Tripping the powertool jackhammer groove, deepthrob beats to the gut, driving and mean, Risotto is happening, twitching, tapping.

Including the ballbreaker jam "Atom Bomb" (which also appeared on MTV's Amp compilation), this CD simply goes from start to finish, with a short breather ("Bermuda") just where it belongs in the middle. As opposed to the breakbeat/D&B; school which has been rising as of late, which showers you with seemingly infinite beats and samples, Risotto pounds along like Godzilla through Tokyo. There's no question where to put your feet; smile, breathe some fire and slam 'em down on the bus station and the art museum. That's not to say that Risotto is pure throb and lacks subtlety, no no. Fluke builds distinct progressions that begin as sweet beat themes and transform themselves into phatty- phatty- two- by- four poundfests. Sure, there're delicate, spaced-out moments, just long enough to drain the hose, slug down another water and get rolling. It's not as obscure and ravey as Dig Your Own Hole, it's more agressive and polished than Vegas and it belongs in your techno collection.

-James P. Wisdom