97 98

Synopsis

The Brotherhood of Structure, a Cologne-based techno collective comprising Khan, Kerosene, Jorg Burger, Biochip C, and the members of Air Liquide, among others, is notorious for its prolificacy and warped sense of humor. Spice Girl tributes, porn-star and gangsta posturing, lewd aliases by the score, and spontaneous pairings and regroupings are the order of the day with this prolific bunch. Khan (Can Oral) and Kerosene (Roger Copernuss), for example, adopt the suggestive H.E.A.D. tag for their occasional collaborative efforts.

97 98 is H.E.A.D.'s typically bubbly brew of techno, electro, disco, dub, Miami Bass, funk, pop, and ambient electronica. Khan and Kerosene bring together all these production elements in a way that is unique and satisfying. Anti-gravity delight "I'll Be Dissing You" mates space-bass bounce with springy synth tones. "Little Asian Girl" glistens with happy-house piano tinsel. Throbbing tech-noir strings propel "Get the Point." Inventive standouts include the sly disco/dancehall/hip-hop hybrid "Winnetou, What's Up?" and "Suff Daddy Got the Blues," an enticing mix of heavy G-funk and Basic Channel groove. H.E.A.D.'s specialty, however, is the funked-up, FX-happy digi-dub workout, represented here by "Notorious Dead," "It's Funky Enoughà," "Too Packed to Rapà," and both versions of "Welcome Illegal Immigrants."