With much hype amongst hipsters and hip-hoppers, Theophilus London is back with his first major label record, Timez Are Weird These Days. With contributions from various of-the-moment producers (TV on the Radio’s Dave Sitek, Santigold’s John Hill), the 23-year-old Brooklyn MC-via-Trindad artist’s major-label debut blend an über-hip slice of electro-soul with a splash of break beats along with a splash of TV on the Radio.

“Last Name London,” which if anyone doesn’t gather, is an intro to the artist’s new style. The synths combined with complex layering of backing vocals, along with London’s trademark raps is a head-bobber and is a great way to set the tone for what the rest of the album will sound like. His flow his smooth and fits in perfectly with the electro-soul background.

The second track, “Love Is Real” which features Holly Miranda on the hook, is along the same vibe as the first track. Rhymes like “I shot myself like Plaxico” hurt this writer’s heart, but are quite clever. The dance beats will make this song a staple at dance clubs, especially in Europe, where people have no choice but to shake their hips, especially at Ibiza.

London provides a hint of heart beneath the sleek surface on the disarmingly plaintive “Why Even Try,” featuring a barely recognizable Sara Quin of Tegan & Sara. This is by far the standout track on the record. Though the track was a holdover from London’s EP that was released earlier this year, it sounds terrific.

A lot of the album’s success is owed to the backing sound, which to London’s credit is fizzy and danceable but not over-the-top and distracting; eventually settling into an admirable stop-start groove on tracks like “Wine and Chocolates.” The one qualm with this album is how London refers to himself in the third person. A word of advice, until you are Prince, this isn’t a good idea. Overall, Timez isn’t exactly groundbreaking or is reinventing the electro-soul genre, however, in the end it proves to be a steady, and there isn’t a dud to be found on this album.

Theophilus London’s Timez Are Weird These Days is currently out now on Warner Brothers Records and available on all major retailers.