Ed Case has already made a name for himself as the young garage maestro behind a string of highly successful remixes for Gorillaz and Destinys Child. Now the superstar DJ has produced this equally radio-friendly debut album, which should appeal to pop kids and indie snobs alike. Ed's Guest List does exactly what it says on the tin, lining up a procession of star vocalists for a collection of summery electro-pop tunes which seem to have been written with at least half an eye on the charts. Skunk Anansie's Skin, Republica's Saffron and So Solid Crew's Harvey all turn in reliably slick performances on the more obviously commercial material, while rougher diamonds such as Ms Dynamite and Sweetie Irie shine on a handful of harder club tracks. The formula is clearly borrowed from Artful Dodger's 'It's All About The Stragglers', but the results are too enjoyable to quibble - and Case deserves credit for using some unknown singers beside the more familiar names. Bright, breezy and unfailingly cheerful, this would be a strong contender for the sound of the summer - if we actually had one, of course.
