September 5, 1998

The Antidote

Party's over then. That was that. Slightly more credible than happy hardcore and easier to dance to than drum'n'bass - there were a couple of good things about big beat....

7 / 10 PARTY'S OVER THEN. THAT WAS THAT. Slightly more credible than happy hardcore and easier to dance to than drum'n'bass - there were a couple of good things about big beat.

So, what's poor Theo Keating, aka DJ Touche, aka, er, The Wiseguys supposed to do now? Bask in the assured glory of 'The Antidote', probably, and consider dropping that erroneous 's' now his original partner Regal has departed.

For although the zeitgeist has been well and truly surfed, pissed in and guzzled by every chancer with a drum machine and an hilarious novelty sample, genuine talent will always shine through. And while such cultural overcrowding would explain the lack of attention afforded the 'Guys' hip-hop-heavy debut, 1996's 'Executive Suite', Touche has since embellished his beats with a profusion of inspired samples and studio thrills - so much so, in fact, that you forget the album actually lasts a whopping 74 minutes.

Indeed just listen to the irresistible twang of 'Cowboy 78' and the sleek Latin flourishes of 'Temple' and it's tempting to place Touche up there alongside the more cerebral DJ Shadow. After all, both men make records from other people's records and, in these postmodern times, that must be akin to, like, re-presenting rock'n'roll.

Makes you think. Oh, and about that party. Looks like someone's got a second wind.