Amazon.com

Once a roving maverick who skipped from euphoric rave to speed-metal to ambient soundscaping as if just to prove he could, recent years have seen Richard Melville Hall relax into a comfortable--and yes, lucrative--niche. On the surface, Hotel follows a similarly laid-back trajectory to his last two albums, Play and 18; melancholic torch-songs indebted to electro-pop, gospel, and David Bowie's "Heroes." That vibe is typified on Hotel by the rousing, keyboard-drenched likes of "Beautiful" and the twinkling, optimistic "Spiders," but that's not to say Moby is stagnating, exactly. For one, he's bravely jettisoned the vocal samples that powered the likes of "Why Does My Heart Feel So Bad?" and relies instead on his own understated, faintly awestruck vocals--and, indeed,those of guest vocalist Laura Dawn, whose sparse, synth-and-drum-machine cover of New Order's "Temptation" is a low-key highlight. But there's also a return to his raving roots on the pulsing, diva-led "Very," and a touch of politics on "Lift Me Up"--a song that hides its contempt for the Bush Administration amid a dark carnival of sweeping strings and disco-noir rhythms. --Louis Pattison ... Read more

Reviews (98)

nothing ventured nothing gained
Moby came out with Play in 1999 and it was a dud. Then six months later it was like a tidal wave. People were digging it all over. When I went to London in 2000, I saw Moby posters up all over. It was one of the biggest records of the time. It was big enough that Eminem attacked him that year. Moby started hanging out with Bowie and became an international rock star. That was weird because all I remember was some samples of some Delta Blues records. His next record 18 was a real dud. Even the single "Stars" that was tacked on afterwards didn't help it at all. That was okay because Moby was an artist who put out a lot of different records. Now it's six years later and Moby is a very different cat. The first two songs "Raining Again" and "Beautiful" are great tracks. These are almost standard rock songs with Moby's vocals. There are a few guest vocals. Some of these songs sound like demos. Moby's voice starts to wear thin. What is he singing about again? Why should I care? It's like Moby did a very introspective album, but didn't find anything interesting to talk about, but was too unaware to know any better. Moby is just yanking our chain.

Not his best
The sounds of "Hotel" are simply not as thumping and exciting as anything on "Play," nor are they as sinuous and insightful as anything from "18." "Hotel" sounds less like the progress of a maturing artist than a half-hearted collection of songs that Moby may not have released except for increasing pressure to come out with something new.

"Hotel" lacks the ragged edges of Moby's earlier works and almost comes off as a prepackaged group of sounds to be chopped up and placed in Volkswagen commercials. It's still pleasant to listen to, but it doesn't have the "gotta start the whole CD over again" grab that "Play," and, to a lesser degree, "18" have.

If you are new to Moby, stick with the classics. If you want to listen to some decent but not groundbreaking dance tracks and a couple of moody makeout songs, go ahead and get "Hotel."

A mix of genres
This is the first album of Moby I bought, and I am surprised. I didn't expct 'real' songs. I mean, songs without this order: couplet-chorus-couplet-chorus-bridge-chorus. But most tracks are 'real' songs! I also expected dance and trance, but this album has many rock and many slow songs. The songs are more simple then I expected. I heard Moby was a music genius so I decided to buy this album and I hoped to hear something new. Well, I dind't. But in the end I was happy with this album because the songs are good. It fits in my CD collection and I will also buy Moby's other abums.

The album has 12 tracks and an intro and an outro. However, my CD has 2 outro's, while on the backside of the CD it says 14 tracks. A fault or was it meant to be a surprise? Anyway, let's continue. The first half of the album has many rock songs and the second half has many ballads. Moby hasen't got a great voice but somehow it seems to match the songs. Laura Dawn sings with him sometimes. She also has a whole song she she alone, Temptation. It's called Temptation and it sounds very quietly. It calms you down. Lift Me Up stays in your head with it's simple chorus, repeatig 'lift me up' all the time.

Raining Again, Beautiful and Spiders are all simple rock songs but they are all very different. Moby has got a good voice for rock. You want to sing the songs when you hear them. The melodies are good. The lyrics are simple, but not that bad they ruin the song. Track 9 is a gay track. Laura sings very high and if you are straight you will hate this song, just like me. It really sucks. Forever has a special effect. Moby's voice is low but the background melody is high. It gives a mysterious, good effect. I Like it is the best track of the album. With some sexy sounds and Moby's and Laura's voice it sounds very orginal. Dream About me really is a dreaming song. If you hear it you think about the paradise. It has a classic melody.

I could also review the other songs, but thrust me: Buy this album. If you don't like one half you could always like the other. The music is a mix of diffrent genres. You will love each song at least a bit. The intro's sound mysterious and are a perfect way to open and end the album. Moby did a good job.

one for the day, the other for night
This review is for the 2 disc version 1) vocal2) ambient.

Disc one is great for the day time with the exception of a few clunkers [New Order tune].But it also has some real winners [Lift Me Up].

Disc two is just perfect for the night... excellent ambient music to help you wind down from a tough day at work or a wild night out.Perfect as the last disc of the day, as you doze off.My favorite of the two discs.

Pick your favorites from disc one and add them to your shuffle.Leave disc two by the bedside for deep relaxation.

I live the how he split the music into 2 CDs
I got my "hotel" from amazon last week.

Been listening too both CDs equally. I would give this album 4 stars, it is not quite as good as his past two albums, but I added a star for splitting the CDs into two. He put his relaxing music on a disc labeled "Hotel:Ambient" and his faster paced vocal/music on a CD simply labeled "Hotel". So now when I studying or trying to relax, I put in the Hotel:Ambient CD. When I'm driving or working, I put in the Hotel CD. I appreciate him thinking about how his fans would listen to his music, and both of them help me get through my day.

Thanks Moby. ... Read more

Amazon.com

It's an idea that never should've worked in the first place: Verve classics remixed by today's hottest DJs and producers. Yet here's the third installment in the successful series and quality control remains high. Granted, there are a few tracks on each compilation that don't work as well as others and Verve Remixed 3 is no exception. The Postal Service take on Nina Simone's "Little Girl Blue," for instance, makes for a pleasing listen, but sounds too much like the former (the Album Leaf does a better job at staying out of Simone's way). Adam Freeland's "Fever" and Max Sedgley's "Peter Gunn," however, get the balance right. Both songs have been updated for the dancefloor, but Sarah Vaughn's exquisite vocals remain front and center. Then there's Lyrics Born with Jimmy Smith's "Stay Loose," which keeps Smith's groovy organ work in the foreground, but makes a funky track funkier yet. --Kathleen C. Fennessy ... Read more

Reviews (30)

dans la même veine
Cet album est dans la même veine que les 2 précédents, quoiqu'un peu moins rythmé... Les pièces choisies sont intéressantes et bien remixées,...parfait pour une soirée cocktail, ambiance décontractée assurée!! un must pour les connaisseurs.

4 stars for the remixers - 5 for Paris under a groove
I liked hearing what some of these remixer/artists did with these original tracks.There is also a motown remix package coming out.Looks like a serious trend developing here.

The problem is that a lot of times these new mixes don't do the original justice.And they fall flat.I prefer hearing actual new funk, jazz and trip hop compositions.The artists on Paris under a groove offer up the new future sounds.I love that album.Check it out.

Same problem as volume 2: insensitivity
This third installment has the same problem as the quality-impaired second volume: it's insensitive to its source material.

