True Crossover
This extremely chilled and enjoyable mix holds with high levels of dub and soul set within traditional mix, but injected with modern beats and street 'machinery' somewhere along the way, splicing two very different walks of life and in effect creating a beautiful bastard breed of the old and new.
The first most notable tune that grabs you by both ears is 'Four Hills' by DJ Clay, a soulful and jiving number that slides and grinds into your head with touches of Motown soul and plenty of emotion. Dennis Bovell's smoky dub 'Rowing' is perhaps one of the best chilled and naturally old vibes that is led by the typical prodding bass line, occasional striking timpani, spliffed-up harmonies and the reggae 'gospel' delay laced on guitar licks and last lyrical syllables. In fact, the following track from Blender Crafters ('Bad Luck Blues') isn't bad either, so being stuck for choice is always a good thing.
But as the mix is a temperamental beast, there are evident bad dips in the tracklisting, like forth song in by Urbs & Cutex – 'The Thing', with its repeated, infernal and eternal grating of the same sample: 'Boy turns to girl and says, "I love you so"'. Make no mistake about it; this is as really, REALLY fucking annoying as it sounds! It would make girl want to turn to boy and say, 'One more fucking time, fuckwit, and I'll kick your fucking face off!' And who would blame her, the poor lamb... It's enough to drive anyone to perform long-forgotten murder rituals.
Live and untouched is Mulatu Astatque - 'Emnete', a fantastic downbeat, jived, hipikat number that would make the late, great Beat Generation shout 'Yes!' and 'Go!' until they suffocate on their own jazz-filled Kind of Blue blood. Albeit this isn't necessarily the track to say what Boozoo Bajou are about as it isn't a mutated old/new treat, but by hell are you going to have a good time with this dirty number!
Go! Yes!
Regardless of what you think of saxophone samples, soulful originals or crazy folk twists, this is a world apart from what the guys said they were influenced by, which is neither a good or bad thing but simply slightly misleading... Such a weird mix. Such a talented idea. But bear in mind that compilations will always have the upper hand as there are some many tastes catered for; this is truly a CD that holds power from its variation and not its constituent parts.
Released: 7th August, 2006