DJ Vadim

"U Can't Lurn Imaginashun' is all about mining the deepest parts of the psyche to find inspiration.

"Cheap computers and powerful software can't make music for you," states Vadim. "That comes from the imagination, from the will to fight for your life, to love and to struggle.... Being diagnosed with cancer gave me a reason to fight for my life. I wasn't going to let the cancer overcome me - my body nor my passion, music. Even with tragedy knocking at the door I looked within myself to create something new."

Naturally, 2008 wasn't 100% bad. Amidst the illness, pain and heartache, Vadim managed to tour worldwide with Fat Freddy's Drop, DJ Krush and Slick Rick. And not only did he find, or rather make, time to write a new album, he also discovered new ways to express himself, such as playing keyboards and even ‘singing' – or at least putting his vocals through AutoTune, TalkBox and vocoders, an effort to avoid relying on samples and to reach some new ground.

"This is something I would never have done ten years ago, let alone on my last album," avers Vadim. "I feel like the album bridges gaps between what is eclectic and what is mainstream, as well as between genres like soul, hip hop, reggae, downtempo and electronica. It's definitely a move towards more electronic sounds from The Soundcatcher" – maybe like Soul2Soul meets Daft Punk."

On "U Can't Lurn Imaginashun" Vadim hits every note and every colour, not just the black and white ones. Like all Vadim projects, the songs here are fresh, funky and fun. There are reggae rubs that could sit next to Desmond Decker; neo-soul and conscious-rap jams that recall Q Tip or Jill Scott; experimental gems akin to the work of Flying Lotus or J Dilla. Mostly though it's the sound of music being embraced and loved, and of a re-inspired life being lived. If ATCQ hadn't already used Beats, Rhymes & Life as an album title, it would be equally suitable here...