A Boy And His Turntables

On track 13, “More Dance Music,” a WASPy-sounding gentleman informs us that, “Everyone loves koalas; they’re cute, they’re furry, and they’re remarkably like a little teddy bear”… but let’s not forget, they scratch! Well, one of them does at least. This marsupial’s name is Kid Koala, and you won’t find him Down Under grubbin’ on eucalyptus leaves, but rather up north cuttin’ up 12” LPs. And while the name may sound unfamiliar to some, you’ve probably heard his magic. Besides being an accomplished turntablist, Eric Sans (a.k.a. Kid Koala) is also Skiznod the Boy Wonder (Deltron 3030’s resident DJ), a soldier in the Gorillaz platoon, a renowned collaborator (w/ Lovage, Bullfrog, and just about anything involving Dan the Automator), an opener for artists such as Radiohead, and a gifted cartoonist. With so many projects on the table, one wonders if Kid Koala could come up with an album as tight as his debut, 2000’s Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.For those of you fortunate enough to be familiar with CTS, Kid Koala’s sophomore effort, Some of My Best Friends Are DJ’s, will not disappoint. Koala basically sticks to the same formula of mixing and scratching and fading obscure melodies, imaginative samples, and vintage sound-bytes. Listeners will marvel at the cognac-soaked Bourbon St. jazziness of “Basin Street Blues,” they’ll get out of their seats and shake their booties to the Jamaican sounds of “Skanky Panky,” and all will bob their heads to the funky “More Dance Music.” It’s kind of like DJ Shadow meets Louis Armstrong meets the Skatalites. My only gripe is that it’s only 35 minutes long! Oh well… it’s a fun ride while it lasts.