Killing Puritans

Armand Van Helden: big, bold, brassy Boston dance producer with so much attitude that many regard him as plain old obnoxious. Others see him as a real-life Ali G. The man's a star, he knows it, and he's on a mission to make sure that everybody else knows it.

Killing Puritans is his third album in four years, and the eagerly anticipated follow-up to his first 'house' record, last year's 2 Future 4 U. Some have questioned such a frenetic work-rate - and there are enough dodgy tracks on KP to give their argument some weight. The laughable 'Full Moon' is like a Will Smith parody, except Armand is being serious. 'Little Black Spiders' is heavy metal house, features Scorpions on guitars, and is quite frankly awful. And I'm still in two minds about the single 'Koochy' - I can't really bear to listen to it, but admire the way it pissed so many dance purists off, which is of course what Armand intended.

On the positive side, 'Watch Your Back' reinvents aggressive techno and adds a Latin twist, the frantic filtered disco cuts 'Swamp Thing' and 'Flyaway Love' would lift the roof from any club, and 'Breakdancer's Call' is one of the best big-beat/electro mash-ups you'll ever hear.

Overall then, it's one part filler, one part thriller, and all unmistakably Armand Van Helden.