Off The Wall (10 Years Of Wall Of Sound)

Q - 4 stars out of 5 - "...OFF THE WALL boasts top-notch hip hop, big beat, chill-out and even wistful indie....An abundance of talent..." Entertainment Weekly - "...The two-disc set is crammed with memorable hooks and neck-snapping grooves..." - Rating: B+ Rolling Stone - 3 stars out of 5 - "...Provides a refreshing variety [of dance music]....[the retrospective] also maintains the [label's] level of quality..."

Celebrating ten years of putting the big beat smackdown to the dancefloor, Off the Wall collects the best of Wall of Sound's sweaty, fun, and hip releases. Since the label launched the careers of Royksopp, the Propellerheads, and les Rythmes Digitales, there's plenty of great music to pick from. Disc one collects the big tunes, unmixed. Killer cuts like "Eple," "Start the Commotion," and "What's Going On" show how quick the label could turn cutting-edge dance music into massive hits, and it's nearly overwhelming to listen to it all back to back. Legends like Nik Kershaw, Roxanne Shante, and Mos Def join the party but Neneh Cherry beats them all on her slinky version of Guns n' Roses' "Sweet Child o' Mine," with Akasha. Disc two ups the ante by featuring remixes by everyone from Ashley Beedle to Groove Armada. Alex Gifford from the Propellerheads does an excellent job of blending the second disc into a loud and crazy mix CD that's worth the price alone. ~ David Jeffries|