Matthew Herbert’s contribution to electronic music has been more than considerable over the past 20 years or so, and this outstanding collection reminds us that his beginnings lie in house music. When his first album 100lbs came out in 1995 Herbert was clearly under the influence of Chicago house, but he had his own fascinating take on the style, bringing in some weird and wonderful sounds, using vocals here and there and always setting a scene. 100lbs is here, along with three other albums, but for Herbert fans it’s the inclusion of ‘Early Herbert’, and a load of previously unreleased material, that is the big draw. It makes for a total of 130 tracks – a real legacy of house. Listening to a track like ‘People That Make The Music’ from 1996, you get an idea of his meticulous studio craft, but also his ability to set a smoky atmosphere. Meanwhile a cut like ‘On Your Feet’ offers a chance to hear Herbert’s sense of funk and humour, two elements that are a constant of his work. This he does consistently well in a rich mine of quality house music that pays respects to its origins but looks firmly forward through a spirit of exploration, with bleeps, clicks and vocal tricks aplenty. Words cannot do justice to the value of this collection, which at under £20 a download, represents outstanding value in every way. Get on board and jack your body to one of the finest British producers of the last twenty years.
5 out of 5
Reviewed By Ben Hogwood
