Afrika Bambaataa

Dark Matter Moving at the Speed of Light is just as all-encompassing as you'd expect, best illustrated by the difference between the two choices for cover versions. The first to appear is "Metal," originally a sleek, cold electro-pop song recorded by Gary Numan (who also happens to provide a new vocal). And then there's "Soul Makossa," originally a slinking proto-disco classic by Manu Dibango. Unfortunately, the covers themselves typify the in-one-ear-and-out-the-other, if spirited, sound of the record. From a production standpoint, a listener could be easily tricked into thinking that this is a funky breaks record out of the U.K. Thankfully, everything else reeks positively of Afrika Bambaataa, from the infectious and inclusive energy to the sci-fi spirituality. Still, this is an example of an innovator sounding only slightly better than his legions of lesser followers. [Dark Matter Moving at the Speed of Light was re-released later that year with bonus tracks.] ~ Andy Kellman, All Music Guide