On their last UK top 40 album The Allergies blasted us all the way to the Promised Land. And, now the moon dust has settled on that out-of-this-world record, they’re back to… Tear The Place Up. And who are we to argue? This brand-new full-length LP is bursting with the BBC Radio 6 Music A-listers trademark explosive energy, as they blow down the barriers between musical styles like never before.

The duo of DJ Moneyshot and Rackabeat, the production-outfit behind The Allergies, spent two years on a near relentless quest to make music for this project. There may be 13 tracks on here, but they're whittled down from hundreds. With each song that made the final grade ticking off stops on their go-to genres, and then some.

Across each dynamite track they mash up feel-good hip-hop flavours with club bubbling styles, dynamite soul selections, and a whole heap of expertly chopped sample sources and powerhouse vocal performances.

Joining them in the vocal booth for the first time they’re chuffed to welcome the worldwide hip-hop icon, Bootie Brown. The Pharcyde and Gorillaz lead rapper was specially drafted in to run riot on the boom bap rap track ‘Stanky Funk’, making it a future classic in the making.

The Allergies actually sampled up a relatively modern, but retro-funk band from New York for this one, EQing all the low end from the source material and layering over fresh bass and beefed-up drums to make it bump.

While, for his contributions to the LP, long-time collaborator, Andy Cooper, steps up like never before to showcase his rhyme skills, first, on ‘Green Light Go’.

It's a slab of hip-hop gold, in the mould of Andy's previous crew, Ugly Duckling. Built from chunks of a dusty old library record, this one is a horn-led roller, full of big bashy beats and blasts of brass, and was custom made to be the album's huge opening track.

Elsewhere, Mr. Cooper turns in his deadliest delivery to date, as he flows like a demon on the trap-meets-Tarantino title track, ‘Tear The Place Up’, alongside the shredding of ex-The Exploited guitarist, Robbie Davidson.

For this one The Allergies crafted a huge sound out of millisecond samples of a surf guitar record, and threw in wild animal sound effects, 808s, and other musical twists and turns to try and keep up with A.C's rap onslaught. If you dig this one, check out the video the group made, with Andy as a werewolf and Money and Rack as mad scientists!

Also pushed in wild new musical directions on the album are vocals taken with permission from the Blues Hall of Fame inductee, Hound Dog Taylor, on the song 'Treat You Right'. Wherein The Allergies soundtrack a late-night sneak through the streets for beats, as that Hound Dog Chicago chug gets pitch-matched drums and subs woven in, giving everything that trademark head nod factor.

Other highlights on the album include a 4/4 Afro-house tune twisting up vocals from Afrobeat ambassador, Dele Sosimi, called 'Hypnotise'. And the disco/club/reggae number 'Mash Up The Sound', which borrows liberally from the deadly dancehall pioneer, Joe Lickshot for its ear-worm vocal hook.

And it's on these two tracks that The Allergies wander off into vintage dance music territories for the first time. Largely inspired by listening to hours of early 2000's radio mixes and DJ club set recordings and wanting to take a trip back in time with samples and acapella flips, just like they used to do.

The rest of the album has showcase vocal turns from soul singer, Marietta Smith, who hits high notes over the sun-kissed boogaloo of ‘Vamonos’. And James Morton, who reminds us why he’s one of the UK’s hottest sax players on the epic jam, ’Take Another Look At It’. Both of whom will be joining The Allergies and Andy Cooper on tour this summer, so watch out for that.

These tracks, and the full-on funk throw-down, 'Push Right Through', have punchy and powerful beat-based backdrops, built up from the hundreds of splinters of funky and forgotten wax samples, with dope drums and slick cuts thrown on top for good measure – Just the way Allergies fans like it.

All in, it's their sixth and best album to date. These boys don't slow their roll. And once you've dropped the needle on the first groove, you'll have all the proof you need that they came to rip up the rule book AND the party on this one. Let’s go!

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Top 10 Tracks by The Allergies

1. The Allergies - God Walked Down (Jalapeno)

Our most popular song – About to hit 6m on Spotify! It's so cool that this emotional breakbeat-heavy track resonates with so many people. And it is dripping in the kind of bluesy samples we're still digging today.

 

2. The Allergies Feat Andy Cooper - Rock Rock (Jalapeno)

Our first big track with LA rap legend, Andy Cooper. It went so well, he's been super deep into everything we've done, since. Goes off live, too!

 

3. The Allergies - Jumping Off (Jalapeno)

A nod to the big beat business that was killing it in clubs when we were first starting out. One for the boys and girls.

 

4. The Allergies - Felony (Jalapeno)

Our lockdown anthem! And the first track that we got A-list plays for on BBC 6 Music.

 

5. The Allergies - Every Trick In The Book (Jalapeno)

We managed to sample Tina Turner. And for that, it's going in!

 

6. The Allergies - Reconcile (feat Charles Morgan) (Jalapeno)

One of our new ones. A masterclass in micro-chopping samples to get a massive sound. Love that shuffle beat, too.

 

7. The Allergies - Stanky Funk (feat Bootie Brown) (Jalapeno)

One of our latest singles. Had to mention it as it's got The Pharcyde / Gorillaz rapper, Bootie Brown on it. 9.99!

 

8. The Allergies - I'm On It (feat Dr Syntax) (Jalapeno)

Two of our fave UK rappers on one track. Heavy bongo beats and post-punk bass funk. Another monster.

 

9. The Allergies - As We Do Our Thing (Jalapeno)

Back to the first album with this one. Still kills it now. The blueprint for what we do, right here.

 

10. The Allergies - Push Right Through (feat Andy Cooper) (Jalapeno)

Off the new album and featuring the live touring crew. If you dig this, come catch a show when we're touring near you, ya heard?

 

The Allergies Chart Attack!

Yo-ville! The Allergies here with some mo' digital heaters for your crates, all in honour of our latest album – TEAR THE PLACE UP!

Besides cuts off this essential new record we've picked a few other upfront tracks, in a variety of fun and funky styles and genres, to give it some company.

Hope you dig!

Adam & Roy x

PEEEEEEEEEEACE!

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