Latest releases reviewed

MS DYNAMITE
Judgement Days
Polydor
**
Three years ago, Ms Dynamite's debut album won her much acclaim and the Mercury Music Award gong. But three years on from that starry, strident introduction, the Dynamite who emerges from the studio this time around has a far less enthralling album to hawk. You could blame this on the "Lauryn Hill factor", as the world outside the pop bubble conspires to muddy the creative process, or you could call it a lack of decent tunes. Despite the best efforts of a raft of galactico producers (who add as much spit and polish to the musical sheen as they can muster), there's little spirit or fire here. The fault for this lies with Dynamite, as that fervent, stinging lyrical flow that made A Little Deeper so remarkable is kicked to touch in place of more touchy-feely, self-righteous sermonising (Nobody Hears Our Cries, the truly trite Put That Gun Away). www.msdynamite.co.uk  - Jim Carroll

PRINCE PAUL
Hip Hop Gold Dust
Antidote
***
Before Kanye West or Pharrell Williams became the producers to call when you were in a spot of studio bother, Prince Paul was the man. Having worked with luminaries De La Soul, Beastie Boys, Stetsasonic, Gravediggaz and a host of other projects (including the Handsome Boy Modelling School set-up with Dan the Automator), Prince Paul's back pages contain many gems. Hip Hop Gold Dust includes some of those we haven't heard before, the producer pulling out tapes and CDs of tracks that for one reason or another didn't make the final mix. It's hard to know why De La Soul's freaky Mindstate, the powerful Rza-like bumping of Resident Alien's Shakey Grounds or Gravediggaz's Constant Elevation have remained unreleased until now. A fine showreel for the producer's talents. www.antidoterecords.co.uk - Jim Carroll