Once again we are treated to songs that sound like b-sides that the remixers had sitting in their closet and, given the option of applying some new jazz samples without financial recrimination, have merely dropped the source material in at key locations.This is not a re-envisioning of the original songs, nor is it "21st century jazz music".If you want to hear 21st century jazz music, pick up a Stefon Harris record.THIS record is an electronic record with jazz samples, and not a good one at that.Very little daring here, very few chanes taken, very stock stuff.The only songs that come close to meeting the original mission of this series are the too-short "Yesterdays" (Billie Holiday remixed by Junior Boys) and "Lilac Wine" (Nina Simone remixed by Album Leaf).

The first volume remains the high point of this series.

Verve Remix, Vol. 3...NOPE!
Fortunately I did not spend the money on this one.For me, it is the worst of the series with Volume 2 being my personal favorite.Judging from the many reviews, there are those who can appreciate this latest incarnation of jazz better than I but it doesn't give the songs any type of justice.It's just my opinion and how I feel.

Are these jazz classics done justice?
When one listens to Verve Remixed, Vol 3, the first thing that pops to mind is "21st century jazz." That is exactly what Producers Dahlia Ambach Caplin and Todd C. Roberts were hoping for. With this latest installment of jazz remixes, producers are put to the test with classic jazz tunes that transcend even those from their previous volumes. That said the hand-picked artists selected to mix these songs have one serious task to accomplish.

Surprisingly, little injustice is done to these jazz classics. The worst tracks on this CD, for the main part, mediocre. In "Speak Low," Bent trades Billie Holiday's gentle groove for a distorted lullaby, which undoubtedly knights that the worst track on the CD. Following that substandard production is another of Billie Holiday's tunes "Yesterdays," which features the Junior Boys sending her immortal tune to an early grave. Besides those two crap-tastic efforts, the album shines full of passion and fervor from this point on.

Christmas cheer is shoved into listeners' ears as Nina Simone's "Little Girl Blue" is dramatically tweaked to fit the Postal Service's stimulating drive. "Come Dance With Me" retains much of its jazzy features while adding an extra Latin jive with a developing retro/funk environment. "Just One of Those Things" emits hyperactive techno rays through space and time, and RJD2's production of "The Gentle Rain" gives Astrud Gilberto's masterpiece a fresh hip hop vibe. "Peter Gunn" has never been more striking than in this revamp provided by Max Sedgley. In addition, "Stay Loose's" funky R&B is skillfully compromised for an exhilarating punk/brassy determination that couldn't have been accomplished by anyone other than Lyrics Born. Perhaps the most inspirational track on The Verve's 3rd Remixed effort is The Album Leaf's take on the Nina Simone favorite "Lilac Wine" in which they switch gears and give the song a hopeful outlook as well as a general video game theme sound, making the listener feel exploratory yet strangely settled.

The Verve Remixed, Vol 3 is a hit-or-miss for listeners. Some songs are dance hits from the get go; others are slow and artistic, and then there are the few and far between flops. In any case, this CD has something for listeners of various musical preferences and is worth some well-deserved recognition. ... Read more

Reviews (131)

A beautiful album, but too similar to AIR for 5 Stars
I first heard of Zero 7 when I saw their video, "Destiny." I have to admit that they first time I saw it I immediately thought that it was a new AIR song, so I was surprised to see a different name at the end. I just bought this album two days ago and don't regret it. I will say that they are HEAVILY influenced by AIR, which is a fabulous electronic band from France. Zero 7 almost sounds TOO much like them, which is why I couldn't give this album 5 stars. However, their sound is different because of the volcalists. There is a male vocalist as well as Sia for many of the songs. Sia has an angelic yet haunting voice that adds to the mellow and hypnotic sounds of "Destiny" and others. Electronic music is such a general term, since there are so many genres within it. I would recommend this album to anyone who has enjoyed AIR's Moon Safari. (although I still believe that Moon Safari is much more innovative and original than Simple Things).

One of the best of 2001...
Simple Things, the first LP by British programming duo Zero 7 is one of the most imminently listenable albums to come along in a very long while. The whole album is layered with downtempo, almost ethereal beats that will undoubtedly take the edge off any migraine until you're awash in a sea of contentment. Zero 7 (aka Henry Binns & Sam Hardaker) say that the true joy of their music comes from the talented core of guest vocalists found on their debut album. This statement proves true as these vocalists bring out the amazing beauty of this disc. Among the standout tracks on the album is the sultry 'Distractions,' a sensual collaboration with Sia Furler, which feels just as at home in a smoky jazz bar as it does at a candle-lit bedside. Other great tracks include 'I Have Seen,' featuring male vocalist Mozez and the beautiful bonus track 'Spinning,' featuring Sophie Barker. Simple Things is more than just electronic music... it is music that creates a most beautiful atmosphere.

Unoriginal and Uninspiring
Am I the only one who sees that this Emperor has no clothes?! No new clothes, at least. This drippy cd rehashes every uninspired a.m. radio-soft-jazz tune you ever heard.

And people are saying the female vocalists recall Portishead?! What the fuzzy?!! The 2 singers are 0h-So-Pleasant, and Beth Gibbons' voice is nothing if not relating displeasing emotions!

Please, check out some real downtempo, sonic-texture artists like Airlock, Crustation or Thunderball. These artists throw in jazz, samples, djs and guest vocalists, too, while maintaining an experimental edge to create melodies you never thought you'd hear, much less heard before!

Nothing Simple About This Album...
...Except for the fact it is Simply Amazing! Its difficult to even describe the style of music at hand here - chill-out, lounge, trance, with traces of jazz, classical, and pop music throughout. Zero 7 takes you from porno music to polished, sultry and sinful to sweet and smooth within tracks and within the album. No matter what kind of music you listen to, "Simple Things" will surely relax your mind and your soul as you just take in all of the delicate yet complex songs arranged.

There are a number of styles explored on the album, which can be categorized in two large subdivisons - with vocals and with out. The vocal songs mainly feature male singer Mozez who stars on the albums opening disco-lounge track "I Have Seen", the absolutely amazingingly mysterious title track, and the sultry ballad "This World".

The two female vocalists are quite similar sounding, as noted on the stunningly addictive "Destiny" where they share lead vocals. The sound of Sia Furler and Sophia Barker's voices is accented softly with both a British sound, and almost a southern twang, but no worries their voices are like liquid on all the songs they sing. Furler returns on one of my fave tracks on the album "Distractions" a sweet love-ish ballad, while Barker is given the slightly weaker "In The Waiting Line" which shows the difference in the two girls voices as they are back to back, although Barker recuperates on the closing track "Spinning".

Within the non-vocal tracks the guys that make up our beloved band in question experiment with 1970's synthesized porno beats and keyboard sounds, mixed with smooth bass, acoustic guitars, and elegant strings, and of course that "air" sound that has led them to be labelled as "british air". But if that doesn't sound appealing trust me it is - I'm not a fan of music with out vocals but this album wouldn't be complete without Zero 7's delves into the instrumental and vocal-track worlds. Of course there are a few exceptions to the general sounds they use, including the Semi-lyrical African masterpiece "likufanele" sung by the Philanai Mothers and mixed over a xylophone (i think) driven sound. Another exception is the track afterwards, "End Theme" which is rightfully titled as it sounds very much like a song you'd find in a movie score. A beautiful and energetic, almost regal arrangement of strings is what you'll find here, and is another one of my faves on the album for its uniqueness alone, I'm proud of the guys for taking a chance and putting this song on the album.

