Central Heating Vol.2 [Audio CD] VARIOUS ARTISTS

Product Description Downtempo/hip-Hop. The Follow Up to 1996's First Volume, also Follows Some of the Artists Musical Developments from the Original. Features Exclusive Tracks from Rae and Christian, Andy Votel and Aim, plus New Artists Riton, Dual Control and More. Mark Rae shows up no less than four times on Central Heating 2: three times as half of laid-back hip-hop/funksters Rae & Christian, and once to lend a hand to Mr. Scruff's "The Squirrel". It makes sense--Rae is, after all, the man behind Grand Central Records, and does double duty as this compilation's executive producer. And it's on Rae's shoulders, then, that the responsibility for Central Heating 2 lies. Good thing, then, that this second sampler from Rae's label lives up to the reputation that both the man and the label have made for themselves. As Manchester's finest purveyor of lounge-oriented hip-hop/dance, Grand Central fills a relatively small niche to the brim--but the music also crosses over onto any laid-back dance floor. The stand-out tracks here fall into two categories: those that feature quality, under-appreciated US rappers (Kriminul on Only Child's "Crazy Rhymin'", Q 'n' C on Rae & Christian's "Anything You Want", and Afu Ra with Funkyfreshfew on "Drop a Jewel") and those, like R&C, who have already established a reputation with fine full-lengths (Aim, Mr. Scruff). The exception is Tony D, who mixes power chords and a confident, in-your-face rhythm track on "The Jersey Devil" (he's more relaxed, but equally compelling on "Welbury Way"). The rest of the artists here fit well into the GC aesthetic, and make for a few nice singles (Kate Rogers' "Fine", Gripper's "Fame" and "Jazz Cop", Loudicrus' "Break it Down"), but there's nothing here that falls into the "life-changing" category. Still, Central Heating 2 makes for a great sampler of artists to watch. --Lee Mazzilli