Various Artists - DFA Records Presents: Compilation, Vol. 2

DFA (Death from Above) is American ex-punk musician James Murphy and ex-Mo Wax and UNKLE producer/composer Tim Goldsworthy. DFA compilation #2 is the latest collection of punk-edged funk from The DFA label. And very good it is too - while, as a label sampler, this is a nice selection of tunes by a variety of different people, there's a clear thread that runs throughout the two unmixed discs of what can only be described as dance music with brains. But don't let that put you off - we're not talking coffee-table stuff here. Just that this works as well on headphones as it does on the dancefloor. Highlights include the tremendous opener 'Casual Friday' by Black Leotard Front (15 minutes of very sleek, minimalist, arty funk), the melodic synthy breakbeat of the Juan Maclean (ex-Six Finger Satellite)'s 'Less Than Human', punk-funk legends Liquid Liquid's percussion free-for-all, 'Bellhead', and the slightly disturbing 'Alabama Sunshine' by music-press darlings the Rapture. Oh, and you also get a mixed CD so you can show off your impeccable taste next time you have a party. DFA. 2004.

1) Casual Friday - Black Leotard Front
2) Sunplus [Dfa Remix]
3) I Robot - the Juan MacLean
4) Alabama Sunshine - the Rapture
5) Rise [Dfa Mix] - Delia Gonzalez ; Gavin Russom Delia Gonzalez ; Gavin Russom
6) Dance Hall Modulator Dub [Dub] - the Juan MacLean
7) Get Up/Say What - Pixeltan
8) Wasteder - Black Dice
9) Yeah [Pretentious Mix] - LCD Soundsystem
10) Yeah [Crass Version] - LCD Soundsystem
11) Endless Happiness [Eye Remix] - Black Dice
12) Sunplus
13) Beat Connection - LCD Soundsystem
14) Monte - Delia Gonzalez ; Gavin Russom Delia Gonzalez ; Gavin Russom
15) Bellhead - Liquid Liquid
16) That's the Way I Like It - Pixeltan
17) Sister Saviour [Dfa Dub][Dub] - the Rapture
18) Less Than Human - the Juan MacLean
19) Get Up/Say What - Pixeltan
20) Echoes [Dfa Edit] - the Rapture
21) Bellhead - Liquid Liquid
22) Sunplus [Dfa Remix]
23) Monte - Delia Gonzalez ; Gavin Russom Delia Gonzalez ; Gavin Russom
24) Give Me Every Little Thing - the Juan MacLean
25) Sister Saviour [Dfa Dub][Dub] - the Rapture
26) Rise - Delia Gonzalez ; Gavin Russom Delia Gonzalez ; Gavin Russom
27) I Robot - the Juan MacLean
28) Endless Happiness [Eye Remix] - Black Dice
29) On Repeat [Dub][Mix] - LCD Soundsystem
30) Yeah (Crass)/Beat Connection - LCD Soundsystem