Amazon.com

While Goldie is not the best DJ in the world, he is a decent "selecta," as the Jamaicans might say. For INCredible Sound of Drum & Bass the notorious head of the Metalheadz label reaches back into jungle's catalog, pulling out the classics--ironically, only four or five years old--and combining them with newer tunes. Tracks such as Doc Scott's "Here Come the Drums" and "Warning" by Codename John (a.k.a. Grooverider) are essential for any jungle aficionado, and both appear here. Careful not to neglect the new stuff, the man with the mouth full of gold teeth does not pick the trendy big-blazers, but rather more sophisticated, fine-tuned, streamlined records that work well with the airy atmospherics of the older singles. Johnny L's techno-stabber "See Red" mixes with Doc Scott's "Unofficial Ghost," while producers like Matrix and Fresh and Vegas make appearances, side by side with Source Direct and Shy FX. This is not a mind-blowing affair, but it is--as the U.K. jocks say--proper. --Tricia Romano ... Read more

Reviews (18)

INCredible!
Brilliant stuff! Goldie is just truly excellent at mixing stuff by other artists,even though he hasn't been releasing anything outstanding in a while! Disc 2 is probably more listener friendly,but Disc 1 is definitely at par with the former.They are both equally magnificient! This album will definitely stay in your stereo for a long time.I bought it last year,and I still love listening to it,frequently! Buy this album and do yourself a big favour,it definitely lives up to its name!

Finally...Something perfect from Goldie
And who says Drum'n'Bass is Dead....On this 2 CD is take Goldie the best Drum'n'Bass music from 93-99 and mixid in "Incredible" good. Some tracks are mixed so well together that we will hear something fandtastik and notthing like the original song.

CD 1 is something for the "Hard Heads". It starst fast with Doc Scott then it will slowe down from Alex Reece to Roni Size,DJ Die then Doc Scott to Codename John eill fast it up to Ram Trilogy to the end were Souljah will end this disc with "stæl! "(Icelandig Word) :) CD 2 is like CD 1 but starts fast and then slows down.

This cd is the only Drum'n'Bass cd that is a "life" in my Drum'n'Bass collectson(it's wery big)

NOT INcredible
If you look at the picture on the album cover, you can see how Goldie feels about how this mix turned out. Or maybe he's hitting the breaking point from listening to hours of this monotonous music. I was duped into buying this one because I saw some names that I really like: Jonny L, London Elektricity, and J Majik. And really those are the best tracks. Sure, this is "old school" d'n'b, so "hells yea, d'n'b headz!" "rinsed out, dude!". Who gives a crap? These tracks are so repetetive, and on top of that, its very poorly produced. And there are very few beats that could stand alone. It confuses me how seemingly a lot of people go nuts over this stuff. But I guess its the same thing as how so many people love country music. I would highly recommend PASSING on this mix.

old school
How the second reveiwer describes it as overmixed is a good dexcription. The first track starts off good then it slows down on track 2 and songs start to feal off in the mixing. There are a few good songs just not every one is real tech. The second CD is old school DnB its not for people that like it fast. Dont get me wrong the CD is good just not one of the best. It took me afew times through to start liking it.

dNb you gotta hear and fear
Fast and ill drum sets with injected basslines make this Goldie mix a must have. If your down with the future of music pick this up and make sure you have a decent sound system. Even though some trax are much better than others all together this cd will put a smile on your face. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Fantastic, absolutely fantastic.
Infiniti + Infiniti, Big Bud's previous release, is incredible, but I find myself consistently returning to Late Night Blues for its variety and lush texture. You get two great disks with this CD: House and DnB, which also makes this set a great value.

refreshing, soothing and that's right, "legendary" DNB.
You really gotta give it up for this guy. He's got a very well perfected style and flavour to his DNB. Funny, this cd I find has a very natural native, Floridian feel to it if that's in any way understood. Humid, dense and a luscious feel thats a heavy accent in all of Big Bud's work, is especially apparent on my favorite disc being the second one. Though I find the approach of the first interesting and somewhat spellbinding, the second disc deal with just DNB, without question big buds strong point. Inticing, muscular basslines some swift, perfectly coordinated 3rd dimensional beats wich seem to fade away towards the background, and smooth entrancing ambience portray a deep sense of.... man, words can't describe. yeah, this album I think is definitely better than "infinity..." since it has this added depth and sophistication. This is classic DNB no doubt.

This is truly a legendary recording
What the heck is with all these 4-star reviews? Big Bud's Late Night Blues is quite possibly the greatest album I've ever come into. As far as music producers go these days, people like Big Bud are a rarity indeed. Why? More so than anyone else I've heard, Bud still seems to place great musicality at the top of the priority list. No pointless drum-crashing, or mindless noise that seems to dominate music today. Big Bud delivers wicked tunes with great atmospherics, lots of jazz sound, lush synthy chord washes, and most-interestingly, lots of different beats.
Disc 2 is lots of "infinity + infinity" type stuff(though this time he seems to have gotten the tunes to be a bit less monotonous), though I reckon most will be pleasantly surprised by the treats awaiting on disc 1. There is a d n b song, the incredibly funky "Soulfood", but the rest is slower sorts of breakbeats, some crazy jazz style hammering in "On the Six"(guaranteed to make you smile) and some great dance(!) songs
("All Over The World" = cool fast paced house-y style thing).
It is Bud's consistency with regards to making highly-musical and atmospheric songs (see his biography at GLO.uk.com to hear his philosophies on music, to see what he's really about) combined with a great imagination (hear his latest work on Earth 5) which enables him to constantly break new ground and set new standards while impressing more newbies and without alienating his existing devotees. One can only imagine what sonic transcendence Big Bud LP #3 will yield.

Tight tracks from buds!
Another nice set from Buds... The first disc sort of surprised me in that it steers away from the d&b except for a few tracks. It's a nice change though, ranging from laid back jazz tracks, vocal house on 'All over the world' (not really my thing, but he does a good job of it), and into sort of world-beat type stuff on 'Mombassa'. Over all CD1 is what chill-out records should sound like instead of the mediocre stuff that is currently all over the market. If you liked the direction Earth 3 or Soulfood on Cookin' was heading than you'll definitely like this.

