Having first exploded onto the UK dance scene in '97 with the underground smash 'Flylife', Basement Jaxx duo Felix and Simon really hit their stride with the 1999 crossover behemoth 'Red Alert'. Since then, a series of quirky, fascinating, immaculate self-written, self-produced singles have followed Red Alert into the chart, from the punk-ragga menace of 'Jump N Shout' to the buoyant, bouncy pop of 'Romeo' and heavy electro menace of 'Where's Your Head At'. This essential collection gathers the finest of the A-sides together for the first time and successfully closes Chapter 1 in the Jaxx's quest for world domination. Long may they reign! XL. 2005. Brixton's pride, mishmash dance/house/electronica duo have prolifically delivered killer tracks ever since "Samba Magic" was first cut to vinyl. Now, some years on, it's time for a comprehensive recap of the Jaxx' mindblowing A-sides. All fifteen singles are here, scrambled by the Jaxx into the optimum track order (who really cares about chronology?), and there isn't a dud among them. Selecting highlights is a futile task--just stick the disc on and let your senses be guided from the hypnotic "Red Alert" through the awesome "Where's Your Head At" and beyond "Do Your Thing"'s reinvention of dancehall swing. It's quite a trip. For those who have followed Basement Jaxx from Remedy through Rooty to Kish Kash, there's no doubt that the duo are consistent--weak album tracks are almost non-existent. Cull the lead tracks from that trinity of essential LPs and you have a 'best of' well worthy of its role, a constant high that is about as exhilarating as modern uptempo music gets. These are truly essential recordings.--Jonti Davies