The Prodigy

A soundtrack for those British rave hordes who dodge Tory truncheons, Music for the
Jilted Generation thrills initiates with a political buzz Americans might miss. But the
Prodigy's hard-core techno generates universal dance fever. Mastermind Liam Howlett
mixes relentless jungle grooves that add guitars to the keyboard shudder ("Voodoo
People") and then turn spacey on "The Heat (The Energy)." "No Good (Start the D... More >

They acted so stupid when I caught them opening for Moby that I passed off their Mercury Prize as techno tokenism. Nor was I impressed by the failed ad campaign of a title, or the picture of a longhair defending the chasm between big bad city and vernal rave with a stiff finger and a big knife. But this is stupid in the very best way. The style of sensationalism is fireworks display--pinwheels and Roman candles and starbursts popping out of starbursts popping out of rockets midair. Sound effects too, of course--breaking glass is a favorite--and even ideas involving melody if not harmony, including a flute solo. One of the rare records that's damn near everything you want cheap music to be, and without a singer on the premises. (Grade: A)