The best thing I can say to you at this point is to definitely buy this album, if just to give it a listen, because after hearing the opening strains of "I Have Seen", the vocals of Furler and Barker, or the smooth tones of any of the instrumental tracks you will be so hooked on this album! Its great to play as background music during a dinner with friends, or when you are stressed and enjoying a drink after work, or even just to play in the car - works well for rainy or sunny days. I suppose the most amazing part of it is how simple the songs appear at first glimpse - but when examining the layers and the beauty in each track, you'll begin to realize your feelings for this album are anything BUT simple.

Musical sedative (in a good way)
I won't lie here: I origianlly came into contact with this music because i was looking through one of my friend's music collection on Itunes and thought the name Zero 7 sounded interesting. I know it's a bad way to choose, but the guy had good taste and too many artists to go through them all. So I listened to it and it took me less than 10 mins to get hooked on everything written by this group. I loaded it on my player and took on Spring Break to ski- and literally the entire time this is what was playing. I don't do that often. I listen to a lot of different music and rarely listen to the same thing non-stop for more than a day. I just don't know what to say. This music is addictive. The melodies/harmonies are so relaxing. They just make you want to sit there and contemplate life. ... Read more

Reviews (47)

Wake-Up Call
Jem's full-length debut CD is a wonderful hour of music. From relaxed, moody grooves to layered, electronic pop, Jem serves up more interesting and catchy tunes than most artists do in two or three albums combined.

I would classify her music as trip-hop-pop, since it is catchy, but has an electronic, artistic quality. Her greatest strengths on this album are the infectious beats she creates so effortlessly and her beautiful, haunting voice, which many will say calls Dido to mind (In my opinion, Jem's voice has more edge than Dido's.).

Here's a rundown of each song on the album...

1. They (5/5). Definitely one of her best songs, filled with choir-like backup vocals and a hypnotic beat. This is probably my favorite song on the album, just because there is nothing like this anywhere else in the music world -- it is a true original!

2. Come on Closer (5/5). Another excellent song. This one has some bell-like background beats, which, when juxtaposed with heavy bass and strings and her slightly seductive tone, becomes a very enjoyable symphony experience.

3. Finally Woken (5/5). I love this song, one that Jem wrote all by herself. It's more chilled out than the first two, down shifting into "tropical paradise" mode, but still, brings on a pulsing rhythm, which produces a hip, beach-infected tune.

4. Save Me (5/5). Jem really lets loose on this song and sings her heart out. You can't help but love the reggae sound that perfectly complements her strong vocals.

5. 24 (5/5). This is a harder song, probably the only song that could come close to being called "rock-n-roll." It could've been out of place on this album, but because Jem does it her way, the song turns out as strong as the previous tracks on the album.

6. Missing You (5/5). This is a moody song, but it's growing on me. It kind of reminds me of a piece that Beth Orton would sing.

7. Wish I (4/5). This is a beautiful song, but not as strong as the previous six.

8. Just a Ride (5/5). I love this song! This is definitely my second favorite on the album. It brings to mind the laid-back music of the Sundays album " ." It is a fun, upbeat song that includes some acoustic singing over hand clapping at the end. What more can I say? It's pure summer fun!

9. Falling For You (5/5). I didn't immediately love this song because it starts out very slow. But, it's growing on me now and I would even say is one of the more interesting tracks on this album. Once you get past the lulling start, the song builds and creates a lush atmosphere.

10. Stay Now (4/5). Again, a good track, just not one of my favorites.

11. Flying High (5/5). This is a beautiful, tender song and Jem sings it perfectly, a song about complex feelings and confusing relationships.

This is a must-have album for 2004, one to which you can sit down and relax because you'll never have to push the "Skip Track" button.

Ten Stars !!! Album of the year.
I've not been able to stop listening to this CD since I got it. Keep in mind, that "cool music" and the "next big thing" don't typically appeal to me. This CD from Jem is my nominee for album of the year.

When I hear descriptions of trip-hop and comparisons to Dido, I worry that it might be a little mellow for my tastes. But, this offering does not disappoint and several of the tracks rock. There is good production and even a "wall of sound" and layering that builds up through several of the songs.

Six of the tracks, "They", "Come on Closer", "Save Me", "24", "Missing You", and "Falling for You" are all 5/5, and the others are close behind.

"Missing You" reminds me of "Gloomy Sunday" from Heather Nova. "Falling for You" starts off slow, but builds a powerful wall of sound. "24" is practically a rock song that captures the frenetic energy of the TV show. The other songs are mid-tempo, using infectious phrases and melodies that I can't get out of my head.

No matter the tempo or instrumentation, the voice of Jem sounds great throughout !! She has a smooth, sultry quality. Yet it strong enough so that she is not drowned out by the instruments. Basically, she is just enjoyable to listen to.

I hope this CD does well in the States and I wish Jem good luck.

Buy this CD now.

Jem A Gem
Just as Kate Bush did in early rock and Bjork remains a master of, many artists are branching out with a common rock and roll root: To break of all tradition and not be afraid of experimenting, for it is the essence of modern art.
Back in the ninties when artists such as Enya and Yanni offered calming approaches that are nowhere near classical music, they all got crammed into the now-fizzled out category New Age, for the lack of a category one was made to accomodate the 'others.' However, after the gushing of many such artists from Air to Tori Amos, music fans started to notice that this upheaval of new sounds is only the byproduct of the rebeliousness that is rock and pop.
Jem, an up-and-coming modern pop artist, has delivered an EP earlier titled It All Starts Here that showcased far less than what her complete effort, Finally Woken, does. This debut from the Welsh artist, is of no category but borrows heavily from popular genres. A tribute to folk on the lullaby "Flying High" and trip-hop on "Come On Closer." Jem also plays with urban beats with "They" and the reggae-tinted "Save Me."
The fusion of genres is so unique that one song, "24," starts out borrowing from Ani DiFranco strummings then meandering into heavy theatrical instrumentation and then, all of a sudden, right before the chorus sharp guitars bring in edgy rock. All without sounding a tad bit overboard.
Of course Jem's voice plays a big part by delivering an angelic yet quiet tone to the whole album without sounding unexcitingly bland like Dido's. Instead the meloncholy is delivered with consistancy on "Missing You" and "Falling For You," while the giddy is given a kindergarten innocence on the highlight track "Wish I."
"Stay Now" is a masterpiece in its own right, reminiscent of Beth Orton's past victories.
Finally Woken is a complete effort with an assortment of defiant tunes for everbody. Jem (no relation to the fabulous cartoon superhero)is a promising new artist. Skip the EP sampler by Jem and grab a copy of the album and enjoy the many pleasures of the underdog.

Love it!
This is one of my favorite CDs of the moment. The songs are happy and Jem's voice is beautiful. I hope she comes out with another CD ASAP. No wonder tons of TV shows are using her music already!

A WONDERFUL CD!!
This CD is soo good. I haven't cought a CD in a long time that I've listened to as much as this one. "Just a Ride" is also great, but there is no sample clip for it. You HAVE to buy this! ... Read more

Amazon.com's Best of 1999

Those who have followed Moby's career are familiar by now with his deep convictions and spiritual connection. On his 1999 release, Play, he celebrates his faith in a masterful, unobtrusive way, channeling gospel and other inspirational samples through beats so earthy they could grow grass on a cement dance floor. It's impossible to separate the joy of the message from the joy of the grooves. --Beth Massa ... Read more

Reviews (641)

Amazing
Moby has changed the face of music with this album by mixing techno, church spirituals, and classical music. Moby can be really creative with this album and can perform great instrumentals along with mixing. My favorite tracks are Bodyrock, South Side, Natural Blues, Porcelain, Find My Baby, and My Weakness. It isn't really a dance album, it's more of an electronic soundtrack. On a 12-hour road trip I went on, I listened to this entire CD and enjoyed most of the songs as I was bored in the car. If you truly like music, do not miss the opportunity to get this album. This album is absolutely amazing from a man that produces REAL music. I recommend this album to good music listeners who have tastes in all kinds of music and for those who have nothing to listen to on a long car trip.

