Parallel Universe

by John Bush A vast improvement over their 1991 debut, Parallel Universe was the album that showed what jungle was capable of in the full-length medium. While the U.K. charts were caught up in ragga jungle mania, Dego and Mark Mac wedded their unsurpassed, futuristic breakbeats-immaculate (check "No Imitation" for proof) with inspiration including keyboard stringwork from Chicago house, a few sci-fi themes from the Detroit auteurs, and the glossy experimentalism of early-'70s jazz fusion. Along with LTJ Bukem's Good Looking crew, 4 Hero and the sound of Parallel Universe pre-figured electronica's obsession with "intelligent" jungle during 1995-1996. The duo dip into R&B/house territory with a few diva vocals, which somewhat subverts the innovative feel of a drum'n'bass classic. [Thankfully, the out-of-print album was reissued by Crammed Discs in 1998.]