Reviews (1)

Worth buying for DNA.
Just briefly, if this is the same single that contains DNA as track 3, then all Photek fans must buy this NOW. Out of all the new material, DNA is generally the closest in style to the "older" stuff. Less minimalistic, certainly, but just as sharp and atmospheric. One major difference though: the skewed, disjointed breaks that make up what must be the most amazing percussion programming (in general) I have _ever_ heard. And that guitar!

Most will find Terminus and Infinity to be rather dull in comparison... but I'd say DNA is surely the best bit o' Photek since "Rings..." and "The Rain." An astounding piece - why wasn't it on the album!?!? ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Best new IDM compilation
What could be better than a CD with tracks by Joseph Nothing, Lexaunculpt, Hrvatski and the ever brilliant Venetian Snares? One that includes tracks by Julian Fane, Patrrick Wolf and Dykehouse. Forget the Postal Service--these guys sound like My Bloody Valentine gone through Autechre's paper shredder, not some Death Cab offshoot. Killer artwork is only the icing on the cake. ... Read more

Amazon.com

As the editor and publisher of Urb magazine, Raymond Roker is at the forefront of electronic music. And as he's one of the earliest supporters of drum & bass in the States, promoting for and DJing at a weekly club night in Los Angeles called Science, Roker's taste in music is to be trusted. Altered States of Drum & Bass further solidifies Roker's position in the American electronic music scene, proving he's got the knowledge and the know-how. Clean mixes showcase a wide range of jungle from jump-up to tech-step, and from the more known (Source Direct) to the unknown (San Francisco's DJ Abstract). Roker rightfully tips his hat to the American drum & bass scene, opening the CD with Ming & FS and Pish Posh (a.k.a. NYC's DJ Wally) before delving into the U.K. stalwarts. Roni Size's group Breakbeat Era makes a welcome appearance, and Roker gets rough with RAM, Jonny L, and Bad Company. Proper. --Tricia Romano ... Read more

Reviews (5)

It's worth it just for Makai! But the others are great too!
I bought this CD mainly for the Makai track, but it's all good. Great selection, unique (and hard to find) tracks. I've been into DnB for a few months now, coming from trance/trip-hop. There's an awesome mixture of everything here that should make everyone happy. Not many people carry this CD in "stock" and it usually takes a few days to order.

Good god this CD rules...
Man... I got this cd over a month ago and I'm still not tired of it... 'Beneath The Mask' (track 14) is like godly, hell, even if all the other tracks sucked, that one song would make the whole cd worth the cash

Altered States Kicks
This is one of the best Jungle/Drum & Bass albums I have yet to hear. The mixes are smoothe and the bass lines are soul ripping. Every DJ in my area is playing a lot of the tracks found on the CD, like Dieselboy...among others. I highly recommend this to any seasoned listener or to any newcomer. The music will have you pumping your fist through the air as you feel the massive energy flow around.

Average
nothing special here. some good tracks, but no matter how hard i try to get into the music, i found this album way too repetitive.

An outstanding mix of current D&B
This CD delivers where most have failed: a varied mix of current tunes, mixed with style and grace. You get a variety of flavors from a broad selection of labels so the CD never gets repetitive or boring. There are massive rollers, intricate electro-inspired breaks, some darker tunes, and several other varieties to keep your ears pulsing and your head bobbing. This is definitely one of the best mixed CD's I've heard (up there with Diesel Boy and DB's CDs) and should be picked up by everyone interested in the music and the jungle club experience. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

One of the Greatest Albums Ever.
This time around he adds some live drums, bass, and crowd noise to make the record more of a cyborg than his usual robotic hummings and programmed thuds. Equally out of character for Jenkinson is how inviting Ultravisitor is; instead of requiring a dozen or so listenings to find the melodies and other wondrous sounds, there is enough on the surface to stimulate new listeners and enough bubbling below to keep old fans coming back for more.

The title track blends his past and what could potentially be his future, with sweeping ambience hovering above his frantic, trademark electronic notes. The real enigmas here are "Andrei," "Tommib Help Buss" and "Everyday I Love," which hint at a more settled-down, soft melody craving side to everyone's favorite musical mad bomber. Other songs reveal this schizophrenia more thoroughly, like "Iambic 9 Poetry," which degenerates from a friendly melody into aggressive drum pounding in a hypnotic but comforting way. More than likely it is unintentional, but the design of "50 Cycles" seems vaguely like a low-key version of Alec Empire's "Substance X" since both feature stream-of-consciousness jabbering and radioactive sounding beats.

