The instructions couldn’t be simpler, put on CD, turn it up and everybody party down to the trade mark funk, hip-hop, house, electro ‘n’ breaks. Even so it takes some doing to keep the standards high for 10 years and stalwarts such as Krafty Kuts, Plump DJs, Slyde, Soul of Man, A-Skillz and Lee Coombs feature heavily.

CD1 is label boss Justin Rushmore’s (aka Son Of Man) 12 track mix of tracks from the vinyl vaults; original breaks which set the benchmark. Strangely familiar yet still contemporary, tracks like his own ‘Between The Eyes’ and ‘Love & Hate’ still cut the dancefloor mustard and the original Lee Coombs’ ‘Future Sound Of Retro’ couldn’t be more apt; or ‘Killer Brew’ (Aussie version) for that matter. ‘MylowDownDirty’ is a bass heavy synth climax and it’s all impeccably mixed of course.

Classic Cuts is in order for the second CD as it kicks off with hip hop legend Curtis “these are the breaks” Blow, Krafty Kuts & A-Skillz (‘Gimme The Breaks’). Sirens, rap, funk, electro, disco and breaks galore with more Plump DJs (‘Scram’), Slyde (‘Vibrate To This’) and Rushmore (‘Dirty Waltzer’) at their best.. Even D.Ramirez gets a look in with a remix of Plump DJs ‘Electric Disco’.

Almost impossible to do the back catalogue justice but if there was a man to do it, Rushmore is that man and it’s a great credit to him that CD1 and 2 are so closely matched.

The last CD is a look at some ‘Future Funk’ such as the recent Stanton Warriors remix of ‘Shifting Gears’, Shimon & Nixon’s ‘Brainstorm’ and Miles Dyson’s remix of Slyde’s ‘Frequency’ and the upcoming remix by Utah Saints, ‘You’re My Fix’. Add to that a ‘Future Sound Of Retro’ 2008 update, more Plump DJs and a Micky Slim remi, so don’t be surprised that this mix will be your favourite of the lot. A testament to the fact that the next 10 years will be equally full of top tunes as the last ten have been.

Having sensibly resisted the urge to cram as many tracks as possible onto these CDs, along with the 12 page booklet and the ever excellent artwork by Jem, this is an ideal set for any FL fan past, present or future. And not only have Finger Lickin’ managed to get to their 10th birthday party, they are also on the verge of the landmark of their 100th single release. Not only that, there’s plans for a 10 date tour of 10 UK cities with a bus load of all their top acts for a full on party experience (blimey, what would you do to be on that tour bus?) 24th they hit Bournemouth (see links below).

So if you are feelin’ kinda strange, order you copy now and you’ll be finger lickin’ good in an instant.

Reviewed: Various - 10 Years Of Finger Lickin’ DJ Mix - Soul Of Man (Finger Lickin’ Records) Cat. No. FLRCD022 Boxset 3 x CD Release date: 27th October 2008
Tracklisting:
Pt 1: Vinyl Vaults
1-01 Get Set For The Lockdown!
1-02 Flint - Everybody’s Funkin’
1-03 Criminal Element Orchestra Put The Needle To The Record (Lee Coombs & Drumattic Twins Remix)
1-04 2 IndaBush - The Lick
1-05 Soul Of Man - Between The Eyes (Flint Remix)
1-06 Soul Of Man - Love & Hate
1-07 Lee Coombs - Future Sound Of Retro
1-08 Plump DJs - The Push
1-09 Soul Of Man - Killer Brew (Killa Mix)
1-10 Arc En Ciel - The Juice (Greenfingers Remix)
1-11 Drumattic Twins - Feelin Kinda Strange (BassKleph & Nick Thayer Remix)
1-12 Soul Of Man - MylowDownDirty
Pt 2: Classic Cuts
2-01 On The Turntable We Have…
2-02 Krafty Kuts & A-Skillz - Gimme The Breaks
2-03 Krafty Kuts - Ill Type Sound
2-04 Soul Of Man - Gonna Keep On
2-05 Plump DJs - Funk Hits The Fan
2-06 Plump DJs - Scram
2-07 Slyde - Vibrate To This
2-08 Plump DJs - Electric Disco
2-09 Plump DJs - Creepshow
2-10 Stereo 8 - Groove Diggin’
2-11 Soul Of Man - Dirty Waltzer
2-12 Plump DJs - Electric Disco (D Ramirez Remix)
2-13 Slyde - Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
2-14 Plump DJs - The Gate
Pt 3: Future Funk
3-01 A-Skillz & Krafty Kuts - Happiness
3-02 Plump DJs - Shifting Gears (Stanton Warriors Remix)
3-03 Shimon & Nixon - Brainstorm
3-04 Slyde - Frequency (Miles Dyson Remix)
3-05 Lee Coombs - Future Sounds Of Retro (2008 Mix)
3-06 Plump DJs - Listen To The Baddest
3-07 Soul Of Man - Dizzy Heights
3-08 Drumattic Twins - Under The Lights
3-09 Brothers Bud - The Sting (Micky Slim Remix)
3-10 Slyde - You’re My Fix (Utah Saints Remix)

Links
www.fingerlickin.co.uk
www.myspace.com/djaskillz
www.plumpdjs.co.uk
www.drumattic.co.uk
www.leecoombs.co.uk
www.myspace.com/leecoombs
www.myspace.com/shimonram
www.myspace.com/DJScottnixon
www.myspace.com/thatboyslim
www.myspace.com/utahsaints
www.club-2020.com/2020rocks.html
Friday 3rd October // 10PM - 4AM // £7 (£6 NUS) AIB OFFICIAL FRESHER BALL
JAMES ZABIELA basement d*funk / jay welch / charles / higher element
Friday 10th October // 10PM - 4AM // £7 (£6 NUS)
THE NEXTMEN DJ SET basement DIRTY SOUL boutique
jay welch / dj charles / matt fear (moored in miami)
Friday 17th October // 10PM - 4AM // £7 (£6 NUS)
MICKY SLIM basement THE SOCIAL boutique
GLOBAL ROOM lounge james herkes / danny francis / cantaloop / mr doris / chris pedley
Friday 24th October // 10PM - 4AM // £7 (£6 NUS)
FINGER LICKIN’ RECORDS 10TH BIRTHDAY PARTY
A SKILLZ / DRUMMATIC TWINS basement d*funk / jay welch / charles