DJs by night, producers by day, The Nextmen are Dom Search, the thin balding one, and Brad Baloo, the fat, hairier one. Their third studio album sees them wearing their DJ hats. Replicating, as it does, a typical set of theirs – taking in dancehall, hip hop, and soul.

The calm after the storm, This Was Supposed To Be The Future follows a fraught production schedule. The last few months of which, in the duo’s own words, featured “plenty of diva-esque tantrums and the odd 'Fuck this I'm going solo' ". As it turns out, the outcome was worth all the hassle.

Musical magpies, Dom and Brad show off their encyclopedic knowledge of reggae music with some fine samples. ‘Blood Fire’ uses a hook from Niney The Observer, ‘Concentrate’ samples The Crystalites, and the porkpie-hat-sporting ‘Piece of The Piece’ incorporates The Upsetters’ ‘Jungle Lion’. It’s not all one-way traffic, however, with Niney brought out of a 20-year spell of retirement to front ‘Let It Be’.

Old hand Dynamite MC can be relied upon to supply the big bang. Yet its new discovery Zarif who almost steals the show. This London soul sister of Erykah Badu surely won’t remain unsigned for long on the evidence of ‘Something Got You’, ‘Move’, ‘Memory Lane’, and the title track.

This Was Supposed To Be The Future is the perfect party album. None of its guests, which also includes the likes of Sway and Bridgitte Amofah, outstay their welcome. Don’t bet against The Nextmen inviting them back to another soiree sometime soon.

(3¾/5)