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Strung across four times wax or two times Cd - this release is a hearty meal. This compilation serves to welcome in the new deal between Solesides and NinjaTune - and as with all new things they gotta make the most from the old bones before they break out their new flesh from the cupboard. And well to be fair to them there Ninja kids - they've done a goodish job on this effort. Its basically a collection of unreleased mixes and old tracks ('rare old' they call them - only 3 reissues of the Melodica EP still counts as rare in these days of pre-release sales right? Errrrrr... nah actually!). Anyways - let me break down the doobie extras first off - the LP comes with a good bit of waffle from the Solesides crew's mascot about their beginnings and puts the whole compilation fandango into some sunny perspective. This is needed for sure so read this to have it all layed out nicely. If you dont grab that historical perspective then your gonna think the sound quality is pretty shite on some tracks! Actually what am I saying - the sound quality IS shit on some of the tracks (only really on the CD version's extra tunes). But still if you are a head who loves the Lateef/Gift of the Gab/Lyrics Born styles then there is plenty here to get your drooling. I'm not going to chat about each track cos you've all probably got different bits n' bobs of this back catalogue. Basically there is the famously good tracks - Rhyme like a Nut, Send Them, Swan Lake, The Wreckoning, Entropy (Part C Count & Estimate), etc - and these make a compilation with a high proportion of quality speaker pleasers. The rest is some bits and bobs from their personal vaults - freestyles, early recordings, etc. These are a bit hit n' miss for my tastes - but to an overly large fan of any of the Solesides roster - well its probably gonna be errr excitement time. The compilation basically goes through time pickin out the tasty morsels dropped on Solesides - this makes it a very complete product on the 22 track CD (especially as much of these havent even been out on CD). And having listened to both the LP and the CD - you've got to make an informed choice about what your wanting cos they offer a different palette for your dollar. For my choice - I would go for the rekkid everytime cos its got the nicest cuts maintained (Quannum - Blue Flames, Latryx - Lady Dont Tek No, etc) and some good instrumentals for the Mc's wanting to blam it over a Shadow/Chief Xcel production. BUT BUT and HERE is the killer for me - the whole platter sidelined for DJ Shadows Entropy n' GrooveRobbers EP (like DJ Shadows Theme, etc) which is straight plain blinding aural niceness. Anyways - for me the wax seems to make a more wholesome product than the CD and this is even though there are much less tracks - most probably this is cos there is a better division across the wax. This makes a better balance between the different elements of the Solesides label - compared to the catch it all CD version. Anyhow - this is a ridiculous ting to explain in a review - basically go out there and have a butchers at them both and take your pick without any influence from my wandering waffle (vinyl vinyl vinyl vinyl!!!). This is a good compilation and a must for any head wanting to fill that empty hole in their record collecting history. And if your a new yute who dont know about the Solesides? Where you been?? - ok ok ok... dont worry about it for now - just get on this release for sure.
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Quannum Presents.... Solesides Greatest Bumps
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