A Skillz And Krafty Kuts - Tricka Technology

YOURZ

Doing some research for this review, I discovered something quite surprising - there is very little information about this album or those behind it online.  This is, in equal parts, both refreshing and annoying.  It means all I have to write about is the music.  Given we're writing a music blog, this shouldn't be a big ask.  But I like to know what the band is about before writing about them.

There is the usual intro bits that don't do a single thing to advance the album at all.  I've been producing hip hop for nearly ten years now and I'm still wondering why so many artists do this.  Don't they realise in-jokes only work if everyone knows the joke.

But thankfully, they are saved by some great tracks.  I love the old school feel of Gimme The Breaks and Come Alive.  And if you like break beats, then there are some really cool tunes on here.  But my favourite  is Peaches, a cruisy, Gorillaz-type groove that drops a great sample in as the hook.

I'm trying to remember exactly what drew me to buying this album and, for the life of me, I can't remember why.  But I'm glad I did.  This will definitely be one for the next party.

VERDICT: TURN IT UP

MINE

Oh, tasty.  Hip-hop beats and decent dance and some funky grooves... this is mostly gorgeous.  There are a couple of more-shouty numbers, and the incessant namechecking is a bit annoying, as are those intro pieces that don't seem to have any real purpose.  But mostly its grand, as I'd expect from the Brits.  Sorry, but when it comes to the dance/hip-hop crossover, the UK beats the US hands down.

Best bits?  The title track was recognisable as well as bouncy, Peaches has party written all over it, and Roll Over Baby had me grooving in the car on the way to work.  One to pick apart for a party playlist, mos def.

VERDICT: TURN IT UP

For more information: http://www.myspace.com/djaskillz and http://www.myspace.com/djkraftykuts

The Stranglers - Hits And Heroes

MINE

I'm sure there are quite a few people around the world who went tearing out to buy some Stranglers when Golden Brown was such a hit, only to  discover that's not what they sound like at all.  But I was a fan from back in the day - loving Peaches, (Get A) Grip (On Yourself) and Hanging Around.   In fact, I remember having heated discussions at the time of Golden Brown, wondering why they'd had such a departure of form.

But I have to class the Stranglers as "boy music" in my lexicon, simply because they're a band whose records have been in the collection of most the men I've had relationships with - but they haven't ever made it into my own.  And apart from the big hits, I'm not that thrilled with the rest of the CD. 

VERDICT: TURN IT UP but only for the best bits

YOURZ

Recently, Mine and YourZ (truly) were discussing this album and I made a rather big, rash statement by saying The Stranglers, along with The Clash, were the only two British punk bands I liked.  Thinking about this later, I realised how wrong I was (yes, I can admit my mistakes, now move on, nothing to see!) (Mine says: first time for everything, eh?)

Of course, there are plenty of British punk bands I like.  But it is down to definition of what punk is as there are plenty of bands who are defined as punk but who wouldn't hit that target even if they tried.  Again, it's all about trying to box art with neat little labels, which is virtually impossible and, for me anyway, completely unncessary.  Perhaps I should have said that The Clash and The Stranglers are favourites rather than what I actually said.  This'll teach me for making rash statements. 

Anyway, Hits And Heroes is a Forgotten Gem, of sorts and covers the band's first half dozen albums.  It has been some time since I'd heard this and I enjoyed it so much, I hit repeat and let it play all over again.  There are so many great tracks on this, it's hard to know where to start.  True survivors (albeit with a couple of lineup changes) and still going after 35 or more years, The Meninblack, as they are fondly known (due to their penchant for always wearing black), are another of those bands who not only inspired fans and fellow musicians at the time, but who fearlessly incorporated a broad pallet of styles into their sound, all tied neatly together with their trademark swirling keyboard lines.

While most would be familiar with their huge hit, Golden Brown, it's earlier tracks like Peaches, (Get A) Grip (On Yourself), Hanging Around and Nice 'n' Sleazy that get me rocking.  However, as a compilation, there is not a dud track on Hits And Heroes.  And their cover of Bacharach's Walk On By has to be one of the most faithful yet original interpretations I've ever heard. 

But is it really punk?  As far as I'm concerned, it's as punk as you want it to be.

VERDICT: TURN IT UP

For more information go to http://www.stranglers.net/