Mint Royale

Britain's Mint Royale, unapologetic in tone and straightforward in execution, draw from the high-energy Big Beat style associated with Fatboy Slim, Bentley Rhythm Ace, and other Skint acts yet steer the sound toward a deliberate blend with pop elements. The pair Neil Claxton and Chris Baker began under the name Mint Gun Club, which yielded only a single release, before quickly attracting attention through well-received remixes of Kenickie's "I Will Fix You" and Terrorvision's "Tequila," the latter climbing to number two on the U.K. charts. The exuberant, hands-raised energy and playful breakbeats on those tracks already signaled the duo's preference for relaxed, upbeat moods. Along with Scanty Sandwich, they prompted some listeners to wonder whether Mint Royale served as another alias for Norman Cook. Their first full-length effort, On the Ropes, nevertheless appeared on Faith & Hope Records during the waning days of 1999, a period unfavorable to Big Beat, and was driven by the infectious single "Don't Falter," which featured ex-Kenickie member Lauren Laverne.