Jon Gosling brought up the Mekon alias in 1994 when he released the “Phatty’s Lunch Box” tune upon the world, back when big-beat wasn’t a dirty word. After all, it was Mekon’s vibes and the Wall of Sound record label that spawned the success of artists like Fatboy Slim and Laidback. Whilst his roots lie in DJing and even earlier than that, being an avid punter, his love of the squealing guitar and dark industrial sounds has slowly bubbled to the surface and the result of his toils has unleashed the 2006 album “Something Came Up” with it’s fire and brimstone darkness upon us all.

Collaboration is the keyword in this release as Mekon utilises the talents of Afrika Bambaata, Bobby Gillespie (of Primal Scream), and female hip-hop pioneer Roxanne Shante amongst others. Whilst mostly a dark, brooding, and industrial sound in this release, Mekon’s fascination with the un-tuned electric guitar is evident throughout despite the banging beats and breaks. He has created an album that falls outside of the ‘typical’ dance genres and has smashed any resemblance to his previous works.

Roxanne Shante’s rap contribution to the track, “Yes Yes Y’all”, is a vocal that is welcomed. It has been a very long time since hearing Shante’s unique female rap and she does a bang-up job of waxing lyrical over Mekons menacing beats and melancholic rhythms with an old school flavour. Certainly not something that you would put on to relax or play when nanna comes around for lunch, this album thrashes out a sound of Nine Inch Nails industrial sounds with Gatecrasher and breakbeat undertones. Despite the top quality input from the likes of Shante and Bambaata, this album falls short of expectation, although would suit some dark lurching in a gothic nightclub or a soundtrack to a zombie movie.

Overall a twisted, brooding, dark affair that demolishes any feel-good dancing vibe. Admire the tenacity and the effort of what Gosling has created with the Mekon name. Refusing to be pigeon-holed is something Mekon and Jon Gosling have managed to do since his first release on Wall of Sound and ‘Something Came Up’ has not only declined the dance genre invitation but kicked it square in its face with no apologies.