CD2 is much more similar to infinity + infinity and more of what would be the typical good looking sound. The stand out for me was 'Spacedub' which had sort of that more futuristic 720 feel to it... I can get enough of the bass line on this track! I was also glad to see the original version of 'Pure' on this album. I thought the rework on infinity + infinity didn't do this track justice. Overall a great releaase from big bud and good-looking!!

Big Bud Late Night Blues Drum and Bass
Yep, in case you missed their last realease "infinfity + infinity", which I highly recomend as well as this release. This is a very clean and cerebreal approach to drum and bass. They know how to do it and they do it well. The first disc is MCed, not a favorite of mine, but it does not detract much from the great tunes. I personally dont like tracks MCed over but that is just me. I think Big Bud are the best thing coming from Good Looking records, just wish I had bought this one from Amazon as I nearly spent double here in Japan. If you get this one you wont regret it, also try out there other release. ... Read more

Album Details

Drum N Bass. Artists Include: Eb1, Elementz of Noize, Blim,accidental Heroes,acetate, Ed Solo etc. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

firestorm basslines
I come from a roots dub, junglist rude boy perspective...that is the vibe I love...so this tech steppin hardcore cd was a slightly new sound for me,not so much of the dj Hype/Suburban Base/Dillinja valve sound rude boy hard step,but man,I love these firestorm basslines...Ther'es (dare I say it without sounding pretentious) even a spiritual vibe to the music,lacking in the Junglist hardstep side of things...Buy this before it deletes...This one drops heavy,scorching basslines and aggressive drum patterns...nice indeed,and no cliches on this one,which is not always true in the drum and bass scene...

hard tech step
this cd is great for the kid that's just getting into jungle...this will show you the world of the only type of jungle that matters, tech/hard/evil-step...if you don't have the opps to see a live set, and get free demos at jungle parties every week like i do, then deff buy this cd. the bass lines are grungier as always, and the tempo is up there! buy this!

Decent Import From England
Some hard techstepping jungle. The Dj does make a few (slight) wrecks on this cd. ... Read more

Amazon.com

With a clutch of album releases under his belt and a growing reputation, it seems a little strange that Tom Jenkins still feels obliged to include a lengthy synopsis of his musical standpoint in relation to popular culture (hence Do You Know Squarepusher). Maybe this is the result of a bad review or confused audience feedback, or maybe it was simply about that time when justification was finally met. Logically, it follows that the musical template remains a hallmarked cacophony of splintered beats and fractured sonics that find an aggressive medium of balancing melody in and around contorted backdrops. Lyrically, it's a pastiche, with "F-Train" coming across as the Streets played off and out by the Anti-Pop Consortium. Not a particularly comfortable thought, but then, Squarepusher doesn't necessarily do easy listening. The closest to that comes on the latter half of the album ("Mutilation Colony"), where the beats are dropped in favor of soundscaping, which again combines abstract parts (akin to Carlos and Richter), but still finds a path for more accessible pieces, too. Rounded off with a passable version of "Love Will Tear Us Apart," it's another astute album with a hint of aging and acceptance. --Found Sounds ... Read more

Reviews (24)

Do you?
I think squarepusher has probably gone insane. From rumours of going deaf, to owning a new unnamed label with Aphex Twin. To releasing jazzy drill n bass to pure fusion jazz to hardcore noisy drill n bass. And he pulls it off fantastically! but I wonder if tom jenkinson even knows squarepusher anymore... this album is all over the place...first track is the future of pop songs gone beserk, second is the new autechre type beat with tom rapping (not very well imo) over it. more drill n bass insanity follows until we get to a long dark ambient track and a beautiful finish up with a beautiful cover song you might not recognize (i didn't)...I wish the album had stuck in more of the same direction throughout but individually...each song stands on its own very, very well...(with the exception of track 2...sorry Tom you just can't rap, next time get Kool Keith!) Buy it now, manijelro

Do You Know Squarepusher Needs to Release a Longer LP?
This album displays all of Tom's styles plus a new one- vocals. Unforunatly, it's so short you get a small fraction of what you like. Songs 1 and 3 are what I expect from Squarepusher. They're fast but mellow beats that sound really "crunchy". Like Tom sampled pine cones getting stepped on. Track 2 I don't understand. It's too disjointed for me and I can't figure out what he's saying underneath it all. If I want to learn about metaphysics I'll read a book.
Track 4 is a great example of why I enjoy Squarepusher. It's a non-stop nuclearythmic explosion set in fast forward with a goofy Atari-like melody following it. The perfect song to blare out your car with the windows down at a stop light.
You will like the rest of this EP if you
A) Are asleep
B) Are really high
C) Like ambient music
Three out of seven songs ain't too good. The live Cd helps but I have those tracks with better sound quality on the other LPs. I want to give him four stars because what is good on this is better than 75% of all that's out there, but I felt a little insulted by the last song which sounds like music to a GAP commercial, so three stars it is. I just hope a full length is on the way soon.

Lets get this straight
Alright, let me just say Pithy Commentz is a f*ckin moron! Just 4 the hell of it I checked out the other reviews this idiot did, and (lol) he likes Jay-Z, Marilyn Manson, and thinks Bill O'Reilly is the best reporter! LOL!!! What a tool.

Do I Know Squarepusher?
Yeah i do, this guy can't spit out a decent album if his life depended on it. Another product of Warp Records' "Let's Sell Music Without Melody; Just Make It Weird So All The 12 Year Olds Eat It Up!" campaign. Ignore it, the only decent things this guy dropped were the Dragon Disk and that Untitled EP.

pushin' all squares... pushin' all squares...
I enjoyed this album much more than "Go Plastic". I can't stop listening to track 2 - it's like some dark, futuristic, electro, euro rap... i love it. Track 1 is a classic of course. Track 3 and 4 are insane (and 4 is so friggin' speedy gonzales on coke). Not sure how I feel about the Joy Division cover... but it is certainly refreshing after all that ambient, 2001:Space Odyssey crap. I've only listened to the live disc once so far... no comment. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

don't skip it...
I don't know why, but of the five or so reviews i have seen for this album on Amazon, none of them mention the fact that this CD is really well produced! Even if you don't like the tracks, which are excellent, just check out the mix!! Go on, turn it up, its okay! This CD was made for listening at a higher volume as the mix for the most part is very subtle and deserves closer attention. I find this CD to be just as interesting and absorbing as any other u-ziq CD out there. Bravo to Mike P. for launching into yet another new musical genre and blasting it into the next level!
As far as the music itself goes - well, it's 2002, and I still haven't heard anything quite like it, which means that this CD is still innovative, fresh, dancable, funky, and just plain WICKED!!!

