Unreasonable Behavior [Audio CD] GARNIER,LAURENT

Laurent Garnier--the original funky Frenchman, house-and techno- impressario, label boss (Mr Oizo of Flat Eric fame was his discovery) and DJ who first dared the world to believe that French dance music could be cool--returns with his first album since 1998's distinctly patchy 30. Unreasonable Behaviour is much better. "Sounds From The Big Babou", the initial single from this long player, is a great lolloping hunk of funky analogue filth, with a cool tune to boot: just what the world and its dancing dog likes. "The Man with The Red Face" takes the usual techno-no-go area of saxophone solos and honks and squawks it through some seriously energised tech-house grooves; "Dangerous Drive"'s minimalist techno does exactly what it says: packs a heaving dance floor into a Ferrari and takes it on a top-speed rampage down some twisty mountain tracks in Colombia, USA. In between, there are moments of electro reflection, gently mellowing tech-house and ace farty synth sounds pootling around being friendly, chilled and tuneful. Not that unreasonable at all. --Robert Heller