Floating between and beyond genres is common for "Ultravisitor" as well. The album careens from acid jazz to soothingly calm intermissions, and then back to the violently fast programming Jenkinson has built his career around. The album's overall effect is that it feels like Squarepusher is slowly trying to escape some frigid metallic deathbed to reembrace the natural world. Computerized noises dominate but organic sounds struggle to break out. This album is laced with optimism and hints of immeasurable potential, which serves as a statement to all the critics who wrote him of the deep end after the albums "Go Plastic" and "Selection Sixteen."

If there were no more Squarepusher albums beyond "Ultravisitor," Tom Jenkinson could sleep soundly knowing that he created the album of a lifetime.

Tom's Best Work Yet!!!
Tom J. has told Warp that this is his "best work to date", and I'm inclined to agree!!! Ultravisitor has it all- Manic D'n'B Ragga forms, from simple to complex melodic structures, Classical/ funk/and hiphop bass playing!! Hey, this is Tom at his very best and he's using a MIDI pickup that transforms the bass into a tonal monster i.e. (soft keyboards to a screaming computer roar). I might add that its unclear whats live vs studio work: nice.
For Toms true fans, get the limited ed, it has his art + hand written program commands!! + go to Bleep.com for bonus tracks not on the CD.
Well what can we say, Tom's done it again - And in a way none of us could have expected.

( ps- Can you imagine what he's done that we will never hear!!, remember Richards lost Mp3 player, it had 63 unreleased Squarepusher tracks on it ..... wow ) ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Headphone music
So you wanna listen to some jungle but your coworkers dont know you party, so you dont wanna drop some dance floor terrorism on them or anything, and you refuse to degrade yourself with that LTJ Bukem easy listening stuff, so you pop this into your cd player, and everyone starts crowding around you trying to figure out how you got to be so cool. The boss gives you a raise, women swoon in your presence, and men want to be like you. And all you did was listen to a really, really, really cool jungle compilation.

This is dnb like portishead would do it. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Pure pleasure
This guy is simply genius. The album has everything U need - atmosphere, groove, message...Roughly it can be divided in two parts. First part - several huge darkside monsters with weakiest drum structure I ever heard and amazing basslines and second one - more atmospheric stuff with catching melodies. It isn't some regular DJ-mix to cover the lack of fresh ideas - it's the genre's masterpiece. In few words - great american hope of D'n'B. Buy it - it's pure pleasure! ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Not what I expected but superb anyway
I bought this expecting something breakbeaty but was pleasantly suprised to find some top class, instrument led house music. I've not heard vol. 2 & 3 ( vol. 1 was a bit unimpressive) so buying this was a bit of a punt but I'm glad I did.
It's the sort of feel I get from stuff from guidance records, but more live. For those that're wondering that's a complement.
Good stuff.

the definition of tropical atmosphere
Don't let LTJ Bukem's name on the album fool you -- this is not drum n bass. As a matter of fact, I wouldn't even classify it as electronic music. Most of the instruments used in the songs are real instruments (guitar, piano, live drums, and even a rainstick) and there is little synth work. I think some of the basslines are digital though. This is latin-jazz sounding stuff, suitable for chill. While it has the dub and downbeat sensibilities that have made artists such as Thievery Corporation and Kruder + Dorfmeister big names in the lounge biz, this cd has a less restricted, more live sound that reflects tall palm trees and deserted beaches better than sweaty lounges.

This CD, the fourth in the revered Earth series, is a compilation of tracks from Good Looking Records, original and unmixed. It starts off with the amazing "The Bloc" by Flying Fish (probably the best track on the album) and moves on towards the brilliant casino-esque "The Setup" by K-Scope. Some synth action is brought forth on the drifting "Extensions Of Life" and "Timefields". I loved "Seven Miles High", which brings a new perspective on vocal samples. The vibe gets much more live on Big Bud's heavily atmospheric "Blueberry Muffins" and then the album slows down and closes. This is an album of highs and lows, starting off with some very good tracks, but getting kind of tired towards the end of the album. The vibe is always there from beginning to end, however, and it works a lot more fluent and better than most record label compilations. That said, this album is quite accomplished, both in atmosphere and track value, and should definetly be checked out.

chill
This is lounge music a la Theivery Corporation - its a must for anyone into downtempo lounge. If you just wanna hang out and chill, this is IT. The tracks are smooth and mellow. Its not gonna make you get up and dance, but its fantastic background music at your next hip party or just when you're just hanging out with some friends.

A new direction for the Earth series
Hey, I'll admit it, I'm an EARTH junkie. And when i saw this album, i just had to get it. I didn't even realize it was volume 4 of the earth series until I was perusing amazon (no, i'm not an idiot, the beautiful case is very different from Vol's 1,2, and 3, and LTJ's name is nowhwere on the case anywhere).