A wonderful album
There are a lot of things in life that people either love or hate. This album is one of them. I happen to love it. It contains hints of Mu-Ziq's signature style, but is different enough to be intriguing. It is more drill'n'bass than drum'n'bass by all accounts, but not so much that you can't listen to the whole album in one sitting. Like most of Mike Paradinas' work, hauting melodies can be found buried in every song. Mike also makes good use of his broad palette of sounds (ranging from electronic, futuristic bleeps to warm, analog jazz samples) to give each track great texture.

Urmur Bile is an experimental album, and is different from Mu-Ziq's other works. That said, I think Mike should be praised for not limiting his stylistic boundaries, and for jumping into a whole new music form with so much style and confidence.

Well done!

blah, bile is right on
this cd is not inventive or creative; the tracks sound like paradinas' efforts at making straight-ahead club tracks that didn't work because he was not inspired. i'm sure he made these tracks in about two hours at the most, and without the aid of a computer which would at least have produced some interesting sounds. many of the repetitive sounds are not only boring but quite annoying. this guy's other material is far better, yes; but so is the material of better artists working within the same general area (as all his stuff, not just this cd of course); such as aphex twin, squarepusher, speedy j, autechre, datach'i...i picked up this cd for $4 in a discount bin, and sold it a couple weeks later. (the obligatory annoying personal story that's in too many of these 'reviews'. true, though).

Could be better...
Well, I'll admit I have only given this album about 5 GOOD listens. But I find that this album is nowhere near the interesting, evolving melodic soundscapes that I have come to expect from U-Ziq. I can't imagine why Amazon customers have rated this CD as U-Ziq's best. It is good, but FAR from his best. It is essentially two EPs worth of extra, leftover music from Mike Paradinas crammed together to make 1 'album'.

These songs strike me as too abrassive, and are less complex and melodic than U-Ziq's other releases. If you are looking for intelligent beats, interesting sounds and great melodies, check out Lunatic Harness or In Pine Effect first.

While I'm at it, I will also suggest Aphex Twin's releases I Care Because You do, the Richard D. James Album, and Selected Ambient Works 89-92. These are all worth 5 stars, as is U-Ziq's Lunatic Harness and In Pine Effect.

Probably a friend of Tom Jenkinson...
Perfect experimental drum and bass or free electronic jazz with psychedelic breakbeats! ... Read more

Reviews (8)

How does he do it!
Freakyflow's INSANE scratching ability on this album more than makes up for the minor beatmatching flaws and the not so exceptional track selection. He definetly outperforms and has more skill than dieselboy, dara, and ak1200 COMBINED!!! NO ONE BEATS HIS TURNTABLISM SKILLS!

Freaky is da bomb, hands down
Yo, I know my Jungle, and Freaky has skillz that are above average. His mixing skills are definately reputable, but it is his scratching that is just plain sick. Try and find me a junglist with skillz like these...right, I didn't think so...Odi is the only other person who comes close, and Craze is a little better. Anyways, his tracks are ILL! He's got the Nelly Furtado remix of Party...its like 50 times better than the original. Also, A-sides "Wake Up" and "Dreaming" tracks are slammin, not to mention my favorite "Killa (remix)". Pick it up, because I definately put it in my top 10 mixes I own...the last bonus track is so hilarious too...just get this album if you're a junglist.

hmmmm, i dunno bout this one...
ok, freaky flow is one of the best when it comes to the skills of spinnin, especially his crazy melody scratchin(or whatever its called), but this cd really bored me. don't get me wrong, this is a good cd. there just weren't any great parts to it. no "climax" to the cd...you know, theose parts of the cd when yer drivin down the road, and the dj starts mixin in the next track, and you just want to pull over, jump outta yer car and start dancin'? well, this cd just didn't do it for me. i bought danny the wildchild's cd the same time i bought this one, and i would say that i listen to danny's cd about 95% of the time, in comparison to freaky flows,,,ehhh, if you already have danny's cd, then i guess you should buy this one.

Drum and Bass begins to move the masses
Drum and Bass has finally matured with the sounds of the MC. Here in this release by expert DJ 'Freaky Flow', the fusion of DJ and MC is a clear mark of excellence. Moonshine has always help pave the way of Drum and Bass DJs everywhere with the sounds of Dieselboy, AK1200 and the likes. This is no exception. I have yet to hear a 'Moonshine' DJ that was not an expert in their particular electronic genre. But more about this particular release.

Freak Flow gives an eclectic performance of all areas of Drum and Bass while touching on Hip-Hop and House. His skill is unquestionable and his music is unstoppable. Unlike latest AK1200 release Freaky Flow does not have the MC pump up the crowds during his entire set. There are only a few points when he is building energy when the MC does his work. The CD has a good flow for being so varied. He goes from style to style before you even know what hit you. I like that in a CD. Variety with out leaving the proper context.

It is hard to describe a CD quite like this. If hard Drum and Bass is not your thing than you should look elsewhere, but I suggest that you give this CD a chance. I was not sure what to think at first listen. It quickly grew on me. Drum and Bass is not something that you can listen to one or two songs and get an idea what it is all about. You have to get into it and listen to the builds and the chords to really understand what it is all about.

