Leftfield - 'Alternative Light Source'

8/10

After a 16 year hiatus, legendary electronic outfit Leftfield have returned to deliver the third studio album of their career. But when you consider what has happened in the world of electronic music since 1999, you get an idea of exactly how long ago their legacy was first cemented. Both of their previous works are seen as two of the pinnacles of British electronic music, so this much-delayed return does come with the unwanted baggage of high expectations.

But seeing as Leftfield were always about pushing the envelope of sonic sound, it is good to hear that they still haven't lost that experimental edge. The now solo member Neil Barnes has clearly kept a strong eye on the movements of contemporary dance music and aimed to make this return more in pace with the modern sound, rather than harking back to their heyday. The result is a forward-thinking tech-house record that shows a real understanding of what modern electronic music needs and hands it over in a tightly wrapped and well-produced box.

It may seem extremely distant from their previous work but this shows that Leftfield are more than just a sound, they are a direction and are continuing to evolve down that path, regardless of how much time has passed. The timing of the return is more than appropriate and could find themselves a rekindled fanbase amongst the emerging young ravers of today.

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