'64-'95 [Deluxe Edition]

"Come Down to Me," the first song on electronica duo Lemon Jelly's third full-length album, begins with a massive guitar sound crashing heavily over a shuddering drum loop and weaving synth patterns. The fusion is indicative of Lemon Jelly's mix-and-match aesthetic. On '64-'95, Fred Deakin and Nick Franglen thread acoustic and electric guitars, strings, heady keyboard melodies, meaty bass parts, and a staggering array of eclectic samples through grooves and beats derived from hip-hop, soul, techno, and house. The result is a whiplash melange of styles that is as surprising as it is accessible and fun.
The title of the album refers to the years from which Lemon Jelly lifted its source material. The listener has the impression of traveling through time, from the ringing, old-school barbershop strains of "The Slow Train" to the smooth 1970s soul of "Stay with You" to the avant-garde swirl of "The Shouty Track." Occasionally Lemon Jelly put its tongue so firmly in cheek that it's hard not to smile (note the use of William Shatner reciting poetry on "Go"), but for the most part, '64-'95 is serious DJ artistry--dense, inventive tracks that are equally suitable for headphone meditation and dance-floor workouts.