The Rapture - Tapes (2008)

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By Felicity Rennie

I don't know anything about electronic music, but I know what I hate – and I don't hate this.

In fact, I quite enjoyed it.

"The Tapes" compilation, released by New York electro darlings The Rapture, is a collection of electronic, funk, and straight-up dance music that would (in most circumstances) curdle my blood and send me bolting in the opposite direction.

I make a lot of noise about my dislike of compilations, and even more noise when it comes to my dislike of "dance music". This, however, is exceptionally fun and well thought out, and may be a decisive factor in swaying me towards the dark side – on both counts!

The compilation is the first in the Inertia/!K7 "Tapes" series, formulated on the idea that bands of The Rapture's ilk might like to put out a sampler of influences and juicy morsels for fans and debutantes alike to sink their teeth into.

While this is the first in the "Tapes" series, other artists to have come on board the !K7 train include Hot Chip and Booka Shade, so you get the idea. It's goona be pretty damn good.

The compilation drifts between traditional dance stuff (Armand Van Helden's Flowerz, Paul Johnson's Get Get Down), to very cool funk (Vaughan Mason & Crew's Bounce, Skate, Roll, Rock, Richie Haven's Going Back To My Roots), with a bit of hip hop thrown in for good measure (Ghostface Killah's Daytona 500).

Tracks like Don Armando and His Second Avenue Rumba Band's I'm An Indian Too – at once politically incorrect and dancetastic, also aide in giving a great snapshot of the types of music coming out of East Harlem in the late 70s that were influential to the whole underground scene.

Though there seems to be no real direction, or method to the madness, the compilation works best as a sampler – giving a snapshot of where these boys from the Big Apple get all their crazy ideas from.

That said, if you are not familiar with The Rapture, then this might not be your cup of tea.

There is a lot of meandering between genres that makes perfect sense if you are familiar with tracks like Whoo! Alright, Yeah, Uh-huh or No Sex For Ben - but if this is your first foray into the mindset of these crazy kids, then I would probably recommend checking out their second album "Pieces Of The People We Love", which reflects a lot of these influences, before delving into the madness that is the "Tapes" compilation.

Fans will enjoy this, as a behind-the-curtains peek into the band's collective psyche (and in many ways) an explanation for why their music is the way it is. 

RATING: 3 out of 5

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