Basement Jaxx's fifth album, Scars, is a return to the kind of form that saw them blow dance music apart in the late '90s/early '00s, with tracks such as "Red Alert," "Romeo" and "Where's Your Head At."

Basement Jaxx are back with dance music with serious edge - the kind that has been lacking in a techno dance scene that became, for various reasons, dark and minimalist in the three years they were away. For their part, the band was a bit disillusioned with even their last effort, 2006's Crazy Itch Radio, and their decision to tour with Robbie Williams at the end of the same year. "It felt like we'd strayed too far into pop territory," says Simon.

Of their first single, "Raindrops," says Simon: "The idea was to do something that felt familiar and make a track for clubs," says Simon. It felt good. Basically, they stopped trying to fight who they were, realizing that big, up-tempo club music is what they're good at, not to mention what people want from them.

Personal trials contributed to this record, too. For a glimpse into Felix immediately after a relationship-ending fight that spilled out onto the street, take a listen to "Saga." While recording "Twerk" with Yo Majesty, Simon was told his wife and daughter were taken ill and had to be admitted to the hospital. "I told them what was happening and they grabbed my hand and we joined in a circle to pray," he remembers. "So we're standing there and they've got their Jack Daniels and their spliffs and we're saying prayers. It was surreal. That was the moment I think I realized having a child meant I had a whole new set of priorities."

Beyond the extremely personal stories encoded in this music, Scars features an impressive roll call of guest vocalists, including Philadelphia MC Santigold, burlesque dancer-turned-pop starlet Paloma Faith, aforementioned lesbian rappers Yo Majesty, Black And Gold singer Sam Sparro and the legendary Yoko Ono. From "Raindrops" to the rowdy house jam "Twerk," the string-drenched, grime-esque title track "Scars" and the gorgeous "My Turn," which features Lightspeed Champion on vocals, Basement Jaxx deliver an album that outshines any dance act in the UK.