Idris Elba - Murdah Loves John, album review: 'eclectic and edgy'

Idris Elba conjures the gritty urban flavour of his hit series Luther on this 'character album'
Edgy: Idris Elba presents a musical collection inspired by his TV character John Luther
Neilson Barnard/Getty
Andre Paine11 December 2015

The return next week of unhinged TV cop John Luther has been long awaited by fans.

Idris Elba - Murdah Loves John

However, the clamour for a companion record from leading man and part-time DJ Idris Elba (he opened for Madonna last week) is perhaps not so obvious.

Resisting the urge to become a singing detective, Elba recruited guest vocalists and helmed this mini-album with co-producer Fred Cox. The music has some of the crime drama’s gritty urban flavour on the title track, which features rapper Wretch 32 and a powerhouse vocal from Tanika Bailey.

Alice Loves is a murky, malevolent tune inspired by the show’s femme fatale, while Kasabian’s Tom Meighan is typically rowdy on the ominous rock of Sinner Man.

A scratchy, stripped-back version of Massive Attack’s theme song, Paradise Circus, completes this eclectic and edgy soundtrack to Luther’s London.

(7 Wallace)

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