by Dean Carlson
Arguably U.K. garage's most important figure in diplomatic and professionally seductive 2-step, MJ Cole was one of DMC's more promising choices to have pick from the intimate corners of his record collection. From the soul-dribbling jazz of Archie Bell & the Drells, John Ellis, and Jazzanova's take on Cole's own &Sincere& to slantwise hip-hop by Handsome Boy Modeling School and OutKast and on to the underscored drum'n'bass roots in the shape of Goldie, Cole weaved through his favorites with applaudable consistency. Unlike many, Cole was a totally conventional tour guide, pointing out all his influences no matter how obvious and never straying too far into left field, which might have been why his addition to the Back to Mine series ultimately held up the least.