John B

"Electrostep" might sound like another newly imagined genre from the music journalist conveyer belt but it's actually one of the most refreshing, entertaining and exciting LPs garnered by the d&b scene all year. Expanding the visions he first flowered with '04 LP "In:Transit", the make-up loving eccentric covers semi-satirical electro d&b wig-outs, glistening trance n'bass, body-popping robo-funkers and the bubble-gum grunge of recent single "Stalking You On Myspace". And a jump-up d&b overhaul of "Hey Mickey". If only all d&b albums were like this 4.5/5

TOUCH MAGAZINE: John B looks like an 80s pop star. All pho-hekan and eyeliner, he's used this synthesized decade as his muse for Electrostep. On it he's let a drum n' bass robot and a disco robot do the bare backed beast together and now we're invited to hear the Yamaha sparks fly. The 80s pop star Howard Jones collaborates on "For You See Me" (ah, now we know where blonde John got his image from) and porn star Marcy Meow adds to a cover of "Tainted Love". And lest we forget the huge lead single "Stalking You On MySpace", dedicated to the cool kids hobby de jour. But where's his rendition of "Don't You Want Me Baby" huh? 4/5

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"Electrostep" is varied, accessible, interesting, exciting & genre-bustingly electro-Robo-Tastic. John B's 7th album is more than just a collection of disposable, short-lived dumb dancefloor D&B tracks. Lots of clever, funny lyrics, robot vocals, wide-ranging musical styles, pioneering approaches to production, mainstream appeal but it's still underground, raw & refreshing. The influence of modern Electro, indie/rock & 80s synthpop is noticeable throughout, but is interpreted in a way that moulds perfectly with the power and energy of Drum & Bass to define a revolutionary new direction: soon to be widely known as 'ElectroStep'!

Collaborators include: 80's superstar Howard Jones on 'For You See Me' - a powerful blend of electropunk & DnB with a gorgeous vocal & breakdown/buildup. John B's Porn star friend Marcy Meow provides vocals on the 80s covers 'Tainted love' and 'Metro'. "We met in San Francisco - she's done around 25 movies to date including Barely Legal and Bang Bros." Marcy has her own band 'Suicide Tuesday'and is currently working in Vegas. John performed with her this year at the WMC in miami at the soho lounge. Other collaborators include Floridian Bands 'Fashionista' & 'Iowatest', Soma-signed 'My Robot Friend', new UK act 'One Life Left'and LA Electro-TrannySex-Masters 'Dirty Sanchez'.