Ren’s musical output is relentless. Between street busking, The Big Push, solo work, Skinner Brothers projects, and ventures like Project Labcoat Runway in New York, keeping track of his timeline requires dedication.
But that’s the appeal. Sick Sick Soul Vol. 1 drops as another chapter in this constantly evolving story, and “Twos On A Cigarette” might just be its silkiest moment.
From the first bars, jazzy chord progressions set the tone before that unmistakable garage and drum & bass sound kicks in.
Takes you straight back to the 90s, but it’s not some nostalgic throwback exercise. The Skinner Brothers blend breakbeats with those jazz influences, creating something that nods to warehouse raves and pirate radio while staying fresh.
Unapologetically British, rough around the edges in all the right ways, smooth where it counts.
Ren opens with a scene: moonlight, a shared cigarette, that initial spark of connection. The verse flows naturally, confident without being cocky.
He’s painting a picture of urban romance, concrete spaces transformed by fleeting moments.
Soul Boy’s verse shifts the mood slightly, bringing in reflections on London streets, time passing, numbing routines.
The interlude with its Bob Dylan reference and day-of-the-week progression keeps things loose and vibing, stopping the track from getting too heavy.
Simple hook, but it lodges itself in your head instantly. That repeated “right now” becomes the track’s call sign, capturing that live-for-the-moment mentality without trying too hard. You’ll find yourself humming it hours later.
Jazz elements from the intro keep surfacing throughout. Chord voicings, rhythmic looseness, space for elements to breathe.
That closing guitar solo adds necessary fire to what’s already a diverse mix, brief but perfectly placed.
Here’s the thing about the production: it’s practically begging for remixes. Those drum & bass foundations could easily push to 170 BPM, house producers could strip it back to the hook and rebuild from scratch.
The modular construction and strong melodic core make it ripe for reinterpretation across electronic subgenres.
For those who’ve followed Ren through his more confrontational work, this offers a different angle entirely. Sophisticated but inviting, the closest thing to a love song on the album.
“Twos On A Cigarette” manages to honour a specific era of British music without getting stuck there. Seductive, smooth, ear worm material.
As part of Sick Sick Soul Vol. 1, it shows range between the harder tracks surrounding it.
Another solid cut in what’s shaping up to be a consistently strong project. The journey continues, unpredictable as ever, and loving the moment.
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