Yahoo! Music Album Review

Released on 01/11/1999
Label: Strut

Ashley Beedle is a DJ favourite. He records under a number of monikers and whichever one it is – Black Science Orchestra, Ballistic Brothers whatever - there''ll be a DJ out there saying that his tunes are classics. So now it''s Ashley''s turn. He''s handpicked a collection of 15 songs that he says had the most influence on his own music. Unsurprisingly, given his own soulful music, he has chosen songs from some of the finest disco, funk, jazz and Balearic vocalists: tunes with soul wrenching vocals, big brass and plenty rhythm. There are songs from Gil Scott Heron, Rufus and Chaka Khan, Gwen McCrae, Grace Jones. Then there are some of the slinkiest instrumental tracks from the likes of Stan Ivory And His Omnificient Orchestra, Freddie Hubbard, Lafayette Afro Rock Band. Given that Ashley''s provided the tracks on hard or impossible to find US 12" or original album versions, you couldn''t have it better really.