DJ-Kicks (CD - 2004)

After a decade and a half, Daddy G finally stepped out of the shadow of Massive Attack for his solo debut release, a mix album entry in the long-running DJ-Kicks series. It's a good move for G. He's ensured plenty of exposure with this release, given the high-quality reputation of the series, and it gives him a chance to showcase whatever sort of personal style he brought to Massive Attack. Judging by this 17-track mix, his personal style is a fairly eclectic one, as his mix veers all over the place yet surprisingly flows quite well. There's a particular emphasis on reggae, which serves as the backbone of the mix. Occasionally G veers off into something unexpected, such as when he drops the Meters' "Just Kissed My Baby" or Foxy Brown's "Oh Yeah," but for the most part, his selections are either straight-up reggae or only a few degrees removed. Examples of the latter include dubby trip-hop tracks like Melaaz's "Non Non Non," Tricky's "Aftermath," Leftfield's "Inspection/Check One," and Massive Attack's "I Against I" -- none of which are far removed from reggae, at least as far as beat-making goes. In addition to "I Against I," with its standout Mos Def feature, there are a few other Massive Attack inclusions: a pair of typically claustrophobic remixes -- of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan's "Mustt Mustt" and les Négresses Vertes' "Face a la Mer" -- and the vintage breakbeat-driven "Perfecto Mix" of "Unfinished Symphony," which closes the album on a high note. Practically every track here is a highlight, with Danny Krivit's edit of Aretha Franklin's "Rock Steady" perhaps being worth the price of admission alone and the opening "Armagideon Time" being a particular joy for anyone familiar with the Clash's B-side cover. Yet another standout mix in the DJ-Kicks series this release is. If you're a Massive Attack fan, you're sure to love this, and even if you're not but simply enjoy creative, well-done mixes with personal flair, there's a good chance you'll find much to enjoy here. ~ Jason Birchmeier minimize