Headthrash - Plump DJs Album Review

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Album Review

This is a fourth offensive by the Nu Skool Breakbeats master duo (Andy Gardner and Lee Rous), and this is serious s**t, we've got here: Phat beats and grooves that will "headthrash" all their willing listeners within 55 minutes of ecstatic atmospherics.

The partners in craft present a range of masterclass electronica, that refuses to be solely 'instrumental' and therefore prouds itself of contributions by equally talented vocalists, including Sharlene Hector (revered backing singer for the likes of Primal Scream and Gorillaz), Niara Scarlett (UK R'n'B singer on the up) and Prince's vocal twin, respectively scoring on 'Shifting Gears', 'Victim' and 'Theme X'.

DJs being Dee-Jays, soundmakers rather than songwriters that is, only half of the album showcases lyrics, and priority oblige (that of making the largest numbers of bodies trance), do not expect anything too deep: from the proactive manifesto on 'Shifting Gears', to the ultra minimalist 'Snake Eyes' (which, in passing, blasts similarities with David Guetta's '133' off his 2002 'Just a Litle More Love' album), to the groovy but redundant 'I Beat Myself Up'. Lyrically, the two highlights are undeniably 'Victim' and the very Justicesque 'Torque of the Devil' which appears to be the perfect replica of 'We Are Your Friends'.

Comparisons aside, let it be said that 'Headthrash' saves the honour of the recently stained appellation of "dance" music (do you like me still cringe at Basshunter ranking number 1 in the charts?!!!), and should convert any virgin listener, be it only with the heavenly funk on broken beat anthem 'Intermission'.

I used to be one of those who never understood how and why some folks could listen club music at full blast day in day out, but a decade or so on, if it's as good as it gets, I may be getting it at last.

And as big cheeses deserve big breads, let it be plumply stated that this Dee-Jaying pair are the real Prodigy.

Solange Moffi