Thanks to imaginative programming on tracks like the single
"Honeydew,"
Keep It Unreal
is yet another accomplished work by breakbeat maestro
Mr. Scruff
. The vibes definitely triumph over any progression on these tracks, but the album's diverse moods and tempos work magic. The galloping gait and what sounds like a
Louis Jordan
sample power
"Get a Move On,"
while the next track,
"Midnight Feast,"
has the late-night feel of a
Portishead
single. The single
"Honeydew"
has a rich, soulful vocal that lifts the song into
Soul II Soul
territory while the cagey, metallic drum programs sound straight off a driving new wave single.
"Cheeky"
is a deep-groove house number with bright piano lines and an echoed diva vocal. Several tracks are reminiscent of
Amon Tobin
's swing-era plunderphonics, but most everything here is original, well-done, and prime
. [The tenth anniversary remastered edition contains an extra disc of unreleased material from the original studio sessions.] ~ John Bush