Lemon Jelly - '64 - 95' (XL) Released 31/01/05

Named after the span of years the samples that form the basis of the album were taken from, ‘64 – 95’ is the mind-bending new tour de force from Lemon Jelly. Listening to the album it’s clear that everything is different in the world of Lemon Jelly – an alternate, cartoon reality in which metal, R&B, Techno, House, chill and blues seamlessly intermingle with outstanding results. Indeed, ‘64 – 95’ is possibly the best sample based album since The Avalanches’ defining ‘Since I Left You’.

Unlike Fatboy Slim, Lemon Jelly’s (aka Fred Deakin and Nick Franglen) strength is that they don’t simply paste a dance beat on top of a sample; instead they manipulate the records and add their own twist to create something totally unique. Opener ‘Come Down On Me’ mixes a sample of a blues vocal with tech-tinged beats, manic guitars and a killer bass hook to form a truly euphoric and rousing tune. By the next track, the soothing ‘Only Time’, in typical Lemon Jelly style, they effortlessly switch genres to a laid-back lounge vibe - it truly feels as though you’ve stepped out of the chaos of the dance floor into the chill out area. Elsewhere, the ethereal Terri Walker sampling ‘Make Things Right’ continues the relaxed mood that dominates the early part of the album. Unfortunately, the underwhelming ‘Don’t Stop Now’ which revolves around a looped sample that fails to amount to much and provides a temporary lull in an otherwise great opening.

Fortunately, things soon change with the infectious and swirling ‘The Shouty Track’, which kick starts a rousing finale. The brilliant ‘The Slow Train’ exemplifies how unpredictable Lemon Jelly can be – the vocal sample sounds as though it was taken directly from a 1920’s Disney Film, suggesting it may be the ‘Nice Weather for Ducks’ of the new album… that is until a dirty breaks beat is dropped and the track becomes a kaleidoscope of zany and juxtaposing sounds that work perfectly together. The best, however, is saved for last with the mesmerising ‘Go’. Bearing no resemblance to the Moby track with the same name, ‘Go’ samples dialect from the gravel-voiced William Shatner, better known as Captain Kirk from Star Trek. The sample perfectly complements the swirling atmospherics, the ominous bass line and the apocalyptic crescendo of building guitars. It makes for an intense climax that’s more akin to Mogwai or Godspeed YBE than anything else.

Despite one momentary slip, ‘64-95’ is a pertinent reminder that music can be fun, playful and genre-bending and still sound great.