Decksandrumsandrockandroll

by Propellerheads

Overview

Really, the title says it all -- Decksanddrumsandrockandroll is about as close to rock & roll as big-beat techno is going to get. Taking their cue from the Chemical Brothers, the Bath-based duo Propellerheads offer a set of pummeling, ultra-loud beats that may dabble in funk, house, hip-hop, soul, and rap, but which all come out sounding as aggressive as rock. Not that there's anything wrong with that -- at its best, big beat is as invigorating as any other music -- but Propellerheads don't have the finesse, innovation, or style of the Chemical Brothers, the leading proponents of big beat. When they shake the beat up, whether on the wah-wah-drenched "Velvet Pants" or the pair of John Barry/James Bond tributes (a reworking of their cover of "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" and "History Repeating"), it sounds like a tactical move, since they know they can't spend the entire album on thundering dance cuts like "Bang On!" and "Take California." That said, Decksanddrumsandrockandroll remains a strong big beat album, even if it ultimately doesn't reveal anything new, because the duo knows how to craft a hard-hitting, infectious rhythm track. And while that doesn't make them the next Chemical Brothers, it does make them the best in this style since the Chemicals. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Product Details

Release Date:	01/01/1997
Label:	Wall Of Sound
UPC:	5028589004726
Rank:	143706

Tracks

1. Take California
2. Echo And Bounce
3. Velvet Pants
4. Better
5. Oh Yeah
6. History Repeating
7. Bang On
8. Number Of Microphones
9. On Her Majesty's Secret Service
10. Bigger
11. Cominagetcha
12. Spybreak

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Propellerheads   Primary Artist
Shirley Bassey   Guest Artist,Featured Artist
Jungle Brothers   Guest Artist,Featured Artist
De La Soul   Guest Artist,Featured Artist
Will White   Drums,Noise
Mike Thomas   Guitar
Chris Lawson   Guitar
Alex Gifford   Noise

Technical Credits

Chris Lawson   Engineer
Sammy Burwell   Composer
Alex Gifford   Composer
David Arnold   Arranger
Will White   Composer
Prince Strickland   Engineer
Shirley Bassey   Engineer,Performer
Nathaniel Hall   Composer
Lee Strickland   Photography
Dave Trump   Assistant Engineer
Michael Small   Composer
Propellerheads   Producer
John Barry   Composer
Jungle Brothers   Composer
Mike Marsh   Mastering
De La Soul   Performer,Composer