Duck Sauce, which started as a side project for House heavyweight Armand Van Helden and Turntablist turned label mogul A-Trak, has become enough of a concern that the duo decided to release an album.
That an album would appear this late in the groups rise is both a surprise and a relief. With the benefit of hindsight it's easy to say that after four years of working together it was inevitable that these two could make a dope album, but lets be honest, we all thought it could have been a disaster.
Thankfully it's another solid entry in the discographies of both of these artists catalogs, and that's saying something. This album was made with a purpose, and that purpose was to make you dance and dance as furiously as a Tony Jaa roundhouse kick.
The album kicks off with 'Chariots of the Gods' and does not let up for it's length. Sometimes the extended length of the tracks wears, but that's only because this music was designed for the stage and not for the headphones.
'It's you' and 'Barbara Streisand' sound like novelty hits, but they also move, bringing levity without losing the tempo. On an album that is both pounding and funny, these tracks are a welcome interlude.
The apex of the sound of Duck Sauce has always been at the crossroads of the artists styles - the sample-driven House chop and flip of Van Helden and the turntable dexterity and humour of A-Trak. This comes through in spades on highlights like 'Radio Stereo' and 'NRG', although it could apply to 90% of the LP.
Whilst this album is better heard out in a field surrounded by like-minded duckologists, it still bangs in the bedroom and cranks in the car.
Not Sunday morning listening, but definitely gets you pumped for a night out... or even a night in.
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