Basement Jaxx – Hush Boy (XL Recordings / Remote Control)

1. Hush Boy (Soul Seekerz remix) (6.49)
2. Hush Boy (Les Visiteurs remix) (6.25)
3. Hush Boy (radio version) (3.59)

While they don’t exactly represent the more ‘underground’ or outre end of my listening spectrum, I have to confess more than a slight soft spot for Basement Jaxx, having been especially seduced by their successful transition from the house-oriented duo showcased on early albums ‘Remedy’ and ‘Rooty’, to the considerably more stacked soul/funk influenced pop explorations of their third album ‘Kish Kash’ and recent Greatest Hits single ‘Oh My Gosh.’ For my money, that aforementioned single and its predecessor, the Lisa Kekaula-voiced ‘Good Luck’ represented some of the most deft examples of classic Stax / Motown-informed contemporary pop to emerge in recent years, and on a far more basic level, after just a couple of listens I couldn’t get them out of my head if I’d tried.

This first single to be lifted from the Jaxx’s fourth artist album ‘Crazy Itch Radio’ certainly conforms to the aforementioned stylistic trends and shows Felix and Simon re-convening with ‘Oh My Gosh’ vocalist Vula for a track that keeps one foot distinctly planted in RNB-centric territory. In this case, it’s a vivid fusion between crisp eighties-fixated electrofunk and Stax soul horn stabs, a fat slapped bassline anchoring the Moogy synths beautifully as Vula’s lyrics centre around the guy who’s all over her as soon as his ex walks into the room. It’s certainly something that comes across as far more informed by the synthy dance-funk of Prince’s early nineties period than the house-fixated DJ Sneak-isms of the duo’s early Atlantic Jaxx days; complete with the Jaxx’s trademark unhinged qualities; witness the unmistakeably male crazed backing vocals yelling out “Hush boy / if you want me for your girlfriend” along with Vula during the chorus hook.

The remixes are certainly also well catered-for here, with two reworkings on board that take things in considerably divergent directions. Soul Seekerz offer up a filtered loop-laden disco house reworking in the vein of fellow Bonogoloids Roger Sanchez and DJ Sneak that certainly makes maximum use of the original track’s colourful Stax horns, while Les Visiteurs’ remix gears things towards buzzing electro-house along the lines of Tiefschwarz or M.A.N.D.Y., complete with a fantastic tribal percussion-laden breakdown that even manages to introduce a touch of squealing acid 303 into the equation – both certainly cater well to their intended respective audiences. Another strong first single from Basement Jaxx’s ‘Crazy Itch Radio’ that certainly seems destined for airplay rotation similar to that enjoyed by its predecessors – next week, I’ll let you know what the full album’s like…

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