Mostly Skint (but more)

Jim Westrich (westrich@uic.edu)
Tue, 29 Apr 1997 09:41:23 -0500

Skint have released "brassic beats 2" and it is pretty good. I was
impressed with some of the new artists there is definitely a "skinnt" sound
now that is not as fresh as the first compilation. Fatboy Slim starts it
off with "Michael Jackson" (which uses the same protest chant from Beats
International's "Worry Don't Be Happy" and the "Michael Jackson" movie and
preacher samples from Negativland's "Escape from Noise") which is fairly
standard raucous FBS (slow build up vocal loops which are starting to get a
tad worn as at least 5 tracks on the brassic beats 2 use this, sirens,
killer guitar lines, etc.). Bentley Rhythm Ace contribute their worst
track from the *Last Train to Bentley on C" ep. From there you get a lot
of experimental noises and solid beats. Sparky Lightbourne contributes a
very good "bentleyish" track and the others are either slower experimental
numbers or racous "Fat Boy" tunes. I think it is definitely worth getting
generally and a must get if you liked the first and don't want to buy all
the singles.

Fat Boy Slim redoes some Fried Funk Food in new remixes of "E. V. A."(a
70's Jean Jaques somebody song) and it is pretty good to hear the original
guitar line stolen from this group as well as hearing some of the keyboard
which is used to good effect in the "dub" mix. This is on some major label
subsidiary and not on Skint. The new Fat Boy Slim "Michael Jackson/Going
Out of My Head" single is on Skint but if you already own the FBS album and
buy brassic beats there is no reason to get it for "Next To Nothing" ( a
decent Fried Funk Food type song--slower than the other two party tunes
with some nice moments but it doesn't quite work altogether).

I also think the Tosca "Bueno Sara (sp?)" single is excellent. The songs
are highly recognizable Tosca/Dorfmeister songs and all three are good.
"Bueno Sara" uses a DeSica (?) vocal sample and just lays down a smooth
groove. "Gimmi Gimmi" and "Worksong" are also excellent (play them at 33).
"Worksong" uses a bluesy vocal sample much the same way K&D's "Young Men"
does. You don't get value like this on singles much anymore. I thought
"Fuck Dub" was a great song and the Fila Brazillia mix added a little more
beat but those Baby Mammoth mixes made it a no sale in my book.

Also, while I have no intention of buying the new US3 album I do think the
"Come on Everybody" single is worth getting. The single is nothing new but
palatable. However, Nitin Sawhney's and Q-burn's mixes are worth
listening to.

Peace,

Jim

"Why shouldn't the American people take half my money from me? I took all
of it from them."

Edward Albert Filene (1869-1937)