I also didn't think this was an earth series album because it is quite a departure. a great departure. While i love vol's 1 and 2, 3 is pretty weak (the reviewer who said 1 and 3 were good, while 2 lagged, just got them confused. i'm sure.) This is a great album - a nice infusion of Latin jazz that perks up the sometimes cold drum'n'bass backbeat. get it. you will love it.

Not quite up to the typical Good Lookin' standard
Hmmm...while I adore the Earth series, indeed consider it the best music series ever, it isn't exactly flawless. Volumes 1 and 3 are amazing - very cool, sophisticated and chilled - 5 star material. By comparison, vol 2 is decidedly mediocre - the songs are just strange basses and drums without all the cruisy jazz harmonies that your typical Bukem fan demands.Thankfully, Earth 4 retains the all-important jazz factor(though not quite as strongly as some might hope), and the whole album definitely has it's own unique character and flavour, which is of course what defines each Earth volume from the others. Vol 4's flavour is a "Latin-Jazz-dance one" - but the "dance" bit is where it trips up slightly. The problem is that the whole album is fairly tedious, and this is mostly because of the heavily overused straight 4/4 house beat. It wouldn't be a problem at all if the there was lots of interesting stuff happening on the harmony/melody side of things, but, as fate would have it, there isn't. If you've listened to the RealPlayer clips, then no doubt your initial impression, like mine, was to be quite blown away. What you don't know (until now) is that the whole of each song REALLY does sound like that 30 sec clip repeated over and over for 6-8 minutes. In particular, the 2 tracks by Artemis, first have you thinking "Hey, this is funky! This could be a great song!" ....and over the course of the remaining 7 mins, the track progresses absolutely nowhere. I may have been quite harsh on old Earth 4, but it's only because I've come to associate GL records with excellent electronic music. Earth 4, all for it's repetitiveness, is a funky album, and I don't regret buying it. It has a seriously cool flavour to it, which alone should at least justify your considering buying this. And if you're a big Earth addict like me, then you should take the plunge and grab it now. Oh yeah, and when you get it, take time to marvel at the AWESOME work of genius that is the box set in which the disc is contained! ... Read more

Reviews (6)

What? You don't have this already?
This is it, man. This is the one. If you searched Amazon for years after this you could not find an album richer or more exciting or more compelling. (Well ... okay. Not counting Orbital's In Sides.)

The formula is simple but perfect: driving beats and throbbing bass with futuristic and eerily dream-like sound effects. And spine-tingling atmosphere, laid on with a trowel. There are no words and no sunlight in this world, and you can't always see everything, but what you can see is just as intense as the title implies. Exhilarating, suspenseful pursuit and escape in a grim future--that's 68 Million Shades in a nutshell. There's a lot of old-school jungle elements, but writing this off as jungle is like calling Mount Everest a hill. No one ever did it like this, and (now that jungle seems passe and deep house and downtempo are the flavors du jour) no one will probably ever do it like this again.

"Take 1," my favorite track of the album, starts it off big with stark piano chords, in-your-face beats, clattering percussion, and an avalanche of less identifiable but very cool sounds, pulsing in a thrilling chase theme. Then the ante goes higher with the epic "Midwest," my favorite track of the album, with its synth crashes, guitar, and atmospheric washes that soar into ever higher and broader vistas. Amazing.

"60 Seconds," with its moody, blatting sax and sultry she-wants-it vocal sample, sounds like a warm-up for Masses. It's just an okay track, an idea that didn't reach full life until it was redubbed for Versions.

It's a close call, considering how packed this album is with highs, but for me "Pan" is the apex. There are 455 seconds in this track and I love every last one of them. I love every individual element that makes this track what it is. I love the whistling ambience that sounds like the breath of night, I love the underwater chimes and the Predator's ominous rattle, I love the tsst-tsst cymbal action and the nonchalant drumming, I love the funky bassline, I love the halo and percolating atmosphere effects, and I love, at the very end, the alarm clock that rings and seems to awaken me out of a dream that was taking place in the center of my own soul. Man.

Things get breakneck again with "Plates," which is my favorite track of the album, and calls to mind images of a hovercraft chasing a speederbike down a suspended, neon-lit highway. Among the compelling samples is an ethereal bell-like effect that seems like the voice of the night, and I'm perpetually enamored with what it has to tell me. Who needs daylight, anyway?

