1998 Another Level: Freak Me

A cover version of Silk's 1993 US hit (it didn't chart in the UK), Brit boy band Another Level do everything with the song apart from live up to their name by cranking out a faithful reproduction, albeit on a photocopier running low on ink; this 'Freak Me' backtracks slightly from Keith Sweat's original smooth, soul groove to present a flatter, more urban dance edge. It's hardly major renovation though and once again wheels are studiously not being re-invented - by adding little of their own to the mix, Another Level also forget to add a point or purpose for anybody to want to listen to it over Silk's original. The "I wanna get freaky with you" bit that everybody remembers is still a baffling delight, but being just a copycat re-telling of someone else's punchline then charm is thin on the ground and, truth be told, I simply can't see the point of any of it