The Rapture
Tapes 
!K7 

When I heard that The Rapture came out with the new album Tapes, I was excited to say the least. But my excitement soon turned to disappointment when I realized that instead of some new studio material, it was merely a glorified mix tape of music from other artists compiled by the band. But as I put on my headphones and pressed play, my disappointment quickly turned to joy and I found myself lost in the musical journey that is Tapes.

Starting with the all too brief opener “Earthquake Shake” by 70’s psychedelic soul quintet The Undisputed Truth, Tapes is a collection of classic grooves and rare gems from the late 70’s to ‘08 blended into an 80-minute party-friendly mix of funky house music, disco, electronica and hip hop.

From the funky roller disco grooves of the Bar-Kays‘ ”Holy Ghost” to the electro fuelled “Where’s Jason K” by Syclops, and stand out tracks by Ghostface Killah, Armand Van Helden, DJ Mujava, Paul Johnson (anyone remember the late 90s club hit “Get Get Down”?) and Daft Punk’s Thomas Bangaltar, Tapes has the potential to provide a soundtrack for pre-club drinks on a Friday night or a lazy Sunday afternoon with friends. That said, it works just as well on a quiet night at home with a glass of red wine, a dark room and a pair of headphones.