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Black Strobe pulses and then breaks momentarily into something almost recognizable.... then back into dark flashes, then ooooh its the mix into a sick sick beat of the appropriately titled This is Sick. The over levels buzzing beats are beautiful and dirty, on a dancefloor everyone would move as one, in your car or on the treadmill, you’ll be bobbing your head and pounding along. Just as it starts to edge towards the monotonous, it breaks into... well, breaks. Then Bauhaus. Now I pick up the CD case. Who is Black Strobe anyway, aside from being marvelously dark edgy DJs and of course French? It doesn’t say but WOW the CD booklet is like a whole mini tour guide! Even telling you how much to tip and a fold out map of Paris with the spots on the DVD (which amazingly is just the reverse side of the audio CD) marked in blue. This is fantastic stuff, and I lived in Paris for a year. Even if you live there full time or have never been, I imagine this would be as much fun. It’s not comprehensive, its just the mysterious Black Strobe picking out what are supposed to be their choice spots, though I have a feeling they may have had some help. Activities, Art, Bars, Clubs, Restaurants, Hotels, Shops and Illicit. The DVD side is a travel documentary of sorts, hosted by Black Strobe -- a duo, I discover. Its like hanging out with some very – very – cool friends who are showing you around town. With a cool soundtrack. And subtitles. And the art gallery owner shows you the yoyo, the cool girls eating out of the caravan talk to you, you stop in and the restaurant owner tells you what the best dish is. The Mona Lisa talks to you. In other words, The Other Side is Heaven. My only criticsm is sometimes I wish it would go a little more slowly so I could see everything! But I guess that’s a good reason to watch it again. Then at times (the clothing shopping mostly, though the free shop is interesting) its a bit slow. Time Out has always done my favorite series of printed guidebooks to the world, and judging by this CD/DVD release, I’ve got another collection to get underway.-- review by Jennifer Warner
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