"Bar," with its brass and speeding-locomotive strings, joins "60 Seconds" in taking a playful break from all the serious chase-scene themes. When I hear this song I envision a tall, statuesque redhead in purple satin pajamas, being filmed through a purple filter against a white background, shutting her eyes and smiling contentedly as she grooves to the shuffling bassline.

A lot of the neon goes out and things get truly dark with "Eesti" (if the titles have anything to do with the content of the tracks themselves, I've never noticed it), which calls to mind images of hordes of ratlike creatures scurrying under a stormy sky. Actually, what I really associate this with is Lud, the Tick-Tock Man, and Blaine the Mono from Stephen King's The Waste Lands.

"Roger Tessier" is still darker, and "Island," while faster-paced, doesn't shed much light.

And then comes, yes, my favorite track of the album, "Suspensions." An piano chord strikes eerily again and again, then quickens with another chord, then builds slowly with strings and drums and bass into the ultimate nightmare. This is the longest track of the album and doesn't have quite as many elements as some of the others, but the elements that are there brim with power and the track as a whole is nothing short of utterly sublime. A terrifying epic. Halfway through the beats cut out and the strings and bass descend like fingertips pulling tracks into the foggy moisture on a cold windowpane while the piano corkscrews like a drugged moth, and my spine tingles so tightly it makes me convulse.

I got this album five years ago and I've been scouring electronica ever since, looking for something to equal it, since, alas, SHJ's subsequent five LPs went off in increasingly different directions. If you're on the same quest, let me say that their first album, There Are Strings, and 68MS's remix album, Versions, are indispensable. After that you should try Justice's Viewpoints, Orbital's In Sides, and (if you can find it) Skylobby's A Very Special Long-Playing Record. Platinum Breakz, the first King of the Jungle collection, and Dieselboy's albums aren't bad either. If you find anything else that compares, let me know.

THE BEST IN DRUM & BASS
YOU CAN HEAR THE JAZZ & CLASSICAL INFLUENCES THAT THESE GUYS BRING TO THE FORM. I THOUGHT LTJ BUKEM WAS GOOD, BUT THIS IS EVEN BETTER. GREAT DRIVING MUSIC TOO!

Still strong
This was one of the first drum 'n' bass albums I ever picked up, and in many ways it has spoiled me. I always find myself returning to the very smooth beats of Coxon and Wales. They do quite a bit with the form on this album, and they have proven to be one of the most interesting drum 'n' bass acts around. There's the Morricone-esque "Midwest", the throb of "Pan", and the dark and sinister "Roger Tessier". This is a really smooth, fine album that one can play straight through. May not suit hard jungle fans, but offers a very nice palette of sounds in what many think is a severely limited genre.

Truly Impressive
This is without a doubt one of the strongest albums I have ever heard. It's brave and experimental, yet never losing the music as a result. Strong, cohesive drum and bass.

Warning! This album is for hedonists only!
This album is by far one of the best in my collection of over 300 techno CDs. When people ask to hear Drum & Bass or Jungle, this is what I play for them. At times, it may even represent Acid Jazz as well.

Unimposing to the first-time listener, the album is always a hit. No harsh sounds are used, and the rhythm and bass meld together into a seamless electronic dream.

A must buy for any techno lover, or for someone wanting to explore a new and exciting genre. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

SO Good!
This album is pure dark glitch! Everything Planet Mu puts out is groundbreaking but this one takes the cake! Don't listen to this album in the dark, you will die of fear!! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Upbeat, motivating sounds for travel, work, or mood music.
While visiting San Mateo, I was on a percussion drums CD hunt. I stopped to buy wine first and next door to the liquor store was a local non-mainstream music store. I began listening to several CDs and most were barely drums at all. The sales guy mentioned "The Law Of The Land" several times and eventually put the CD on for my listening pleasure. As I shopped, the music carried me from row to row. It was subtle but sure.

By the third track, I had realized that the upbeat feeling was being dictated by the beat from Law Of The Land. I am usually ready for a nap directly after work. I bought Law Of The Land and have been in an upbeat, jovial mood every time I've played it. My favorite tracks are 3, 4, 6, and 7.

