Album Description

Since Pschent started the Costes series any old half-trendy restaurant has started releasing its 'downtempo' compilation. The covers all show someone on a sofa, the tracklistings all look the same, and the music is just plain boring. With Costes however we try to make sure that they are always fresh, interesting, the packaging is great (check out the inside of Etage 3). Not just another lounge compilation, we hope you'll agree. ... Read more

Reviews (27)

Chic, Cool, Smooth, Sensual, Exotic, and a Diva Delight
I adore this CD. It is a remarkable mix of mellow, funky, over the edge, in the groove, diverse ear treasures. The blend and transitions delight and surprise. Shirley Bassey's remix of Love Story-- so over the top and powerful. Funky Lowlives! Cleopatra in New York - makes you need to bellydance, no matter what your belly looks like. Every Time by Lustral-- sends you to mellow heaven. Put this music on and you'll imagine guys in tuxes, women in Capri pants, the crowd in the bar at the Paramount, and the "Forget Domani" gang.

I've played this CD for friends of every ilk and of every age, and everyone loves it. The perfect background music for every occasion-- I've use it at a range of affairs, from intimate gatherings to corporate events-- and it flies every time. Thanks to Todd's "What CD's I'm listening to" list for turning me on to this spectacular music.

And what a brilliant idea on the part of the Hotel Costes-- you can bet I'm spending time there on my visit to Paris in a few weeks!

an ambient cinematic lust groove
If you're that man, under 25 years old, who loves to drink a vodka martini with a stylistic girl while listening some sweet beats and vocals as background music, that's the album of the year. a great compilation mixing those underground lounge, bossa, jazzy artists around the world, also contains some remixes and covers of songs like "love story" with shirley bassey and last tango in paris, both with a upbeat modern feeling, i felt so good while listening those songs :). and all the tracks are mixed by the stephane pompougnac. enjoy!

A Collision of Soul, Jazz, Dance and culture beats.
I highly recommend Vol. 1 and Vol.3. The beats, harmonies and lyrics are upbeat one minute, soothing and mellow the next. It's a collision of Soul, Jazz, Dance and culture beats. Perfect for a Sunday drive or the office. Any music lover will not be disappointed of this collection.

One of the Best of the Series
Most has already been stated about this cd. The Hotel Costes series is based on Wagram, a label that specializes in downtempo/lounge/chill cd's. Other successful series in their cataloge include Saint Germain Des Pres Cafe (1-4), Paris Lounge (1-3), Hotel Costes (1-6 and Stephane's feature release)and even Nueva Bossa Nova and other cd's.

I for one enjoyed this Costes a bit more than the others. From the kickin' Shirley Bassey cut to now classic lounge cuts like "Cruisin" by Can 7 or "Yachts" by Coco-Steel. You have a bit of a global experience with the tunes and some diverse musicians. A splash of Brazil, a touch of Tango... you name it! The Costes series prided itself on not being just any old lounge compilation with the same redundant tracks and atmosphere. It was hip, cutting edge, for the swanky and the people in the "know". Stephane Pompougnac always has at least one of his own tunes on the cd's and this isn't an exception. Good bachelor tune - every lady I know digs this when I put it on.

I recommend this one. You'll always get a quality unique cut with Pompougnac. IMO, Etage 3 is one of the better cd's of the franchise. However it's not without a few missteps - this particular rendition of Lustral's "Everytime" hardly seemed to fit in, even for an ender. And the Boyz from Brazil Remix of Hi-Fi Trumpet isn't my favorite version of the song either. Also you'll want to be careful of serious overlap if you pick up French compilations - in otherwords, some cd's may have the same cuts on one another. And if you like this series... check out Boss-A-Troniq, Break & Bossa 4 and 5 and Paris Lounge 1.

Not as good as 6,5,4,2
I started buying Hotel Costes backwards starting from 6,5,4,then 2. Then I bought 3 and 1 and those two just wasn't as good as the others. Some what disappointed. At least know I know his newer ones are getting better and not worst, right? ... Read more

Reviews (3)

A must have for Postal Service fans!
I didn't think I was missing much until I got this single, its as or more addictive than the album.Worth every penny just for "Be Still My Heart" and the remixes give the other tracks an incredibly fresh sound and feel.If you love Postal Service you will LOVE this single! Cheers.

geez, theyre still putting out singles from that album?
chances are, if youre looking into this, then youve already heard the postal service and have heard the full album, including "we will become."

