Fabriclive.65

DJ Hazard's contribution to the Fabriclive series succeeds on several counts. The mix program actually starts out feeling a bit typical and generic -- fun and funky, but kind of ho-hum. But then comes Hazard's own "Cherry Bomb," which is rhythmically weird almost to the point of perversity; the beat is spacious and at times almost abstract, and the track sends a clear message that Hazard is not going to be confined by drum'n'bass orthodoxy. From then on, you never know quite what to expect -- and how often can you say that about a drum'n'bass mix? "Cherry Bomb" segues neatly into the only slightly less weird "Diplodocus [The Upbeats Remix]" by Noisea; elsewhere the beats get subjected to a certain amount of swing (DJ Rowney's excellent "Cheek of It," Hazard's program-ending "Mark Q"), or you'll hear subtle but definite touches of grime ("Ramblers"). There are a few moments of banality: "Do Without You" offers soulful vocals and nicely dubwise atmospherics but also a square and uninteresting beat, and Retronym's "They're Not Human" makes clichéd use of horror movie samples. But those pedestrian moments are much less of an issue than they would be if they weren't scattered through such a generally engaging and creative set. ~ Rick Anderson