Three years after releasing their third successive classic album, Downsyde are back to take over the Australian music scene once again with what is without any doubt one of their finest releases to date. Perth’s favourite sons stepped out of the limelight amongst insatiable public hype in 2004 to rekindle their flame, travel the world and then re-unite with the mission statement to create their most impressive work to date. And, by all accounts, it’s mission accomplished. The fire and heart of the MC/DJ combo that first started writing, performing and producing in 1996 is still as strong as ever after 12 years and an expanded line-up that has turned them into a fully-fledged band.

All City joins an impressive back catalogue of benchmark Australian hip-hop albums which include Epinonimous (2000), Land of the Giants (2002) and When The Dust Settles (2004). Downsyde’s history as a group is as long and rich as it is impressive, but it has included everything from prime-time slots on the country’s biggest festivals, unprecedented sales for a local hip-hop act, being nominated for the inaugural J Award and numerous infamous nationwide sell-out tours.

All City presents a significant amount of contrast to the listener. On one song, you’ll find banging drums, blaring trumpets and latin percussion laced with light hearted, party igniting lyrics, and then three songs later you’ll be listening to insightful, often jaded, introspective tales littered over a more downbeat, moody soundtrack. Amongst all of the diversity presented in the album – one thing unites every track, and that’s that they are all dripping in absurd amounts of funk.