5 stars is my rating and there is no good reason why you cannot rate this album one star. (Unless you are a big fan of grunge rock music or boy band oriented pop)

A Hands Down Must Buy
When you say the word "techno", people tend to imagine loud, obnoxious electronic dance songs with loads of annoying sound-effects. Rest assured that if that's your defintion of techno, this ain't techno.

Moby takes 18 tracks and tackles multiple genres: rock, hip hop, blues, gospel, accoustic, and many more. Many tracks contain samplings of other songs (ranging from Love Rap by Spoony G and The Trecherous 3 to Run On For A Long Time, a 1937 gospel piece), while others are true original compositions with Moby doing the vocals himself. It creates for a rather confusing effect: you won't know exactly who you're listening to--but believe me, you'll be enjoying yourself too much to care.

Moby is a devout Christian, and his spirituality shines in every one of these 18 tracks. It would be wrong, though, to call this religious music--it's not looking to convert anyone, if that's a worry of yours. I'm an Agnostic myself, and I loved the spiritual, empowering feelings of these songs.

I've noticed other reviews say that some songs are great while others fail, but I honestly believe each and every one of these songs has something to offer. Some, like "7", "Down Slow", and "Inside" don't have any lyrics and do resort to a more traditional techno sound, but are enthralling nevertheless.

So go on and add it to your shopping cart. If you don't absolutely love it, then--well--feel free to write me an angry e-mail.

Takes Electronica to new heights!
This is one of my favorite CDs of all-time, along with mr.deviant's "Techno Obsession". With "Play", Moby takes techno and electronica into a whole new place, a more emotional place. For years critics have panned electronica because they claim it can't "have soul, or feeling", Moby shatters this myth with virtually every track on "Play".
Believe the hype surrounding this one. It's a classic, and belongs in everyone's CD collection. Just buy it, and thank me later.

Well-known now!
Moby has come along way from his very first album entitled 'Moby' which was his early techno works to his most recent album 'Play'. We got a taste of what Moby can really do with ambient music, pop-techno, dance, and rock in albums such as: Everything Is Wrong, Ambient, Rare: The Collected B-Sides 1989-1993, etc... Now, Moby takes another step up and brings a lot of gospel and soul music into his keyboard and electronic music works. 'Play' gives you a wide variety of different styles of gospel and soul. The song "Honey" starts with a simple catchy and rhythem and builds in a nice and light techno beat. Others like "Find My Baby" and "Why Does My Heart Feel so Bad?" combine more of a soul feeling into melodic piano and light dance beats. His most successful song in the album was "South Side" which features Gwen Stefani (No Doubt) leading Moby in the chorus. The song also became a hit single along with it being a hit song all by itself. 'Play', towards the end of the album, steps into more slow and ambient textures in songs like "Down Slow", "Inside", and the poetic-like songs "If Things Were Perfect" (I think that's one of them that he just TALKS in) and "The Sky Is Broken" which is very visionary-like with its slow and soothing melodies and beginning beat throughout. The ending song "My Weakness" starts off with a beautiful choir background and later builds in a beautiful orchestral texture in. This makes the song, with it's orchestral sound, a most remembering moment in what Moby can do...My Weakness makes for a fascinating ending for the entire CD.

'Play' was a platinum-selling album worldwide. He later released "Play The DVD" which includes numerous videos of some of the hits off of the CD. It also includes a MEGAMIX that gives you a variety of industrial, rave, dance, and trance mixes of songs off of Play. These are both things that one should own if you are a fan of Moby.

That's my review, Thanks!

If things were perfect, this album would be among them
Moby is more than a genius of techno, he is a genius of music. What he does in this album is so joyful and depressing simultaneously, I just want to listen to it over and over again. The best tracks are Porcelain, Why does my heart feel so bad?, Southside, Natural Blues, and Run On. And the rest are still amazing songs. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Washington, D.C.'s Thievery Corporation purvey a very mellow, deliberately international mixture of sounds that might be called "lounge music"--not in the kitschy sense, but in the sense of a laid-back local bar (much like the one the duo happens to run) with no dance floor. Rob Garza and Eric Hilton are professed admirers of Brazilian music, and they're determined to inject as much warmth into electronic music as possible. The Mirror Conspiracy is quite a musical travelogue, starting in Jamaica with "Treasures." This dubby opening track, which features vocalist Brother Jack, is quite reminiscent of the start of Swayzak's Himawari. Next up is "Le Monde," a quiet, wah-wah-inflected song featuring a chanteuse named Lou Lou. She reappears later on the somewhat more uptempo "Shadows of Ourselves," which, despite the title, is also sung in French. "The Hong Kong Triad" sounds like a tip of the hat to Shaft-styled soundtrack music. Elsewhere, it's off to India for two sitar-flavored tracks with a similarly laidback groove that gets a bit closer to techno, one of which, "Lebanese Blonde" (hash? a woman?), has been released as a single. Brazil gets its due on the densely percussive "Air Batucada," the more bossa nova-like "So Com Voce," and an instrumental titled "Samba Tranquille." Fans of this style are sure to be pleased. --Bob Bannister ... Read more

Reviews (108)

Continental Groovey Lounge Music For the Modern Man or Woman
Mirror Conspiracy is the latest international down-tempo musical offering from "Thievery Corporation" otherwise known as the dj/production team of Rob Garza and Eric Hilton. Like their earlier releases; "Sounds From The Thievery Hi-Fi" and the inspiring "DJ Kicks", the duo presents a sexy collection of international beats seasoned with an array of jazz, easy listening, lounge, bossa nova, samba, sound track samples and more. Tropical beats and Afro Brazilian rhythms drive the overall late night groove. "La Monde" is a seductive slice of loveliness mixing breathy French vocals with a distinctive Jamaican dub. "Lebanese Blonde" a mysteriously international spy film soundtrack peppered with Baleric beats. "Samba Tranquille" a bit of breezy tropical turntabalism. "Illumination" easily the standout builds hypnotically with its driving indo-pyschedelic drum beats and mysterious middle eastern chanting. These are djs as mixologists, interpreters of world beats, tour guides to a jet setting audio travelogue sampling global styles, genres, cultures and languages. Hip modern day exotica for the modern world. A Must BUY for hip cats!

The blueprint...
This album is by far the best "chillout" or "lounge" album yet made. If you read all these hundreds of Amazon lists for "Top Chillout CD's" or "Music for dinner parties", etc. this cd is usually in 2 out of 3 of them. For good reason too. An essential cd...and I don't use that term lightly. GET IT NOW!

I Don't Know Why You Don't Have This
Do you know?

You'll need it.

Seminal Lounge Relaxation
When I want to relax to something that won't put me to sleep, this CD is always the first one I reach for. You can pick out dozens of influences from one track to the next, and the musical composition created from this fusion really flows. I recommend this CD as highly as I can and if you at all have the opportunity, don't miss the chance to see them perform live.

