Opening with a large round of applause and some otherworldly synth notes like the aliens in Close Encounters, the Plump DJs invite you to experience their third album Headthrash. Paving the way for many artists and producers throughout the early years of this century with albums Plump Night Out (2000), Eargasm (2003) and their compilation Saturday Night Lotion (2005), the duo has elevated the Finger Lickin’ record label and the breakbeat sound in general more than any other act. Music lovers the world over have been anticipating this release for a while and now we can rinse it, turn it up, cast a critical ear, and most of all, enjoy it.

Best Believe Us leads us into the calm before the storm with a half time feel of crisp drums, slo-motion laser blasts and vocodered gremlins. Then comes System Addict. You’ll definitely be familiar with this absolute stormer of a track. And if you’re not – then best crawl back under that rock you’ve been hiding for the last year. “Auto, automatic-matic, system addict”. The track Carl Cox opened his ‘08 Big Day Out sets with has even got a thrashing on the Ministry of Sound Clubbers Guide to 2008. And why not? A massive trance-esque synth riff combined with a fat drum beat gets you moving every single time.

Shifting Gears has been one of my faves off the album for its ridiculously heavy bass sound. Beware – turning this tune up will vibrate your floor and put cracks in your walls. UK artist Niara’s vocals are interchanged with US rapper Raphael Lamotta in a commercial format ripe for radio play. And a lot of DJs already have Snake Eyes in their current bag of tricks. “All these eyes, all these faces.” A slithering warping bassline is up front in one of the more traditional breaks tracks on the album.

He Got Beef lets out the emotions with a 75bpm beat, high frequency fireworks, and a man making a stand. “I’m gonna walk right over to him and put him on the floooooooooor!” Theme X is disco-fuelled excursion into funky sonic squelches with a classic vocal by none other than Jermaine Jackson. S.N.A.F.U. is a old-school Plump dance floor track that reminds me of a Creepshow lite. An understatedly cool riff as the lead melody sets the scene for some straight up breakbeat styles. Beat Myself Up is a masochistic ode to self-hate as the vocal provides a sound sustain on what it is like inside the brain of a very upset little boy. The background builds with some classic Plump ‘where did they get that from?’ sounds as you scream along with them.

Victim incorporates the vocals of UK singer Sharlene Hector in an understated glide through some lower tempo flanging beats. Rocket Soul is the prettier cousin of System Addict with an emphasis on simple but dynamic riffage in an epic setting. Torque of the Devil has previously been released as an instrumental single, but here, incorporates a vocal from Passenger in a shouty indie love song. “You, you killed my heart”. Final track on the album Lost In Space also grooves along at a lower tempo and provides a smooth backdrop for your next trip to Mars. The one has soul.

Headthrash is easily one of the best new releases I’ve heard this year. The Plump DJs have progressed from their seminal artist albums and genre-defining compilations to produce another confident step in their quest for world domination. Refusing to be bracketed by the niche genre in which they made their name, they provide rhythms, melody and soul for anyone into any strain of electronic music. There’s been some criticism leveled that they’ve not been forward-thinking enough on this occasion; but for this reviewer, even when carrying the sort of high expectations that can often lead to disappointment, Headthrash still manages to deliver an incredibly satisfying chapter in the Plumps’ journey. The best mix of retro and future sounds are all throughout this LP and best of all, these are tunes to get excited about, to get you fired up and passionate. There are beats in here that will detonate inside your brain. Let them. Again and again.

Check out the tracklist…

01. Best Believe Us
02. System Addict
03. Shifting Gears
04. Snake Eyes
05. He Got Beef
06. Intermission
07. Theme X
08. Snafu
09. Beat Myself Up
10. Disco Unusual
11. Victim
12. Rocket Soul
13. Torque Of The Devil
14. Lost In Space

And check out this clip of the Plumps performing at Glastonbury 2008. Hectic.