Sheffield DJ Toddla T earns all kinds of bonus points with his contribution to the Fabriclive series of DJ mixes: first of all, for opening up the set with a techno-dancehall cover of Human League's "Love Action"; second, for being unwilling to settle down into a single rhythmic style. On this program you'll hear jungle, reggae, grime, house, soul, lots of clashy-trashy dubstep, and one or two tracks that are almost impossible to characterize, though everything partakes of Toddla T's uniquely frenetic, joyful, funky personality. His particular genius is for identifying a quirkily hooky line and capitalizing on it, whether it's Mister Versatile's "Fill Up Mi Portion" or Backyard Dog repeatedly exhorting the massive to "roll up" on "Baddest Ruffest [Pipes & Slippers Mix]." Elsewhere, you get some astounding speed rap over a drum'n'bass rhythm ("Boom DJ from the Bristol City"), a weird sort of big beat workout from Serocee titled "Manbadman [Andy George Refix]," a slyly horticultural dubstep turn from Lady Chann ("Sticky Situation"), and a slightly headache-inducing electroclash contribution from Shake Aletti ("The Way He Does [Toddla T Remix Ft Serocee]"). There are moments when his exuberance gets away from him a bit, as on the Wittyboy remix of Alex Mills' "Beyond Words," which features orchestral strings, Auto-Tuned vocals, and a house beat -- three strikes, you're out. And truth be told, the headlong rhythm and motormouth spitting on "Boom DJ from the Bristol City" is more technically impressive than actually enjoyable. But all of it is fun, and at its best this album is absolutely brilliant. ~ Rick Anderson