REVIEW: Cassius, 1999 (Astralwerks)
- Christina Apeles
What do any of us really have to look forward to in 1999? Well, Cassius proposes their brand of electronica with credits galore to back them up. This production team has worked with MC Solaar and remixed the likes of Daft Punk, Depeche Mode, Air, and Bjork -- now that is something to write home about. Bringing in a blend of hip hop beats, underground sensibility, and house grooves plus a bit of funk, Cassius' 1999 appeals to the clubgoer of varied tastes along with vocal samplings to singalong to.
The mellow, slow tempos of "Crazy Legs" and all-about-the-bass track, "Chase," commingle with the funkier, fast-paced rhythms of "La Mouche" and disco-tinged, house stylings of "Foxxy" in this sixteen track release. Consisting of Parisians' Boombass and Philippe Zdar, this pairing create tunes that are generally free of the anxiety that the year 1999 promises in anticipation of the new millenium. Their use of technology has a lithium effect on the aural senses rather than feeding into the paranoia the mass media has already wrought. The 1999 that Cassius offers is one that many will welcome.
