by David Jeffries
Trip-hop goes filter house on Baby Mammoth's ninth album and first for Water Music, the excellent Octo Muck. The Mammoth have never sounded funkier, adding more of a Chicago and Detroit influence than ever to their already proven command of downtempo. By the time of the album's closer, &Lady Cod Driver,& kicks its electro with foghorn groove, listeners have already been treated to choice skank, dub, house, and techno. An eccentric sense of humor (the out-of-tune bass of &Finale& and cheeky use of samples throughout) plus clean production keeps the album cohesive. &Big Show& brings to mind the glistening house of Basement Jaxx and Mammoth's own dubby work on Tosca's &Chocolate Elvis.& Those who dream of a Kruder and Green Velvet team-up will find plenty to enjoy on Octo Muck.