Basement Jaxx — Crazy Itch Radio

From the moment the booming theatrical orchestration intro of Crazy Itch Radio blasts out of your speakers, you know something's different for Basement Jaxx. Say goodbye to the punky cutthroat electronics of Kish Kash and hello to avant pop. Felix and Simon aren't growing up or calming down with CIR, they're just giving the listener a little more breathing room. They've kept up with the time-wasting dumb-"aludes," but they've also dropped instrumentals, opting instead for guest vocalists on every tune. Felix's adventures in Balkan dance music are highlighted on the brilliant banjo-house of "Take Me Home" and underground R&B hero Robyn's "Hey U." With other show-stoppers like the trumpeting grime banger "Run 4 Cover" and the Alfred Hitchcock-sampling "Smoke Bubbles," the Jaxx remain layering masters.

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