took over festivals and reached the Top Five in the U.K., appears in a slightly extended version, and it's one of the most commanding tracks here. Some of the other songs with guest vocalists don't leave as much of an impression, but "Say the Word" (with
Clementine Douglas
) is a sweet, levitating pop moment, and "20 Man Down" (featuring
MIST
and
IRAH
) strikes a balance between tense grittiness and social consciousness, though it could use an additional verse or two. "Massive & Crew" and "Get Got" are buzzy near-instrumentals that seem like stripped-down club tools on the surface, but are actually quite intricate and end up being two of the most exciting tracks on the mixtape. A mishmash of charting hit singles and other ideas that are likely to be explored further on future records,
isn't intended to be a definitive
release, but for anyone in the mood for a half-hour dose of exhilarating dancefloor drum'n'bass, it does the job well. ~ Paul Simpson