Reviewed by Tony Cummings

CATCHING THEIR DRIFT

Lee Jackson, DJ/MC and founding father of HOG is to be congratulated for sifting through a pile of DATS and analogue tapes to compile a fascinating trawl through the early years of British gospel rap. Volume 1 brings us a whole heap of early demos of which one, "Totally Blind" featuring the sublime R&B diva Tracey Riggan still sounds good today. Then we move on to the EP 'Revolution' (1991) and the group's first album 'HOG' (1994). Some of the raps are strictly old school but by the end of the 18 tracks here Justin Thomas is beginning here to demonstrate his unique rapping style. Also, "Fig Rolls" is a zaney classic which was a mainstay of their stage act for years.

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