Howie B, Snatch (Pussy Foot/Island) 9
Today's most popular electronica artists have achieved their fame through macho cock-rock bluster (Prodigy, Chemical Brothers) and goofy disco bombast (Fatboy Slim). Scottish master of understatement Howie B is quite content remaining underwater (his still-in-the-womb lullaby to his baby girl on 1996's Music For Babies) and under the sheets (his 1997 sexy, funky, beatcrazy Turn The Dark Off) on his solo albums released on his own record label Pussy Foot, named after a 1973 Brian Eno/Robert Fripp collaboration. Snatch takes elements from his brilliant production work with Bjork, U2, Tricky and Sly and Robbie and this time gets under your skin, expanding the scope of his easily recognizable mix of murky beats, clever loop grooves and bubbly acid jazz. The only way he'll top this is by adding a strong personality, like his (hopefully for his sake still current) girlfriend, Bjork.
