Basement Jaxx toast "Chapter One"

With pop music’s in-built feature of ephemera, it is really a concern what artists will be able to have ‘Greatest Hits’ in the future if they have so few smash-hitters? Oh, we already got on the wrong foot with this review because the Basement Jaxx’ lads claim it not to be but a collection of singles.

Call it what you like, mates, but you could have fooled me because each track here sounds like it has been a hit: from the sensually-overloaded ‘Good Luck’ to the concert favourite ‘Miracles Keep Playing On’, from the infectious/sing-alongingly irresistible ‘Where’s Your Had At’ to the magnificently sublime ‘Romeo’…

'The Singles’ bring together all of the band's A-sides alongside new tracks ‘U Don’t Know Me’ (featuring long-time collaborator Lisa Kekaula of The Bellrays) and the new single, ‘Oh My Gosh’, featuring Vula Malinga. A compilation of choons, so - a compilation of thoughts.

Felix Buxton: “‘U Don’t Know Me’ is kinda rock/Hip-hop, but in our style…”

Simon Ratcliffe: “Whereas ‘Oh My Gosh’ is kind of disco… with a bit of R&B…”

FB: “… And a young girl living in a slightly surreal urban world. Sort of cheeky East End meets Janet Jackson.”

The reason for this album - there is also a 'Limited Edition' version with a second disc of B-Sides, live tracks and rarities - is due to… over to the boys!

FB: “Creatively, with the last album and tunes like ‘Good Luck’, we moved on from being the groovy, Latin, carnival, punky, DJ outfit.”

SR: “It’s the end of an era…”

FB: “The end of chapter one.”

SR: “Actually the Atlantic Jaxx label and compilation was chapter one and signing to XL and hit singles in the big wide world was chapter two.”

As well as due to “Doing a lot of live shows we‘re coming in contact with a lot of people who wouldn‘t normally hear us. This album‘s for those people, rather than the kids from the clubs.”

It ain’t true: this album is for everyone and for any time of day [or night], for all climes and all the seasons!

9/10

Tour dates:

17 June - Academy, Glasgow
18 June - Apollo, Manchester
19 June - Uni, Leeds
21 June - Guildhall, Portsmouth
22 June - Academy, Birmingham
25 June - Wireless Festival, Hyde Park, London
20 August - Marley Park, Dublin
26 August - Eden Project, Cornwall
27 August - Creamfields, Liverpool
28 August - Corn Exchange, Edinburgh