Black Grass: Black Grass Inertia

By REBECCA BARRY

(Herald rating: * * * *)

Aside from the possible illegal implications, this DJ/production duo must have been looking out their window when they named themselves Black Grass. Their unique splice of hip-hop, broken beat, soul and garage could only have come from a heated room overlooking a bleak urban landscape - in this case, Brighton.

But Mex and Carl Faure have less in common than the flat they share. While one grabs the phattest basses and funk this side of disco, the other chucks in nu-jazz rhythms and live drum'n'bass. Elsewhere it gets tribal with bongos, jungly vocals and a helluva swing, like a grass roots lecture on dance music.

Occasionally it wafts into South American lounge territory and chilled 80s funk.

But it picks itself up with the early Black Eyed Peas party vibe of Blak Twang, the haunting melancholy of Going Home with Ra Khahn, and the infectious Grass Roots, which practically sends the Roots flying down the speakers. Just when you've got it sussed, they turn it on its head with a "Rock the house y'all" tribute to American hip-hop.

The grooviest thing on the shelves for some time.

Label: Border