Pioneers of Post-Chemical Brothers big beat, the Propellerheads' first album is a fresh take on a tired genre. Alex Gifford, formerly of the Grid, and Will White have gone from strength to strength with their blend of breakbeat techno, hip-hop and 1960s kitsch. Like Fatboy Slim, they inject humour into the rather dry dance scene with tunes like "Velvet Pants" ("He's got a good body / He's wearing velvet pants"). Decksanddrumsandrockandroll features collaborations with De La Soul ("360 Degrees"), the Jungle Bros ("You Want It Back") and the illustrious Shirley Bassey on their top-40 hit "History Repeating". However, the best single on the record is their version of the underrated soundtrack from the Bond film On Her Majesty's Secret Service, which does not destroy but refreshes the classic John Barry original. --Ed Potton