Barely out of his teens, Las Vegas rapper Shamir has shown precocious talent and the buzz around him is only going to grow. Ratchet is one of the best debut albums of recent years. Shamir explores different elements of dance music with the poise of a veteran, and the record is packed with dancefloor-friendly gems that confirm the singer's serious star potential.
Opener 'Vegas' is a brilliant slice of psychedelic electro-funk that skilfully incorporates avant jazz elements, while the following 'Make A Scene' is a trippy electro number worthy of a place in the LCD Soundsystem canon. Elsewhere, 'On The Regular' is a full-on house workout with dubstep elements, 'Call It Off' is a pumping dancefloor anthem and 'Hot Mess' is a harder-edged techno effort.
As if further proof of Shamir's abilities are needed, the stunning 'Demon' showcases the singer's moodier side. A delicate psych-tinged ballad, all fluttering synths and ambient washes, it is actually the kind of music you wish Prince was making in 2015.
Wonderfully imaginative and eclectic, Ratchet is a shoo-in for the end-of-year critics' list.
KEY NOTE: 'On The Regular'