Or, at least, that is my experience with Drum and Bass. But what do I know anyway? Don't take my word for it. Give it a listen and make you own judgement. :)

Not overly impressive....
I had high hopes when purchasing this CD, as I had heard Freaky Flow in person at a couple of parties over the years. But, after listening to this CD all the way through about 5 times, I'm sad to say I'm just not feeling it. Maybe the reason for my disappointment is the fact that I have been listening to technical drum 'n bass recently, such as Dieselboy. This CD is straight jungle, with lots of scratching and MC freestyles. The mixing is also not always on-point, as evidenced by the dubious transition from Nelly Furtado's "Party" to Kingsize's "Eighties". Can you say "train wreck"? Speaking of "Eighties", this is one of the worst tracks I have ever heard on a drum 'n bass mix CD. The music borders on happy hardcore, and contains a paltry amount of bass, something that is essential on jungle mixes. None of the tracks that follow stand out, and aside from the Nelly Furtado track, which is one of the standouts on the CD, the first half of the album is a nondescript mishmash. The CD picks up with track 10, "Killa" by Flux & Rinse, as a more tech-step beat begins to infiltrate the album. "Happy Hour" and "Pimpin' Ain't Easy" keep the resurrected second half afloat. Unfortunately, the album ends with a whimper with more nondescript tracks.

Maybe I haven't listened to enough true "jungle" in my life to appreciate what Freaky Flow tried to do with this album, but after listening to massive releases such as "The Sixth Session" by Dieselboy, or any Dieselboy, Dara, or AK1200 (all Moonshine DJ's, present or past) release for that matter, Freaky Flow's newest just doesn't measure up in the presence of these other, superior talents. I look forward to hearing some true drum 'n bass sounds with Dara's "Future Perfect".... ... Read more

Reviews (7)

OK
A friend and had heard of these guys through a friend, and decided to see what it was all about. We both pretended to really like it, but we both knew it was average. When you have stuff like Explosions in the Sky and Mogwai, it is hard to fit something like this into your CD player. If you are a big Post-Rock fan, why not explore a little bit, but this one for me goes by the radar with a very small blip...blip...blip....

lotsa promis
so I couldn't help but buy this album when I saw such favorable comparisons to bands like tortoise for this band, and upon first listen, I was appropriately blown away, but then I noticed the achilles heel of this album--lack of movement---this album sees DMST finding great riffs and sounds, but then not developing enough movement of sound and structure for their long format songs, ultimately reducing it to great background music, because its just not interesting enough to hold my attention for the 10 minutes or whatever these songs last---the comparison to tortoise I heard made me think of the infamous song "DJed" by tortoise that continues on for 20 minutes, but you will notice that DJed has several movements (almost like a rock symphony or something) such that Djed at minute 3 is a different song (but with the same themes) as DJed at minute 12---DMST doesn't have this movement within themes that I find essential for songs over 8 minutes long---A DMST song at minute 5 is the same as it is at minute 8---granted, there are some extended, creative intros that I love, but I wish they explored more within every songs structure

Do Make Say Think
Punted this one and it's pretty good.

The reviews below give you a fair idea, so I'd just like to add that those who are fascinated by the closing track might like to go back 25 years before this, to 'He Loved Him Madly' from Miles Davis' 1974 album "Get Up With It".

It's great to see so many musicians and music-lovers with such big ears these days.

their best release yet
2002 was bit of a down year when it came to brilliant new electronic releases. At least, that's the conclusion I reach when looking through my favorite releases from the year. With the exception of perhaps Múm's Finally We Are No One, this list is devoid of any true electronic releases. Toronto's Do Make Say Think, with their own special brand of post-rock, is absent of any distinctive vocals (there's some inaudible street noise in one track, plus some gentle feminine "ahhs" worked into the mix on another track) and delivers the closest this list comes to a satisfying electronic release. '& Yet & Yet' not only pushes Toronto's Do Make Say Think's sound into familiar territory for the band, but tweaks it for more complexity and consistency. A combination of baritone guitar, horns, bass, and percussion create unique soundscapes that the listener can lose themselves within, giving direction to the music that otherwise doesn't always have a clear path from start to finish.

Song by Song.......
Do Make Say Think are one of those bands that you just happen to stumble accross. Being on the incredible record label Constellation from Canada, I picked this up because of the comparisons to godspeed you black emperor! and Tortoise. I would have to say that these two comparisons are pretty accurate. I actually like this album a lot. It kind of reminds me of a band playing dj shadow music. Here's a recap...

1978 - very jazzy rock with a slow, moody tempo. consistent.

Le'espalace - trippy beginning fading into a very beautiful guitar oriented song. the most fluid song on the album.

If I only... - another laid back song with a nice easy pace and a gentle drum beat that will chill you out for years to come.

Highway 420 - very atmospheric. minimalist intro. great for headphones since the sound travels from speaker to speaker like the music is moving around you. to me this is the dj shadow sounding song of the album with a bit of country atmosphere.

Dr. Hooch - leaving off where highway 420 ended, this song has the similar dusty road country feel with a very blunted bass line and a nice ride symbol to carry the whole song. the end becomes very funky with a cool drum beat. by now you will realize that you have a great album on your hands.

Disco & Haze - holy "drug music" beginning. i once read a reviewer say of the beginning of this song, "in one part of this song, and you'll know when you hear it, you will have to pick yourself up off the floor to look in the mirror to make sure your insides haven't shot out your nose." pretty intense nonetheless. later this songs picks back up the pace of the first five songs. also, a very beautiful, consistent song.

Onions - just a short little 1:30 min. trip.

The Fare To Get There - the final song. it's a long one. you'll have to hear this one for yourself.

My overall verdict is that this is just an incredible album. Very similar in sound to other artists, but at the same time very different. I'm hoping you'll enjoy this album as much as I did. Definately worth the purchase. Check out all artists on the Constellation label. You'll be impressed by the amount of work they put into the packaging. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Buy this CD immediately
This is hands-down my most valuable CD. An absolute CLASSIC. Ni-Ten-Ichi-Ryu is one of the most addictive dnb songs I've heard yet. It never gets boring. The Hidden Camera makes you feel sinister and voyeuristic. Buy it now!

Mathematical drum & bass for the motivated.
Photek is the end-all-be-all in this genre. He concocts vivid sound/imagery with beats, tones and subtle bass lines. This, to me, is the express purpose of drum & bass, and no one comes close to matching his skill. Minimal, yet complex, astounding, yet refined, this is the perfect introductory album to drum & bass. Die-hards may want to pick up the full-length "Modus Operandi," but this six-song collection will suffice for the just-curious. (Careful listenings may induce utopian illusions.)

