---

Deck Your Head

---

Propellerheads - Decksandrumsandrockandroll | Various - Trainspotting #2

Propellerheads - Decksandrumsandrockandroll Wall of Sound/MDS

Another example of a hugely anticipated album, but unfortunately this one doesn't fare as well. The advance hype made this sound like the best dance LP to come our way since the Chems released "Dig Your Own Hole". Alas, it's not to be so. Things start off nicely enough with the somewhat typical but still rocking "Take California". A sampled piano loops highlights "Velvet Pants", and there's some interesting drum loops in "Better?". Problem is, the Props have been billing themselves as something new and original, but practically every song on this LP follows the same formula. Start with a sample, insert drum beats, and go from there. The album's true highlight is "On Her Majesty's Secret Service", an epic, driving song that sounds like it could easily be the song to end all James Bond songs. Aside from the occasional lapse in creativity, there is some very interesting stuff going on here sonically. Some of the samples and noises have to be heard to be believed. All in all, a decent album, but nowhere near the advance hype. - Mark Pytlik 'Big Beat'. Some might say it's the indie-dance of '98 but while it's proponents produce albums such as Decksandrumsandrockandroll, it'll be a barrel load of fun while it lasts. Kicking off with dancefloor classic 'Take California' it doesn't let up much, from the appropriately banging 'Bang On' to closing 'Spybreak', with plenty of thumping beats, great big dirty basslines & more spy chic than you can shake a martini at in between. The slow flutey funk of 'Velvet Pants' and its amusing velvet pant related (natch!) vocal samples, the rather pointless beatboxing of 'A Number of Microphones' (look, when are people going to realise that beatboxing is shite, and anyone who does it deserves a kick in the throat) and jazzy 'Oh Yeah?' are some of the comparatively laid-back moments. Basically, Decksandrumsandrockandroll is just a good ole fun-filled feel-good party record, as the Propellerheads have acknowledged themselves, and as such it succeeds admirably. And any record that can feature the utter godlike cool of 'History Repeating' replete with the vocal gymnastics of one Miss Shirley Bassey is worth its weight in gold(finger). - Chris Butler

Various- Trainspotting #2 EMI Premier Soundtracks

Hmmm, you've got to wonder at the motives for releasing this so long after the movie was released. Is it just a cheap cash-in because that 'Choose Life' song has done well, or released with genuine motives involved? Well both really. While not living up to the first cd, Trainspotting #2 offers some of the better songs featured in the movie but not included on the previous album, a couple of songs which 'inspired the move' and some dead wood. To be honest 'Choose Life' is quite a nice tune, though just including a sample of dialogue doesn't quite warrant the 'featuring Ewan McGregor' claim. Of the music that supposedly influenced the film, Joy Division's 'Atmosphere' and Goldie's 'Inner City Life' are just perfect, others like Fun Boy Three less so. The Born Slippy and Nightclubbing remixes are quite pleasant but unnecessary, while the inclusion of Sleeper's 'Statuesque' is utterly pointless. David Bowie's 'Golden Years' was supposedly to be sung in the movie by Diane but was replaced by New Order's 'Temptation', for which we can all be incredibly, incredibly glad. Unfortunately they've seen fit to include it here. For all this, the two reasons this album is worth your hard earned come with songs used in the movie. Both brilliantly evoke memories of the film - the cheesy house of Ice MC's 'Think About the Way' conjures up images of Renton as a real-estate agent in London, and the cold electronic pulse of the utterly words- are-failing-me brilliant Dark Train mix of 'Dark and Long' by Underworld is just THE soundtrack to go cold turkey & see dead kiddies crawling about your ceiling to. An inessential, but by no means worthless album. - Chris Butler