Various: Scratchology

By GRAHAM REID

(Herald rating: * * * *)

This blistering compilation by X-Ecutioners traces the history and techniques of scratching and, after an intro with examples of how scratching is done, gets down to business with classic turntable tracks starting with Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five's groundbreaking Wheels of Steel and Grand Wizard Theodore's subtle Military Cut. With brief spoken word intros by various X-Ecutioners, it's then on through Herbie Hancock's influential Rock It (which took scratching to the world through the innovative and visually arresting MTV video), Mixmaster Gee's rare and referential Like This, DJ Cash Money and Marvelous Marvin's Ugly People Be Quiet, the Peter Rock mix of Public Enemy's Shut Em Down and up through Gang Starr, Dilated Peoples and Qbert with D-Styles on Razorblade Alcohol Style. The X-Ecutioners drop in a couple of their own interludes, also.

Dedicated to the late Jam Master Jay, this is a history lesson, primer, and reminder of old school styles, but also a one-disc crate of cuts by essential turntablists which should be in any serious music collection.

Label: Rhythmethod