Search - The International Hooligans, DJ Orlando, Tony B :: L.A. House Riot

The Hooligans, made up of DJs Orlando and Tony B!, have compiled and mixed L.A. House Riot's 13 segued tracks with a savvy sense of shape and groove. Pacing the CD like a live club mix or radio set, the duo uses the first several tunes as a prelude to House Riot's intensified second half. There are some pedestrian stretches here, but things take off when "Bumpin' & Jumpin'," by Kim English, promenades its massive bass line and catchy vocal hook. "Closer Than Close," by Rosie Gaines, incorporates, among other things, scat singing, yodeling, and Jamaican-style vocalizing into a delightfully over-the-top performance. The groove never stops until the Hooligans' own "Late Night in L.A. (DYMK)," a polyrhythmic workout with Latin and African flavorings, closes out the CD on a high note. --Fred Cisterna