by John Bush
The official compilation from the mecca of breakbeat techno, Brighton's Big Beat Boutique, On the Floor at the Boutique includes no less than 21 tracks and must qualify as one of the most diverse mix albums ever released. Mixers (and Skint Recordings heroes) the Lo-Fidelity Allstars grab tracks from an assortment of producers, from Blackstreet to Les Rhythmes Digitales, Trouble Funk to Armand Van Helden, Boogie Down Productions to '60s soulstress Felice Taylor. Even more surprising is the natural feel of the proceedings: none of the selections sound forced, making On the Floor at the Boutique an excellent collection.