After yesterday’s excursion into “long drive with the windows down” Pop it’s sort of weird to discover that the hypothetical road-trip in question led right back to the nightclubs and warehouse parties whose music was the topic of discussion in Monday’s post. Granted, with near Arctic low temperatures and Winter Storm Warnings in effect for much of the Northeastern United States over the last few days conditions haven’t been ideal for driving, rolling down windows or standing in line outside of nightclubs.
That being the case, an all-embracing club music album drawing influences from across the Dance Music spectrum from a pair of eclectic DJ/producers might be just the remedy for weather-induced cabin fever or a simple case of the Winter blah’s. Luckily I have just such an album sitting on my desktop this morning. It’s called Sex, Drugs and Blah, Blah, Blah…, and Atomic Hooligan is the London-based duo responsible for its creation. Sadly, record-buyers won’t be able to enjoy it until it officially hits shops in March. But the first single “Papercuts” is in stores now, and it’s a perfect introduction to the album.
Sporting a foundation of uptempo drums that fall somewhere between Electro-Breaks and Drum-n-Bass, a grainy synth lead, siren-like noises, driving D-n-B-style bass, and an irresistibly sassy vocal from Hooligan collaborator Justine Berry, “Papercuts” instantly put me in mind of the work of Basement Jaxx, another UK Dance Music duo known for mixing-and-matching genres and influences. The similarities between Atomic Hooligan and Basement Jaxx don’t end with “Papercuts” though, and as Sex, Drugs and Blah, Blah, Blah… — with it’s myriad of House, Electro, Breaks, Drum-n-Bass, Garage, Grime, Hip-Hop, Disco and Rock flavors — unfolded I was reminded of the likes of the Jaxx, the Chemical Brothers and even Daft Punk more than a few times.
Atomic Hooligan “Papercuts”
Brooklyn-bred emcee Afu-Ra makes a suprise appearance, spitting raps over slithery synth lines, Rock guitar samples and George Kranz vocal bites on album opener “Dirty,” but it’s stalwart Hooligan posse member Justine Berry, and new additions emcee Genesis Elijah and versatile vocalist Elmo Jones who steal the show. Berry backs up the stellar “Papercuts” with a rawer, scream-laden performance on “Thief,” an Electro-Rock tune that might appeal to fans of Res and Santogold (whose new single “Creator” you should really buy). Genesis Elijah mixes Hip-Hop/Grime emceeing, singing and Reggae chanting on “Spread Good Vibes,” an amalgm of video-game Grime, crunchy Electro-House and Hip-Hop breaks. And Elmo Jones delivers my second favorite tune on the disc (after “Papercuts”) a snotty kiss-off to wanna-be celebrities called “Blah, Blah, Blah…” that flips a Notorious B.I.G. vocal sample over a slick but frenetic Big-Beat-esque track.
Instrumental tracks like “Who’s Ya Daddy Now,” “Inside the Mind” and “Weed” (the b-side to the “Papercuts” 12”) spread things out even more, and actually provide repose between the more insistant vocal tracks. But the almost instrumental “Electro Ain’t Electro” (which takes a jab at the “Ed Banger sound”) with it’s “get your ass on the floor” chant, pretty much sums up the spirit of the album… Even if it’s only the floor of your living room.
-El Keter