"be still my heart" is interesting; its a new track that happily bounces and jostles along. its good, but one cant help but think that its not quite as solid as other tracks on "give up". catchy? yes. anything to get excited over? not really.

the styrofoam "nothing better" remix is the highlight of this single. the style doesnt stray very far from the traditional production style of ol' jimmy tamb., but it just sounds so good that its welcome. though its not as bouncy as the original, the chillness factor warrants it at least a few listens. and for some reason it reminds me of "idioteque".

the "we will become..." matthews not scared remix is the obligatory remix that leaves you scratching your head. the production is minimal -- fuzzy ambient noises and a guitar strum that is repeated over and over. interesting, but it left me wondering when the loops would vary or when another element would be introduced.

then the song ended.

so there it is. a song youve heard a million times, a bouncy new song, a good remix thatll allow you to "revisit" a great song, and an abstract remix that might be good to have just to prove that youre different than any other kid who heard the postal service a year after everyone else did (most likely by downloading the album).

When our bodies finally go
A band like the Postal Service produces singles easily -- their trip-hop is fresh, sweet and wistful, as well as being wickedly catchy. And Ben Gibbard (Death Cab For Cutie) and Jimmy Tamborell (Dntel) were in top form in the wistful, lyrically weird "We Will Become Silhouettes."

A flowing, strange story-song, "We Will Become Silhouettes" tells what happens when for some reason, the air causes cells to "Divide at an alarming rate until our shells/Simply cannot hold all our insides in,/And that's when we'll explode/(and it won't be a pretty sight)." Interpret that as you will, but the apocalyptic whimsy of it is irresistable.

A new song follows it: "Be Still My Heart," an enchanting little ballad with rapid percussion overlaid with organ and synth. "Nothing Better (Styrofoam Remix)" is a fair remix that is off in some parts (what is with that fizzing noise?) but retains the plaintiveness as the original. And finally there is the laid-back "We Will Become Silhouettes (Matthew Dear's Not Scared Mix)," which is stripped-down and fragile-sounding.

"We Will Become Silhouettes" is a bit of an oddball song, on an album full of songs about loneliness and lost love. Lyrically, it sounds like one of the Flaming Lips' more mainstream songs. Not that that's a bad thing -- it adds a sense of strangeness and fun to Postal Service's debut. It certainly reflects in the cover, with a rather startled-looking young man surrounded by people who are fading away.

This single does a good job of also showing off the kinds of music that Postal Service can do -- the title song is poppy and smooth, while the second is sort of synthy-drummy. What is even better, the remixes are good. Most remixes cloud over what made the song good in the first place, but Postal Service's are well-done.

"We Will Become Silhouettes" is a solid single, especially with the well-done remixes and extra song. It'll probably leave you humming, "And we'll become silhouettes when our bodies finally go..." ... Read more

Reviews (53)

Good...but could be better
Richard Dorfmeister takes a short hiatus from K&D to collaborate with Rupert Huber on their second effort, "Suzuki." I have not listened to their first("Opera")so I cannot compare the two. What I CAN do is compare it to Dorfmeister's collaboration with Peter Kruder. In this respect it falls short.

Unlike reviewers before me, I think Pearl In (track 1) is entirely appropriate. It pearls in (pun intended) to the rest of the disc and at the end (Pearl Off) is the perfect backdrop to the music, creating a well-rounded sound.

The Disc itself showcases the innovative and mixing talents of the two artists (now I know who contributes the dubbing/echoing sounds on K&D's music). The tracks are mostly average with a few standouts: Suzuki, Honey, Boss on the Boat, and Ocean Beat. Others fall short of the completely mellow sound that we, or rather, I, have come to expect from talents of Dorfmeister's caliber.

I like the CD, but I was expecting more, hence the 4 star rating. Still, if you want the complete collection of the artists' work, go ahead and buy it. In retrospect, you will come to enjoy the entire experience.
:-)

More like 4.5 stars...
A great downtempo album, full of minimalistic bass and beats that have grown on me as I continue to listen. Thoughtful pinches of jazz and bossa flavor the album throughout.

I first heard of Tosca off a compilation album with the track "Honey", a very pretty song. When I read that Richard Dorfmeister (of K&D Sessions fame) was behind this music, I knew I had to check it out.

The tracks are nice and consistent, but sometimes too similar; you won't find yourself always able to easily distinguish tracks from one another. You may not easily remember the names to too many songs.

Tosca's first work, Opera, seems a lot more jumbled and much less smooth than this music.

SUZUKI
The best relaxing music journey that will take you to another world like the white sands of the tranquil beach where the ocean's whispers embrace your soul.

