STYLE: Hip-Hop RATING OUR PRODUCT CODE: 7981-7732 LABEL: Forefront FFD83182R FORMAT: CD Album RRP: £12.99
Reviewed by Tony Cummings
Take a class album which got the coveted 10 squares allocation when reviewed in CR67 and let a bunch of talented remixers loose on the best of the cuts, not just to tweak the bass or add a synth line but to radically re-assemble the cuts while keeping intact Toby’s hard hitting raps. The result is at times breathtaking. Just listen what Math (Earthsuit's Paul Meary and Darren King) do to “J Train”, giving it a much more contemporary groove and removing that clichéd “wooh-wooh” chorus. Or swoon as the rock rap of the original “Get This Party Started” is transformed by Kene ‘Ghost’ Bell into a far more original concoction. Not every remix improves on the original (the Marvin Remix of “Irene” can’t top the haunting original) but more often than not, the new rhythmic textures brought in here, bring zest to the originals with even the indulgence of Toby’s four year old son Truett's (also known as "Tru-Dog") squeaky voice samples being a bit of fun. Get the original first but the Re:Mix needs consideration too.
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