Lo-Fidelity Allstars – On The Floor At The Boutique

Artist: Lo-Fidelity Allstars

Title: On The Floor At The Boutique

Label: Columbia

Rating: 6.5/10

Have you ever made a mix tape and thought it was the coolest creation on the planet and the whole world should hear it? Well, the Lo Fidelity Allstars have done just that. This compilation was inspired by the vibe created by club DJs and clubbers who came out to Big Beat Boutique in London each weekend to dance the night away. Big Beat Boutique is an international chain of clubs established in London, Berlin, Dublin, and right here in the USA, in New York. The mix laid down by the Lo Fidelity Allstars is not high quality when it comes to flow from beginning to end, but I like their idea of taking various types of dance music and hip-hop to record a compilation.

On The Floor At The Boutique starts out with contemporary hip-hop, which is then traded for urban hip hop. Blackstreet’s “No Diggity”, featuring Dr.Dre, is probably the only truly popular song on the mix. Most tracks are underground favorites, such as Trouble Funk’s “Pump Me Up” and the Jungle Brothers’ “Black Is Black”. I found that tracks one through nine are not the greatest at keeping the album’s momentum alive; it seems like they were just thrown together instead of being part of some well thought out engineered plan.

The most favorable section of the mix comes from the middle to end when the British dance/rock act pulls out their house music collection. Les Rythmes Digitales’ “What’s That Sound” and Space Raiders’ “Disko Doktor” begin pacing this section with their brand of dance-funk for the incoming dance attack of Silver Bullet’s “20 Seconds To Comply”. Armand Van Helden’s “Funk Phenomena” and Jackson and His Computer Band’s “Makin’ It Happen” back to back make for a kickass combination of some of the finest house music around. The house-soul of “Makin’ It Happen” sets up the end of the mix nicely as the Lo Fidelity Allstar DJs take you to church with some gospel/funk. “The Whole Church Should Get Drunk” by Feelgood Factor is a brilliant track with amazing house beats twisted with soul and the funk of James Brown.

Compilations like these are rare but make for a wise selection to please an ongoing house party. I give the Lo Fidelity Allstars credit where it’s due. This is a very appealing mix and tribute to all lovers of hip-hop, dance, and electronica.

+larry sarzyniak