Produced by Andrew Hung of F**k Buttons, "Shackles' Gift" is the album that Zun Zun Egui have always threatened to deliver. Opening with 'Rigid Man', it hits the listener with bone-shaking tropical funk. Future single 'African Tree' strolls past on a marching band rhythm, complete with an arena-sized chorus and Kyuss-heavy stoner rock guitars. 'Ruby' is like imperial period Depeche Mode discovering the delights of industrial dancehall reggae, while 'I Want You To Know' is an absolute funk/noise rock monster, sounding like Steve Albini recording Queens Of The Stone Age jamming on 'Kashmir'. 'Soul Scratch' is a very British take on a very Mauritian form of music called seggae, which combines the African island folk music known as sega with reggae, but imbuing it with an adrenalised urban uptightness. The album concludes with 'City Thunder' an elemental, dubbed out and dread take on post rock and disco.

For a band as exploratory and talented as ZZE, the step up in terms of songwriting and inspiration since "Katang" is astounding and it is clear that Shackles' Gift looks like being one of the most unique and thrilling records that will be released in 2015.