Basement Jaxx, Not Entirely Mainstream

Friends Simon Ratcliffe and Felix Buxton met at a party in England and there learned of each other's shared interest in techno music. A collaboration ensued, Basement Jaxx was born, and together Ratcliffe and Buxton soon started writing and recording. A number of EPs put the group on the map in the early-to-mid-'90s, and they soon started remixing songs for better-known acts like the Pet Shop Boys and Roger Sanchez. Though they would continue to release, singles, compilations, and EPs throughout the '90s, their proper debut album didn't surface till 1999. Remedy was a hit with the critics, and 2 additional highly acclaimed albums have followed since then, including 2001's Rooty and their most recent effort, 2003's Kish Kash. Still not entirely mainstream, the group is well known in clubs the world over, and is savvy enough that a true breakthrough hit is simply a matter of time.
Utilizing strong dance sensibility with a keen ear for hard-edged techno beats, Basement Jaxx is one of the strongest and most likeable talents working in techno today. AS they often utilize vocalist Corrina Josephs, you can sing along with many of their songs, which include catchy but simple lines like "The rhythm, the tracks, the Basement Jaxx." Mixing some sensual elements like moaning women into their music only adds to the group's edge, which can toe the line between celebratory and sensual. With a strong enough sense of what works and what doesn't, the group's 3 albums are padding-free, and each well worth a listen for any fan of the genre.