Whether you feel like dancing, working, driving, or cleaning up your house, this CD will take you there and keep you there. I was really surprised when it was played as background music for a home gathering. No one noticed that for two hours it was the only thing playing. Often, people commented on how good they felt and how smooth and consistent the flow of the music was. Get it and enjoy. Peace! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

This CD deserves more credit...
I do not actually own this CD, but my bestmate does, and I thouhgt I would do Bogdan some justice by boosting the rating."Death to the Natives" is an incredible song.Actually, I enjoyed all the songs on this mini-lp a lot, and although it is expensive for only a few tracks, it is definitely worth a purchase.If you dont want to pay that much, gte it second hand! Alternatively, if you want some amazing Bogdan tunes get Thinking of you, Samurai Math Beats or Boku Mo Wakaran, they are all fantastic.Ive got about 80% of all the songs from those albums on mp3, and am anxiously waiting for SMB and BMW to arrive through the post!! But Ibiza Anthems Volume 4 is a real treat if you cant get your hands on anything else.Short but very very sweet. ... Read more

Amazon.com

DJ Wally is up to his old, streetwise tricks again. This time he's pimping rhythms under his more "hardstep" jungle guise, Pish-Posh. If you've never done the hyperactive two-step to his ghetto-, hip-hop-infused sets at his residency at New York City's legendary Konkrete Jungle, then this is the next best thing. With layer upon layer of rolling bass lines, amphetamine-lined dubby sound F/X, cuts like "Dead Men Tell No Tales" and "Fortified Live Remix" are bound to inspire a round of double-time living room body popping and fancy footwork. On "NY Undercover" and "Corrupt Cops," Wally explores an unexpected political territory with more street warfare beats and ricocheting rolls. He's not exactly the Jello Biafra (thankfully so) of drum & bass, but Wally adds a little consciousness to the jungle dance floor. --Daniel Shumate ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Essential for any DnB collection.
This was the CD that got me listening to jungle and DnB. It has intense upbeat energy that is almost funny but is definitely fun. For me the upbeat sound keeps it from feeling too repetitive, but some might not have my love for this CD and get kind of tired after hearing it for awhile. It is in the old jungle style of Dieselboys 'Drum and Bass Selection USA'(I know DnB selection isnt 'jump up' but..generally the same style), but I find this album to be a harder hit and not as drawn out. Turn the subwoofer up and roll with the bass!

An immediately likable album
For those of you looking for more predictable + repetitive (and hence, more danceable) "drum'n'bass" (is this "drum'n'bass"?) routines, this one is for you. It is easy to immediately like this album, but I wonder for how long it can sustain your interest.

jump up massive!
This CD is an excellent purchase for the jump up fan. Tight beats and tight rhymes compliments of DJ Wally (aka Pish Posh). Well worth the money.

DJ Wally got the skillz to pay the billz
DJ Wally aka Pish Posh comes out blazin' with some of the hottest jump up tracks. All you junglists take notice. Pish Posh flawlessly infuses jump up ahd hip hops stylings. The fortified live remix is simply wicked. The whole album is juiced with mad energy. Mixing Pachelbel's "Canon in D major" with RUN DMC? simply yummy.

good
I thought it was good. But I've don't really like this kinda music although it's definitley something I recomend to get! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Points in time elite
Points in time 8 is so far my fave from the series. This compilation is a good showcase for the years 97-99. The amen started to be in the history and these tracks are more futuristic and ambient, the way I like the Good Looking drum'n'bass. There aren't really any weak points in the tracklist, all of them represent the Good Looking sound in its finest. The CD kicks off with KMC's System, a sort of tune you would like to play to someone who'd want to know what ambient drum'n'bass sounds like, soft pads, mellow and atmospheric soundscapes, crispy beats and the warm, deep bass which causes shivers for sure. A bit deeper into the ambient feel goes Voyager's track called Apollo, introduced in the Progression Sessions 3, which takes you right out of this planet with its lush pads and small subtle melody, the same could be said for Nu-Moon's Possible Worlds. Björn's God Chord continues pretty much in the same moods, going a bit more darker and deeper. Blame provides a track called 360clic, more lively kind of song with acoustic bass, guitar hooks and nicely rolling beat. The CD ends with Big Bud's Alzir, a nice tune showing his trademark sound. This compilation has essential tracks and it's a must have for all of you who like drum'n'bass music. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Yes Yes! V recordings coming correct!
Where to begin? Okay, 3 x 12" Records 10 cuts, here's the skinny.

-DISC ONE-

A1 - "Autumn" - Die, absolute classic nice guitar riffs and rolling bass lines. Excellent track by the man @ Full Cycle.

A2 - "Do it [Lemon D RMX]" - Ray Keith, what can I say it's a Lemon D Remix, plenty of bone crushing bass.

B1 - "Faithless" - D Product, Oh my gosh! This LP is worth getting for this track alone, dancefloor killa Wicked bassline, and super tight drums. I also don't know of this being available elswhere.

B2 - "Windrush" - Roni Size, Typical Size goodness nice little roller I like the "alright, alright, alright" sample.

-DISC TWO-

A1 - "Shrinkwrap" - Ed Rush/Optical, Typical bizness by these two guys, extra evil!

