In The Mode

Already a star in his native Britain, Bristol-based beat pioneer Roni Size failed to make the same sort of commercial splash Stateside with New Forms, his much-lauded 1997 debut. Perhaps hoping to give U.S. listeners something a little more familiar to hang on to, Size enlists Wu-Tang rhyme-slinger Method Man, Rage Against the Machine’s politico-pusher Zach de la Rocha, and the Roots’ human beatbox Rahzel for In The Mode, his latest turn with his crew, Reprazent. Don’t expect a Fatboy Slim-style crossover though. Herky-jerky drum ’n’ bass cut-ups like “Mexican” and “Dirty Beats” are made for the dance floor, not the radio. Even Meth’s brazen flow on “Ghetto Celebrity” ain’t gonna turn it into a chart-topper. Still, Size shows no fear throwing rap, trip-hop, jazz, soul, and even some pop into his heady jungle mix, knowing full well, that although his mesmerizing compositions might not net him a Gap endorsement, they’re putting plenty of asses in motion.