Trip Hop Acid Phunk

3 (Adrenalin)
by Joshua Brown

Of the DJ Hardware mix CDs that have recently come out on Adrenalin, Trip Hop Acid Phunk 3 is the hottest. People whose trip hop lexicon begins and ends with names like Portishead, Bjork, and Massive Attack will have their expectations dissolved by potent elements of techno, funk, electro, and disco. The featured artists who have made the biggest name for themselves thus far are Crystal Method from Las Vegas, whose “Keep Hope Alive” brings the supreme funkitude of the Chemical Brothers into the rave sphere. Lately, the blockbuster club hits that have found their way to the top of DJ play lists and stayed there have been sleeper success stories whose popularity arrived some time after their initial release dates. (Cases in point: Everything But the Girl’s “Missing” and Planet Soul’s “Set U Free”.) It wouldn’t surprise me to see a similar thing happen to Cotton Club’s “Hear the Drummer,” an intense modernization and trippification of older disco themes that begs to be played over and over. Another track that retains its underground edge but would suit any dance floor is Chris & James’ “Calm Down.” Following the song title’s instruction is impossible since the “bass keeps thumpin’, thumpin’, jumpin’!” Though there is less crossover potential in other tracks on Trip Hop Acid Phunk 3, the mix stays strong throughout, never disturbing us with weak transitions or gratuitous focus on one loop.