Power Inc., Vol. 2

More Tackhead from the vaults and the remixing board. This time out the sound is less in the didactic funk-rock mode of Power Inc., Vol. 1 and more akin to the output of On-U Sound experimentalists like African Head Charge and the Dub Syndicate. Adrian Sherwood's industrialized take on the Sugar Hill Gang sound does reap rewards on "Move It" and "The Bubbly," but often enough gets mired in the dogmatic funk groove laid down by guitarist Skip McDonald, drummer Keith LeBlanc, and bassist Doug Wimbish. Additionally, the disc features Tackhead and alias Fats Comet sans Vol. 1 guests Melle Mel, Bernard Fowler, Gary Clail, and Bim Sherman. And while some jazz fusion, doo wop, and soul touches help spruce up a few cuts here, Wimbish's stab at the Hendrix staple "Crosstown Traffic" comes off as missed opportunity to marry rough electronica with acid-industrial sounds. A better collection than Vol. 1, this mix qualifies as a first-disc choice for the Tackhead curious. ~ Stephen Cook