Join the Q

Hyped as the future of the "back to the past" nu-rave movement, the Qemists certainly construct some of the most energetic breakbeats of the late 2000s. They gleefully plunder the past 20 years of classic dance music, jumping from jungle breakbeats to hardcore pulses, never letting the same drum program alone for more than 30 seconds at a time. The staple, if they have one, is the rolling drum'n'bass variety that will sound familiar to many a fan of classic techstep from the late '90s, all of it overlaid with a blanket of digital grime. The sound and the energy is perfect for fans of no-attention-span dance, but, surprisingly, pop as well, with a slick production that bridges the gap between classic British dance and mainstream pop. (Who else could make Ipecac's Mike Patton sound like Maroon 5's Adam Levine?) Despite the unmissable riffs and constantly rearranging rhythms, it's clear from dedicated listening that Join the Q will enjoy a long shelf life too; it's not for nothing that the record appeared on Ninja Tune, that paragon of quality in post-rave electronica.