*** Hi Fi Killers

JAMAICA

(Loosegroove)

The Hi Fi Killers have never been radical reconstruction artists like DJ Shadow, and neither have they tried to plumb the depths of the human psyche (or at least tolerance) like DJ Spooky. Their goals aren't nearly so lofty: it's phat beats they're after. But on their previous two releases, both on Stone Gossard's Loosegroove label, the two Seattle DJs never quite hit their mark. Loaded flirted with a hip-hop/Stax R&B fusion, and Possession with slinkier soul, but both were a tad too workmanlike. And in both cases, the Hi Fi Killers stripped away too much of the tension and atmosphere that gives most instrumental hip-hop its best chance at success.

Now they've hit upon a more rewarding fusion. Dancehall-influenced, and featuring several seriously natty Jamaican MCs, Jamaica is full of mesmerizing toasting, stop-start rhythms, and hypnotic reggae bass lines. And though it's no triumph of innovation, this one finally finds the Hi Fi Killers sounding as nasty as they wanna be.

-- Ben Auburn