Culprit 1 - Running in Order

by Eddie Robson

Endroducing the Welsh DJ Shadow

"A fusion between the little ‘concept’ tracks on Boards of Canada albums and the more commercial dancefloor sensibility of the Chemical Brothers, with hints of Mylo’s sample-pop. This remarkably creates a sound which is at once 1980s retro and 1990s retro AND really quite modern."

James Hannam, aka Culprit 1, has been described as ‘the DJ Shadow of Wales’. It’s noticeable that the world has not exactly been crying out for a Welsh DJ Shadow, but on the other had, we don’t always know what we need until we’re given it.

The thirteen cuts on Hannam’s debut album, ‘Running in Order’, are refreshing as much for their restraint as their creativity. When tracks are used as DJing tools, length is an asset which permits flexibility; when they’re lined up on an album, they’d better be bloody good if you want to avoid boring the crap out of everybody.

Hannam keeps his tracks neat and short, usually under four minutes, and the result resembles a fusion between the little ‘concept’ tracks on Boards of Canada albums and the more commercial dancefloor sensibility of the Chemical Brothers, with hints of Mylo’s sample-pop. This remarkably creates a sound which is at once 1980s retro and 1990s retro AND really quite modern. ‘Berliner’ is the sound of Kruatrock shrugging off its impassive exterior and grooving on down; ‘Tell Me It Isn’t True’ drops in a dizzying guitar loop reminiscent of Prefuse73.

Somewhere in here there’s a big crossover hit: we’re not exactly sure which one it is, but we’re talking about a guy who’s remixed Melanie C, The Automatic and Paul Hartnoll and has had airplay on Radio 1, XFM and Classic FM. He’s definitely got something and it’s definitely good.

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