Latest CD releases reviewed

WAGON CHRIST
Sorry I Made You Lush Ninja Tune
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Producing oddball music with skewered melodies has always been Luke Vibert's craft. Whether it's the skippy drum & bass of Plug's Drum & Bass for Papa or the eerie Herrmann-like swing of Sharp AZ, Vibert is one of electronica's better mood-setters, and the latest Wagon Christ vehicle continues this journey. Funky and skunky by turns, Sorry I Made You Lush is music simply not made for these times, a left-field excursion that could have ended in tears but should instead be greeted by cheers. Beyond the squeaks and the squelches, there's a childlike simplicity to Vibert's imagination that allows tracks such as Kwikwidetrax and the title song to do the wildest of things by merging Cornelius rock with abstract hipping-hopping grooves. It's an album that requires a leap of faith, but you are in safe hands. www.ninjatune.net - Jim Carroll