A2 - "Angles [Dillinja RMX]" - Krust, I love this little roller, complete with "you know you're in trouble, when you can't see the angles anymore" sample. OH YEAH, IT'S REMIXED BY THE ONE KNOWN AS DILLINJA!

B1 - "Vegas" - Peshay, Extra wobley basslines, and a few good analouge stabs. Strong!

B2 - "Fat Man" - Bill Riley, I don't know of this being available anywhere else. Eerie, nice two-step style with heavy bass.

-DISC THREE-

A1 - "Brand New Funk" - Adam F, Killer jazzy madness by one of the old originals, watch the break on this one!

B1 - "Warhead [RAM Trilogy RMX]" - Krust, Easily the most reckognized Jungle song of 1997 remixed by RAM Trilogy [Andy C, Ant Miles, and Shimon] in 1999, you know it, you love it.. drop it for the kiddies!

So many great tunes, in one triple pack what are you waiting for...

You're not missing anything if you don't buy this.
This album was a real letdown for any drum and bass fan. The only good tracks were by Adam F and Roni Size. Even the Adam F track was not as good as the work he did in his full album, "Colors". Most of the tracks on here are almost identical. This album is going to be collecting dust on my cd rack...

Something of a letdown..
After reading some good reviews of this compilation from the Bristol crew...I was expecting a little more. Basically, the tracks aren't very consistent. The first disc gets off to a great start with Adam F's Brand New Funk, but then moves into some rather boring two-step and cyborg tracks (exceptions are the Ray Keith and Peshay tracks, although none of them match Brand New Funk for its sheer adrenaline factor). On the second disc, the Suv and Roni Size tracks stand out, and not much else...for more consistent compilations, check Grooverider's Prototype Years and any of the Metalheadz releases or V Classics.

Frantic HARDSTEP!
A great Drum N Bass compilation. Standout tracks are Adam F's "Brand New Funk", "Strictly Social" by Roni Size and "Anlgles" by Krust are reason enough to get a hold of this compilation. Wicked sped up breaks, great soundscapes and frantic beats that are emminently dancable fill Planet V. Also check out the new debut album of Krust.

Do it, Do it!
Ray Keith's frequency's don't mess around! Girls all over my dorm adore my music (hard-dark creative drum'n'bass)! This is a positive buy, don't miss out. Presences from the Bristol Crew and the London headz show great rhythmic diversity brought together into ONE. Buy it.

Joel ... Read more

Reviews (3)

without surprises but well executed
Alright, I'm a trance/house/techno fan by preference, and can easily count on one had the quantity of drum and bass albums owned. Those that do lean towards the downtempo/ambient end of Big Bud and Bukem stylings, and now "First Impressions," a mix of classic drum and bass chill out tracks (says the cover).

I'll leave more learned trainspotters to verify the claim, but there's little doubt that with selections like Zed's keyboard-sprinkled "Urban Jazz" and stuttered vocals of Technical Itch "Can't You See," that DJ Carol C delivers the relaxed state as advertised. Even better, thoughts of jazz doodles and instrumental outbursts are left in the box to avoid disruption ("Soul of Darkness" exempted). The resulting forty minutes of music plays like a rollercoaster without loops - a sleek thrill understandably without surprises, with an abrupt end to the ride. Still, well conceived and worth waiting in line. Grade: B

Gorgeous music--but why only *forty minutes*?
DJ Carol C. has put together a magical mix of what at least used to be called "atmospheric drum 'n' bass." This is the cool, jazzy, ethereal style of "jungle" that was popularized a few years ago by the likes of LTJ Bukem and Omni Trio (the latter, in fact, contributes two tracks to this mix). Recently, drum 'n' bass overall has moved in more experimental, often frenetic-sounding directions, so in some ways this style might be considered a bit out-of-date. For me, however, the relaxing, flowing, chillout vibe created by these tracks is music to my ears.

DJ Carol C. does a fine job of selecting, sequencing, and mixing the ten tracks that comprise "First Impressions." What astounds me, however, is the inexplicable brevity of the mix. In this age of a 70 to 75-minute standard for dj mix cd's, she has offered us exactly forty minutes and thirty-two seconds for our listening pleasure. Did she run out of material? This will not do. Next time, how about a full-length mix?

