The first voice heard on Wu-Tang Clan’s historic debut was Ghostface Killah’s, and listening to that album again it can seem blindingly obvious that among the Clan members he was the one who would produce consistently arresting solo work.
Given the time of year, it’s fitting that More Fish starts with a New Year’s Eve countdown, which leads into the breathless and breathtaking delivery of ‘Ghost Is Back’. Ghostface has rarely sounded more focused and more frantic, and six solo albums later, his flow is as unique and vicious as ever.
But elsewhere on the album, the Staten Island native showcases a softer sound that relies on soul samples, a technique that has worked for him in the past. US single ‘Good’, ‘Josephine’ and ‘Pokerface’ have that buttery sound synonymous with Kanye West, but Ghostface proves that rap’s golden boy isn’t the only one that can make the style work.
It’s a strangely divided album in other ways though – for one thing, there are three songs on which Ghostface doesn’t even appear, instead allowing the members of his Theodore Unit crew to control the mic. The fact that this includes Killah’s son Sun God just adds to the impression of a supreme talent giving a leg up to his less remarkable protégés. ‘Gotta Hold On’ and ‘Miguel Sanchez’ aren’t total disasters, but they lack personality and spark.
Producers of the calibre of Hi-Tek and MF Doom add real ingenuity to More Fish, their innovative beats supplying an undeniable edge. Doom’s track ‘Alex’ is a definite standout, but it’s with Mark Ronson that Ghostface proves he still has an instinct for pop crossover.
Later, Amy Winehouse pops up to duet with Ghostface on ‘You Know I’m No Good’ (previously a Winehouse b-side). The Wu-Tang member let’s everyone’s favourite white-girl-who-sounds-black know who the real boss is: “So let’s stick it out, so we never regret it/I could forgive the past, but I never forget it,” he chides.
It’s 13 years since Wu-Tang Clan released their seminal debut, seven since their last decent collection, and three since ODB died. But with More Fish, Ghostface proves that the drive and originality that made the rap group stand out in 1993 hasn’t deserted all of them.