London trio X-Press 2 take a trip down memory lane, with the release of Greatest Hits double album 'Raise Your Hands' on the Tru Thoughts label.

Now celebrating 18 years in the business they release their greatest hits - 'Raise Your Hands.' A two disc package, the first CD features eleven tracks in their original form while the second is jam packed with remixes from the likes of Norman Cook, Carl Craig and Radioslave.

Xpress 2 first made a splash in the early nineties, when tribal New York inspired club tracks like 'London Xpress', 'Smoke Machine' and 'Muzik Xpress' - which are all included here - were in vogue.

Much as these particular tunes are competent examples, they're not great and the test of time hasn't treated the thumping beats and derivative drum rolls particularly favourably.

They resurfaced around the turn of the millennium, dropping the adherence to house credibility that plagued their earlier efforts, and took a new direction recruiting a selection of guest vocalists and returning to their Balearic roots.
 
It's these tunes that really make the album, from the David Byrne collaboration 'Lazy'; through to 'Kill 100', (featuring Rob Harvey from The Music), a downbeat electronic-Goth monster referencing classic Underworld tech rock stomp.

The stand-out track though is 'Give It' a classic atmospheric slow burning piano groove voiced by Lambchop's Kurt Wagner; a real highlight that points to what could have been done with the talent on offer here.

'Raise Your Hands' is a good album, but not a great one. And it's certainly nowhere near the dance floor legacy it hopes to be. This Greatest Hits collection exists as less than the sum of its parts. Ideal if you're reliving your misspent youth - but otherwise it's a disco strut that falls just a bit flat. (Miles Taylor)

Recommended Tracks:
Track 1 - Lazy
Track 7 - Give It

Video:
"Give It"
"Lazy"