Chill jungle
very dreamy, atmospheric drum n bass, but with a nice, steady beat to it

thank god for women dj's in jungle, they bring an entirely new sensibility to the genre

this album will be on heavy rotation on my discman for a while ... Read more

Amazon.com

Once upon a time, a remix was an attempt by a producer to make a track more danceable--to pump up the bass, drop an infectious tambourine loop over the steady 4/4 rhythm, and add some echo to spark the crowd's buzz. But in the hands of the Intelligent Dance Music crowd--the style, pioneered by Warp Records, of applying dance-floor technologies to armchair music--the remix took on the in-joke mentality of a postmodern literary trickster. Tracks--not songs, tracks (if they started off as songs they inevitably got turned into tracks)--were pulled inside out, pushed through a filter that replaced beauty with noise and wrung it out to dry. The two-CD remix portion of Warp's 10th anniversary series takes this aesthetic as far as it can possibly go. This is contrariness squared. Oval applies his patented skipping-and-stripping CD methodology to Squarepusher's jittery drill and bass. Four Tet splices his disembodied reconstruction of a jazz rhythm section onto one of Aphex Twin's oddly effectless ambient works. Jim O'Rourke subjects one of Autechre's stop-start sonic mazes to his obsessively detail-oriented studio savvy. The result certainly has a hothouse quality to it, but hey, when you're not out on the dance floor, you've gotta work up a sweat somehow. --Jeff Salamon ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Certainly not for the Casual Listener but essential for fans
To Celebrate Warp Records 10 year anniversary, they issued 3 double disc albums, detailing they're discography through the 10 years of the label ("Classics", "Remixes, "Influences"). This issue (Remixes) takes existing Warp classics, and lets loose some Warp & other artists to rebuild the tracks. With the exception of a couple of tracks, virtually all the remixed tracks here are surprisingly downbeat, and wonderfully brilliant for it. "Plaid's" remix of "Autechre's - Vletrmx" is given the usual sparkling electronic melodic's we come to expect from Plaid. "Four Tet" smooth the edges off "Aphex Twin's - Untitled" track, turning it into sprawling instrumental greatness. "Stereolab's" reimaging "Boards of Canada's - Kid for today", with equally pleasing results. The only criticism that could be levelled at this release is that it's geared to Warp enthusiasts and requires extensive knowledge of the labels to get the best out of it. But as a definitive collection of remix work, this'll take some beating.

what a tripp
This album is a wild ride, and I love every minute of it. First off lets start with the cover design. This is something I see as very crucial to a good and complete album. A good cover should in a sence bring a visual representation to what the music sounds like. In this case it does so to a T. This sounds like the cover. Hard high tech with manipulation, which makes the fammilar, alien. This is a collection of some of the Warp lebels greatest remixes. The music selection is great. It ranges from hardcore IDM, to flat out experimental, to funk..... Well anyway eclectic is cool and what Warp is all about. I reccomend this to anyone into the Warp label (which is obvious) But I also reccomend this to people that really enjoy experimental music and IDM becuase what you getting here are some heavly modulated and reconstucted songs and all are of the highest quality. The songs range from having a very mechanical sound to a very environemental texture and even having a sweet and almost innocent flavour! Despite the wild array of styles they all seem to sound like the cover looks which in my opinion is a true sign of a good album or collection.

Excellent decade-pillaging reworking from Midas-touch label.
For 10 years, Warp has been breaking countless genre-specific boundaries and re-inventing itself. Here, however, the label's label has gone one step further and released a truly eclectic selection of remixes and re-interpretations from likely (but mostly unlikely) suspects. Those offered the remix task include the disparate likes of Mogwai, Surgeon, Stereolab, Four Tet, Labradford, John McEntire, Red Snapper, Luke Vibert, Spiritualized, and countless others. While a quick glance at the tracklisting may be exhausting, there's a riot of wonderful music contained within its two packed-to-bursting-point discs. Red Snapper's reworking of the Sabres Of Paradise's "Wilmot" is particularly striking, sounding at once familiar and distant, a riotous fusion of beats, electronic squeaks and a truly catchy loop. Elsewhere, Mogwai's "rock" re-working of Link's "Arcadian", whilst initially sounding out of place on such a machinic compilation, eventually works its eerie magic and sounds for all the world like a Warp classic. This label certainly has the Midas touch with its artists, and this turn-of-the-millenium celebration disc is to be applauded, as well as gratefully received. Here's to another 10 years of scary innovation.

