From Record Of The Day

Artist: Roll Deep, The Ave Released: 18 July
We say: Dizzee Rascal used to be part of Roll Deep and Wiley still is (he produced The Avenue). Their album just charted at #50 without the aid of a single. Thanks to Steve Owen of HMV for tipping us off about it. The Avenue contains a hefty sample of Heartache Avenue by The Maisonettes, a record from Christmas 1982 that sounds like it was from Christmas 1957, with added raps. Finally someone in UK hip hop has worked out how to make a credible crossover hit. We heard this twice in quick succession on Radio 1 and it sounded so good, we became convinced it could be #1 record.