Change

Considering a musical curriculum vitae that includes a key position in acid house through to chart-conquering releases with the Shamen and, with Layo Paskin, management of London's phenomenally successful West End venue the End, it's somewhat surprising to find that Change marks the first solo full-length outing from Richard West (aka Mr. C). With a musical history stretching close to a decade before the re-release of Progen in 1991, West rediscovers his past, finding time to nod to "evil" Eddie Richards with the straight-talking "Ascension" before dipping into the rippling house number "The Club," which features Chicago voice-for-hire Robert Owens. The segued CD picks up the pace, taking in mid-tempo breakbeat, the self-explanatory "Tech House," and the thunderous electro pairing of "Terricolo" and "Polar Shift" before coming to an explosive crescendo of drum'n'bass in "Isolation." Far from the throwaway cheekiness of "Ebeneezer Goode," Change is a celebration of everything dance music has produced in the previous two decades. ~ Kingsley Marshall