FATBOY SLIM
Live On Brighton Beach (Ministry Of Sound)
Reviewed by Shaun Dale

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Though he'd DJ'd many a club night in Brighton, Norman Cook (aka Fatboy Slim) had never attempted anything in his adopted hometown on the scale of the beachfront free show of July 7, 2001. With the Groove Armada opening, television broadcasting, forty thousand in attendance and a fireworks spectacular capping off the evening, it was an impressive showcase, and the DJ spun a set worthy of the event. For those of us who couldn't be there, and who aren't subscribers to Britain's Channel 4, this disc offers a clear demonstration of why Fatboy Slim is an international turntable superstar.

He sets up an irresistible groove from the onset, deftly blending Underworld's "Born Slippy" with his own "Right Here Right Now," and he keeps up a consistent pace, the only exposed seam coming when the show was briefly suspended when the incoming surf threatened to engulf part of the audience. Once the revelers were safe, Cook picked up the pace immediately and closed out the set with strength and creativity.

If you need a little house music for your house, this historic show is just what you're looking for. It's 21st century beach music, perfectly suitable for inland play as well.

Track List:

Underworld/Born Slippy (Nuxxo) * Fatboy Slim/Right Here Right Now * Kid Creme/Austins Groove * Scanty/Southern Thing * Minimal Funk/The Groovy Thang * Santos/Pray * The Clumps/The Talk * Basement Jaxx/Where's Your Head At? * Fatboy Slim/Jack It Up * Jark Prongo/Rocket Base * (Love) Tattoo/Drop Some Bass * Black And White Brothers/Put Your Hands Up * Santos/3-2-1 Fire! * Fatboy Slim/Star * Raven Maize/The Real Life (Fatboy Slim Mix) * Fatboy Slip/ Sunset (Bird Of Prey) * Leftfield/Phat Planet * Roland Clark/Speak Lord (I Get Deep)

© 2002 - Shaun Dale