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Basement Jaxx

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Basement Jaxx are, to use a jaxxy turn of phrase, on fire. 2005 saw Felix Buxton and Simon Ratcliffe sell over 800,000 copies of their double platinum album The Singles, rack up a technicolour storm at Glastonbury and generally remind everyone what a vibrant force they've been for the past decade. Now it's time to feel their superfresh Jaxx flow once again with album, Crazy Itch Radio, recorded in their SW9 studio with a cast of super-talented fresh blood.

So what about the title, Felix? "We've all got the crazy itch. You could be in Hawaii on the beach and still get a mosquito on your neck. It's the crazy, colourful itch of life." The record certainly scratches the spot, swerving from all-out drama on the operatic intro straight into the jet-packed kaleidoscopic pop of 'Hush Boy'which features live collaborator Vula Malinga, last heard on 'Oh My Gosh'. Rammed up next 'Take Me Back To Your House', is a sexy, energetic moment of what they call "banjo house" – the only new tune they've been playing on their current European tour. There's also Balkan folk woven into vocals from Swedish pop sensation Robyn (on 'Hey U'), a hyper grime tune cussing vain boys from East London's Lady Marga, titled 'Run 4 Cover' and 'Lights Go Down', a Wil Malone-scored beauty with legendary British singer Linda Lewis – plus a special little treat tucked away at the end.

Thoughts, Simon?: "This record feels like what we do best. It's soulful, soothing and warm and it's got a beauty to it which "Remedy" and our early EP's had."

Everyone knows that Basement Jaxx grew out of the duo's shrink-wrapped Atlantic Jaxx label and their joyfully grimy spit'n'sawdust Brixton parties. It's a baseline and a blueprint that they've held on to: Felix has been running monthly "Inside Out" parties for the last year and a half, playing a riot of favela funk, Baltimore beats and Jaxxy house – or "new age ghetto music" as Felix describes it. They've also been running a subsidiary to Atlantic Jaxx, Stop, putting out music on limited run 10" vinyl that helped form the backbone of the album. Grime gyal Lady Marga's 'Run 4 Cover' originally appeared on the label, for example. And then there was the "Balkan Bangers and Gypsy Beats" compilation which plugged the rich, fire-charged sound of Eastern Europe straight into the UK's sonic mainframe. "It's raw, honest and full of fire," says Felix before recounting a studio visit by Russian accordionist Serge which involved hot black sugar-stuck coffee being knocked over the mixing desk with particular Eastern verve. "Serge is a right character. He's about fifty, quite strong and rounded. He was all explosive exclamations and vodka."

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