Scars

by Basement Jaxx

It’s been three years since Basement Jaxx’s last album, the coolly received Crazy Itch Radio, so while there’s never been any difficulty in describing the dance duo’s music as busy, you might have trouble in using the same adjective to describe their release schedule. So, has it been worth the wait?

Scars is a typically bombastic affair, with layer upon layer of vocals piled on to all manner of electronic squelchs and synthesized strings before being tied together with suitably hectic beats. It’s what Basement Jaxx do best, so whilst it’s a relief that they’ve not tried to change their sound to fit in with the more en vogue synthpop of bands like La Roux, it’s also a disappointment when they stray from their signature style in favour of attempted subtlety in the middle of the album. The drop in pace is short lived, however, and the album soon picks up pace again in its second half. 'Day Of The Sunflowers' and 'Twerk', collaborations with Yoko Ono and Yo Majesty, respectively, are particular highlights on an album full of special guests.

For all its energy Scars doesn’t exactly move the Basement Jaxx sound forward into the 21st century, so whilst it heralds a return to form of sort, it doesn’t have the inventiveness or originality that Rooty did back in 2001 to make it essential. Despite this, you get the feeling that the duo haven’t set out to break into any new territory here, and if your main criterion for this album is good-time-music to dance to then it pushes all the right buttons.