Basement Jaxx: Basement Jaxx back on the beats with tour, 'Scars'

Basement Jaxx, the British duo responsible for some of the most infectious dance floor anthems of the last decade, is following the release of its latest studio album with a series of rare North American DJ dates this fall, including tonight at the Congress Theater.
For "Scars," the group's fifth album, Felix Buxton and Simon Ratcliffe enlisted Yoko Ono, Kelis, Santigold, blue eyed soul newcomers Sam Sparro and Eli "Paperboy" Reed, Amp Fiddler and Bellrays singer Lisa Kekaula, among others.
The album kicks off with an operatic intro before the title track's stuttering half time beats compete with the band's signature kitchen sink of noise. "Twerk" is an electro-laden floor-filler that riffs on "Maniac" from "Flashdance," anchored by a Yo Majesty rap. "She's No Good" turns Lightspeed Champion's vocal chant into a funkified call-and-response, while "Raindrops" gives Buxton's own vocals the Auto-Tune treatment. Ono lends her vocals to "Day of the Sunflowers (We March On)," while Santigold's ska-tinged track is called "Saga."
The group also recorded a second, still untitled set of "Pink Floyd-y, more ambient-y stuff," according to Buxton. "That's going to come out as probably a mini LP afterward, more for bathtime music."
Fans at tonight's show will see the band's massive, circus like show, which includes an ever evolving crew of 20 or so singers and dancers.

Basement Jaxx Embrace presents

Basement Jaxx are a critically acclaimed English house music duo comprised of Felix Buxton and Simon Ratcliffe that rose to popularity in the late 1990s. Started Basement Jaxx in Brixton, South London, UK in 1994, where they held a regular club night called Rooty, which would later become the name of their second artist album (Rooty). In addition to Rooty, their other albums include Kish Kash with the title track sung by Siouxsie, Remedy, The Singles and Crazy Itch Radio. Kish Kash won the 2004 Grammy for best dance album and was their most critically acclaimed album for its innovative sound. They also won BRIT awards in 2002 and 2004, both for Best British Dance Act. In addition to their own work, Basement Jaxx have become in demand remixers. Tracks such as 4 My People (which became a massive chart and club hit), PlayLike I Love You and PlayShe Wants to Move have all had the Basement Jaxx remix treatment.In 2005, Basement Jaxx headlined the UK’s Glastonbury festival as a replacement for Kylie Minogue. In 2006 they were support to Robbie Williamson Robbies “Close Encounters”-Tour.The production duo got their name from the location of the studio where they recorded their first EP - it was located in the basement of friends of Simon Ratcliffe. Currently the Tate Modern invited the duo to write music inspired by a piece of art featured in the gallery. Karel Appellis’s Hip Hip Hoorah! ended up being the inspiring work. There are only two places in the world you can hear it - in the gallery or its official site.