The Freelance Hellraiser - 'Waiting For Clearance' (SonyBMG) Released 10/07/06

He’s best known for bastardizing Christina Aguilera’s ‘Genie In A Bottle’ and subsequently pissing off her record label. Likewise his inspiring Remixography has done wondrous things to Gomez’s ‘Shot Shot’, Ian Brown’s ‘Northern Lights’, and Snow Patrol’s ‘Run.’  As Paul McCartney’s official DJ, he’s had the privilege of the former Beatle's entire back catalogue at his fingertips, and as well as ripping up and relaying tracks in all corners of the music industry; he’s even put together a darn good album, he is Roy Kerr AKA The Freelance Hellraiser, 'Waiting For Clearance' is a dance trip spliced with rasping rock resilience and sweet soul sensuality.

Title track ‘Waiting For Clearance’ opens the unusually vocally dominant electronica/dance long player, which makes for a nice change. Drafting in old uni pal Gary Lightbody to provide his distinctive vocals on several tracks, all of which could well be Snow Patrol remixes, with lyrics not unlike those lovelorn words that dominates Snow Patrol's work, "and its way to hard, to leave you here, when all I want to do is stay and hold you", from ‘The Sweetest Noise’ epitomizes this sentiment and is repeated in ‘Send Me,’ ‘All I Want’ and ‘Something You Do To Me.’

But its not all heart melting vocals curtsey of Mr. Lightbody, indeed the premise of this album is the incorporation of many genres and perspectives. Haunting gospel inspired vocals dominate ‘Want You to Know’ and are layered between calypso percussion, strings and electronic scales. ‘Can’t Hide’ is as close to a classic dance track as the album allows, purely instrumental it builds and varies throughout whilst it maintains an infectious rhythm and defies anyone to resist dancing. However, instead of pure electronica and base, it also includes an inspirational sequence of guitar solos throughout the tracks mid section, which works to place ‘Can’t Hide’ as arguably the best track on the album.

‘Weightlessness’ a song suspended between Primal Scream’s ‘Screamadelica’, New Order’s ‘Technique’ and The Pet Shop Boy’s ‘Fundamental', it transcends an ambient opening and is propelled into what is destined to be a club floor filler. Overall, The Freelance Hellraiser has succeeded in putting all his interests and influences into one beautifully produced LP, by rights it shouldn’t work, yet it does perfectly, clearly the man has talent.