- Thievery Corporation return, wearing their politics on their sleeves again. I can't tell whether the activism jars with TC's traditionally groovy, downbeat electronics, or whether the music is like a refreshing draught to help wash that bitter pill down. I'd say the latter (but I've worn a fair few black armbands in my time). I think the lead single is a perfect example: featuring a vocal from veteran diatribist Mr. Lif doing what he likes best and lambasting the many lamentable reversals of civil liberties the US has lately been engaged in. Y'know Lif and a TC beat works a treat! I think Lif's last couple of albums could've been a lot better if they'd sounded like this. The rest of the album is the traditional TC mix of nu-jazz, dubby soundscapes and sultry guest singers and if you liked this on previous albums, Culture of Fear shouldn't let you down at all. It's a good thing, too, because TC's formula isn't new in any way, and their scope for innovation actually appears to be decreasing from record to record. Ah, well, you can only eat comfort food for so long, but it appears that TC fans - myself included - are not yet full.