HAILING from Leeds, LSK is the trade name of Leigh Stephen Kenny, formerly of Bedlam A Go Go. Outlaw is his second outing as LSK and is an urban soundtrack to laid-back hazy summer evenings in the city, as well as an autobiographical musical journey. It's a mellow, retro record that nods its woolly-hatted head gently to vintage ska and soul and bobs along on deep dub reggae basslines, with LSK's warm, melodic voice and deft lyrical skills spinning stories about his past and the music that inspired him growing up - notably on '70s'80s and Rap Starr. There are echoes of The Specials, early Massive Attack and the everyday-geezer tales of The Streets' Mike Skinner - UK musicians taking a love of reggae and hip hop and make it reflect the realities of life in the English suburbs and inner cities. Opening track The Takeover cleverly invites and then debunks any Streets comparisons by parodying Skinner's style, with lyrics about LSK hijacking Radio One. With any luck they shouldn't need to resort to such drastic measures.

Updated: 15:05 Thursday, July 03, 2003