Rhythm and Stealth * by Leftfield

Leftfield: Neil Barnes, Paul Daley (various instruments, programming). Additional personnel: Roots Manuva, Cheshire Cat, Afrika Bambaataa, Nicole Willis, Rino Della Volpe (vocals). Recorded at Rollover Studios, London, England. For all the acclaim heaped upon its widely acclaimed debut album, LEFTISM, Leftfield's sequel is even more interesting. Whereas that first album bounced around, exploring styles and genres (and doing an extremely good job of it, mind you), RHYTHM AND STEALTH is an exceptionally focused record--though it incorporates ambient, techno, and electronica styles, among others, each track seems to part of something larger. This is a massive, dark, and very hard-edged dance record that takes no prisoners. The album opener, "Dusted," is built around a rolling beat that pulses with power, suggesting a coiled snake about to strike. Both "Phat Planet" and the punishing "6/8 War" have a similar feel, but speed up the pace dramatically--if techno music filled the Top-40 playlists, these are the ... Minimize