Crookers mania reaches fever pitch as the Italian hipsters unleash their eagerly anticipated debut album "Tons of Friends" out now on Southern Fried Records and by all accounts it's a stormer…

Tons of Friends towers over us as a daunting and dense work. Their biggest hit, a remix of Kid Cudi's Day 'n' Nite (which peaked at number two in the UK) only makes an acappella appearance, despite its dominance as the party tune of two consecutive summers: a rare feat in fast-moving festival circles.

But it's to Crookers' credit that they don't chase ghosts here, instead opening up space to feature 25 collaborators across 20 tracks. The roll call of rappers includes Kelis, Pitbull, Will I Am, Cudi, Spank Rock and Rye Rye and all supply their lyrical licks with vigour.

More unconventional guests include Soulwax, Sepultura's Mixhell, Major Lazer, Poirier and Drop the Lime – who hurl in their studio knowledge – whilst vocal contributions from Roisin Murphy, Miike Snow and, rather incongruously, Tim Burgess are all effectively consumed and assimilated into monstrous club bangers. Such an amount of guests means nearly every track sounds like a lead single, destroying conventional album architecture in favour of full-throttled bounce.

Hold Up Your Hand, featuring a turn from Murphy, shines through with its sleazy German schaffel-beat whilst Cooler Couler sees Yelle enjoy a menacing and boisterous jaunt though pop. One of the absolute highlights is Miike Snow's Remedy: an oscillating piano stomper layered with an old-school rave breakbeat which is a glitchy call-to-arms certain to rip up most dancefloors with filthy aplomb.

Article courtesy of Future Entertainment