Dadamnphreaknoizephunk* - Take Off Da Hot Sweater

Ok, I have to admit Hardfloor's Dadamnphreknoizphunk project passed me by the first time around, so I will attempt to catch up.

The intro which starts the 'take off da hot sweater' ball rolling takes me back to the early ninja tune dayz. Roll on 'one size fits all' and it's safe to say we really are in a mello mood. Understated and floaty, a little drop of acid is the only dicernable nod to the Hardfloor that slappped us around the face with 'Respect'.

That snappy downbeat continues, getting a little eastern and sweeping gracefullty on to soundtrack territory for 'fireresistent swimming trunks'. Coldcut would have been proud. By the time we have drifted on to 'recontructed poloshirt' we have truely kicked back. Jazz funk for the noughties, or a return to the early bedroom detroit techno days? Take your pick.

Visit a 1950s jazz bar and bring with you a synthetic growl and a hip hop beat and you get 'socks & strings & sp12'. take the strings but beef up the acid and Hardfloor reappear for 'complex dinner wardrobe'. Back on track for 'another trenchcoat, then a diversion into scatty jazz beats, xylophone and easy meanderings to deliver 'I lost my suitcase in San Marino'. This is riviera music!? But by the time we get to the title track we are back firmly in trip hop country, retro scratching to boot. All expertly executed and, as with 'custommade sneakrs', funky as f*ck.

'Silicon loafer' and 'Crocodileleather Tie' confirm that this is a very organic cd. Touches of brass and class and a complete surprise. Hardfloor can chill!.

Sam Monroe