''Signs of a Struggle'' is the debut album by English recording duo

Mattafix Mattafix were an English electronic duo, consisting of vocalist Marlon Roudette and producer and keyboardist Preetesh Hirji. Their sound was a fusion of hip hop, R&B, reggae, dancehall, blues, jazz, soul and world. Known for their 2005 hit si ...

, released on 31 October 2005 throughout Europe. The duo stated that the album is a reflection of the experiences and hardships they have gone through.

Reception

AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...

writer Alexey Eremenko gave the album four-and-a-half stars out of five, praising the originality and variety of styles by saying: "The debut album by Mattafix is a pleasantly tantalizing experience of guessing the sound and never being quite there -- because Mattafix has taken the old elements and made them into something new, or at least untried before." However, Dorian Lynskey of ''

The Guardian ''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'', and changed its name in 1959. Along with its sister papers ''The Observer'' and ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardian'' is part of the Gu ...

'' gave the album two stars out of five, criticising the lyrical themes which blamed different people, saying: "The bellyflop performed by

Ms Dynamite Niomi Arleen McLean-Daley (born 26 April 1981), better known as Ms. Dynamite, is a British singer and rapper. She is the recipient of the Mercury Music Prize, two Brit Awards and three MOBO Awards. Early years She was born Niomi Arleen Mc ...

's second album suggests that the British public have scant tolerance for the sound of fingers being wagged in their faces. This is bad news for London-based duo Mattafix, whose debut consists of little else."

Track listings

# "Gangster Blues" (

Marlon Roudette Marlon Roudette is a British singer, songwriter and producer. He is the former front man for the duo Mattafix, who had their first number 1, "Big City Life", in 2006. After the group split, Roudette embarked on a solo career with two number one ...

) – 4:19 # "

Big City Life "Big City Life" is a song by English electronic music duo Mattafix. With a chorus is sung in Jamaican Patois, "Big City Life" was released in August 2005 as the second single from Mattafix's debut album, '' Signs of a Struggle'' (2005). The singl ...

" (Marlon Roudette/

Preetesh Hirji Mattafix were an English electronic duo, consisting of vocalist Marlon Roudette and producer and keyboardist Preetesh Hirji. Their sound was a fusion of hip hop, R&B, reggae, dancehall, blues, jazz, soul and world. Known for their 2005 hit si ...

) – 4:00 # " Passer By" (Marlon Roudette/Ross Godfrey/Chris Harrison) – 3:33 # "

To & Fro "To & Fro" is a single from Mattafix's debut album, '' Signs of a Struggle'', released in 2005. The song features backing vocals from Sugababes member, Siobhán Donaghy. It was released as a download only single on 13 March 2006 in the United King ...

" (Marlon Roudette/Preetesh Hirji) – 4:04 # "Everyone Around You" (Marlon Roudette/Preetesh Hirji) – 4:58 # "Clear and Present Danger" (Marlon Roudette/Preetesh Hirji) – 4:20 # "Older" (Marlon Roudette) – 2:49 # "I to You" (Marlon Roudette/

Phil Thornalley Philip Thornalley (born 5 January 1960) is an English songwriter-producer who has worked in the music industry since 1978. He is perhaps best known for co-writing (with Scott Cutler and Anne Preven) the song " Torn" (made famous by Natalie Imbr ...

) – 4:21 # "Impartial" (Marlon Roudette/Preetesh Hirji) – 3:55 # "The Means" (Marlon Roudette/Preetesh Hirji) – 4:09 # "11:30 (Dirtiest Trick in Town)" (Marlon Roudette/Oshik Levy/Neil Pearson) – 3:28 # "The Forgotten" (Marlon Roudette/Ross Godfrey/Chris Harrison) – 3:52 # "555" (Marlon Roudette/Preetesh Hirji) – 6:33 # "

Cool Down the Pace "Cool Down the Pace" is the final single from Mattafix's debut album, '' Signs of a Struggle'', released in 2006. The song charted in Germany, Italy, Austria, and Switzerland. The original song was sung by Gregory Isaacs Gregory Anthony Isaa ...

Reception

Track listings

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

References