Shitmat – One Foot In The Rave

"One Foot In The Rave, described by Shitmat as a "warm mix of jungle and rave," takes a tone of professionalism unseen in his previous releases. Playing off of the saying that someone is near death, the artwork depicts a Garbage Pail Kid DJ with his foot in an immaculate emission of blinding be on neon lights and frequential skeletal consumption. Oh, and he has a laptop too.
With eleven full tracks, the album starts out with a commentary on the originality and the quintessential usurp of British jungle in its early years, I'm talking about 90-93 here folks, "The Golden Age of British Dance." Looking at the first full track of the album, "Front 2 Da Back", listeners are introduced to Shitmat's style and skill as a producer through a basic jungle mashup. The song features the common breakage and sped up vocal samples that we all know and love. "Illegal Soundz Of The Vibe" starts out with a montage of rave mentalities channeled through cascading sci-fi effects and sub-woofer tickling baselines. Continuing with "Downer," the overall tone of tone of the album takes an embodiment of the aspects more closely associated with the jungle and ragga psychology. The highlight of the album, "Clash and Carry (Old Socks Remix)," carries the brunt of the comic personality standard seen in nearly all of his albums. With "Fairy Green Liquid" he explores a heavier feeling with a tinge of Acid in the middle, and "Whitelabel Unity" sounds like a classic reggae soundclash with 600 MPH jungle in the background. The album ends on "Just A B-Side," which exhibits a simpler, undemanding vibe in which includes…look, the fact of the matter is, every track is mind-blowing, so just listen to it."

This is my absolute favorite album of 2009. I've listened to it nearly 60 times since I got it, and I have yet to get tired of it. There are rumors that this is Henry's last release as Shitmat, and I can't think of a better way to end his chaotic trajectory under this moniker than with this release.