The checklist is complete
Basement Jaxx return with a new single that is instantly recognizable as them. 'Hush Boy' is taken from their fourth album 'Crazy Itch Radio' and is the perfect come-back single in the sense that it picks up where the band have left off in the past, sticking to what the fans know and love.
This is another radio friendly single from the band who have the art of creating commercially accessible dance well and truly figured out. This track is funky, soulful and mixes hip-hop and quirky beats with the band's characteristic female vocals. In short, more of the same; and here lies the problem.
'Hush Boy' is Basement Jaxx by numbers, nothing different from what we might expect, and sadly lacks a real killer hook such as 'Good Luck' or 'Where's My Head At' has. The rhythm and bass lines are OK but nothing remarkable. If I hadn't already heard the new album and been impressed on a first listen, I wouldn't be as interested to explore it on the strength of this, and so although it's an ideal and obvious choice for a single, on reflection, it may well leave some cold and uninspired.
That said I'm sure when slotted into their usual excellent live show, this track will sound fine, it just doesn't have their usual spark.