Can I say they're "Cool"?
Wow! Ya'know, I hear a disc like this and
ask myself "where the *bleep-bleep* have I been?!" - its
2004 and I'm just hearing of the Thievery Corp! All
is not lost however: let this baby spin a few times and the
newbie's ears will find a new best friend in the Corp.
Your speakers will ripple many dispinsations of 'coolness'
from these talented chill-out meisters. And though
I'm just now hearing them, I'm glad - there is all
the more to explore. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential recording

The third full-length release from Massive Attack is a taste of the future of pop music--a future where precisely engineered events can be seamlessly partnered with the subtle complexities of a human voice. Since their first album, Blue Lines, they've been making similar magic happen with any one of several guest vocalists, but nothing like the way it happens on Mezzanine. This time they take the union further, moving it into a darker space in which the individual elements become less discernable. Guest vocalists are Sara Jay, Horace Andy (who also appeared on their debut), and Elizabeth Fraser (of Cocteau Twins), whose amazingly articulate and distinctive voice works so very well with the music of Massive Attack. --Paul Clark ... Read more

Reviews (310)

simply unbelievable
its now the year 2000, and two years after this album's release, it still remains the first and foremost in musical innovation and just downright grooviness. i am a big fan of complicated music. when a sound, riff or melody seeps into my listening experience even after hearing it numerous times before, i think it is the mark of true music genius. and this ablum does seep, crawl, stalk, flow, seethe, and pulse with sounds, vocals and beats blended into a never before accomplished masterpiece. the music is as layered and complicated as the new NIN cd, but with a groove known only as trip hop. this music is cool, cutting edge, dark, erotic and hypnotic. play it loud at a party for its sheer sound, or low in the middle of the night with your siginificant other. a few of the songs with the female vocalist remind me much of the gothic sound of switchblade symphony, only with sexier, less dated musical support. this album never stops, it'll never leave your cd player. be prepared. leave the boy boy bands and all the mtv trash behind, and come into a world of intelligent, sexy, and challenging music known as massive attack.........

Massive Attack Outstands Trip Hop Genre
Year after year of the same music, artists copying of one another, some artists try changing their taste for music. But there's one group that outstands them all. The group is called "Massive Attack". Massive Attack is a Trip Hop group that has been around for years. The Mezzanine era ranges from deep Trip Hop "Risingson", to classical, jazzy, trip hop "Teardrop".
The album contains 11 tracks, one bonus on the Japanese Edition. The top hit singles were "Risingson", "Teardrop" "Inertia Creeps", and "Angel". This tpe of music is good for strolling in your car driving, or in a dim sun room with your shades on drinking and talking with friends.

Introducing this album in 1998, it seems that the 90s were only for pop artists such as "Madonna", "Janet Jackson" and "Britney Spears". Massive Attack broke the ring of the pop, making Trip Hop the best, outstanding from every other genre there is.
That's why I believe why Massive Attack, and Trip Hop is so popular today. So from reading this review, I HIGHLY suggest you purchase the Mezzanine album. If you are a TRUE fan of Massive Attack, buy the Japanese Edition. It's worth the extra money.

Groundbreaking and breathtaking
I guess I just need to put in my two cents in this sea of reviews (most of them good, obviously) for this album. I fell in love with this album in the summer of 1998. I listened to it while reading the 4th book in the Dark Tower series by Stephen King. They meshed perfectly. The dark, haunting synths, downbeat droning guitar, and spine tingling vocals on this album are simply amazing. I had never heard anything quite like it before, or since. Massive's earlier works are not as dark and moody, and their later work is a little too innaccessible for most people (though I absolutely loved it!). Buy this album! Dont hesitate! Do it NOW!!! SPEND, YOU AVID CONSUMER YOU!!!!

Whew! 'Nuff said. Bye!

too good!
This is by far the best album ever released, not only by massive attack, but i'm talking about the best album ever released in the music world. angel, rising son, mezzanine, I couldn't stop listening, it crabs you and doesn't let you go until the last sound. it's just hypnotising. God, I wish I could listen the album for the first time again!!forget blue lines, this is the album you should get!

I Wish I Could Use More Stars...
This is, flat out, (in my opinion) the best album ever released. Massive Attack is an utterly awesome group, and by far the best Trip-Hop band out there.
The album begins with some of the best songs ever created by any artist of any kind, starting with "Angel", sung by Massive Attack's honorary member, Horace Andy. With his wonderfully haunting voice and the song's slow beats and humming bass, the song becomes dark, desolate, and completely otherworldly.
The second song, "Risingson" is probably the best song Massive Attack has created. It's yet another dark song, filled with paranoia and doubt. I love it.
The third track, "Teardrop" is one of my personal favorites. The song is sung by guest vocalist, Elizabeth Fraser of the Cocteau Twins. It's Ethereal, dreamy, and utterly wonderful.
And, of course, there is "Inertia Creeps". A truly great song and one of Massive Attack's bests. Eerie, paranoid, and hypnotic: it's a great song to lose yourself in.
The rest of the album cannot quite keep up with its first four epic tracks, but none the less, it's other half beats out most albums without ever even trying. A truly wonderful album. I highly recommend it. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Thievery Corporation's Eric Hilton and Rob Garza have always treated the line between acoustic and electronic music as a drunken sailor might, unpredictably falling on one side or the other with equal frequency. By this measure, The Richest Man in Babylon is their soberest effort to date, striding confidently into jazz, soul, world beat, and other styles with a direct, reverential approach. The band's last record, Sounds from the Verve Hi-Fi, featured a set of classic jazz tunes unadorned with remixes or reinterpretation. But the songs on Babylon are originals, incorporating not just jazz but Afro-beat, Brazilian dance, Persian and Indian music, reggae, and psychedelia, all while making expert use of new and old collaborators like Sleepy Wonder, Lou Lou, and Shinehead. Icelandic singer Emiliana Torrini makes an instant impression on the first track, "Heaven's Gonna Burn Your Eyes," her voice freeing the song's melody and structure with just a few hypnotic bars. It's hard to call this an electronic record at all; even their dub-influenced tracks miss a certain studio sheen, as if Hilton and Garza simply waded into a sweltering Jamaican beach party and hit record. But while it misses the ambient, ethereal edge that made The Mirror Conspiracy a downtempo classic, Babylon satisfies with organic energy and tasteful eclecticism. --Matthew Cooke ... Read more

Reviews (78)

One of the Best Records of 2002.
Eric Hilton and Rob Garza of Thievery Corporation are two undisputed masters of cool who have released one of the richest and most engaging albums of the year: "The Richest Man in Babylon." To call these guys mere chillout gurus is to do this duo a disservice. On this album, they've taken cafe lounge to exciting heights, incorporating reggae, Eastern influences, and African styles into their already tightly-woven grooves. "Heaven's Gonna Burn Your Eyes" gets things right with its frosty vocals from Emillana Torrini. "Facing East" grooves along thanks to its (surprise) Eastern flavor and its sitar, while the electro-laced "Omid (Hope)" delivers airy vocals, mid-tempo drum loops, and light touches of synth bleepery. Reggae gets tossed into the mix in the form of "Exilo (Exile)," and the stellar title track stands out wonderfully. Using both electronic beats and real instruments, Theivery Corporation weave together a multitextured album that cements the duo's reputation as one of the classiest recording acts around. "The Richest Man in Babylon" is more than just music to listen to. It's also music to live by.

Thievery make it their own
The Richest Man In Babylon shows Thievery's style crystallised; the influences that have all been prominent on 'Sounds from the Thievery Hi-Fi' and 'The Mirror Conspiracy' are here made Thievery's own, being incorporated with Thievery's smooth measured breakbeats and synth atmospherics. The production is uniformly excellent and sounds even slicker than 'Mirror', and is more cohesive. Rob Garza and Eric Hiltons unflinching attention to detail is apparent everywhere.