Tosca's best work
The smoothest treble, the funkiest bass, and all manner of silky, sliding beats and noises in between give this Tosca album a style and quality yet to be reproduced by the duo.

After hearing tracks from this album and "Opera," on the internet radio station Monkey Radio, I felt it was my duty to find out who this mysterious 'Tosca' was. Turned out it was made up of Richard Huber and the latter half of Kruder & Dorfmeister, a duo for which I already had much respect. The choice of Opera and Tosca was a tough one, but after listening to both, I can say Tosca is the more solid effort.

Though not as gritty as Opera, Suzuki effortlessly moves through many worlds of sound, keeping a consistently funky beat going for each song. Each song on this album has a beat that will creep into your head without knowing it, and before long you'll know which beat, rhythm, and theme goes with each song on the album.

Even though Dehli 9, Tosca's next original album after this, contains two CDs, don't let twice the CDs fool you. With a second disc containing what sounds like Huber hungover, stammering on the piano for an amazing beat similar to what opens and closes Suzuki, Dehli 9 boils down to one CD with some good highlights, but overall a drag for the latter half.

If you're picking and choosing for the Tosca album to be happiest with, and don't mind missing out on Opera's Chocolate Elvis, Suzuki will keep you in a very happy place for a very long time.

New to me and Great.
I had never heard of Tosca before Amazon recommended this to me. I was happily surprised. The first half of the CD is highly textured trance using layers of original vocal percussive sounds and wordless spoken syllables on top of solid, balanced harmonies. The music gets progressively more jazzy as the CD goes on moving into a unique acid jazz/bossanova/trance mix. It has great character and rhythm, and importantly excellent dancibility. If you enjoy Underworld, Orbital, and/or acid jazz then try this out. ... Read more

Amazon.com

With Adore, Smashing Pumpkins return to the forefront of rock to do a dance with a new partner.Trading white-noise vocals and guitars for caramel crooning and dense synthesizers, frontman Billy Corgan drives bandmates James Iha and D'Arcy to a lush aural plateau.The darkness is still there--evidenced in the techno throb of the single "Ava Adore"--but the Pumpkins also tinker with Lennonesque lullabyes ("Behold! The Night Mare"), midtempo electronica ("Appels and Oranjes"), and tender calliope music ("Once Upon a Time").Smartly, Corgan rarely upstages the watery sounds going on behind him; the trademark midsong blowouts are almost completely absent. Adore will strike your ears and heart in a way you didn't think the Smashing Pumpkins could. --Jason Josephes ... Read more

Reviews (562)

A departure you either like or hate
This album is a departure from the sonic super-layered guitar anthems of 'Siamese Dream' and 'Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness'. What's been created is a rather naked, vulnerable love song and lullaby album. You either think it's an intensly personal, gorgeous album that shows the musical diversity of the Pumpkins or you think it's a piece of electronica and synthesizer laden filfth with whiney words about unrequited love. I personally enjoyed the album because of its poetic lyrics and its stripped down sound that somewhat reflects the final few songs on 'Mellon Collie's' 2nd CD. Notable tracks include the dreamy opener 'To Sheila', the two singles 'Perfect' and 'Ava Adore', the melancholy violin opus 'Tear', the Depech Mode-esque 'Appels + Oranjes', and 'For Martha', a song written by Billy Corgan for his late mother. Overall, it's a musically diverse album bounding between elctronica and stripped bare songs all linked together by an underlying sorrow.

Smashing Pumpkins take alternative in a new direction.
It's been the Pumpkins' forte for some time now to set the standards for modern rock- which is why it is important to hear each new album with an open mind and respect Adore's creators for their exemplary music abilities, not based on what came before. Adore is a breathtaking album with a definite coherency. Although hard-core guitar riffs are lacking on most tracks, the bass from D'arcy still provides that same deep, melancholy Pumpkins sound that has built a strong and loyal following for the band. From the first of 16 tracks to the last, each song flows together in a beautiful symphony. It has a lot of the essence of the '70's music scene, I think- similar to a lot of the Beatles' later work, framed by a disco flavor, but with darker, somewhat more techno-90's tempos. Plus, the keyed down density of the music allows frontman/ vocalist, Billy Corgan, to showcase some of the wonderful things he can do with his voice, a la the Pisces Iscariot and Siamese Dream albums. But don't get me wrong: I love a good Corgan scream and marvel at the raging and deeply layered (guitarist) James Iha solos- both of which became trademarks of the breakthrough Mellon Collie album, but word from the Pumpkin camp claims Billy and the gang "can't wait to turn the volume back up again".

