Originally 'Chicken In A Box' was included on a Pleasure Music 12" called 'Frolic EP Part1' in 1995. Ten years on in these obesity obsessed days, Paul Merton would have renamed it "Chicken In A Bucket, [pause for thought], 'Chips In A Ditch', [pause for thought], 'Coleslaw In A Skip", but like the 'Have I Got News For You' topical news quiz format, the track sounds equally past its sell by date now. 'Bass Baby' was also on the original 12" and stands up better (even with a rewind tape sample intro) and is one of the tracks that shine on this album. Breaks cut'n'paste up and tabla with, "Bigger the beat, the better the bass baby" chant, it's the truth.

The opening track 'Sea Mammal' originally came out on the follow up, 'Frolic EP Part2' and sees the Scruffs edging towards his first flirtation with all things sea based and fishy. Dubbed out Whale songs gives it a trip hop housey feel. The next track is a slower dubby one called 'Tubby Mechanical Fiend' with keyboard tinkering and is typically Scruff quirky.

The Limbic Funk 12" tracks follow. Limbic being 'an evolutionarily older section of the brain that is associated with emotion, learning, and memory'! 'Limbic Funk' (cut up funk, "Arms, Legs everywhere"), 'Night Time' & 'After Time' (Jazzanova chill 2 step) and 'Bobby's Jazz Pony' (future Jazz trip hop with a bit of muted trumpet) are all from the original EP.

The album finishes off with the final Pleasure Music releases from 1997, 'Jazz Potato', 'Crisps' and 'Wail'. Finishing off the CD where is started, "This song is about a wail", or is it "Whale"? Either way, check the Mr. Potato cartoon characters on the web site (see below).

This CD is unmistakably Mr. Scruff as it includes his 'future' trademark funky drum and piano breaks and the humorous vocal insertions. However, it also comes over (now) as a work in progress and the latter albums are all the better from that. Perhaps one for fans, anoraks and revisionist as it struggles with its 10 year old roots. Revisit the original Mr. Scruff Ninja Tune releases 'Keep It Unreal and 'Trouser Jazz' for the grown up Mr. Fish Head. Jazz Ahoy!

Reviewed: MRS CRUFF CD Ninja Tune Cat. No. ZENCD103 (Release Date: 2nd May 2005)
Original: MRS CRUFF Pleasure Music Cat. No. JOYCD13 (Release Dater: 9th May 1997)

Links:
Mr. Scruff Homepage
Ninja Tune
NOVA FORMA DJ Jerry 2005.05.18 Playlist: Mr Scruff - Bass Baby [Ninja Tune] every Wednesday from 8.00 pm to 10.00 pm on RadioABC 98.4 fm.
Tabla.com "an internet radio broadcast that will promote the art of tabla and Indian music".
'Have I Got News For You' Presented by Des Lynam with Paul Merton and Ian Hislop (last in series) 3rd June, 2005.