(NinjaTune/Inertia)

Anyone who appreciates the fine art of turntabilism is bound to have Japan’s DJ Kentaro sitting well on the top of their list of favourites. A DMC World Champion and holder of the most prefect score to date, Kentaro is a performer of mind blowing proportions. Recently handed the ‘Ninja Tune’ back catalogue, Kentaro whips up his second mix album, an incredible sonic adventure titled ‘DJ Kentaro On The Wheels of Solid Steel’.

Those originally wowed by Kentaro’s debut, ‘My Favourite Songs’ should be giddy with anticipation. Newcomers, set your eyes and ears to stunned. In what can only be described as a chaotic blurring of musical boundaries, here Kentaro blends, cuts, juggles, slices and dices hip-hop, reggae, drum ‘n’ bass, house, electro and jungle in ways that you just aren’t used to and its utterly spellbinding.

Naturally, the Ninja Tune archives lend themselves perfectly to turntabilism, but the Kentaro treatment takes it to yet another level. Dark chords (Brasilia Freestylee), menacing basslines (King’s Lyn), kaleidoscopic melodies (Animal Chin), grandiose strings (Timber), sexy pop-funk (Chicken Spit), middle eastern instrumentation (Centre of the Earth), frantic percussion (Dark Lady), gritty rock (The Great Drive By) and ghoulish squelches (Scratch Yer Hed) all get thrown down, worked over and spat out with pure precision and know-how.

And just when you thought it couldn’t get any better, this album is also accompanied by a mesmerising dvd that captures the man in action. Oh so good.