Ben Preece, Journalist

Britney Jean is a competent release, but we still need to hear the outright killer pop record she has in her.

Illy pulls off his lead role effortlessly, guiding the entire project with the style and class we’ve come to expect from the MC, but seemingly with a new zest that breathes fresh air into what he does.

"I think an album is a great thing to do, you know – take people on a journey – and I hope it sticks around."

"Be Kind, Unwind will quench the thirst of some diehard Philly Jays fans."

Opener Gimme Your Love emanates a variation of their staple trip-hop sound, while subsequent tracks touch on shiny house (Face Of Danger), swirling reggae (Make Believer) and outright mistakes (Call It Love).

“I mean the tracks just came out and as soon as they were recorded, sometimes in rehearsal, they were pretty much near done."

“We became such a strong live act with all the touring for so long, we didn’t want to leave that fire that we’d built up over the last couple of years touring.”

Overall, the hooks are scarce, probably because they’re all stuffed into Royals, but the effortless cool is present throughout, perhaps even being the ultimate detraction from pure greatness.