The Dirtbombs – Party Store

Whereas Party Store’s predecessor set out to bring new life to the soul classics of the 70s, the Dirtbombs’ latest favours the seminal Detroit techno of the late 80s and early 90s, using live instrumentation to give a drastic facelift to the classics (Inner City’s Good Life), as well as to lesser known gems (a lengthy overhaul of Innerzone Orchestra’s Bassbin). The result captures the inherently rhythmic focus of early dance music as a whole and restructures it via the flair of garage rock and the metronomic precision of krautrock.

As a covers collection it performs remarkably well, as not only have the hearts of the respective tracks been retained intact due to mastermind Mick Collins’ zealous love of the source material, but there is a sense of cohesion throughout that allows it to stand as a unique creative work in itself, an emblem not only of a bygone era but an optimistic look ahead to new avenues and sounds. [David Bowes]