Basement Jaxx - 'Raindrops'
There's a habit people have of referring to music as if it's food. This is partly because there are ingredients to both, and flavours...and spice, and heat and chemistry and...well, let's just say there's a lot of common language.
But it is also because good music can provide essential sustenance, even if you were not aware that you were hungry. We've all had the experience of unexpectedly hearing a long lost favourite song, and suddenly feeling a little taller, a little happier and a lot more confident - refuelled, in other words. It doesn't even have to happen at a particularly vulnerable time, that's the beauty of the thing.
(The video's a bit saucy, but you can hear the song at the band's ...)
With that in mind, I am here to tell you that, after one listen to this, the return of the mighty Jaxx, I was spotted doing joyclaps and clearly thinking "Yay! Sonic din-dins!" in a VERY loud internal voice. There's just so much to get your teeth into. It's a feast!
It starts like a AR Rahman cast-off from the soundtrack to Slumdog Millionaire, all sitars, tablas and what sounds like squalling guitar, before very quickly transforming into a slinky, pounding, twinkling, uplifting house juggernaut.
It's just so easy to become mesmerised by the production. Even in the quiet bits there's a filter which muffles the main synth refrain out, letting it build up and percolate though the verses like the magma in an undersea volcano. It's a ridiculously well-used dance music trick, and yet it ALWAYS works, because when the the chorus arrives in full fidelity, it takes your face off.
This all occurs within the first minute, by the way. I haven't even mentioned the twiddly metal guitar, the tooty fairground organ, or the amazing bit where the lyric "your moisture drips upon my lips just like a waterfall, straight to the heart of me" are followed by a breakdown in which twinkly, drippy things happen.
None of which would be any use if there wasn't a euphoric tune at the core of the song - which sort of fits with the lava metaphor, but less well with the cooking one. There again, having two metaphors where one would suffice is a suitably Basement Jaxx thing to do.
Sometimes more is more, after all.
Download: Out now
CD Released: June 22nd
³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Music page
(Fraser McAlpine)
"As summertime approaches, this song feels just right."
"Fresh ta def."
Comment number 1.
At 20th Jun 2009, paulsmith789 wrote:Thanks for intresting post.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 1)
Comment number 2.
At 20th Jun 2009, flatknees wrote:yea it is a bit of a tune..
just want to give a whole-hearted apology for bashing your review the other day Fraser. You've got a load of reviews to write and each one is original and enjoyable to read. Please keep up the good work.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 2)
Comment number 3.
At 20th Jun 2009, flatknees wrote:oh and on the 'jaxx player' on that website u give the link to, straight after raindrops is 'shes no good'.. i think its even better...
Complain about this comment (Comment number 3)
Comment number 4.
At 20th Jun 2009, Fraser McAlpine - wrote:Hi Kneesy,
Thanks for the apology, I'm very touched.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 4)
Comment number 5.
At 20th Jun 2009, tonismith03 wrote:I like your post. Continue writing.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 5)
Comment number 6.
At 20th Jun 2009, RandomEnigma wrote:Yeah Fraser I want to apologise too. No-one writes music reviews like you! You're very unique!
Love this song, perfect for the Summer and immediately catchy!
Complain about this comment (Comment number 6)
Comment number 7.
At 20th Jun 2009, thranjax wrote:A great summer tune from my nearish namesakes and great imagery too. What other website has an owl shrugging in a helmet?
The production is spot on and the instrumentation varied and densely layered, as Fraser said, a feast in somewhat lean times.
And before Spirit chips in, it's not a million miles from the vibe of EOTS or MGMT either.
Perfect for the summer, if we have one.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 7)
Comment number 8.
At 20th Jun 2009, Fraser McAlpine - wrote:Aw you guys... Thanks Random! And thanks for the N-Dubz namechecks. I think between the two of us we have totally nailed that song. Nice work!
Complain about this comment (Comment number 8)
Comment number 9.
At 20th Jun 2009, spirit wrote:How could anyone ever doubt Fraser when he does a review as glorious as this ?
I have seen milions of reviews in my time, and when Fraser gets it right , you know you are in the right place.
Also check out the amount of intelligent comments that this site now gets from different people , all showing insight , a love for music , and a healthy respect for their peers.
This song is excellent.
I have loved it and been dancing to it for months !
Mention to BloggingLiam who bigged this track up months ago, he is off travelling now.
We wish him well.
Great song ! Great review !
Complain about this comment (Comment number 9)
Comment number 10.
At 21st Jun 2009, RandomEnigma wrote:Aww Fraser thanks for thanking me on writing that N-Dubz review!
Jeez we're getting very emotional on the Chart Blog these days!
Complain about this comment (Comment number 10)
Comment number 11.
At 22nd Jun 2009, spirit wrote:Ok changing topic a little, but I really want to say this.
You know how for the last ten years or so , most of our Eurovision entries have been very poor songs that have done really badly, and do not represent for one second ,the quality of songs produced in the U.k.
( Forget the myth of block voting , our songs have been poor......
e.g Scooch
e.g Jemini
Now imagine for one second if we entered the Eurovision Song Contest with this song "Raindrops !"
Obviously it would need to be performed by a person to fit the criteria of the rules of the contest, but the point I am making is, this is the quality of song and modern production that we should be entering.
It has a catchy chorus made in heaven , and great lyrics.
I tell you, this would be a winning entry.
The song is a winner.
If we ever want to win that contest again, then we have to seriously up our game and put forward songs of this quality !
Nothing less would do for me !
Complain about this comment (Comment number 11)
Comment number 12.
At 24th Jun 2009, angelfairysugar wrote:I'm so pleased you gave Raindrops 5 star:) I agree with all that you said in your review.
Its quite different to Basement Jaxx other tracks; in my opinion just as good if not better:D It's such a nice song! It's a wicked summer tune. I hope it makes number 1 in the charts! It should.
Just like raindrops!'
Complain about this comment (Comment number 12)
Comment number 13.
At 24th Jun 2009, flatknees wrote:any agree that it sounds very late 90's? in a good way.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 13)
Comment number 14.
At 24th Jul 2009, BloggingLiam wrote:Thanks for the shout out Spirit :) Had a fantastic month travelling thankyou.
Im so shocked and saddened that this song didnt even break the top 20. What the ?!?!? Its amazing. Im so gutted. 5 stars all the way and whats wrong with the charts, when Gaga's 3rd offering is haunting the top 5 for a few weeks and this cant even make top 20?
Complain about this comment (Comment number 14)