Labelled as Canada's answer to Panjabi MC after some ten years of underground mixes, bootlegs and desification of hip-hop tracks, DJ APS has now released his latest offering: 'Return Of The King'. The big guy's hip-hop love is evident throughout, as is DJ APS's great vision of how great he wants his album to be. Most songs have their own quirky intro, the album is 'Made In Canada' and you can "continue the experience" online at APS's website.

After an over-exaggerated intro track which includes the BBC's trio of desi DJs talking about APS, we are hit with the main track from the album, 'Bulle Tere'. I really like this tune, its got some cool singing and tight production, but its VERY Dr Zeus. Honestly, try singing 'Ah Ni Kuria' over Amarjit Sandhu's vocals and you'll feel like Lembher creating a hit track. That doesn't mean its not a good track; the beats are cool and you can vibe to it and the slower great it near the end is great, its just a bit similar, that's all.

'Panjabi Girl' is track three, and it opens with a great acapella of the catchy hook. It's a decent tune with the same singer, Amarjit Sandhu but with more of a bhangra feel to the previous track.

Track four is 'Black Bhangra', a very apt title as it's shit. A Cypress Hill type beat is behind too much production with countless vocal samples from hip-hop records. I can see what APS is trying to do, but its put into practise wrong. This is the bhangra version of Jimi Hendrix's 'Voodoo Chile', but it misses the mark. Rummi Chawa deserves a special mention for trying hard but lacking talent on this track, which finishes with a stupid piece at the end with a woman saying, "I'm totally on his dick". It's totally unnecessary.

APS then grabs the mic to tell us 'I Don't Think, I Drink', which is track five. There's an old sample to give the Indian influence and the lacklustre hook and vocal samples become repetitive over the beat.

'Let's Battle' follows to revive the bhangra feel. Amarjit Sandhu is back on vocals over a simple dhol beat. If this type of song can make you money then I'm getting in the studio with my local dholi and I'll pay a singer to sing a boliyan. Production is almost non-existent, there's a flute and some sound effects but that's it. Best describes as round the campfire stuff, its only positive note is the brief sample of the intro to Babylon Zoo's 'Spaceman' True sci fi desi, I got to big up lead singer Jas Mann whatever planet he may be on!!

Song number seven is the title track, 'Return Of The King', which sees DJ APS become MC APS and give some lyrical flows. A simple but effective beat is the platform for APS's rap, which to be fair isn't bad. Lyrically its there, but his voice hasn't got the silk of Method Man or spark of 2Pac. And by the way, it isn't desi (apart from a tumbi flow at the end), he says "Hip-hop first, Bhangra second", but he's tried so hard on UK ASIAN radio stations….

Eight is 'Dealer', another track to make you think of Cypress Hill. Jagpal is the singer without the fireworks, and the APS production is all a bit standard.

DJ APS then tries some desi R&B, using the enthusiastic singer Pawan. It's mature desi hip-hop music with someone singing in English over it. Now, the Rishi Rich Project does things differently; they adapt the beats to suit the singers, not just lump the two together and that's why they're making big things happen.

Another crap intro opens the door to 'Mundian Challe', featuring Davi Layal giving some jaded vocals. This is a bit similar to Jeeti's 'Aaja Sohniye', with fast garage beats then slowing to traditional bhangra beats. The problem is that APS's garage is almost drum & bass, but in that annoying bit in between garage and D&B so it sounds like an attempt.

Number eleven is 'Raising DHOL Part 2', which is described as a break beat. This is quite cool actually, some production flipping tricks, but its nothing more than a late interlude than anything else, and after a minute and thirty seconds it's too long. Another good idea put into practise wrong.

APS hits the mic again on 'In Disguise', track twelve. Another hip-hop track, which also features rapper Mr Tiger, we see APS's lyrical talents again (I do rate him a bit as a rapper) but musically it doesn't excite.

The final listed track is 'Run This Down', a catchy tune that features Mr Tiger again on the hook. This is alright, its got some good statement making lyrics with APS having a swipe at the industry he had a crack at before Asian beats where popular in the mainstream.

On the CD we were sent there was also 'Tabba' which was APS's big tune over the last year. I really dig this; it's a bouncing party anthem with some cool retro vocals. It must be said that this is APS's best work to date however, it comes to a premature end at just 2 mins 55 seconds, maybe theirs a longer version in the pipeline, who knows.

'Return Of The King' is a very good title for this album if you read through the lines. DJ APS is coming through with a triumphant return in which he thinks everything is brilliant, from the covers to every song being a hit and needing an elaborate intro. The problem is it's not all brilliant; in fact it's far from it. I must say that Amarjit Sandhu is the only singer I rate on this album and the rest are just plain poor. The mediocre vocalists bring the album right down; I mean if these clowns are the best he can find in Canada then maybe he needs to do what UK producers do by getting some pre-recorded vocals from the Indian subcontinent. There are a few decent tracks but this album only gets 5.5 out of 10. Over the top and over the bar, like a haircut and shot at goal from former Nottingham Forest striker Jason Lee.