Fantastic!
Photek can get a bit too loopy for me sometimes, but Risc vs. Reward has his best, especially 'The Hidden Camera' and "Ni Ten Ichi Ryu', both on top 20 UK lists throughout '97. A must buy, especially if you don't plan on picking up Modus Operandi. ... Read more

Album Details

Trip-Hop/dub. Steve Raskin and Sid Barcelona have Produced a Lethal Cocktail of Drum and Bass, Trip-Hop, Breakbeat and Dub. A New and Unique Sonic Narrative Made Up of Psychedelic Jungle Soundscapes that Soothe the Ears. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Quiet music
I say "quiet music" because it seems like even the more energetic songs on this album are subdued. Kind of like the subdued hues on the album cover. But that doesn't mean this is a bad cd. This is what I like to call dub 'n' bass. Very dub inspired but the beats are of a d'n'b bloodline. Get the cd and you'll see... its perfect for a lazy Saturday morning.

I tried to write this review without using a single cliche
I bought this album because I'm a fan of Thievery Corporation and their label, Eighteenth St. Lounge. I'd heard a couple of songs of Thunderball from other ESL compilations and was sure that I'd like this album. I took it home, played it and was disappointed. As far as I was concerned, these guys were blatantly pimping themselves as the 21st century version of John Barry (cliché spy reference) by naming themselves "Thunderball" and giving their opening song a title like "Hijack." I found this album's sound too eclectic and filed it away in my collection.

However, I was wrong. This album rewards repeated listening. It's eclecticism is it's strength. This album goes from up-tempo (This Girl) to down-tempo (The Moon, the Sky), from Dub, Drum 'n' Bass (Selector) to Trip Hop (Sid's Mellow Trip)(sorry, gratuitous genre references) and for most of the album, somewhere in-between all of these and other categories. This album lacks the obvious hooks of other electronica artists--it's breakbeat lite and uses female vocals sparingly (This Girl, Sirocco). It works on a subtle level more appropriate for a near future spy thriller soundtrack a la James Bond (sorry).

Thunderball, I believe, has a talent level comparable to label-mates Thievery Corporation. Listen to "Ambassadors of Style" as a soundtrack and not an album and you might hear what I hear--music for an imagined film.

My opinion of Thunderball hasn't changed--I still think they're pimping to do a James Bond Soundtrack. However, I no longer believe that's a bad thing.

I wouldn't really call this drum and bass
Although a lot of the songs on this have drum and bass beats and mixwell with drum and bass songs, a lot of them have hip hop beats and there is even some down-tempo lounge. It's a dope lp and the songs all are super good, but this isn't a strictly drum and bass album. If you've heard theivery corporation, this is a lot like them. They have a more laid back approach to drum and bass and the whole electronic scene. They do blend in a lot of different styles like funk and reggae but the songs are deffinately not going in the direction of "electronic" sounding electronic music. To listen to, this whole release is excellent, all styles covered and done well. Female vocalists to crazy jamaican rappers to reflective moods all in a well rounded release in the tradition of the 18th street lounge style.

perfect
for everybody out there who are sick of clubs and the ate ups buy this album. I think this ablum is more for the living room rather than the dance floor. for the first time that i have heard; thunderball offer up a delicious mind racing album full of tight rythms, deep bass hits , and soothing melodies. just incredible. perfect

Drum & Bass for Friends and Cocktails
With hardstep so dominant in the d&b world right now, it is refreshing to hear breakbeats and bass with some sense of subtlety. The most rockin' track on this album (and the initial reason I bought it) is the collision of d&b and dancehall on track 5. However, that track is actually atypical of the rest of the material; instead it ranges from gentle d&b to down-tempo, with some dub-ish elements and pop-ish vocals also entering the mix. The result isn't entirely fresh but by-and-large satisfying. If you need a break from d&b a la Dieselboy (respect going out all the same!), and need an alternative to LTJ Bukem, give this a try. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Record company is Sponging the Sponge!
I am here to tell you what I think of this .....(cd single...not!) Best of Sponge. First off they are only three albums out and only 2 albums are even used to make this. Somehow the record company dropped th sound quilty a tad. So the songs are not sounding quite as good. They is no comments abot the band and only a cover. The art is not very decent. I ca tell that Sony was cashing in on Sponge. Heres whats off of: Rotting Pinata 1. Molly (Sixteen Candles)5. Neenah Menasha6. Plowed8. Rotting Piñata9. PennywheelsHeres whats off of: Wax Ecstatic2. Wax Ecstatic (To Sell Angelina)3. Have You Seen Mary4. Got to Be a Bore7. I Am Anastasia10. VelveteenThis album lacks some songs off of Rotting Pinata which is sad to say the least. This album lacks anything off New Pop Sunday which I guess shouldn't surprise anyone. This Best-of to me seemed to be aimed at people who don't really dig Sponge and only want they few radio hits. ... Read more

Amazon.com

4 Hero's Marc Mac and Dego have a long history with the breakbeat. They know it so well that they decided to write a book. They call it Two Pages. Beginning with a more modern take on postbop ("Loveless") and delving deep into subjects of electric and symphonic jazz ("Third Stream"), soul ("Star Chasers"), and '70s funk, "Page One" is a historical biography of contemporary black music. Starting where they left off, "Page Two" continues the saga, telling tales of funky breakbeats with elements of hip-hop ("The Action"), electro, drum & bass intelligence ("Pegasus 51"), tech-step ("We Who Are Not Others"), and some future stuff ("Mother Solar, Part 1") that hasn't even been given a name yet. Don't worry, we won't spoil the ending. --Daniel Shumate ... Read more

Reviews (22)

Jungle as easy listening
I haven't been bored by a drum and bass album this much since Goldie's insipid "Timeless." Most of this album tries really hard to leave jungle for easy-listening-lite-jazz-john-tesh-style stuff altogether. It's pretty much succesful on that note, but I sure as hell want to listen to something besides cool "jazz", or i'd probably be reviewing a yanni album. And the four or so hard jungle tracks are pretty uneventful and boring for that type of music. I say pass this up unless you've got a lot of moeny to burn.

