Amazon.co.uk Review
Opener "Good Luck"--featuring the Bellrays' Lisa Kekaula--is classic Motown juxtaposed with contemporary rock, punk and disco-house. It works well, but despite the signature heavy bass and drums, it lends itself to attentive listening rather than outright dance-floor mayhem. "Lucky Star", the lead single with labelmate Dizzee Rascal, is an urban monster in a similar vein to "Jump and Shout", mixing their style with Dizzee's and setting it to a Middle Eastern melody. It would fit comfortably at a hip-hop, breaks or UK garage night.
The title track, with its vocal from Siouxsie Sioux, is heavily influenced by punk, and the overwhelming energy carries it convincingly as a dance-rock crossover. "Plug It In", the collaboration with JC Chasez (Justin "too busy or expensive" Timberlake's former bandmate), is unquestionably Kish Kash's party anthem. The solid rhythm section, rock guitars and anthemic chorus add up to classic Basement Jaxx, a definite crowd-pleaser with enough clever ideas to keep it just left of centre. In complete contrast is the album's only genuine low point, the drippy homage to Robert Owens that is "If I Ever Recover", best summarised as the ideal soundtrack to holiday programmes for years to follow.
It's unlikely that Kish Kash will be considered Jaxx's best album, but it is their biggest departure yet. Their dark, experimental side has been brought to the fore, but you can't help feeling that with a bit of tweaking, it could have been incredible. --David Trueman
Review
Kish Kash is a bold and daring experiment in music making that sees Felix and Simon progress their creative talents beyond those witnessed on 1999s Remedy and 2001s Rooty. Both of these were, and still are, great albums that did much to vitalize the UK dance scene with their up, shouty, carnival-style approach to house music.
The third album is markedly different. It's darker, more urban and a more personal record with the focus having shifted to one of song writing as well as tune making. Radcliffe says, "We were listening to what other people were doing and realising it was all pretty stagnant and uninspiring". Consequently, the album sews punk, northern soul, hip hop, garage and electronica together and then pulls the whole lot inside out.
The first single "Lucky Star" featuring the manic, adolescent spits of Mercury winner Dizzee Rascal is a snarling, gritty ode to his success. Employing Bhangra vibes, heavy breaks and twisted, stuttering electronics to create a truly effervescent cut that no self-respecting end-of-the-year compilation would be with out.
There are collaborations aplenty here. Totlyn Jackson lets rip with the soul chat over the harmonica, organ and guitar fuelled house-blues stomp along "Supersonic" whilst ex N Sync-er JC Chasez provides the falsetto on the boisterous "Plug It In". This is a fine, raucous moment as is the Siouxsie Sioux track "Cish Cash".Here the boys bring a piece of 1977 back to the future and give it the East London overhaul. This is up, noisy, punk house where revving, dirty bass are set to a punchy four to the floor with goth-defying results.
Conversely, the album does contain some poignant down tempo moments, "If I Ever Recover", an emotive, string-soaked number and the lesser "Feels Like Home", an atmospheric but lengthy waffle.
The bootleg culture has tuned the collective ear to genre-fusing experiments. Not so long ago it was Destiny's Child who went out with Nirvana to rock the clubs high fiving The Strokes and Christina Aguilera as they passed them at the bar. What these boys have done is build a new venue entirely just around the corner. At a time when dance music seems to be a low on ideas, Basement Jaxx deliver a welcome kick in the arse. Kish. Kash. Bosh! --Andy Puleston
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