Dirtchamber Sessions 1
For Prodigy fans, few things would be cooler than hanging out with Liam Howlett in his home studio, rifling through his record collection. This CD is the next best thing. Howlett is not promoting his skills as a DJ here; rather, the mix is the aural equivalent to leafing through the photo albums of his youth. He invites us into his past by mixing songs that informed and inspired his musical development. It's undeniable that this Brit is in love with old-school hip-hop, withKool Keith,Grandmaster Flash, andPublic Enemydominating the tracks, while British staples such as theSex Pistols,Meat Beat Manifesto, and theCharlatansjump in and out of the mix. Not all of Howlett's first choices made it into the final release due to copyright clearance problems, but the album still provides a clear understanding of the music that shaped a world this techno superhero has come to rule.--Beth Bessmer