Basement Jaxx – “Rooty”

By the time Basement Jaxx released their sophomore record Rooty, the London duo of Felix Buxton and Simon Ratcliffe had already proven they could craft infectious club anthems. But this album showed they weren’t content with simply producing high-BPM tracks for sweaty dancefloors. Instead, Rooty blended house with funk, soul, R&B and a touch of chaos, creating one of the most dynamic and rewarding dance albums of its era.

The production is slick without ever feeling sterile. Buxton and Ratcliffe knew that energy doesn’t always come from speed; it can come from groove, space and tension. While there are moments of full-throttle club frenzy, Rooty spends much of its time in head-nodding territory, proving that house music could be as satisfying in headphones or in the living room as it was in the club.

“Romeo” is one of the clear standouts, carried by Kele Le Roc’s vocals that slide effortlessly over the bright, bouncy beat. It’s one of the best examples of Basement Jaxx’s ability to merge pop accessibility with underground credibility. “Get Me Off” is another highlight, a sultry, textured track that oozes confidence and style. And then there’s “Where’s Your Head At?,” arguably the duo’s signature track, where gritty synths, manic energy, and primal shouts fuse together into a perfect storm. It’s an anthem that has lived well beyond the early 2000s, cementing itself as one of the most memorable electronic singles of the decade.

Part of what makes Rooty so engaging is its bold use of sampling. The duo pull from Gary Numan, Earth, Wind & Fire and Chic, among others, and seamlessly fold these sounds into their eclectic blend of house, funk, and electro. Rather than feeling like nostalgic crutches, the samples serve as building blocks for something distinctly fresh and forward-thinking.

The guest contributions are also crucial to the album’s success. In addition to Kele Le Roc’s standout performance, singers like Elliot May and Corrina Joseph bring range and texture to the tracks, keeping the record unpredictable. Interestingly, Janet Jackson was nearly featured on Rooty, which speaks volumes about Basement Jaxx’s rising stature at the time. While the collaboration didn’t materialize, her consideration of working with the duo shows just how much their sound was crossing over into mainstream pop consciousness.

Lyrically, the songs aren’t meant to provoke deep analysis, but that’s not the point. The themes revolve around love, lust and release—themes that have always been central to house music. The key is how Basement Jaxx wrap these themes in such playful, inventive production. There’s joy here, but also depth. Even when they go maximalist, there’s a cleverness to the way they structure their songs that prevents them from collapsing under their own weight.

If there’s anything to critique, it’s that Rooty can sometimes feel like it’s trying to do too much. The stylistic detours, while exciting, don’t always hang together seamlessly. Yet even in its occasional unevenness, the album remains thrilling. The ambition is part of what makes it such a lasting record.

Ultimately, Rooty confirmed Basement Jaxx as not just skilled producers, but architects of their own sonic world. They weren’t chasing trends, they were creating them. This album remains a shining example of how dance music could evolve in the early 2000s, standing apart from its peers by embracing eclecticism, boldness and pure fun.

For Fans Of:

• Daft Punk – Discovery
• The Chemical Brothers – Come With Us
• Moloko – Things to Make and Do