WOW!
Anyone, and I mean ANYONE who claims that this album does not fulfill and enrich their lives in some way after hearing it really should have a cat scan quickly. These imbeciles who claim it is 'easy listening' are SO wrong. Jazz, Funk, and String Quartets are blended beautifully with the sounds of scratchy vinyl and live Drum 'n Bass breakbeats. By the way, 'Jungle' is NOT a term we use anymore - it tends to imply a commercialist and dire form of music as demonstrated by the tiresome antics of Goldie and crew. 'Follow your heart', listen to 4Hero, Reprazent, and DJ Hype and say "Drum and Bass please!!!"

Adds more to the Breakbeat template than most....(4.5 stars)
When anyone thinks of a pioneer within the 'Intelligent Drum 'n' Bass genre, you be forgive for naming "Ltj Bukem" as your obvious choice. Yet 4 Hero deserves nearly as much Kudos as Bukem as they produced their first album way back in 1991 ("In Rough Territory") creating funky breaks, with smooth Drum 'n' Bass which included downtempo Electronica to marvellous effect. At it was this album "2 Pages" (along with their best album "Parallel Universe") that they really find their stride as this effort oozes confidence & style....and finding their own market of fans, without having to appeal to fans of Ltj bukem (in fact its entirely possible that you can appreciate their work or become a fan, without being a fan of Ltj Bukem). And at 19 tracks long, there's going to have to be some seriously good content to keep (at hold) the listeners attention.....luckily such worries needn't be a worry as they have all the bases covered from Dancefloor grooves, Melodic Electronica, funky Breakbeat, Intelligent Drum 'n' Bass, and with several guest vocalist providing more than ample support and track 11 "Star Chasers" more than emphasises how Vocal Breakbeat tracks in the hands of a capable producer can produce music as beautiful as one would expect from a Soul / Ballard Track...(admittedly this is backed up by a sterling arrangement of Trombones, Cello's, Trumpets, Piano & Volin. So far in fact, that although not recognised as widely, as the bone as fide classics of mr Bukem's best works, It undoubtedly a richer and (whisper it) more melodic / Beautiful sounding album???

This is NOT easy listening.
And it is only boring if you are spiritually anesthetized. The D'n'B purists will gripe, and the listeners with gnatlike attention span will carp about being 'bored' but don't listen to them.

This is music for people who are still ready to be surprised by music.

Other reviewers have commented on the lush strings, inventive programming and soulful vocals. I will simply add another endorsement to the pile.

Let the naysayers have their say, by all means, but do not deprive yourself of one of the most moving, beautiful albums of the last decade.

'Nuff said.

A milestone in Electronica
I heard 4 Hero described as DnB.After hearing their song "Journey from the Light" I was impressed, so I downloaded random tracks.The first being a song called "Spirits in Transit".This song couldn't be farther from traditional DnB if it tried.Which is what I would have to say about the entire album.That is exactly what makes this such an impressive cd, 4 Hero's ability to tap into some older styles(jazz,early IDM..ect)
and do it well.This cd comes off less as an electronica cd as it does a theater album.Heavy jazz influences and very rich percussion add to 2 Pages's "big sound".Be warned, this is not for you Junglists, rather its more geared toward the intellectual minded listener.You don't have to be a fan of Electronic music to enjoy this album.Very nice work. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Leave it to Squarepusher
Much like AFX, the Pusher always seemed capable of cranking out a hit single at any time, given his gift for melody. When he finally does come up with something the masses could conceivably glom onto, naturally he gussies it up with mock-obscene lyrics.

Too bad; I can see my wife and kids even getting into this, but given their age and her aversion to naughty words it just isn't going to happen. Upon reflection, it's perfectly in keeping with his perverse sense of humor, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Five stars for the two versions of "My Red Hot Car" and "Hardcore Obelisk," but minus one for the annoying gap between "I Wish You Obelisk" and the "hidden track." Maybe I'm thick, but I don't get the joke. Holding the skip button down on my cd player for five minutes isn't as stimlating as one might think.

Pet me, Squarepusher.
Go Plastic is my favourite Squarepusher album. That said, I usually skip the song My Red Hot Car. Like it's supposed to, the song has that pop music rapid expiry date, and so now I've heard it enough and I can't stand it anymore. It's like a Britney Spears song that way.

The other two songs are good. But you could probably find them on LimeWire, is what I'm guessing, although that might be improper!

Squarepusher owns me as if I was his little kitten.

Pretty Good
This is a very catchy tune, it sort of takes you by surprise in the beginning.

Amazingly catchy
The first track is probably the catchiest electronic music song I've ever heard. It comprises elements of two-step, IDM, and drum&bass and it leaves you humming the song for hours and hours. There's a [not so good] remix of that song on the EP plus three other songs - one of which is "hidden" - but none of these is nearly as amazing as "Red Hot Car". An absolute must! ... Read more

Album Description

New album from renowned leaders of the nu-jazz movement.Features guest vocalists Madeline Edgebill of all-girlreggae band ACABU & members of African Head Charge. 2001release. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

extraordinarily disappointing...
i came across underwolves through the rather intriguing remix of 'birdsong' found on compost record's 'future sound of jazz 8.' i dug it, and wanted to find out more about this group. i found out that their full-length was released on the jazzanova-compost label, i read the reviews on this very page, heard a couple select samples, and was convinced that this record needed to find its way into my collection.

after just one listen, it was clear how wrong i was. i shouldn't have brought this record anywhere near my collection, and it won't remain a part of it for long.

the beats aren't inspiring-- drum n' bass by the numbers, for the most part. and most tracks are needlessly saddled with vocal production that seems an uncomely relic of a bygone age. backed by the appropriately goofy music (where for art thou, deee-lite?), the vocals would perhaps be more appropriate; at the very least, not irritating, which would be a vast improvement over what we've got here. in the current context they're just (and there is no other word for this) cheesy. and, yes, i mean that in a bad way here.

so, the album fails to impress from start to finish, although it should be said that this failure does not stem from lack of ambition. underwolves tries to pack as much as they can into this disc. and there are some wonderful albums out there that are made more beautiful by the willingness to mix and match influences, tropes, and ideas-- to put things together in a way that no one's ever heard before. the luke vibert/bj cole disc comes to mind. or john zorn's naked city, right? great albums. but then there are some attempts to mix genres that just make you cover your ears, wrinkle your nose, and say "ewwwwww." these are sad sad records.

and the strange thing about these records, the good and the bad, is that there's very little way of telling what will work and what won't from hearing it described. you've likely got to hear the finished product. but truly, when you mix together house and reggae vocals, andrew hill samples, old drum n' bass rhythms, acoustic guitars, alt.country sensibilities, and the bombay symphony orchestra you've got one of those sad sad records. worse, you've got an absolute bloody mess of a record. you've also got the underwolves "under your sky." and all this, given all that this record could have had going for it, is, like i've mentioned in the title above, extraordinarily disappointing.

