7

A tune for automatons

Tingling synth and keyboard back the robotic vocals of this funk odyssey from The Juan Maclean. Its grooves get into your hips and make you want to shake it on the dance floor - or they would, if you were an ass-whipping dance diva.

Jazzy Latin samples, computer-chat bleeps and buzzing drums feature in the vast array of crazy sounds paraded in 'Tito's Way'. It's all smoothly integrated into the cacophony of organised noise; the layers knit together in a curious patchwork quilt of noise, and you don't know quite what to expect next. It's interesting for the first minute or so, but I can't say I'm a fan of electronica - or not this emotionless kind of automaton rock. It's very competently engineered, just so space age that there's not much to engage the casual listener. So, unless you're a legend on the dance floor, or you run on oil, I'd advise against buying this record.