DJ Kicks
Trevor Jackson, formerly known as hip-hop producer the Underdog, has built up some serious beat credentials over the years--the kind that would make most "underground" artists look like manufactured boy bands. Even his recent Playgroup project--by far his most accessible and "poppy" work to date--retained a keep-it-real feel amid the shiny, feel-good blend of punk, hip-hop, funk, and disco. Here, he presents the next installment of K7's esteemedDJ Kicksseries. With over two decades of involvement with music under his belt and no associations to any fixed genre, Jackson must have had a nightmare trying to slim his options down to album length. He's done it, though, and with skill and aplomb, stringing together 23 tracks that range from the '70s-'80s era ofHuman League("Do or Die") andFlying Lizards("House of Jealous Lovers") to more modern offerings like Metro Area's "Caught Up" andI:Cube's reworking of Ana Rago's "You're God." On the whole, the mix feels both retro and contemporary, its subtle asperity fitting in nicely with the current revival in '80s electro. An entertaining and educational mix from one of Britain's longest-serving electronic talents.--Paul Sullivan