The presentation has changed from 'Mirror's spying 'n' flying references - the outlook is more earthy, less technical. The CD came with a booklet of excellent black and white photojournalism images on good quality paper. The images feature people from areas which have inspired Thievery's music.

Their early dub style of 'Sounds' is most apparent in the 'Outernationist', and also appears in 'State of the Union' and the 'Richest Man in Babylon'. The title track is certainly the most commercial track here, featuring some Wailers style horns and a regular song structure.

The latin/bossa influence which came to the fore in 'Mirror' is represented by 'Meu Destino' and 'Exilo', both featuring male singing (as opposed to MCing) by Patrik De Santos and Verny Varela. The sound is lighter than previous Jazzanova-esque grooves such as 'Samba Tranquille'. 'Meu Destino' features nylon acoustic guitar by Ramon Gonzales.

Eastern music is represented by 'Facing East', and 'Interlude'. 'Facing East' features santur and tabla, and vocals, which are joined by a breakbeat a minute in.

However Thievery's strongest developing style is in the ambient-pop-breakbeat style which this album confirms as their trademark. The sublime, Cocteau Twins echoing 'Omid' is the direct descendant of the superb' Shadows Of Ourselves', LouLou singing on both. 'All That We Perceive' is sung by Thievery regular Pam Bricker, and bears resemblance to 'Lebanese Blonde', which she also appeared on.
'Heaven's Gonna Burn Your Eyes', the first track, was initially a surprise in that it bears resemblance to Air with it's string machine and heavily compressed bass. Thieveryness is restored by a trademark breakbeat 2 minutes in. With repeated listening this sits well as an intro to the album.

There is a new direction in the form of Liberation Front, a funk track with excellent horns credited to Rick Harris. This is a standout track.

The only filler is From Creation, and this is not bad, just dull.

Is this a better album than 'The Mirror Conspiracy'? It is certainly more polished, easier to listen to in one sitting. 'The Richest Man In Babylon' is more able to put Thievery Corporation in the mainstream, and this is music that everyone should hear.

GREAT MUSIC
In my opinion probably the best CD they made so far.
I can surely recommend it to people who are also fan of Siddharta, Buscemi, Buddha Bar, etc.

A Chillout Masterpiece
I can't believe how much I love this album. I had heard of Thievery Corporation from Yahoo's Launchcast, so I downloaded a couple of tracks that I thought sounded good. I liked them, but I didn't end up buying this CD for some time. When I got it, I was blown away. This album must be taken as a whole, even though there are standout tracks. As a whole, it is one of the best chillout CDs of all time. Emiliana Torrini's vocals add a unique flavor to the tracks she appears on, but my favorites would have to be the more middle eastern tracks. The beginning of "Facing East" still gives me goosebumps whenever I hear it. And the more reggae influenced tracks are great too, like the title track with a great beat and soulful vocals. Most of all, what I love about this album is the organic feel to it. When listening to this, you forget that it's a CD playing on a stereo, and you can almost see groups of musicians jamming together and taking turns on who sets the tempo and regional influence. It's really amazing to behold. And rarely do I find a good chillout CD that I can put in my car stereo and not feel geeky about rolling down the windows and cranking up the volume. I highly recommend this if you're a fan of eclectic world beats, and even if you're not, buy this anyways. Thievery Corporation will convert you.

Truely Amazing
This cd even now is always in my playlist. Thievery Corporation never ceases to amaze me, no where else can you find the musical combinations they create. This cd has a more 3rd world country interpretation to it. Many people said it didn't sound like thievery corp but that is what is so great about this cd, they don't limit themselves to a linear sound, they take a worldly approach. If you haven't heard this cd buy it, turn down the lights and lay back in your house, maybe throw back a bottle or two and listen to this amazing cd. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

not worth it
massive attack are very goodthis cd is worthless do not waist your money like I did

Massive Attack Still Have Their Edge
I don't want to start arguments about 100th Window but this album is much better.It has a more electronic feel that's closer to 100th Window, however it has the much needed edge that 100th Window was missing.This album is totally instrumental but most of the tracks are enjoyable nonetheless.I would recommend using this more as background music because it gets very slow at times to fit the movie.The production is still very good and the tracks show the creativity and darkness that made Massive Attack so popular.

I rated the Danny the Dog soundtrack (same movie) higher because they had the good sense not to include two very crappy bonus tracks.

same as "danny the dog"
GET.THIS.CD.
you can't go wrong w/ Massive Attack.:)

A great album
I agree with nearly all the other reviewers here - this is a FANTASTIC album.

However, I would like to clear something up: This IS the same as the "Danny the Dog" soundtrack. In fact, they are the same movie, too. It was release in the UK as "Danny the Dog", but will be released stateside under the "Unleashed" moniker. In the localization process, they found that the name "Danny the Dog" wasn't "tough" enough.

So, if you already own the Danny the Dog soundtrack, pass this up. But if you have neither, buy this. I've you love Massive Attack, this will not disappoint.

Same tracks as DannytheDog, w/ 2 extra tracks
This is an AWESOME soundtrack. Not that I ever expect less from Massive Attack, however, I bought the Danny the Dog soundtrack first, and now this one came out. Wonder why they released 2, I guess it was too obscure NOT to have a picture of Jet Li on the cover, and to have a different title. But hey, I understood! There are two extra songs on the Unleashed CD, however, they are not Massive Attack songs, so no loss. Just depends what cover you would rather have. I think the Danny one is pretty rad though. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The sequel to 2002's Verve Remixed follows and improves upon the original's formula; take material from the storied vaults at Verve Records and let top DJs of the modern era have at them. Featuring an impressive roster of dance artists like Miguel Migs, Koop, and Fila Brazillia, the trick is matching DJ with jazz standard in a way that compliments both. It's a tough chore, given the classics involved and the need to do them justice. On Sarah Vaughan’s "Whatever Lola Wants," Gotan Project manage the task with distinction, filtering rustic and romantic accordions through the song's lusty machinations. Astute choices are required, like Mondo Grosso’s decision to build a solid thump out of just the central melody of Archie Shepp's "Blues For Brother George Jackson." Sometimes, the best thing to do is get out of the way; Mr. Scruff's Soul Party Mix of "Do What You Wanna" only adds some background party noise to Ramsey Lewis’ ripping keyboard solo. VR2 doesn't hit the mark every time, but the combinations that work accomplish what only the best dance music does--they crumble the walls between genres and encourage us all to get down together. --Matthew Cooke ... Read more

Reviews (41)

bemixed and between
Obviously "the shock of new" helped propel the first Verve Remixed record. This not to say that remix records are new, but certainly the Verve crew took a step into uncharted waters by allowing electronic music producers free reign to remix its storied vaults.

Rather than just stay in the realm of downtempo and do the same thing over again, there is a greater diversity of styles on VR2 from the trippy tango treatment of Gotan Project on S. Vaughan's "Whatever Lola Wants" to swing house style of Mondo Grosso on the remix of "Blues for Brother George" to Jaffa's soulful downtempo take on "Black is the Color of My True Love's Hair."

Jaffa's track to me is the standout on the record, and I'm also in partial agreement that jazz lends itself better to downtempo treatments.

But that doesn't stop me from lovin' the hell out of this record. So what it if makes want to shake your moneymaker? Just bobbing your head gets old after awhile. GET OFF YOUR COUCH AND PUT DOWN THE CHEESE CURLS.

Obviously, the VR2 is going to be judged on a different basis -- the second record must live up to excitement and quality of the first and deal with the "sequel" detractors. Well, so far I think its doing well on both counts.

So thanks to Verve, almost 60 years after your inception, you're still one of the coolest labels on the face of the earth.

