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Scars marks the fifth full-length release from Basement Jaxx, a milestone which underscores the duo’s position as one of the world’s most popular dance acts. After 2006's uncertain experiment Crazy Itch Radio, Scars represents a return to form for Felix Buxton and Simon Ratcliffe.
Unsurprisingly, an undercurrent of Jaxx’s familiar bouncy dance-pop runs throughout the record, but the musical styles it passes through are wide-ranging – from grime and R&B to funk, country and even Hawaiian – a diversity epitomised by the vocal guest list. Bass-laden hip hop/ragga stompers ‘Scars’, featuring Kelis, Meleka and Chipmunk, ‘Saga’ featuring Santigold and ‘Twerk’ featuring Yo Majesty, along with house thumper ‘Raindrops’, are among the most immediately infectious tunes. They’re joined on that list by ‘What’s A Girl Gotta Do?’, a catchy pop/funk tune in the mould of previous hits, featuring the snarling vocals of actress-turned-pop-starlet Paloma Faith.
While the dancefloor anthems will appease fans who felt as though Crazy Itch Radio lacked a cutting edge, fans should also find sufficient diversity and innovation in the more experimental tracks. Eli “Paperboy” Reed adds a country/blues feel to ‘She’s No Good’, while Lisa Kekaula’s soulful vocals on the ethereal ‘Stay Close’, and the Spanish serenade of Jose Hendrix Ndelo on ‘Distractionz’, each add their own flavour to the album. ‘A Possibility’ produces perhaps the most unexpected style, successfully setting Amp Fiddler’s soulful singing to soothing ukelele and doo-wop backing vocals.
However, not all of the tracks on Scars are pulled off quite as well. The otherwise passable ‘My Turn’, which fuses acoustic guitar, synth bass and Lightspeed Champion’s unique voice, is let down by some aurally offensive unbalanced mixing. But the album’s most divisive track is likely to be ‘Day Of The Sunflowers (We March On)’. Yoko Ono’s strange poetry and restless vocals on this number have novelty value only, feeling out of place when set against the music of Basement Jaxx.
Nevertheless, despite its pitfalls, the relatively consistent quality and musical diversity on display on Scars should please Basement Jaxx’s legions of loyal fans.
Full Track Listing
1. Scars (4:15)
2. Raindrops (4:10)
3. She’s No Good (3:26)
4. Saga (2:42)
5. Feelings Gone (3:42)
6. My Turn (4:52)
7. A Possibility (2:45)
8. Twerk (3:30)
9. Day Of The Sunflowers (We March On) (5:59)
10. What’s A Girl Gotta Do? (4:04)
11. Stay Close (3:01)
12. Distractionz (5:03)
13. Gimme Somethin’ True (5:29)
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