4 out of 5

Label: WEA

Producer: Lucas

Fine, I know, four stars?  But check it – Lucas With the Lid Off is still a catchy, fun song and I think you know that.  This CD single features the radio version of the main track, another track from the Lucacentric album, and two remixes.  Normally I’m sorta iffy on remixes, but ‘Lid’, with its funky beat and concisely spoken rhymes (in Paul Sécon’s nasal yet appealing yadda yadda rap tone) has a nice range of sounds and samples to play with, and thankfully the tracks make good use of them.  Even though both use the same ragga / female vocals as their base, the ‘funky funky delta mix’ and ‘ska mix’ are somehow distinct enough that I actually don’t feel like I’m listening to a slightly faster or slower dance beat repeated.  And the track from the album – ‘cityZen’  – is actually equally fun, if the title is sorta’ annoying.  I mean, I was able to listen to this single – about 20 minutes worth of material, 16 of which is essentially the same song – on repeat for quite a while.  It’s just flexible and fun enough and that song is so freaking catchy that you’re just about to shut it off but surely one more go is okay…   DAMN YOU 1994