mo'better beats

Rip It Up, Issue 193, 1 August 1993, Page 31

mo'better beats

IMPORTS (ALL VARIOUS ARTISTS) / Hit the Decks A techno compilation from the US that is fast and furious. Hi energy megamixes by seven remix crews with the standout being 'Two Little Boys'. Essential. **** Technoßeat More of the same, this time one 60 minute mix, supposedly recorded at Dreamscape, one of the UK'stop danceparties. Good quality recording but one suspects a bootleg - all the more fun I say. **** Hotmix Absolutely no techno, this is a rap/ragga compilation mixed tape, featuring the likes of Naughty By Nature, Janet Jackson, Inner Circle, etc. This comes from the US Radio Network, and as I've said before: when is a local company going to release a mixed dance compilation? - they'd clean up. Ideal for summer party jams. - *?**, Turbo Beat Volume 4 The latest of the very . popular CD compilation that mixes it up on the dancefloor with hyped versions of the very latest rap/techno/ragga hits (or future hits). - Highly recommended.**** .f, NICK D'ANGELO ICE CUBE ’ Predator . Cube has mad props and I'm not going to mess with it, despite his 'white devils' viewpoint. We can argue that one till the cows come home, what matters here is whether Cube has delivered another phat album to drive by with the windows down. Dumb question, the beats here are exceptional with Cube showing wisdom beyond his years with his selection of samples. It's no wonder Eazy E has taken so long to release an album, he has no hope of competing with this. Listen to 'lt Was A Good Day' on the radio if you have to, but buy the album! **** + NICK D'ANGELO f DEE FREDRIX Grace 1 An impressive debut from British soulster Dee Frederix. The album opens with the housey Dirty Money before ripping into the ballad And So I Will Wait For You, which is immediately followed by the Soul II Soul style Whatever It Takes. That's an indication to the only shortcoming of this album: Fredrix is trying too many styles in order to find an audience. Her voice shines best on the soulful ballads, yet she keeps trying her hand at mediocre funk. ■ ***+: ' • DAK MADISON , / N - N . ; ’ ; RuPAUL ; N? Supermodel of the Year r T/'T* ' ’ ! ’ ’" ' Entertainment Tonight recently did a piece on the 'new' trend sweeping the US club scene: men dressing as women! RuPaul is the current Scenequeen, wisely choos-

ing to kick off her debut album with her club hit Supermodel (You Better Work). It's high energy disco all the way, with RuPaul joined by LaWanda Page for the closing track A Shade Shady (Now Prance). You don't have to be gender confused to enjoy this, although at times it was even a little too camp for my delicate sensitivities. ND'A JADE I Wanna Love You - - Here we go again, another 3-Girl vocal group who sing well and look good on video. Mind you, this is a very beautiful slow funky jam so they're forgiven. If you're interested, this song was originally called / Wanna Love You Down for the Kid 'n Play soundtrack to the movie Class Act. Jade were three girl singers brought together to do an answer-back to Color Me’Badd's I Wanna Sex You Up. It's flipped with the equally smooth Don't Walk. Away, which was their last single. *** dm , VARIOUS ARTISTS Greatest Rave , Don't let the TV ad fool you, this compilation comes from the US, not the UK. That said, it's a good slice of techno - two parts stomping and one part ambient. Since the NZ scene follows the UK there are no recognised hits here but with 14 tracks this is still good value. Not something you'd want to sit down and listen to but great to have pounding away while you're doing the dishes, driving your car, clipping your toe-nails. *** dm DR DRE Dre Day ' 7 [ - The radio and instrumental versions from the hardcore mix on the album. **** DM