Stunning ¿ buy it now
Great album, I first got this on a blue promo back in 1999 and it took ages to get its full release, well worth the wait. I remember the band doing a session for British DJ Gilles Peterson three years ago when they were previewing these tracks! Unexpected Days, Bird Song and So Blue It's Black are up there with the very best of nu-jazz. Go and get it!

Sophisticated beats for the posher of parties
This album it has be said is a suprisingly good one .. considering I only bought it on the merits they were signed to the same label (Compost) as Jazzanova, of whom I think are amazing. Check the excellent d n' b track on 8... awesome .. and damn cool as well...

Drum & Bass with a vocal touch.
Underwolves-Under Your Sky is a nicely put together piece of drum & bass. Choppy drum beats accompanied by synth stabs fill out the frame work of this track. Add some catchy vocal hooks and you have something sure to please on the dance floor or just listening at home. A must for any drum & bass fans.

WAS IT WORTH THE WAIT?
We have been waiting for this album for nearly two years, after being teased with various white label singles.....And finally, well to be honest, this is a pretty good cd. For most it will be what you expected. A good blend of break beat and electronic soul. The problem is that you have heard most of these songs before(or you have heard various imitations), on different compilation albums. This project was supposed to be released, at the very least, a year and a half ago on Island Blue records. If this album would've dropped then, it certainly would've had a stronger impact. A couple of years is more than enough time for copy cats to saturate listeners with a similar sound, and that really is the only probelm I have with this release...it was done a little too late. Clearly it is still worth purchasing, but next time dont make us wait that long.. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Tha Bomb Diggity!
This CD was so tiite! I've been lovin Dieselboy for a year now and I just bought this old CD and I love it! The greatest thing I've done in my life! Dieselboy knows how to drop them beats and If you're a new Drum n' Bass lover you'd better go out and buy this CD! Don't miss it for the world! I loved 97 Octane just as much! The 6ixth Session was allrite but I kinda got sick of it! System Upgrade was really cool!

Hottest Jungle Ever
This CD rules harder than ever. buy it and you'll be happy for ever. jump up for ever

classic d n'b
I can't even begin to express the importance of this album to the US dn'b scene. An ABSOLUTE must have for any bass head. This album, in retrospect, paved the way for Dieselboys current status as one of America's best dn'b dj's. If you don't own it- buy it. NOW! There is no excuse for any head to not have this.

If You could pick one...
If You could only have one Jungle cd ever, this is it! Dieselboy takes care of the craving.

Dieselboy: An Everyday Junglist
Everything he touches turns to gold! He's the master of drum n bass and this cd will give you the happiest of days! ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Old Skool Raga Style Jungle...
I recommend this for anyone interested in hearing some of the roots of Drum n' Bass. Sound style: Lots of hectic jungle mayhem with hard Ragga rap over it. Dope.

Reeeewind my selecta!
This one has loads of early ragga-jungle from the 1994 era that's guaranteed to have you steppin pon de dancefloor! Too bad it wasn't continuously mixed. That would have made it even better! But all in all, it's a good compilation. Remarc sure knows how to chop up the breakbeats on "Drum'n'Bass Wise" which is the 9th track on the first disc. I find myself pressing "repeat one" on my CD player for that particular song. If you don't have this, go get it!

JCheezr@aol.com Great Jungle w/ Reggae samples
If you like "in your face" jungle with a reggae flare this one is for you. You can't miss with DJ's like Aphrodite, LTJ Bukem, Remarc and Amazon II lays out a fat track on Bass light. This was one is always being borrowed by friends.

phat!!!!!!!!!
this cd is phat!!! theres just not much more you can say. bukem is the s#*t!!!!!! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Daaamn good
This release is a head noddin' hummm-dinger ... damn good dNb. Beats are powerful and smart.

Psychedellic Electronic Music with a skosh of Industrial
This is a really suprisingly good album and, for now, it's underneath the radar. The genre blending of the three above mentioned subsets is really well done and should inspire more to do the same. Rivetheads, Trippers and Ravers, unite under Tha Fruitbat and learn to get along. Buy it now, while it's still cool, and you can talk crap to the people who buy it later. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

it's hard
i bought this one a couple days ago and it's blowin my mind out. my first experience with the shadow label was the 'hed sessions' disc. i bought it on a whim cuz it looked like the first dj had done a remix of 'super bon bon' by soul coughing. (it wasn't) but the cd is awesome nonetheless. and the hard sessions disc is better. my best description would have to be that this is smart drum and bass. i bought mine from Blockbuster and it was only 9 bux which is the best deal i've gotten in a long while cuz it's worth at least twice that. my advice if you buy it is to have kick butt stereo system to listen to it on. you definately want to be able to pick up the ultra high stuff and the real low end stuff. light some candles, turn on your red light and groove to this. i can't quite give it five stars yet, it's gotta earn that fifth one and that takes time.

Average CD
Not a bad CD but it's cheap price was indicative of what you got, in other words ... you do get what you pay for.

tripping into darkness
This was one of my bargan purchases I bought this for the price, previously having no exposeur to the Shadow label. However I have heard of this CD, so I bought it. Well first of all it is a very good CD. The quality is very high and the music itself is very very good. It all has a very dark and hard feal to it. Which I really enjoy, this album brings me back to my early days when I was into underground Detroit Techno. I'm not quite sure why but it brings me back to that but it sure as hell does. The album is great for driving around in the evening just as the sun dips below the horizon and the sky is a pale blue with the stars just barely visible. Now thats what Shadow is all about

Strong, dark and just the right price
For solid, current drum'n'bass flavors from a label that's been giving it to us for years at a quality level, this little 10-tracker is a steal for the price they're selling it at. You can find it in a lot of local stores as well (even non-music stores), so there's no excuse not to try it.

