The latest in the wayward, but often fascinating "Badmeaningood" DJ mix albums finds the baton being handed back from Bay Area man Peanut Butter Wolf to London DJ trio SCRATCH PERVERTS.
And, typically, the resulting melange is a collection reeking with eclecticism and risk-taking. This can be a good thing, as the stoned and sultry intro gives way the brilliant, widescreen heartbeat-accelerating "Scorpio" from the immortal Lalo Schifrin. Impeccable start by anyone's standards, and when it's followed up by The Specials' impeachably wonderful "Ghost Town" (here with extended wobbly dub ending), it's difficult to do anything but reach for ridiculous superlatives.
For the remainder, however, for "eclectic" you could easily substitute "hotch-potch." There's more lurking genius in here, sure: try on the shoot-from-the-hip funk of Kool G Rap's "Streets Of New York" or the lithe basslines and Muscle Shoals-style horns of Mickey & the Generation's "Soul Leg" on for size for starters. Besides, anyone who can get away with including, erm, Minnie Ripperton's actually rather epic "Les Fleurs", Sister Nancy's unlikely fem-dub "Bam Bam" and Squarepusher's neat minimalism ("Red Hot Car") in such company must have vision. Or a lot of bottle.
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Unfortunately, there's too much deadweight for this to be a truly satisfying experience. Despite their old skool credentials, the likes of London Posse and Schooly D are just plain annoying, while DJ Shadow's "Entropy" is much ado about nothing and Gang Starr just sound past their sell-by date. Quite how Unknown Origin's junglist hybrid "Valley Of The Shadows" and t'Perverts own, insignificant "Beat Down" are meant to enhance things also remains a mystery.
Rather like listening to large chunks of Sonic Youth's back catalogue, the "Badmeaningood" series is a shit-hot idea with sometimes rather clunky execution. The Peanut Butter Wolf album was more cohesive than this, but at their best, Scratch Perverts help clear away several previously concealed sonic entrances, ensuring this is a worthwhile effort, despite the flaws.
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