This could be seen as an indulgence made possible by celebrity but Matt Helders was a DJ obsessed with Dr Dre before he perched on the Artic Monkeys’ drumstool. His selection is varied and entertaining, including a raft of hiphop sprinkled with 90s classics by Mos Def and Luniz, a smattering of indie-rock and solid nuggets like Stooges’ gutter-crawling ‘Dirt’, angelic soulstress Minnie Ripperton’s ‘Reasons’ and even a 60s guitar instrumental from Johnny and the Hurricanes. After setting the scene with the soaring organ of Goblin’s ‘Connexion’ [Alex Turner’s suggestion], the mix grinds into M.F. Doom becoming Viktor Vaughan for ‘Vaudeville Villain’ before cruising through 17 further tracks which could never be called predictable but establish a flow stuffed with character: the mark of any good DJ. Names include Yamasuki, Zeph & Aseem, DJ Format, Little Barrie, the Black Keys, Modeselektor feat. Puppetmastaz, the Coral, Roots Manuva, Ty, Simian Mobile Disco and the Rapture. The set’s appeal to Monkeys fans is boosted by Matt’s first production stab: a breakbeat cover of Livin’ Joy’s handbag classic ‘Dreamer’ [sung by Nesreen Shah of Lady Cop] plus a spoken word bonus ramble about a train journey from Mr Turner called ‘A Choice Of Three’. But you do look good on the dancefloor!
3 Out Of 5
Reviewed By: Kris Needs
