The Defamation of Strickland Banks 679 Recordings/Atlantic****

Plan B is Ben Drew, whose 2006 debut album,

Who Needs Actions When You Got Words

, got him into trouble with its potty-mouthed UK hip-hop schtick. The album featured a London wide boy eager to ruffle feathers. His follow-up is a far more considered item, a concept album that breezes into four-star territory without so much as a by-your-leave. For this album at least, Drew (who you might have seen flexing impressive acting muscles in the gangster flick Harry Brown) largely jettisons hip-hop in favour of sublime falsetto soul. Never mind the concept, just feel the mod- soaked, occasionally spit- flecked rap mood as Drew makes his way through

Love Goes Down, Stay Too Long, The Recluse

and

What You Gonna Do

. The next album? Could be reggae, could be dubstep. For now, though, this Plan B is the best one to stick to. See time4 planb.co.uk

Download tracks:Stay Too Long, The Recluse