Released this week is the eagerly awaited debut album from Katy B. She’s been described as “The Queen of dub-step” but On A Mission is in-fact a rich cross pollination of genres that include garage, dance, R&B and Katy’s first love UK Funky as well as her signature dub step sound. ‘Power On Me’ the opening track of the album, introduces the garage influence in Katy’s music whilst her melancholy vocal delivery shows a softer side than on her previous singles. We’re then launched into the thumping intro of ‘Katy On A Mission’ the Benga produced track that established Katy as a new force in UK music. Even after a year this is still an absolute stomper of a tune and a standout track of the album.

The geniously titled ‘Bitches Brew’ is another one of the real gems on the album. A electro breakbeat feel combined with an infectious pop chorus that emblazons itself into your mind. It’s hard not to find yourself singing “Oh oh ooooh, come see what I got for you. All the others got me misunderstood, come with me, I'll make you feel so good” along to the chorus.

‘Go Away’ is the albums emotional counterpoint. It’s a down tempo dub step R&B ballad for a modern day audience. Lyrically this track displays a more emotive side to Katy than the carefree raver of ‘Katy on A Mission’ and ‘Lights On’. “If you could please just go away / leave me alone, yeah fly away / into the stars, never see your face / it would make my world such a better place” Katy sings as she closes the door on a broken relationship. The purity of Katy’s tone and vocal delivery combined with the resignation in the lyrics provides a real and welcome moment of vulnerability.

‘Broken Record’ is the most recent single to be taken from the album is a dub step influenced pop gem with elements of a throwback to 90’s jungle and house. Again Katy successfully traverses the delicate line between the uber credible dub step world and her new persona as commercially successful popstar.

The Magnetic Man produced ‘Perfect Stranger’ and the huge UK single ‘Lights On’ ft Ms Dynamite also make an appearance on the album and pepper the record with a healthy dose of club bangers and chart hits.

The track that arguably best showcases Katy’s playfully mischievous nature is the boisterous ‘Easy Please Me’ The lyrics depict a typical scenario in Katy’s day to day life where she is warding off some unwanted male attention. “It's not that easy (its not that easy) these days can't find a man to please me / their lines are far too cheesy, no boy is on a level believe me”.

‘Hard To Get’ closes the album out with a live band arrangement of some lush house, funk and garage. Some Latin percussion and a big band brass sections provide the backdrop for a jazz infused Rhodes solo to rip through as Katy delivers her spoken thank you notes to the friends, family and crew who have supported her throughout her career.

As a whole, Katy On A Mission is an album of genre defying classics. Hardly a weak track in sight, the album launches into tune after tune of effortless hooks and banging production. MOBO gives it an impressive 4 M's out of 5.

Words: Chris O'Gorman