This long-awaited follow-up to Lo Fidelity Allstars' splashy debut (we're not counting their in-between mix album) trades in the big beats and annoyingly artsy interludes of How to Operate With a Blown Mind for suave soul and funk-on-speed. They've brought along the promise they showed with the few really great dance songs of their debut, dusted off their funk and soul influences and whipped up a ragbag of swampy, spacey, sexy, get-off-your-ass-and-dance music.
Lo Fidelity Allstars have found their groove—it seems to have been lost somewhere in the '70s—and thankfully ditched the existential angst that mired their first CD. They've modernized their funk and soul samples with layers of beats and silky guest vocals to maximize the infectious dance grooves. It's a more mature effort, focusing on songs instead of the neat things you can do with vocal effects and samples.
The truly great songs on this CD seem to follow the Chemical Brothers school of hit songs—they feature guest vocalists. Greg Dulli's (Afghan Whigs) vocals on "Somebody Needs You" are the most memorable moment on the CD, due to Dulli's near-devilish alt-rock impression of Barry White and the down-and-dirty swampiness of the track that'll surely make this an anthem for strippers everywhere. Jamie Lidell lends such fabulously funky vocals to "Deep Ellum . . . Hold on"; it's hard to believe they aren't sampled from some Stevie Wonder b-side from 1976. And "On the Pier" is sure to become the latest, greatest choice for chill-out samplers with Bootsy Collins' cosmic jester vocals, lingering funk reminiscent of Tricky in his less moody moments, swimming horns and lilting background vocals—all coasting along for a delicious 6-1/2-minute space trip with Bootsy's loopy laughter left as a final souvenir.
The remainder of the songs swing between generally (and generically) groovy dance songs; LFA haven't gotten over their obsession with vocal effects, nor their lengthy-and-low (and often boring) mid-record jams. Fortunately, they trade in the bizarre spoken word samples and instead venture towards the space-rock dance vibe of some, similar to early Primal Scream (especially on "Just Enough"). While some songs yearn to be the breakout club hit that "Battle Flag" was—"Tied to the Mast" comes closest—few stand up and shout their presence with the same unique, hook-laden confidence.
Lo Fidelity Allstars mince no words—they tell you straight up to shake your ass, and if you get your hands on this CD, you undoubtedly will. Whether or not clubgoers will shake their ass in masse to the tunes is a more questionable prospect.
Lo-Fidelity Allstars Don't Be Afraid Of Love
