Many artists love to brag about being difficult or impossible to categorize when, in fact, they are quite easy to categorize. It comes down to wishful thinking; such artists simply aren't as eclectic or adventurous as they like to think they are. But when
the Nextmen are described as being hard to categorize, it isn't just hype or empty rhetoric;
This Was Supposed to Be the Future really is an album that doesn't fit neatly into any one category. This 2007 release illustrates the broad-mindedness of Brad Ellis, aka Brad Baloo, and Dominic Betmead, aka Dom Search, the Cambridge, UK, residents who comprise
the Nextmen. During the course of this 55-minute CD, Ellis and Betmead (with the help of various rappers, toasters, and singers) draw on everything from alternative rap ("Knowledge Be Born") to dancehall ("Concentrate," "Blood Fire"), old-school '70s-style reggae ("Let It Be"), and a chillout/downtempo type of vibe ("Did No Wrong," "Something You Got," "The Drop").
This Was Supposed to Be the Future is certainly a stylistic roller coaster, and yet Ellis and Betmead manage to keep the album from sounding confused or unfocused. Despite moving in a variety of directions,
This Was Supposed to Be the Future has a certain continuity -- and one of the things that keeps it flowing in a logical fashion is the disc's strong club/DJ aesthetic. Ellis and Betmead see to it that a club-like atmosphere prevails throughout this enjoyably diverse album, which is as cohesive as it is unpredictable. ~ Alex Henderson