by Andy Kellman
The core of this 2008 set is essentially the same as that of the crucial self-titled comp, released over a decade prior through Grand Royal (Mo' Wax in the U.K.): the 12" EPs Liquid Liquid, Successive Reflexes, and Optimo, though "Lub Dupe" from the first 12" appears in alternate form. While the Grand Royal comp added four tracks from a 1982 performance at Berkley Square, this disc features a handful of outtakes, as well as roughly 15 minutes from a 1980 gig. There are no real revelations for those who have known the original releases for decades, but those tracks remain as relevant in the 2000s as they did in the '80s (or the late '90s, for that matter). They contain some of the most progressive rhythms you will hear in your lifetime -- including the creeping/crawling "Lock Groove," the jaw-droppingly intense "Optimo," and, of course, "White Lines" template "Cavern" -- and they simply cannot be worn out.