More about: DJ Food

Take a cursory glance at the wilfully anachronistic artwork for DJ Food's 2000 release Kaleidoscope and you'd be forgiven for mistaking it as some half-forgotten obscurity from the psychedelic age - or, at least, you would were it not for the group's quintessentially '90s moniker.

A group of electro reprobates, DJ Food were responsible for a lengthy string of sample-heavy nu-jazz LPs released throughout the twentieth century's final decade. If Kaleidoscope's Austin Powers-esque visual aesthetic might ultimately prove itself to be something of a red herring, the hour or so of music contained within the album's original release nevertheless proves itself to be entirely worthwhile for those with a penchant for the slyly playful musicality of the swinging sixties.

Combining the jazz-tinged compositional flair of early '70s library music with the burbling basslines and programmed drum beats of '90s electronica, DJ Food crafted one of the most evocative records of its kind with Kaleidoscope. Reissued on vinyl for the first time, this quadruple LP set spreads the original release over its first two discs and offers another album's worth of bonus material over its latter two.

Originally released through the UK's vital electronica outlet Ninja Tune, Kaleidoscope's 21st anniversary expanded edition has likewise been issued by that label. It stands as testament to their enduring respect for DJ Food that the label has gone to such evident lengths to ensure the quality of this re-release. Pressed by the long-established MPO, the four approximately mid-weight records which comprise this set look fantastic and sound just as good. The French pressing plant have, at times, displayed a somewhat variable quality control in their output but they have—particularly in recent years—proven their work to be of a generally impeccable standard.

This certainly rings true for their pressing of Kaleidoscope, which sounds fantastic throughout. In the case of our copy, all four records sit flat on the platter during playback, being free of the warpage which can all-too-often be found even in the case of records taken straight out of the shrinkwrap. The mastering itself is crisp throughout—both in the case of the original album and the hour's worth of bonus material—and playback is equally impressive, with all eight sides boasting low noise floors free of anything more than the most minor and infrequent instances of surface noise.

Though it has become increasingly common to see coloured vinyl options for new releases—to such an extent, in fact, that it now seems almost anomalous when an album is only released on black wax—this new reissue of Kaleidoscope nevertheless impresses with its frankly stunning coloured LPs. It's too easy for the novelty of experimental colour variants to wear off in a flurry of splattered, marbled and otherwise fragmented colour combinations but, in the case of this particular release, the records are simply too attractive not to elicit a favourable response.

The original album—spread over the set's first two discs—is pressed on a milky clear vinyl with generous accents of white and blue throughout. It's a real feast for the eyes, especially when held up to the light. The bonus material, meanwhile, appears on a pair of sunny orange LPs; they aren't as visually textural as the others discs but they still look great.

If there's one regard in which Kaleidoscope's 21st anniversary reissue feels a little under par, it's in the packaging. Issued in a broad-spined gatefold sleeve, the construction of the cover itself feels as though it were intended for a double LP release, rather than a quadruple LP set. A pair of LPs must be slotted into each of the two gatefold pockets - rather than the usual one - and it would, ideally, have been preferable for the cover to have been a multi-panel affair more befitting of a release of this scope.

Ultimately, though, the cover is well-constructed for what it is; its semi-gloss finish feels pleasing in-hand and the cardstock from which the whole thing has been wrought is certainly sturdy. It's also important to note this is one of the most generously-priced vinyl releases we have seen in quite some time; in an age when many labels are pushing prices well into the £30 region for a double LP, this four LP set is a mere £29 direct from Ninja Tune's own shop - a veritable bargain by anyone's standards.

In light of the release's wallet-friendly pricing scheme, the comparative modesty of its cover seems entirely understandable - and, if anything, relatively impressive considering that the label could justifiably have cut plentiful corners when charging such a meagre sum for such a large quantity of beautifully mastered and stupendously-pressed music.

More about: DJ Food