Review: Rizzle Kicks, Glasgow ABC

THERE is a cartoon swagger and playful irreverence about Jordan “Rizzle” Stephens and Harley “Sylvester” Alexander-Sule, the two Brighton teens who form Rizzle Kicks, something which distinguishes them from their London-based Brit-hop peers.

With no underground credentials nor hard-knock life story to exploit, their chief end is to entertain, and their ascendance over the past six months has provided a cheery beacon in a dull pop landscape. Even Stephen Fry has cracked a smile and declared himself a fan.

Though their target audience is considerably younger than our learned friend, their musical palette is of a certain vintage. Guided by producer Fatboy Slim, their sunny sound delves into funk, rare groove and even Nirvana – the 60s psych band, not the grunge messiahs – whose Rainbow Chaser has been sampled on their track Dreamers and was replicated here by their tight four-piece backing band, contributing almost as much as the rappers themselves to the infectious vibrancy of the short but wholly satisfying set.

The ska bounce of former single When I Was A Youngster (last week, judging by their youthful verve) and a skanking arrangement of the James Bond theme recalled a poppier Specials, while their tireless trumpeter led the Latin rock approach to a burst of The White Stripes’ Seven Nation Army.

Energy levels were effortlessly maintained through the gleeful dance number Mama Do The Hump and the mariachi-flavoured exuberance of breakthrough hit Down With The Trumpets, both dispatched with party spirit to spare.

Rating: ****