#slam dunk'd

SLAM DUNK'D FT. CHROMEO & AL-P - NO PRICE [6.93] Like Janet and Luther told you...

Edward Okulicz: I enjoyed the speculation about who this act was when it was billed as Disco Mystery, mostly from people whose favourite disco song is probably "Get Lucky," though a couple of bloggers picked Arthur Baker early on. The trick's as old as the material, but the execution is excellent; the new vocal line from Dave 1 meshes perfectly melodically as well as lyrically with the sample and the strings sweep but don't overwhelm. "No Price" doesn't hit you with 20 hooks at once, but it threads them one after the other and doesn't let up. It's a bit repetitive (hence the high but not ultra-high score) but I still can't wait to hear the twelve-inch. [8]

Alex Ostroff: I've been handwringing for forty minutes about whether I'm inclined to overrate "No Price" because I know it's a lost Arthur Baker track resurrected from the archives. But I've also been dancing in a café ignoring my laundry for forty minutes. So. [8]

Alfred Soto: Slam Dunk'd is Arthur Baker, who put this track on ice during the Reagan administration. Thawed and garnished with modern stutters and filters, it's ready to serve to an audience used to tastier Daft Punk retronuevo exercises. [4]

Patrick St. Michel: Even without the backstory spurred by the current disco revival's ability to put dollar signs in people's eyes, "No Price" is a solid dance number that seems like it would have sounded fine back in the late '70s too. I wasn't alive then, but this doesn't sound like Disney Presents The Hall Of Disco -- this seems like a song to lose yourself to for a little over three minutes. [7]

Josh Love: If Larry Levan could have dropped this into a mix at the Paradise Garage I'm sure there would've been zero complaints, but as pop music in 2014 it's a bridge too far. I was never a "Get Lucky" stan, but I could at least appreciate the effort to cross-pollinate eras and sensibilities, rather than just ransacking a museum. [5]

Jonathan Bradley: It's a bit like when J.K. Rowling throws a thousand words of Harry Potter trivia up on the internets and the press goes wild about the first all-new glimpse at the life of Hogwarts alum since Deathly Hallows. There might be a couple revelatory ideas, but no one should seriously pretend a lot of filler hasn't gone into bulking it up to newsworthy status. [5]

Katherine St Asaph: I like Chromeo Dave's disco self-insert fic. I know I keep saying I'm retiring from music writing, but this time I fucking mean it. [7]

Hazel Robinson: This is so fucking cheap, in terms of it being the sound of hitting the "PARTY MEGAMIX" button that I assume exists on any decent DJ decks. Thing is, though, I fucking love Jive Bunny. [7]

Dan MacRae: Those disco strings! (Are they tacky? They're good tacky, right?) "No Price" is roller rink twirl done right and you could certainly do worse than having Dave 1 as your agreeable host. I might consider consulting with a financial planner before taking the song's advice to heart, of course. [8]

Will Adams: Disco is such an easy draw; that there's almost nothing done with it beyond looping is plain lazy. At least other nostalgia-bait knew to filter during the verses. [5]

Scott Mildenhall: Filter house is a gift to producers as much as everyone else because the endless source material speaks for itself, so it's a shame that in this instance it's unavailable. There isn't much need for Dave from Chromeo continuing to sound like a bloke called Dave, yet he's there; maybe as "In The Heat Of A Disco Night" to "I Think I Like It," this could be even better in its originally desired form. [7]

Josh Winters: What makes classic disco so inviting to me is the natural warmth that eases out of every track. It's transportive in that way; it's the quintessential sound of bright lights, bodies in motion, and community through music. As an aural snapshot of a time long ago, "No Price" feels like a triumphant victory lap for the genre, showcasing many of its beloved signifiers without ever losing its spirit. The rhythm is relentless, the strings ring out with sheer vibrancy, and the energy remains as high and palpable as ever. Dave 1's debonair presence is an extra treat, just like the sweetest cherry on top of a delicious sundae. [8]

Brad Shoup: Canny or no, it's nice to get more disco signifiers than the rhythm guitar, even this was thawed wholesale from a time capsule. I can't say that's cheating though, because I'm not sure you can cheat in pop. I feel like I'm being seduced by an ancient Buick commercial, and I gotta say: it feels good. [7]

Anthony Easton: This just races up that mountain, with ambition taking over any subtlety to become a pure banger, with little room to breathe. Perfect pleasure for pleasure's sake. [8]

Thomas Inskeep: Holy shit this is like the lost disco jam of Dimitri from Paris's dreams -- which also means, from mine too. I would never have guessed that Arthur Baker '79 + half of MSTRKRFT + half of Chromeo would = this 3:29 of perfection, but OHmysweetdiscodeities, "No Price" is glitter-dipped gloriousness. This is right up there with the best things Baker's ever laid his hands on, and easily surpasses anything I've ever heard by either MSTRKRFT or Chromeo. It's also easily one of 2014's best singles. [10]