Dub Pistols - Y4k: Next Level I Breaks (CD)

All Music Guide

It's less evocative of the sound of the future than previous volumes in the Y4K: Next Level Breaks series, but this Dub Pistols mix is easily the most fun to be had of any Distinct'ive Breaks release. There's less of the precise beats-and-breaks heard in the past, supplanted by old-school breaks, a little dub, and filter-disco pop. Barry Ashworth and co. not only have an ear to the ground for the latest underground sounds and a smooth sense of flow to a mix, they (he) also appreciate a good hook. It's that latter quality that really makes this compilation, from the brutal synth and swirling vocal of Infusion's "Starwater (It's Alright)" to Colorsound's near-miss pop hit "Fly With Me" to the swinging electro of Audio Bullys' "Real Life." An Adam Freeland remix (of Pressure Drop) and productions by Layo Bushwacka, Mint Royale, and Apex lay the groundwork, but it's the pop songs that really make this mix another great (yet vastly different) volume in the Y4K series.

- John Bush, All Music Guide