Nice Subtle Mix For All
I am a big fan of comp and re-mix albums and this one definetely falls into a mix of it's own. Matador Records and Warp have come together to make a fairly decent album. Mostly ambient and low down tracks but very nicely arranged for sure. There are some nice heart racing break beat tracks, but for the most part laid back and spaced out. I would definetely reccommend this to anybody that likes good beats mixed with space age rythym

The BEST mixing the BEST
Out of the 3 box sets warp released, this is by far the one worth buying. Classics and Influences unfortunately showcased warp BEFORE they signed their good artists. But warp 10+3 doesn't dissapoint. Great remixes of great songs. Aphex, Autechre, Squarepusher, LFO, Plaid, Bogdan all remixing each others stuff. I especially like the remixes of aphex twin's and autechre's stuff, while the oval squarepusher mix fell way short. Yes the album may have some slumps, but it showcases the whole WARP crew in their full, and shows not only their capability to make the best music in the world, but the ability to adapt to others styles and make great mixes in the warp TRADITION. Favs are remix of SAWII #1, Plaid Veltmx, Bogdan mixing Autechre, among TONS of others. This isn't the best album ever, but it sure is a good buy for a two disc set. And bad vibes go out to one of the other reviewers who said warp is at its all time low. If you ask me, they are conforming perfectly with the times. The future holds some great releases. ... Read more

Album Details

Debut Album from the Premiere UK Label, Full Cycle. Suv Shows his Skills as a Producer on 'desert Rose' by Using Flamenco Influenced Sounds and Redifining Drum and Bass with Them. The Listener Will Hear a Splendid Mix of Spanish Guitars, Soft Percussion& Mellow Beats. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

SUV is a Bad MoFo......but!..
Steve from Miami....Like i was saying SUV is one bad Mufuqa
but i'm not sure what happend here. Previous to this album i've heard several other suv tracks that where hotter than that desert(u see on the cover) aswell as 1 fat azz mix he has(called suvs world mix or sumthin' like that...d/l it newayz it's hot)I guess as opposed to what i heard on this album i was really expecting ALOT more from El Señor Suv but he still has a tight album with pretty tight songs just not any mind blowing sht.But Suv duz his Job and represents nicely Most songs are spanish influenced which got me to cop this album so if you like a little spice n salsa with your dnb then get this album it's good but don't expect 2 much you might be dissapointed.

More Roni Size/Reprazent side projects....
Everything starts out fine with SUV's, of former Roni Size drum & bass king fame, LP Desert Rose. Spanish/Flamenco guitars start off this flawless long player, while signature d'n'b whoa whoa bass lines pound away in the forefront as the track progresses. SUV throws everything in here. Everything from trumpet blasts, to haunting female cooing, Eastern flavored tabla drums, various string instruments, video game bleeps, is that a harmonica? No holding back on this masterful mix of swaying big bassy full-bodied beats. Some times I thought I was listening to Aeon Flux and Dr. Who (circa Tom Baker days) inspired themes as my aural space was invaded by the thumping aquatic drones. Everything ends fine as well, while the track "Black Sombrero" loops a sample chanting "magic", I couldn't agree more....time to head for a coastal drive or a brisk walk along the coast!

YET ANOTHER DEBUT FROM A REPRAZENT STAR
Fans of soft-core, intelligent drum'n'bass would be impressed by this album. Over its 11 tracks there isn't a single really poor track but what lets this album down is that you have to listen really hard for a very long time to be able to familiarize yourself with every track. To be blunt its hard to find a stand out track bar track 11.

After much listening tracks 1, 3, 10 and 11 where my picks. Track 11 is obviously the crowd pleaser as its the only one with lyrics and has more structure and is approachable on first listen. Track 1 is a really good track the starts of with a melodic Spainish/ Arabic style gitaur with soft distored 'Amon Tobin' style bass and then drops half way in. The d'n'b is the bog standard style that users of cubase are use to.

There are certain things that irritate me like brilliant parts of tracks only being repeated once instead of 3 or 4 times. Because i am a fan of more hardcore d'n'b and jungle like SUV's mate Roni Size i found this a little boring and repetitive but thats just my view. Its not a bad album and i'm sure fans of intelligent d'n'b like goldie or outcaste records will be impressed.

Great release by full cycle
I am very glad to hear this type of experimentation with other flavors. I love the flamenco guitars, it gives it a latin tip to it. I have always liked the inovative tracks from full cycle. If you like this type of dnb with a soulful tip check out V Recording's Brasil EP (sorry nerds, its only on vinyl). KEEP IT ROLLIN'. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Drum & bass meets electro-dub
This is a remix album based on Jammin' Unit's earlier release, "Deaf, Dub and Blind." I had never heard anything by Witchman before, but as a big fan of the original Jammin' Unit disc, I was quite impressed with this. It mixes the original material with deeper bass, and a slightly darker, more aggressive feel while retaining Jammin' Unit's more dubby, laid back vibe. Recommended for anyone who enjoyed Deaf, Dub and Blind. ... Read more