Basement Jaxx Feelings Gone (XL)
4/5
By: Charlie Hearn
Bassment Jaxx have been around for donkeys years now and have become something of a fixture in the ever changing UK dance scene. Unquestionably talented, they have managed to tread the thin line between commercial and original with a finesse only rivalled in this country by The Chemical Brothers and Groove Armada.
Filling the niche for almost euphorically upbeat fun, there’s a real carnival vibe about the Jaxx that side steps the murky, darker waters often waded by producers of this ilk, particularly in the age of dubstep. Not only do they make fun music, they make it well - they’ve got it down pat and as a result there’s also a real professionalism to their sound that screams quality and grips you with a comforting reassurance. Even if dance music isn’t your thing, you’ll still find yourself cracking a private smile or at least tapping a finger, or, god forbid, having a cheeky dance around your bedroom.
The new album appears to have found the group turning down a more emotionally charged route, with the lead single ‘Raindrops’ using autotunish vocal effects to compliment the soaring synths. ‘Feelings Gone’ uses a similar concoction of electronic toys to play with our heart, opening and closing with a chopped string sample that contains within it 3 and a half minutes of splendid keyboard trickery. Driven by a selection of pattering drum, the elusive Sam Sparro also gets another outing to show off his deep, evoking vocals - an inspired collaboration. Don’t forget to check out the assortment of remixes that come with the single, a fine mix of varied versions credited to Rusko, Spor, Adrian Lux and Joachim Garraud respectively.
Artists in this article: Basement Jaxx
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