Rooty - Basement Jaxx

A munching gorilla set against a background of stars and vivid pink isn't a look that too many music stars would go for on the front of their albums. However, Brixton's Basement Jaxx aren't your orthodox band. Known to their mothers as Simon Ratcliffe and Simon Buxton, they have been producing music together for almost a decade, although it was only with 1999's 'Remedy' that they fully hit the big time. Whilst Ibiza anthems like 'Red Alert' and 'Rendezvous' launched them at a time when dance music was at the height of its powers, 'Rooty' was released during a period when only trance seemed to be making an impact ...  Read the complete review

This is one class album. For everyone who likes some wacky, fun tracks then you will like this album. I quite surprised my self when I got this. I didn’t think I would enjoy it; I bought it out of curiosity and was really pleased! It has some top tunes and some great sounds on the album. The album starts out with its own little intro. It has a low sound and then you hear “Bassment Jaxx” in a deep voice. I think this is a great opener and it is really cool and leads onto some good songs… 1) Romeo This song is a bit annoying now. It is annoying because of the constant repetition of the words “Romeo” and ...  Read the complete review

Basement Jaxx: big, bad, brassy, bold and bangin'... but is there any way even they could have followed up a debut as complete and accomplished as "Remedy"? The first album was crammed so full of ideas, tunes, rhythms and miscellaneous noises, it was a worry that Felix & Simon might have run out of tricks for a follow-up. They haven't, most of the material here is as excellent as you'd expect - but then again, "Rooty" is no "Remedy". Lead single 'Romeo' is quirky, and ya can't help but love the Bollywood video. But it's a bit unassuming next to the likes of 'Red Alert' or ...  Read the complete review

Being a bit of a raver once upon a time certain aspects of dance music still appeal to me and get me tapping my feet every now and then. So listening to the 'hit parade' or 'Top 40' as its called these days I couldnt help but notice one particular tune stood out from the rest and made my feet tap like mad. I just had to find out who it was that was producing such a catchy and rythmic tune and waited almost 4 minutes to hear that it was 'Basement Jaxx'. Yes, I had heard of this group before. They did a track a while ago called Rendez vous, and a bit before that one called Red alert. So, me being a bit of a ...  Read the complete review

Rooty is the second album from the British dance act, Basement Jaxx, Rooty was an old club night the Jaxx did in Brixton, there are a couple of interludes on the album which I haven't included as they are 20 seconds and of no material consequence to the quality of the album. The overriding thing with a Basement jaxx song is the beats, they are always there but I do get impressed with the experiments they try on this album, from 80's synth, to Charleston, one song throws in an Indian style beat another is just very sexy. This is a decent second album which does sound lightweight on a CD but when you hear it in a club or at a gig has both danceability and a ...  Read the complete review