If Ghislain Poirier's previous Ninja Tune album suffered a little from not having enough focus, RUNNING HIGH resolves that handily. His digital dancehall style is in ample supply right off the bat with "Wha-La-La-Leng." There's the sharp drums on "Get Crazy" and the deep hits on "Enemies." "Trust None Of Dem" relies on the vocalist, placing him in a stripped-down setting, but it's the dirty sexting talk of "Gyal Secret Pictures" that proves the most fun of the album (with the festival-esque politics of "Immigrant Visa" coming in a close second). Even better are the instrumentals on the first disc: the stark rhythms and funky synths of "Marathon" or the acid-tinged "90's Backyard." "Warehouse" harkens back to the 'big rave' sound, though still with a Jamaican tinge to the beats. The clattering "Coco Drunk" is like a party in your soul, while "Karnival" is a techno fiesta. On the second disc, Warrior Queen gets to bemoan gun violence on "Bang Bang," while the rhymes come fast and slick on "Can't Stop My Flow." Baobinga strips down "Gyal Secret Pictures" to just a beat, the lyrics and a few squelches here and there, while Wildlife! takes "90's Backyard" deep and dark. In Uproot Andy's hands, "Wha-La-La-Leng" becomes a sunny reggae track, and Maga Bo ups the percussive content on "Immigrant Visa," until it's almost a full street party. "Militaris Riddim" isn't probably as militarisitic as the name implies, but "Cool Baby" closes things out smoothly. Pretty killer.