1.8.7 is the nom de DJ of Jordana LeSesne, a New York-based drum'n'bass producer who has earned enormous respect for her hard-edged, yet attractively accessible style. Her sophomore effort is an exhilarating thrill ride -- the breakbeats are fast and furious, and on tracks like the militant "Unite" and the jittery "Stigma," they almost dare you to try to dance to their impossibly frenetic groove. "I Rock the Party" features virtuoso turntable work, presumably courtesy of
1.8.7 herself. She may also be the rapper on that track -- the liner notes do not credit any collaborators. American drum'n'bass is often criticized by the cognoscenti, and frequently with good reason, ample proof of which is provided by the scores of ho-hum compilations that appear on the market every week. But
1.8.7 is clearly in a league of her own; this is music that will stand with the best that England's (or any other country's) scene has to offer. ~ Rick Anderson