“I’d like to know are you really ready for some super dynamite soul
Well thankyou because now it’s star time
Introducing, ladies and gentlemen the young man that’s had over thirty five soul classics
Among these classics are tunes that will never die
Introducing the world’s greatest entertainer
Mr Dynamite
The amazing Mr Please Please himself
The hardest working man in show business
Ladies and gentlemen the star of the show
Mr James Brown.”

The introduction to this compilation of James Brown reworks offers a tantalising prospect, but sadly the calibre of the acts on this tribute fail to live up to the high expectations. Much like the 2005s Motown remix album the idea of remixing these tunes seems almost ridiculous as surely no one could improve on the original recordings – but as that Motown collection proved, it’s well worth a shot. Ranging from breakbeat to broken-beat; house to Baltimore; R&B to funk; this collection features thirteen tracks that pay varying degrees of respect to the Godfather of Soul.

You may believe that it would take an exceptionally poor DJ to create a dull take on a James Brown classic, but a few efforts on this collection veer dangerously close to that embarrassment. On the good foot Yosaku delivers a cracking remake of Ain’t It Funky and DJ Ayres lays a typically cracking Baltimore beat to Give It Up or Turn It Loose for a result that screams ‘floor filler’ as loudly as Brown’s ‘Owoh’ wails and grunts. Meanwhile Red Astaire (AKA Freddie Cruger) missteps slightly by adding new vocals to his cut You Dead Wrong, as Caretta Bell’s voice is rich with soul sass the lyrical references to MySpace seem at odds with the rest of the collection.

Breaking things down to a calmer pace Swing Session add a simple digital drum beat to a mellow, slightly spacey, take on I Know You Got Soul. Sugarloaf Gangsters bring a Latin-house approach to Sayin’ It and Doin’ It, before Pure P skittering shuffle steps into offer Fonky President – a perfect slomo strut workout for Obama’s inauguration.

But towards the end of the collection the Hawaiian shirts and sleazy posing slink into crowd the scene. *Bloodfire*’s Mama’s Dead may serve as background filler in a lame cocktail bar over summer, delivering all the flavour and excitement of a premixed mocktail. The sadly named Geisha Boys redeem affairs somewhat with their offering The Bose, but D-Frost Beats’ effort, which samples from one of Brown’s more infamous drunken interviews from his later years, lacks the raw punch delivered by James Brown at his peak. While AYB M.O.D’s effort Turn Back The Clock splices JB breaks with old school hip-hop, taking its lead from Steinski and Double Dee’s Lesson 2 – The James Brown Mix, but falling short of that cut-up classic.

The cover promises ‘Pure Dynamite’, but while there are some traces of firepower the collection is ultimately a disappointing effort which fails to add much to the classic originals.