A true collector’s item. Those stealthy Ninjas in SE11 have kindly re-released the best of the untidy one’s superb 5 Pleasure Records EPs. Agree with the new label’s choice or not, train-spotting crate-diggers nose buried deep in dusty rows of vinyl can come up for air, this convenient collection spares the tedium. If you’re not a vinyl junkie fear not, Ninjatune are re-releasing the remastered tracks on CD with the incentive of three tracks that don’t make the vinyl cut.
While hardly grabbing you by the back of the neck, Mr Scruff’s splendid productions are akin to the sublime Nightmares on Wax who grace this release with a dreamy remix of Jazz Potato. Both CD and vinyl open with the bass heavy Andy Votel & Rick Myers version of Sea Mammal and the tone is set for a session of relaxing vibes. Here the two formats part company and follow different grooves. The calming yet melancholy piano of Tubby Mechanical Friend is next on the CD while the vinyl keeps the up-beat vibe alive skipping over tracks most club DJs would only play to wind down.
Highlights include the rolling snares and crazy flute solo of Chicken In a Box and the high octane party-starter Bass Baby. The mood is suppressed by the time Bobby’s Jazz Pony comes around explaining it’s omission from the vinyl. Jazz Potato follows and the much sexier yet still jazzy beat is the outstanding track on this release.
Wail is a fitting climax to the album with brushed percussion and peaceful piano, talk of whales reacquaints us with the largest sea mammal floating aimlessly in a big blue ocean.
