Lo-Fidelity Allstars always manage to do what seems impossible: take a wide variety of sounds from all aspects of "urban" music, ignore where they came from and blend them together to create a very forward-feeling, big-beat inspired, yet vocal and human sound with just the right touches of mortal imperfection.

This CD is no exception. Unlike many of their other releases where it's a CD filled with their own tracks, this is one of their incredible mix CDs. The regular DJs at Brighton's Boutique continue the tradition established by Fatboy Slim's 100,000 selling release by the same name "On the Floor at the Boutique" of quality tunes originally mixed.

Between all the funk, hip-hop, soul and breakbeats, you could split the CD into 2 main sections: the early hip-hop passage, and the more funky house/big beat half. Like the yin and the yang, the two parts complement each other and contribute to that warm feeling that is so often missing in antiseptic, uninspired "electronica" CDs.

It kicks off with a LoFi Allstars intro and then goes into the classic Blackstreet number "No Diggity" ... this sets a laid back entry point for the first part of the CD.

Indian Ropeman's "Stand Clear" has a touch of ragga beat in a big-beat syncopated format ... it's moderate tempo isn't too wild, but gets the neck moving just right. A sort of processed synth sitar twists around provides a unifying melody with a bit of scratching and samples dropped in for effect.

So many DJs try to play the 'retro' card, but often end up bringing out tunes that were best left in the bin -- this CD is one of the fantastic exceptions. The next couple tracks go straight into the heart of old-school hip-hop, with the highlight being KRS-One's rap in Boogie Down Production's "You Must Learn". Beats straight out of the 80's provide the ideal backdrop for his distinctive style, and makes you want to get out all your Adidas, Puma and Jordache gear, toss some cardboard down on the street and get all Electric Boogaloo.

Runaways "Levitation" brings a more updated sound with tight snares and intelligent raps, building the right transition from just head-bobbing to the more heavy-duty funk beats that will get people out of the seats.

Dirt's "Raw Element" has a fantastically simple funky drum loop and a fat, zippery funked-up groove that just hints at what's yet to come on the CD. Compared to some of the other tracks on the CD, it may not stand out as much afterwards, but it is testament to the LoFi Allstars ability to create seamless transitions with great track selection.

Dark and smoky, "Darn (Cold Way O'Lovin)" is, for me, one of the best examples of 'future funk' ... an echoey, mysterious, viscous and bouncy bass sound keeps the track moving with tightly processed vocals remind us "Is it so hard to see?" ... electro style beats kick, continuing the hip-hop sound.

It leads into "Black is Black", with lyrics by Afrika Baby Bambataa, Mike G. and Q tip. (of A Tribe Called Quest), another late 80's track appearing here in lightly remixed version (just a refreshed beat) ... it marks the midpoint of the CD with a slam mix into a great track by Les Rhythmes Digitales, "(Hey You) What's That Sound?"

A track guaranteed to make everyone shake, and one of the highlights of the CD, electrofunk is reborn in the sounds of Les Rhythmes Digitales (check out their own releases) with a 1998 track that seems to have come through a timewarp from 1978 with juicy synth sounds and an unrelenting beat. Think "Shaft" meets "The Matrix" ... put it in your discman and you'll be strutting down the street with real attitude.

From here on out, the focus is much more on danceable cuts and "(I Need) The Disko Doctor" provides a swirly snippet of disco strings and sensibility. Wise enough to just take enough for flavor, there's less than 2 minutes of this track before the clock turns back to the sounds of the 1992 UK Summer of Love ...

Humanoid makes an appearance with "Stakker Humanoid". Fans of Altern-8, N-JOI, Quadrophonia, older Josh Wink and other great sounds from the techno explosion of the early 90's will feel right at home with rave whistles and phased lead loops. The only track that doesn't quite seem to fit with everything else, it's still a trip down memory lane for those who "remember when" ...

The hip-hop feel is brought back for a track with Silver Bullet's "20 Seconds to Comply", a sizzlingly fast rap with enough testosterone and aggression to make you feel like you're in a Quentin Tarantino flick ... it sort of has the feel of Public Enemy's "Burn, Hollywood, Burn" ...

Armand van Helden's giant smash handraiser "Funk Phenomena" is remixed nearly beyond recognition and given a faster tempo, chopping up the samples and ditching the signature lead loop in favor of filtered guitar stabs and an extra-funky double-stack beat. The end result is something that makes you feel like there's a ceiling that needs to be broken through, and the LoFi Allstars give it to you with "Makin' It Happen"

Slap bass sounds and tight syncopated beats swirl around, building rush after energy rush in perfect funky house fashion. Despite its obvious house/club feel, it never manages to lose the human groove.

The skies are wide open for the Lo-Fidelity Allstars big-beat anthem "Many Tentacles Pumping on the Keys" from their "How to Operate With a Blown Mind" album. A striding beat underlies yet another funky synclavier line and guitar whips. It all builds to a giant, mindsweeping breakdown that makes your feet move on their own. Giant steps are the name of the game ... it comes to a head with a big funk jam, all stops pulled out.

Beginning the cool-down is the funk/gospel fun of Feelgood Factor's "The Whole Church Should Get Drunk" ...recorded live at The Pentecostal Inspirational Church of the First Vodka. :) ... A fantastic organ lick supports the "preacher's sermon" and the off-beat handclaps put you on the dancefloor and in an Alabama Baptist church at the same time. It's a blend that's hard to get right, but Feelgood Factor does it with panache and style, taking the best elements from organ gospel and dropping it over a pumping beat to keep you moving. You'll be humming this one for days.

Putting a "last-call" feel on the end of the mix, the next couple tracks go back to the soul and Motown sounds of the late 60's, providing a great reminder that so much of what we listen to today has direct roots to the music of 'yesteryear' ...

Oddly enough, after getting us into a soul groove, the LoFi Allstars see it fit to toss us "Out of Space" with the Prodigy ... while definitely a classic, it seems bizarrely tacked on to the end, as if they couldn't seem to fit it on elsewhere, but desperately wanted everyone to hear it nonetheless. The ragga beats and electro hook are a sendback to a time before the massive splintering of genres and subgenres in electronica/house/techno ...

We then get tucked in with a snippet of LoFi rock beats that remind us that the Lo-Fidelity Allstars music makes you feel "so real" ...

All in all, it's a CD that will find a way to be played at nearly every occasion. Its wide range of sounds makes it easy to please a mixed group of friends, some who like more hip-hop sounds, others who want a more dancefloor feel. The nearly unnoticeable rise in energy level makes it a great CD to toss in before hitting the clubs, or even just the morning commute.

The Lo-Fidelity Allstars are a unique force in electronic music. They refuse to put music in a distinct box, and therefore are able to pick the finest tracks that work together, creating a unique sound. Sure, you could probably download each of the tracks individually from somewhere, but the extra little production touches (and editing - not every song gets played to the end) gives the CD its extra polish.

By using timeless tracks, the longevity of this CD is ensured. Unlike so many other mix CDs who have the life span of a fruit fly, this excellent 1999 release is still worthy of a spot in the CD changer.





Recommended: Yes

Great Music to Play While: Getting ready to go out