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Reviews

Dels, ‘Gob’ (Ninja Tune)

Despite claiming on his debut album’s title track that he “won’t get swallowed by the darkness,” this London rapper willingly tumbles into his mind’s netherworld. Giving voice to hallucinations, he employs vivid wordplay on “Eating Clouds” and “Melting Patterns,” but also breaks into social commentary, including a haunting depiction of a homeless woman (“DLR”) that recalls ’60s British kitchen-sink drama. Backed by serrated electronics (Kwes, Hot Chip’s Joe Goddard, Micachu from the Shapes), Dels struggles to find solace in the knowledge that his doubts and alienation are universal.