First Contact

Incredibly enough, after 20 years in the DJ business and 10 years of single releases under his belt, this is Roger Sanchez’ first album release proper. By now, clubbers will be familiar with the hit single and guaranteed-floor-filler ‘Another Chance’, included here but sounding a little Daft Punkish by now. Doubtless the track’s been hanging around Mr Sanchez’ studio for a while now, but full marks for the Toto sample.

However, ‘Another Chance’ isn’t typical of the rest of First Contact, which suffers somewhat in the ‘long gestation period’ department, and comes across as a hodge-podge of ideas and styles. Not that that’s a bad thing per se, yet it’s possible to blend disparate styles within a single album and retain a central groove or idea. Sadly, that’s not what’s happening here.

There are some delights however, including the Armand Van Helden assisted ‘You Can’t Change Me’ featuring N’Dea Davenport on vocals, which would be at home on the recent Basement Jaxx Rooty album; ‘The Partee’ lends itself to a Latin groove that again would have sounded a lot fresher had this album been released last year, ‘Venturas’ sports a deliciously chunky groove and insanely hummable hook.

‘I Never Knew’ features some lite-funk vocals from Cooly’s Hot Box, and is a possible contender for a single, as indeed is ‘Nothing 2 Proove’, a laid back offering with vocals from Texas’ Sharleen Spiteri who surely must be in danger of some kind of over exposure related condition. Final track ‘Leavin’’ is a beautiful slice of electro soul that’s crying out for a ballsier re-mix, Like I didn’t quite get this album in its entirety, I also failed to find the advertised hidden track; an overall case of missing the beat, I suppose.