It's got some of the hard stuff if you're into that (Illform's "Combustion Chamber" and Hanna's "Plague"), but has some more accessible stuff (the live band Droid's "Adrenatone" and Magnetic's "Attrition"). With 2 tracks each from 5 very strong artists, the CD really can't go wrong. If you're into d'n'bass at ALL, you should get it. Has more flavor than the average compilation we've been seeing of late, and at this price (brand new!), you really, really can't go wrong. Fans have been spending 3 times that amount on similar items, only to find out it has half the solid tracks that Shadow's put on this disc.

The Freshest Drum&Bass CD In Years
I have bought many Drum&Bass compilations in the last four years, none of them have been as fresh & exciting as Shadow: Hard Sessions. Hanna's 'Plagues', Magnetic's 'So Dark Now', Illform's 'Voices from Cellar X', & Droids 'Adrenalene' are my favorites, yet I still love the whole CD overall. You can definitely play the CD from beginning to end without stopping. Look out for Droid, Illform, Hanna, & Magnetic CD's. ... Read more

Album Description

Major label debut for Talkin' Loud by British drum'n'bass duo Marc & Dego, the same pair responsible for groundbreaking releases under the aliases Tek 9, Nu Era, Tom& Jerry and Jacob's Optical Stairway, as well as material ontheir own label Reinforced. A two part concept album, the first portion is devoted to relaxed jazz & strings and drum'n'bass, while the second is grooves headed to the dancefloor. 20 tracks total. 'Two Pages' is also an enhancedrelease with interactive CD-ROM material. Double slimline jewel case. 1998 release. ... Read more

Album Description

Woman Soul Records is a label created for Inanna, Sisters in Rhythm.We aspire to stand in line with traditional drum music of Africa through this self-titled label "Woman Soul Records."This label name also comes from a song on Inanna's first CD, Listen.The inspiration of "Woman Soul" we dedicate to Audrey Lorde, the writer, poet, feminist, leader in speaking the truth and speaking loudly for things that we feel are important. Inanna represents in their embodiment of this music their womanaly soul speaking the truth of taking back the drum.The drum, the most anicent of art forms, is who Inanna is and what they love to do. Drum.Sing.Dance.That is Woman Soul Records. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

The best, if you crave ol' skool Drum N' Bass
A friend of mine suggested I get this, and I must say to him, Ryan, you are the man! This CD isn't liked by too many Drum N' Bass enthusiasts, because the tone is very ol' skool Drum N' Bass. There is a difference between what AK1200 plays now, and this CD, so if you're looking for more up-to-date stuff, go with Mixed Live, or Prepare for Assault. However, I myself have been missing the tech-hard step sounds which were indigenous to early Drum N' Bass, right after it moved out of the Jungle/Ragga phase. The basslines are VERY techy and hard as hell, and the beatz themselves are pretty simplistic, but are PERFECT for dancing, or in a car, on a good system. Honestly, I don't like the Mix from about track 3 to track 9, but after that, the rest of the Mix TOTALLY makes up for it! Oh my God, track 12 and 13 are just sweet. So, I suggest that anyone who is a junglist into Deep, older Drum N' Bass. This CD is the best sound to represent the US Drum N' Bass sound of its time...very nice alternative to UK Drum N' Bass (even though I love UK D&B).

"Where's the 'eject' button?"
I'm going to have to agree with Fatso (<-- hehe!) that the first track on "Lock & Roll" is kind of weak; I mean, it doesn't really fit. We already have a DJ that plays stuff like this. His name is Funkmaster Flex. Same kind of goes for the Tribe track, the beginning at least. But once the D&B kicks in on "1nce Again", it starts rollin' and becomes the best joint on the album. I mean, Tip rapping over a D&B track? You know it's got to be good. Unfortunately, AK didn't (or couldn't) mix out that annoying female vocal. Oh well.

Track 3 is when the serious D&B starts and it can be pretty slammin'... But, sometimes his choice in samples can really kill the momentum. For instance, although I love Chuck D., and respect KRS-1, I didn't feel like the P.E. and BDP samples worked that well within the mix on tracks 3 and 4. Alternatively, I really like the dancehall sample on track 5; kind of reminds me of a live show with a ragga MC. Unfortunately, track 5 lasts less than two minutes. Doh!

So, up until this point it sounds like he's trying to cop Aphrodite. At about track 6 or 7, he stops sampling the hip hop canon and leads us into darker territories. Female vocals seductively intone "come with me" as a diabolical cackle drifts in and out of the mix. Unfortunately, although it gets significantly more evil from track 7 on, which I like, it's definitely less entertaining. It's not exactly paint-by-the-numbers, I mean AK1200 has some serious talent, but it just doesn't really move me. In fact, I fade out pretty quickly after a track or two and they all start sounding the same.

Keep in mind that "Lock & Roll" is already over two years old, a significant period of time in the fast-paced world of electronic dance music. Don't buy it expecting to relive the same experience you had in the club last week. I don't have anything against it just because it's aged a little; good music should be timeless. I just think there's better stuff out there, old and new. For instance, almost all of Dieselboy's albums are good. DJ Raymond Roker's "Altered States of Drum 'n' Bass" is slammin'. But, if you're really looking for some sick, creative, edgy D&B music, you have to get off the beaten path. I.e., you can't be shopping for it at Amazon (sorry Amazon - I love you!)

The true test of how good a DJ mix is: can you stop playing it without going into serious withdrawal? Answer (for me): "Where's the 'eject' button?"

Not to bad
Although the beginning song was an absolute joke, the rest of the album was very cool. I particularly liked track 2 with tribe called quest on it. Later on, the independance day samples were cool on some of the other tracks. I thought Fully Automatic was better, but this is still a good album.

Killer
An amazing combonation of D&B with hiphop. The beginning was obviously designed to entice one who loves hiphop into drum and bass. If you like hiphop and/or drum and bass (preferably both), than this CD is a must. The drum and bass is just sickly good. The last track by UFO is amazing, even though the bassline is cut off. Plus, Tribe Called Quest raps with the ak. GET THIS CD!

not as good as Prepare-to-Assault
This is by far a great d&b mix but in my opinion not as good as Prepare to Assault. ak1200 still is kick @ss. ... Read more