Pump Up the Jam: The Album

by Alex Henderson Hip-house, a blend of rap and house music, had one of its greatest commercial successes in Technotronic (which brought a Euro-disco element to the style). Pump Up the Jam: The Album must be taken for what it is -- unapologetically dance-oriented party music, pure and simple. Belgium's Technotronic never set out to conquer Public Enemy or Ice-T's sociopolitical turf, and strives to be nothing but fun. On that level, this CD succeeds wildly. "Pump Up the Jam," "Get Up (Before the Night Is Over)," "This Beat Is Technotronic," and other highly infectious club hits didn't do much in the rap or R&B markets, although Technotronic did enjoy some exposure outside of dance music circles thanks to the inclusion of "Move This" (also included here) in a 1992 Revlon commercial employing supermodel Cindy Crawford. But on the whole, this collection appealed primarily to Technotronic's target audience: dancers and club hounds.