C'MON, FOLKS, LIGHTEN UP!!!
Was this CD really that bad, to all you three and two star reviewers? In my opinion, it takes incredible skill from producers and DJs like Herbert, Miguel Migs, Layo and Bushwhacka, Fila Brazillia, Gotan Project, et al to make old jazz classics sound fresh and alive! These songs range from funk to house to soul and acid jazz, and the re-mixing from the aformetioned in no way distorts the original material--if anything their personal touches have made these songs more accessible to today's music listeners! I have a new appreciation for Ella, Sarah, Dizzie, Nina and Astrud, and after hearing "Verve Remixed 2" I may even be persuaded to go out and get some of their stuff!

Love it!
It's even better than the first. A definite must-have.

A Worthy Followup!
Hopefully, Verve Remixed 3 will be released this year so I'll have some more amazing remixes to listen to. Volume 2 has some truly mindbending work, as well as a couple that are somewhat pedestrian. For me, the standouts are Gotan Project's remix (love the bandoneon!), which turns this song into audio crack. I cannot get tired of listening to it, and feel the need to take a tango lesson. Other standouts include Mondo Grosso's remix of Archie Shepp, which absolutely drags you onto the dance floor, Miguel Migs' "Slap That Bass," which does the same. Of course, the two Nina Simone songs are standouts, as her music is ripe for these kinds of projects. The only three that didn't do the trick for me were numbers 4, 8, and 9, since they were too close to the originals and fairly unimaginative. If they weren't going to do much with them, they should have remixed different songs. Still, there is some amazing work present here, sure to delight your next house full of guests.

AS GOOD AS THE FIRST!!!
Classic songs!!! Great interpretations by great producers. The Unmixed version is great as well and it's priced low! ... Read more

Amazon.com

The manipulation of classic jazz tracks has been part of DJ club culturesince the '80s, as artists have continually scratched, looped, and sampled beatsand phrases. Verve Remixed has been in the planning stages for years,with in-house producers inviting an international cast of remix artists toselect songs from the label's vaults. The results are often tremendouslysuccessful, as the remix artists have picked up and expanded upon elementsalready present in the original. The funky Latin beat ofWillie Bobo's "SpanishGrease" gets new life fromRichard Dorfmeister,along with a prominent new bass line. Similarly, King Britt pumps up the Indianelements of Tony Scott's"Hare Krishna."dZihan and Kamien'strance remix (with tabla drums) ofBillie Holiday's "Don'tExplain" is among the most arresting tracks, creating psychodrama betweenHoliday's original vocal and the new environment.Nina Simone's voiceseems tailor-made for this approach, as if it has always cried out for thelayered rhythmic emphasis.Masters at Work's takeon her "See-Line Woman" is electric in its intensity--cool flute sonorities andmetallic percussion embrace and catapult the original vocal into a new presence.--Stuart Broomer ... Read more

Reviews (58)

Nueva Verve
After listeninig and comparing this dj project to the original recording on the Verve Unmixed LP--- I've got to absolutely declare... Verve Remixed is Amazing!! This astonishing dj project takes some of the hottest house producers and victoriously salutes the art of verve culture! The first and most amazing track has got to be the opening track--- the Willie Bobo remix is incredible. This track is completely uplifting! Mj Cole gives the How Long Has This Been Going On classic a new theme with his poppy almost playful beat. This is no longer a sad song-- but it is still the voice and the notes you have grown to love from this soulful singer. You get the picture. Verve Remixed continues... If you are a jazz lover, a deep house, or lounge music lover --- you have to check this cd. You will love it! Verve Remixed is a CD for the new breed of jazz lovers. Once you bring the legendary voices of coveted jazz singers Astrud Gilberto, Nina Simone, Ella Fitzgerald, and others into your cypher you wont want their voices to leave! You'll be off curiously buying the Verve Unmixed and then you'll be in search of other Desert Island Discs. This upbeat CD puts a new swing on the classic jazz style. A Must Buy-No Doubt!

A Cosmopolitan, a few friends and just kick back
Loving most of these tracks in the original form I approached this CD with anticipation but at the same time with trepidation. Too often we hear the classics remixed but to what purpose. However, this CD seems to add a layer to the tracks that not only maintains the purity of the original but lifts them into a different sphere.

Nina Simone's See-Line Woman (remixed by Masters at Work) and Dinah Washington's Is You Or Is You Ain't My Baby (remixed by Rae & Christian) enter a whole new dimension of electronica and beats whilst maintaining the integrity of the diva's vocals and nuances. The amazing pair of Rob Garza and Eric Hilton from Thievery Corporation have always defined cool for me and with their remix of Astrud Gilberto they don't disappoint. Joe Clausell's remix of Nina Simone singing Feelin' Good would have to be the funkiest chilled track of the year. That haunting piano remains with a backing of electonic funk. This is a great album for chill out Sunday's, friends for brunch, coming down from Saturday night or just you at home alone with a Cosmopolitan. A must have for fans of Verve and some of todays masters of remix.

Balance
It seems that there are three types of people who purchased this CD.

1. The Jazz fanatic who ends up hating it because the work is not in tack or the artist vocals where rewroked.

2. The uneducated "Techno" (Its a genre of edm not a generalization of edm folks) fan who doesn't get or appreciate the beauty of the classic jazz tracks.

3. The heads who get jazz and understand the mantra like qualities of EDM.

The remixes on this album are mostly fantastic, some are creative and dont hold to a pop format which makes them more uncomfortable than the standard "song"

If you are someone who read Kerouac in high school or university, dug nina and ella and monk and davis and mingus and then discovered the New Jazz (EDM and IDM) then buy this CD. If you are in either of the 2 catagories of uneducated techno fan or old school jazz purist you may have to open you mind to get the beauty of this piece.

Awesome
This is a great album. House meets old jazz. Great energy but also mellow. Get it, it's great!!!

JAMMIN @$$ CD!!!!!!!!!!!!
The Verve Remixed Volume 1 is the BOMB!!! I bought Volume 2 first and thought it was the shiz-nit, but Volume 1 is just as good if not better. I absolutely love the the blend of [nice] vocals from the legendary Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Carmen McRae, Dinah Washington and Nina Simone with the electronica (if you will) of today's contemps like MJ Cole, The Dorfmeister, Thievery Corporation, De-Phazz, Rae and Christian, Tricky, Joe Clausell and others. This is a very ambitious series that I doubt will end soon, and may even generate other compilations of its ilk. Well done mixing from all involved! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Blame Tricky and Portishead. They started this whole Bristol sound thing, with sleepy techno beats overshadowed by the chirrupy vocals of some slumberland chanteuse. And--just when you think the approach has lost all its steam, all its relevance--along comes a new outfit to make the music a few degrees sleepier, the singing a tad more dreamy. And singers don't come any dreamier than Skye Edwards, whose lissome trill infuses every track on this sophomore outing with a tranquil ennui. You don't jump around to Morcheeba numbers like "The Sea." You sit back and let them creep up on you, as steady as the tides. --Tom Lanham ... Read more

Reviews (115)

Chill and smooth.
I've never been a techno fan. I was bred on 90s grunge and took to the gangly arty-rock like the Pumpkins and Tool. After randomly downloading some tracks from Luscious Jackson's first EP (In Search of Manny) the other day I started digging light female-driven hip-hop flavored stuff.. For some reason I then randomly found this album and "The Sea" instantly enthralled me, easily drawing me into the rest of the album. I think I found a new music genre to explore, which always kicks. From hearing a little Portishead years ago, I didn't really get a full feel for trip-hop. You can be chill without being depressing, as expertly evidenced on this disc.

