Review Summary: A classic of turntable-based dance music.
Whatever happened to Will White and Alex Gifford? These days, hardly anyone knows who the Propellerheads are, but back in the late 1990s, they were at the forefront of so-called "Big Beat" music along with fellow Brits The Chemical Brothers. It's a shame, then, that only one of the two aforementioned groups continued to achieve great success, while the Propellerheads sort of disappeared.
A shame because their debut and final album, Decksandrumsandrockandroll, is pretty awesome. Or if you'd rather I be more specific, it's a superb achievement of dance music featuring turntable manipulation, live drumming, well-used samples, and a healthy selection of guest vocalists.
The album kicks off with the chill and bassy "Take California", providing a nice introduction to the Propellerheads' sound. Vocal samples, a simple bassline, and Will White's live drum loops all make appearances in this track to lovely effect. "Velvet Pants" is a bit more upbeat and funky with samples from a 1960s-70s interview called The Groupies, as well as Bill Cosby, of all people. The horn samples really make this one. "Better?" is a short but sweet cut of hard-hitting drums and another funky bassline.
"360 (Oh Yeah?)" is the first of the excellent collaborations on the disc. Rappers De La Soul (of Feel Good Inc. fame) rhyme over a slow, head-bobbing beat. "History Repeating" follows with a massive genre change - a jazzy number featuring Shirley Bassey, the singer famous for the theme from Goldfinger. This one is definitely a highlight.
"Winning Style" is one of those tracks you feel like you've heard before somewhere earlier on the disc - despite its chill vibe, it just feels like a filler track. "Bang On!" picks the energy back up with an urgent beat and slide guitar samples, however - this is one of the best songs on the disc by far. The beatbox interlude "A Number Of Microphones" bridges the gap between this and "On Her Majesty's Secret Service", a remix of the theme from the James Bond film of the same name. The orchestra samples are a nice touch, and the fact that they're so prominent makes this another must-hear.
Another shorter track, "Bigger?" features a really cool heavily distorted turntable solo. The cinematic horn samples appear once again in "Cominagetcha", presenting a tense vibe to it all that leads into "Spybreak!", the one song you've probably heard before. (It's featured in the lobby gunfight scene in The Matrix.) The two alternating drum loops and that bassline - that beautiful bassline - make this one stand out.
The final track, "You Want It Back", features American rappers The Jungle Brothers, and just when you think it's just going to be another chill rap track, the Propellerheads ever-so-slowly crank up the tempo until it turns into a speedy and funky hip-hop cut. It's a perfect, high-energy way to finish up one of the more amazing albums of the 1990s. Hell, one of the more amazing albums of all time.
