Prodigy Dirtchamber Sessions, Vol. 1 CD

THE DIRTCHAMBER SESSIONS VOLUME ONE is a continuous in-the-mix recording compiled and mixed by Liam Howlett.

Prodigy put its name on the map by adding pop song structures and punk attitude to electronica--Underworld with a chip on its shoulder, or the Chemical Brothers with an in-house vocalist. That's why THE DIRTCHAMBER SESSIONS comes as such a surprise. Like the Chemical Brothers (who are extensively sampled here), who followed the songful DIG YOUR OWN HOLE with a DJ album, Prodigy doesn't attempt to capitalize on their previous pop breakthrough here.

Instead of hard-edged electronic pop tunes, the group focuses on the turntable and sampler. As the album's painstakingly detailed sample credits make clear, DIRTCHAMBER SESSIONS is more DJ-oriented than anything else in Prodigy's catalog. Interestingly enough, the reliance on alternative (mostly hip-hop-oriented) sound sources reduces Prodigy's notorious arrogance factor, making DIRTCHAMBER accessible even to those put off by the group's previous attitudinal excesses.

DJ Mix Album By Liam HowlettAlternative Press (10/00, p.120) - Included in AP's "10 Essential DJ-Mix Albums" - "...Dark, raw and furious..."
Muzik (1/00, p.84) - Ranked #9 in Muzik's "Compilations Of The Year '99" - "...as this glorious mash of styles signifies, [Liam Howlett] knows a thing or two about pop music....The track sequencing is equally inspiring..."