DJ Dara
Future Perfect (2001)

review by: Jason Thornberry
Date: 8/13/01

Subtitled "A Drum & Bass Mix" this is a great first album for you if, like me, you thought most electronica was just the same ol' thing, that ever thudding bass drum with simplistic samples over the top and not much else.

From Frogger, and other random 1980’s video game samples to the narcotizing feel of the album as a whole, Future Perfect, like everything I’ve heard so far on the Moonshine label is a multi-layered listening experience, and not just something to pop into your walkman as you climb on the Excercycle – though I did, but I peddled and took notes. People thought I was mental at the gym last night.

If your favorite tune here ends up being Dara's treatment of JL's "Dust", chances are tomorrow it'll be the re-interpretation of "Traction"by N-Code. DJ Dara surgically removes the odd vocal line from whatever track he’s messing with, loops part of it, and makes it the Outro to a song, while it becomes the Intro to the next.

I love the way he does it, and if techno, house, drum & bass, and breakbeat (etc., etc., etc.) wrinkles your forehead this might be a safe place to begin.