By know you know that we here at Turntable Lab are bigtime supporters of French-based label Ed Banger Records. To put it succinctly, they're one of the finest labels around today, constantly innovating and releasing unexpected records that expand on their trademark sound (which somehow stretches to cover multiple genres). DJ Mehdi already impressed us with his Chromeo-featuring, velvet rope-dissecting single "I Am Somebody(1)," but Lucky Boy shows the man to be a far more diverse producer than that track would've suggested. The woefully short "Signatune(2)" sounds like an intro for the best song that Daft Punk never made, but falls away after just a minute. (DJs, get to work!) "Pony Rocking(3)" not only features bumping drums and a fuzzy electro bassline, but also Uffie's producer/boyfriend and Ed Banger labelmate Feadz on the distorted chipmunk old school flow. Mehdi's multi-talented wifey (and longtime Alison Tara favorite!) Fafi shows up on "Lucky Boy(4)," which sounds like Portishead on Prozac (or something). "Hot-O-Momo(5)" features Xanax and comes closest to reproducing the vintage feel of "I Am Somebody," except more of a lost Prince track than a lost Chromeo joint. 14 tracks; 47 minutes.

reviewed by Chris Lemon-Red