Coldcut
Atomic Moog 2000/Boot The System
(Ninja Tune)
Like a label that knows how to give you more bang for your dollar, this Ninja Tune single not only has 7 tracks and almost 50 minutes worth of music, but also contains a video (of the kick-ass "Natural Rhythyms" video) for viewing pleasure on your computer. Like the album from which it is taken (Let Us Play!), the disc tries to blur the lines even more between a full interactive audio and visual experience that the duo Coldcut is so fond of.
Although there are technically only two different tracks on the disc, it ends up feeling like a whole lot more over the course of many remixes and versions. Starting out with an edit of "Atomic Moog 2000," the disc then goes into the laid-back "Post Nuclear Afterlife Lounge Mix" in which remix credits are given to The Herbaliser. Everything from the track (including the samples and beat) are slowed down for about the first 3 minutes until things pick up a little more and take hold for the second half of the very long track.
Up next is the non-album track "Boot The System" (you didn't think you'd just get remixes, did you?) in which the group makes yet another political statement with a funky track in which a computerized voice spews out lyrics. It's kind of a strange thing with the music of Coldcut, because not only do they create some of the goofiest, catchiest stuff out there, but they also have some substance behind the style. Just in case you didn't get it from listening to the songs, they have some material printed on the inside of the liner notes for your consumption (as they did with Let Us Play!). Red Snapper takes hold of it all on the next track and it's aptly named "Re-Boot The System." The group gives the track a more upbeat swagger with a little piano roll and that double-bass sound they've encorporated so well into their own tracks (check out Prince Blimey or Making Bones if you don't believe me).
Yet another big name, Luke Vibert takes the reigns on another remix of "Atomic Moog 2000" and gives it some Juicy Luke flavor with hopped-up breakbeats and other little goofy noises that definitely weren't in the original. All the while, the original samples are being played in a super chopped-up and re-constructed fashion, making the emphasis even more on certain lines. Bedouin Ascent then tries their hand on "Crash The System" with a freestyle jam style mix of the non-album track. It's a nice closer before the album version of "Atomic Moog 2000" closes out things. As mentioned before, you can even check out the video for "Natural Rhythym" on your computer using Quicktime. If you haven't seen it, it's one of those cut-up collage style videos that's worth the price of admission for the single alone. Basically, it's a lot of music and some otherwise unavailable music from Coldcut. Not too shabby.
Rating: 6.75
