Kraak and Smaak - Plastic People

Casually negotiating a slick path between pop greatness and uptempo club beats, Kraak and Smaak take Timberlake's superficial pop sounds and set them to the beat of Chicago house with crisp hi-hats underpinning everything. It's hardly reinventing the wheel, and the presence of Moloko's Brian Westbeach demonstrates that these rising producers are well aware of the heritage they're tapping into. Whilst their version of Man of Constant Sorrow swings with souful elegance, there are unpleasant echos of Felix Da Housecat's disastrous jazz remixes that resist a truly uninhibited appreciation. Similarly, Bobby and Whitney less than subtly nods to the soul legends they seek to emulate. But by accepting the plasticity of their work, Kraak and Smaak legitimise their headlong dive into beatiful summery tunes and obvious love for downbeat electro. Where there's Kraak and Smaak, there's always pop.