CD REVIEW: Dr. Rubberfunk, The First Cut
Gps
Released October 2003
£10.99 (Amazon)

Having spent more than a decade DJing in London and around the world, Simon Ward, aka Dr. Rubberfunk, has finally released his debut LP, The First Cut. With an emphasis on dusty drum-heavy beats culled from his religous crate-digging, the doctor has infused the album with samples from countless genres and coupled them with live instrumentation. Bossanova, hip hop, jazz, and funk all get a tip of the hat. Standout tracks include the cinematic "Downtown Lowdown", the DJ-friendly funk of "Bossa for the Devil", and the infectious acoustic pluckings of "Harry the Guitar". (CJN)