KSPACE rolled to an exclusive album preview of I’m New Here, the new album from legend Gil Scott-Heron, which we’ve been excited about for a while. Scott-Heron could easily have rested on his laurels for his first album in sixteen years – the guy did, after all, have something to do with inventing everything from rap and acid jazz to neo-soul and the spoken-word poetry scene. But I’m New Here proves to be a completely a new beast.

On one level, it was classic Gil Scott-Heron, filled with jazzy soul and spoken interludes: his poetic and storytelling gifts remain intact – throughout, one marvels at the sometimes poignant, sometimes pointed one liners and imagery he serves up throughout. But on another level, it’s impressive how far he pushes himself musically – especially for a sixty-year-old. In terms of sonics, I’m New Here is forward regardless of who made it.

The production, by XL label head Richard Russell, is exemplary: Russell surrounds Scott-Heron with a wide variety of textures and colors. At times, there’s a dark, acoustic folkiness that evokes the rough-hewn storytelling of Johnny Cash and Nick Cave; at others, there’s dusty samples that could’ve come from RZA’s toolkit, as well as massive, sinuous bass and echoey drum patterns that suggest Massive Attack jamming out at a dubstep rave. Strangely, the album evokes the compelling bedroom intimacy and claustrophobia of Thom Yorke’s The Eraser, like on his cover on indie-rocker Smog’s “A River Ain’t Too Much To Love.”

Indeed, Scott-Heron’s weathered, gritty voice sounds great over the more contemporary sounds – right at home, in fact. He may be new here, but it’s clear when it comes to making challenging, fascinating sounds that push the envelope, Scott-Heron’s not new to this.

I’m New Here will be out Early 2010 on the mighty XL Recordings produced by head honcho Richard Russell