Big Casino

Album Review

The sixth album to come from the alter ego of occasional illustrated man Dave Harrow takes a step away from his bluesy Straight from the Fridge. Indeed, a move to Los Angeles in the early months of 2003 resulted in a veritably sun-drenched full-length, which slides back to his pre-breakbeat roots in its collision of tribal beats, techno dancefloor grunt, and standup bass. The opening "Feel in Love" sets the agenda, a heat haze of strolling percussion and offbeat bass, the vocals of Harrow's latest muse E Luv's vocals rising from the disc like a fog. Techno shudders through the album, but is far from an overriding influence, with a swing-time sway driving through "Heart Beat" and the smell of Cohibas rising over "Doyoudo," with traces of Harrow's soundtrack work for the cinema evident in the closing ambience of "To Be Found." Deeper, wider, smoother, sh*t.