Great, solid album, start to finish. Smooth musicianship with a nice breadth of everything from strings to mellow guitars to slow beats. The singer's voice is what truly makes this CD for me, though. Highly recommended.

Best album of 1998 by far!
This album and this band never stop to amaze me! Ross is a guitar god. Paul is a modern day Mozart and Skye is the most sweetest most amazing singer in decades! There is a track for everyone. Let Me See is kind of a jazzy melodie. Bulletproof is one of the best electronic instrumental songs I've heard since the Chemical Brothers. The title track is a gritty rap song. Friction is the best work of reggae I've heard a non-reggae band atempt...ever. Morcheeba has such an understanding of all music. All three of them are musicians at the top of their class. The lyrical themes stay true to the vibe Morcheeba produced on Who Can You Trust. Mostly greed and trust/mistrust relationships. But Big Calm portrays them in a sunnier light. A lot like the lyrics from Dave Matthews Band's Under the Table and Dreaming. It's a good turn for them. I you are the kind of person who is in love with all music, then buy Big Calm. By the way...I have a 2-tape set of remixes and b-sides of Morcheeba's. 31 songs. I'll make a copy for anyone who will send me blank tapes and postage to send them back.

One to Listen...Over and Over...
A better effort than Morcheeba`s debut "You Can You Trust?", "Big Calm" offers a smooth and hypnotic set of chill-out/trip-hop songs that provide a solid and compelling listen. Skye Edwards` vocals are one of the strong elements here, but the lush and sophisticated electronic landscapes are also gripping and delightful. Highlights include the superb ballad "Blinfold", the dreamy "Over and Over" and the contemplative opener "The Sea". "Big Calm" is a subtle, well-crafted and convincing pop record, and a pleasant example of late-nineties electronica. An album that deserves a place in CD shelves alongside Massive Attack, Portishead, Tricky, Gus Gus and Lamb.

Worthwile music.

BIG CALM. its makes u calm
This album is just very chill. When i have to do some designing or art, i pop this ceedee in and it creates that "atmosphere" for me. The vocal is great and overall, most songs on the album are nice to listen to. Its that ceedee where no song is realli a big STANDOUT but you dont ever get tired of the songs. Its an album you can pop in...and just....just listen to.

Trip Hop/Downtempo done correctly
After picking up the excellent "Charango" I was curious about the previous offerings of Morcheeba and so I decided to pick this CD up. I must say that it is a very pleasant surprise. Though the first track is undeniably the best, the other tracks offer similar delights. Even though they have been compared to Portishead, I don't really see the connection. Whereas Portishead is consistantly darker and understated, Morcheeba are rather uplifting and more aggressive. To me, this is the way downtemp should sound. The vocals are Morcheeba's strongest point. ... Read more

Reviews (28)

A Breath of Fresh Air!
I've been a fan of Air since hearing the beautiful soundtrack of Virgin Suicides, Talkie Walkie just seals my admiration even more. This album has it all and should help the group gain an even bigger following. If you think Air is just a robotic electronic band then think again, Talkie Walkie is full of acoustic instruments and vocals giving it a very warm human element and alive feeling. I recently saw the group live in New Orleans and they were fantasic, the set consisted mainly of songs from Talkie Walkie which sounded as good live as on my car and home systems. From the sweeter than sweet Cherry Blossom Girl which could have been included on Virgin Suicides to Surfing On A Rocket with its Lennon-style vocals and lyrics could easily be the new cover for the bomb launching scene of "Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb" and Venus is Pink Floyd revisited, the rest of the awesome cd is pure Air at their finest. If you're looking for music with emotion, intelligence, rich sound and punch (to keep your sub-woofer happy) this is the one album that's worth every penny and more. The songs are addictive and you'll be listening to them again and again. Merci beau coup Air!

Great for Ads, Better for Music Lovers
If there's one thing that can definitely be said about Air's latest album, it's that it's pretty. In fact, it's damn pretty. So pretty, in fact, that one has no problem ignoring the relative lack of depth or vapid lyrics. But by now, anyone familiar with Air should be used to those things anyway. Producing a major electronic hit with 1998's 'Moon Safari', Air became the European princes of cheezy make-out music, and with a knack for catchy beats, their songs had no trouble making their way onto GAP commercials and the like. After a few awkward follow-ups, Air's latest finally surpasses their debut, embracing a more ambient aesthetic that ditches lust for a seductive calm, a turn marked by tracks like the whistle-driven 'Alpha Beta Giga' being used in a recent Starburst commercial and 'Alone in Kyoto' appearing in Sophia Coppola's 'Lost in Translation'. Gone entirely are the cloying, vocal cameos that marred much of 'Moon Safari'. 'Talkie Walkie' consists of an even mixture of straight forward electronic-pop and soothing instrumental pieces. The smooth beats melt into electronically-enhanced, French vocals, often with less hi-tech instruments such as banjos providing the necessary rhythym. The more energetic tracks like the aforementioned 'Alpha Beta Giga' and the superb 'Surfing on a Rocket' easily surpass any of their prior work, while more ambient tracks like 'Run' and 'Biological' keep the album moving between the singles with beautiful chill-out pieces. Though 'Venus', the album's first track, is disconcerting in its emphasis on Air's worst tendenies, the rest of the album is thoroughly enjoyable, and, I suspect, will be heard in films for many years to come.

Ongaku Kerie (Beautiful Music)
I was loaned this album while at the Gojo Guest House in Kyoto. I listend to it all day while I wallked about town. It was pure magic. The perfect touch to the melencholy beauty of Japan on a rainy day. This album is amazing. It holds a special place in my heart, helping me to recall the misty(sic) streets of Kyoto.

Amazing.
First off. I'm listening to this CD right now on my computer. So the poster below isn't entirely correct...

I first heard Air on the Lost in Translation soundtrack. Alone In kyoto was such an amazing song that I ordered this CD and Moon Safari, and I'm definately not dissapointed.

Standout tracks:

Venus, Cherry Blossom Girl, run, Another Day, Alpha Beta Gaga and Alone in Kyoto.

That's 6 excellent songs, a true rarity when buying a CD these days. I can't tell you the number of times I've bought a CD and there were only 1-2 listenable songs. So sad.

As far as comparisons to other artists today, I've heard them contrasted with zero7, but I think they are much more original and better songwriters by far. Hell their lirics are pretty basic and non sensicial, it's the complex melodies that distinguish Air above their apparently tone deaf competition.

I hope they keep putting out CDs.

fluff... yet good
I will start of by letting you know that "synth pop" (or whatever you would classify Air as) is not my normal thing. Normally, even one of those two words would be enough to make me run away screaming, but something about this album caught a hold of me and refused to let go.

A friend of mine kept playing this when I was around and like some sort of disease, it just ate into me somehow! Consider yourself warned.

The songs are catchy and happy, and yet they still manage to invoke an introspective feeling that most "pop" doesn't. This quality makes it great background music, or music to just chill out to. Put this on at a party and people will notice it.

In particular, the strech of songs from 'Mike Mills' (probably my favorite song) onward really stand out. The songs flow and complement each other helping to create an overall ambiance that maybe you wouldn't expect from this sort of music. One of the album's biggest strengths comes from it's simple diversity. Air use a number of different instruments / electronic sounds in a number of different ways. I'm pretty sure I even heard a banjo in there somewhere, and I think we can all agree that banjo's are pretty damn cool.

Yes this ablum is "fluff". The lyrics will not stimulate deep conversations and the music isn't complex, but sometimes all you need is fluff. ... Read more