Herbert

Though genius sampler/producer Matthew Herbert is less known for his mixing skills, his first DJ album succeeds on the same terms as his production work: toying with the formula of techno and concocting some seriously entertaining dance music in the meantime. From the beginning, Herbert flaunts his lack of experience by skewering the more perfectionist aspects of dance DJs, talking to himself during the intro: "Now, I must remember/I'm a human, I'm allowed to make mistakes." As for the musical portion of Let's All Make Mistakes, Herbert finds a range of producers in touch with his vision of skittery, frenetic, vaguely organic electro and acid house, calling on names like Si Begg, Mr. Oizo, Isolée, and Nightmares on Wax who share his half-serious outlook on serious dance. Herbert also allies himself with sound architects farther afield, but ones with common links to his minimalist bent and fascination with the music of sound. Detroiters Plastikman, Theo Parrish, and DBX, plus Chicago freakazoid Green Velvet, all show up with hard, trance-state techno that works well in context. Of course, what's a producer's mix album without plenty of his own tracks? Herbert obliges with five of his own productions (scattered across three aliases) plus his remix of Moloko's "Sing It Back." Relentless, addictive, and deliciously fun, Let's All Make Mistakes is a mix-album classic from a man with no business making mix albums. ~ John Bush, All Music Guide