Luke Vibert is a crazy motherfucker. Occasionally, he records under his birthname; otherwise, he's known as Plug or, in this case, the much goofier Wagon Christ. Hailing from Cornwall, England, a young Vibert created some strange and eclectic music with friends before relocating to London in the mid-1990s. And that's not surprising, considering the extremely musically diverse pieces on his third full- length under the Wagon Christ moniker, Tally Ho!

Actually, the term "musically diverse" doesn't quite cut it; this record's all over the place. One minute, you're exploring strange new worlds ("Crazy Disco Party"), the next you're seeking out new life and new civilizations ("Memory Towel"). Before you know it, this guy'll be going where no man has gone before.

Don't take him too seriously, though. While the wacked- out, funky drum-n-bass found on the album's title cut and songs like "Workout," the light- speed breakbeat fest "Rendleshack," and the ethereal getdown "Shimmering Haze" may at times seem as straight- minded as anything by his Astralwerks contemporaries, Vibert's downright gross sex talk on "Juicy Luke Vibert" and goofy- assed samples and corny music on "Lovely" should loosen up even the most pompous jungle fan.

Tally Ho! also boasts some more laid- back grooves, which actually seem to be his forte. "My Organ In Your Face" lays down a Trouble Funk- style go-go beat, while messing around with chimes and-- you guessed it-- organs. The best example of this, though, is displayed on the album's standout, "Piano Playa Hata." The track is five minutes of awesome easy- listening piano samples backed by a firm hip-hop beat and held together with a bass groove so sticky that no amount of kleenex could ever wipe it up.

As far as Astralwerks stuff goes, this record's way off the mark; this is the type of stuff you'd expect more from Ninja Tune. It's got groove, love, and a sense of humor-- things you'll never hear mixed over them Block Rockin' Beats. So... how about that Wagon Christ?

-Ryan Schreiber

"Crazy Disco Party"

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