Merka - Berserka

Merka's debut is a fittingly full and rounded affair, also having the honour of being the first long player released on Fat! Records. A sample-delic odyssey through breakbeat past, present and future, Merka pulls off the impressive feat of managing to be all things to all people. All of the tunes have the humour and upbeat weirdness of Wagon Christ or Mr Scruff. The jazzier tunes evoke a less-commercial Fatboy Slim or Mint Royale, with horn loops and filtered vocals riding the drums. The sub bass antics of The Steam Room and Champion Selection mark this as a Fat! Release, also nicely tipping a nod to DJ Zinc's early Bingo 12s. The techier elements in Act Now show the diversity of Merka's approach. Nothing here sufficiently dark to scare a sleeping badger, but plenty of good-times breaks to keep any party rocking. [Bram Gieben]