When Fish Ride Bicycles Green Label Sound **

Having made their name by releasing single tracks, mixtapes and EPs, the long-completed debut of the hip-hop duo The Cool Kids was clamped after label troubles. In such situations, there's always the danger of missed opportunities, and it's true: much of When Fish Ride Bicycleslacks the innovatory explorations of many of their contemporaries' newest releases. The Chicago-based pair give it their best shot, though. Guest slots from the likes of Ghostface Killah and Mayer Hawthorne add colour and variation to their flat style, and The Neptunes' fingerprints are all over the standout track Get Right.Other appearances by the likes of the Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker seem pointless, but the biggest problem is Antoine Reed and Evan Ingersoll's lifeless delivery. If they sound like they can't be bothered, why should we? See coolxkids.com

Download tracks: Penny Hardaway, Get Right