Full On, Vol. 1

The best thing about Todd Edwards' productions is that you don't necessarily have to be a believer to get caught up in his 2-step gospel; his best tracks can be practically life-affirming in their happiness, even for the most cynical of dancers/listeners. The worst thing about Todd Edwards is that his consistently mapped-out template -- the relentless 2-step foundation, the skipping hi-hats, the predictable use and placement of vocal cut-ups -- has the potential to be nauseating in large doses, a notion that is compounded by the lack of tempo variation. Nothing builds up, nothing breaks down -- it's just a sustained pitter-patter that goes on and on. For those with the right appetite, however, the first volume of Full On provides some of Edwards' finest material in the form of his own hourlong mix. (A second disc, consisting of most of the tracks in unmixed form, is also included.) To know one of these tracks is to know all of them, but the details in the vocal-sample manipulation are often enough to provide a new joy in each passing track, whether it's a vocodered exultation or the overlapping of numerous lines filched from gospel songs. Whether using his own voice or someone else's, it's always evident that his heart and soul have been poured into these sweetly uplifting tracks. ~ Andy Kellman