After years as one of grime and UK funky’s eminences grises, Scratcha DVA has made a number of career step changes this year.

Off the back a decade’s worth of 12″s and EPs, Scratcha finally got around to releasing his enjoyable (if inconsistent) debut full-length, Pretty Ugly. He’s also subbed his slot as an early morning jester on Rinse FM for a more focused role as presenter of the station’s regular Hyperdub show. And so it continues: pet label DVA Music have announced their first ever artist album.

Shy One is 21 year old Mali Larrington-Nelson. DVA’s been a consistent cheerleader, releasing Shy One’s debut Decaffeinated Love EP on DVA Music. That disc was a strong introduction: carried by a title track that somehow managed to channel Joker and Shackleton simultaneously, it also featured a nifty rework from T. Williams.

Forthcoming debut album Bedknobs & Boomkicks is a light and playful collection of 8-bit melodies, synth rushes and dinky drum programming; if Crystal Castles had grown up on UK funky rather than screamo rock, the results might have sounded something like this. In many ways, it’s a perfect maiden full-length for DVA’s label: it’s percussion heavy, it darts from funky to 2-step, and, crucially, it doesn’t take itself too seriously. Winningly dorky grime cut ‘Lickle Rascal’, previously supported by the likes of Brackles and Simbad, makes the cut.  Ruby Lee Ryder – yes, she of Champion’s almighty ‘Sensitivity’ – also contributes vocals on centrepiece ‘Spring Romance’.

Bedknobs And Boomkicks is due on November 26.

Tracklisting:
Quid Pro Quo
Black Widow
Speak Eazy
Spring Romance ft Ruby Lee Ryder
Lickle Rascal
Pastel Requiem
Amazon Swing
Aztec Bwoy
Old Cudjoe Town
City Roots