808 State - 808:88:98 (ZTT)

I was incensed when Jonathan King once described Art of Noise's 'Close (To The Edit)' as "a medley of their hit", but that's exactly how the new mix of 808 State's 'Pacific State' sounds. Thankfully it's also here in its original form, kicking off a career retrospective that continues with probably the most accomplished dance record of the nineties, 'In Yer Face'. 808's 'The Only Rhyme That Bites' should have made MC Tunes a global star, but it wasn't to be. Forget the Dust Junkies - Tune's finest moment was with 808 on the era-defining 'Tunes Splits The Atom' - the only chart hit that's actually missing from this LP.

Fate then put a spanner in the works with the release of 'Lift', a track which fell far under par and seriously skewed the quality-expectation level of an 808 record. A real shame because after this point came their best - if completely overlooked - work: 'Plan 9', '10x10' and the Gorgeous album is by far the best (but least successful) 808 period.

On to 808's more recent work. 'Bombadin' (released more as a ZTT knee-jerk reaction to other, more impressive things going on at the time) and the three singles from the Don Solaris album certainly saw a new, mature direction, with guest vocals from James Dean Bradfield. But being mature never really suited 808 State. As this album proves, they are (were?) at the best when full of youthful energy and it's that they'll be remembered for. 7/10


This review also published in: DJ magazine

Various - Suite 98 (Bungalow)

Two years of Bungalow is reason enough to celebrate - and what better way than with this 13-track compilation of exclusive mixes and rare cuts of some of Europe's most outlandishly cool artistes? Set up by the duo otherwise known as Le Hammond Inferno (close French cousins of Saint Etienne and Pizzicato 5), Bungalow records has defined European lounge-core by releasing tracks by newcomers like Laila France and Momus alongside all time greats like the Peter Thomas Sound Orchester. But some of the newer bands have quickly reached instant - if not 'classic' acclaim - like DoB, who are here with a new remix of 'Au Revoir'. Another track with an instant air of Warholier-than-thou art house fun is Lailia France, who released a debut EP on Bungalow's 12"-only offshoot label, Pool last year. Check out 'M.F.R.F.M.' by Yoshinori Sunahara for a taste of Japanese "intelligent techno" (and find more on his brilliant debut LP, Crossover). Le Hammond Inferno also get involved with Fantastic Plastic Machine, follow up their recent eponymous album with a self-confessed 'Recycled Soft Rock Remix' of 'Laventure Fantastique''.

The only danger zone is the Pop Tarts and their contribution of adolescent Berlin guitar-rock. Not to be confused with Tommy Boy's legendary duo of camp dance pioneers, these particular Pop Tarts are the only dark corner of an otherwise perfectly furnished Bungalow. 8/10


This review also published in: DJ magazine

DJ Andy Smith - The Document (Go Beat)

The DJ as curator of a vast archive of 40 years of vinyl history is not a new concept. But Andy Smith's 15 track compilation is one of the first to physically embrace four decades of dance music and mix them into a cohesive and coherent journey-by-DJ. This is the sort of mix CD you might only expect from Portishead's live support DJ. What starts of in familiar territory (tracks by the Jungle Brothers and the James Gang) soon venture into a more historical vein - cue Barry White and Marvin Gaye. But that's nothing compared to the moments when Tom Jones and Peggy Lee (crooning 'Sitting On The Dock Of The Bay') slide in. But all this is just a give-away - the best way to experience this album is to go in blind and listen with ever raising eyebrows as the whole thing unfolds.

The Document is Definitely consigned to the Eclectic Selection file - and that's before S.L. Troopers merges into The Spencer Davis Group. So stop trying to get hold of bootleg copies of Andy Smith's increasingly bootlegged WFNX Boston radio session and go straight for this, a totally legit assimilation of 60/70/80/90s beats. 9/10


This review also published in: DJ magazine