Mellow Pumpkins
At a first listen I thought to myself, "This CD sucks! Why the hell did I buy it?". But after deciding to give it a chance and repeated listenings, it started to grow on me. I see why people didn't like this CD, because it's nothing like the Pumpkins we're used to listen with their blazing guitars, powerful drums, and angry vocals. Instead, this album is filled with chords, harps, and keyboards. The vocals are now about personal losses, love, and relationships.

I give it 4 stars because at some points it can be a bit boring, not because it's bad. My favorite tracks are "Ava Adore", "Perfect" (which sounds like a B-Side to 1979), "Appels + Oranjes", "Pug", and "Annie-Dog".

The Pumpkins at their best
The Smashing Pumpkins have always been a band that I've known of and been able to recognize on the radio (how could you not?) but I never truly "got into" them. However, after hearing "Thirty-three" (from "Mellon Collie") on the radio, I finally said, "Okay, I have to listen to these people." Over the past few days, I've listened to all of the Smashing Pumpkins' major studio releases. Based on my impression of them, I have to say "Adore" is my favorite. I don't understand why it was poorly received, both by fans and critics, when it came out. It shows a huge step both forward both musically (for the Pumpkins as a whole) and lyrically (for Billy Corgan). It shows far much more ambition than "Mellon Collie" -- ask yourself, how many alternative bands would attempt to make an album without a drummer? But they attempted and they pulled it off beautifully.

The album opens with the absolutely gorgeous "To Sheila" -- I knew from the first notes that I was going to love the album. It's followed by the electronically-driven and -- dare I say -- catchy "Ava Adore." The two opening songs do what opening songs should do -- they set the tone for the album, as the rest of the album is full of electronics and beautiful piano-driven songs. Don't worry, the guitar isn't absent -- it's still there, it's just not the overpowering force it once was. It blends easily here. Beyond the opening tracks, some standouts are "Daphne Descends," "Annie-Dog," "Blank Page," and "For Martha," Billy Corgan's tearjerking tribute to his deceased mother.

"Adore" proves the musical genius of Billy Corgan. Only a genius could blend all of these noises and come up with the product that he came up with. As I said before, his lyrics also improve with this album -- it's almost as if he stops trying so hard and just lets it come out exactly how he's feeling it ("it" being his mother's death, his divorce, the reunion with his father, etc.). Perhaps that's why I love "Adore" so much -- it's a work of pure emotion, emotion conveyed so well through both the words and the instruments. Don't let yourself be fooled by fans and critics telling you the album isn't "hard" enough -- pick up "Adore," put aside all other influences, and just revel in its beauty.

This is a fact...
Adore is not a Smashing Pumpkins album. Billy Corgan even said so himself. He said people are wrong if they consider this either an acoustic or electronic album, and I can see where he's coming from. This release was torn to shreds by critics, and I can see where they were coming from as well. Corgan was always considered a bone head because he didn't want to go in the direction other people wanted him and his band to go into, and I still admire him for it. With Adore this is all about his prose. This is more about the lyrics than the music bringing it out. Almost every track is soaked in dark romance, and I thought this was very interesting. As for the techno aspect, which Mellon Collie hinted at with the tracks Love, 1979, and Beautiful, it was fair, but what really stank was the fact that Jimmy Chamberlain wasn't with the band at the time due to a past scandal and numerous drug problems which led to his shall we say unemployment, and his absence showed dramatically, thus making the album a non-Pumpkins effort. Basically, if you are a fan of the early material, don't bother, but if you love the band to its core, wanting to see them evolve musically and lyrically, pick it up. It's worth the fifteen or so bucks. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential recording

Her first album following the breakup of the Sugarcubes, Debut is Icelandic trickster Björk's statement of purpose: bringing curious experimentalism to the dance floor and putting her startling, expressive voice front and center. Her perspective is a little alien--it's no accident that the first song talks about "getting close to a human"--but her leveling of genre distinctions has some wonderful results, especially the eroticized easy-listening reggae sway of "Venus As a Boy." Paired with producer Nellee Hooper (of Soul II Soul), she comes up with a series of invitingly artificial settings for her pipes, built from late-night beats and peculiar timbres, and sings like she's overwhelmed with joy from all her senses. --Douglas Wolk ... Read more

Reviews (113)

The Single Best Usage Of A Recording Studio Ever !!!!
If one word can sum up Bjork's Debut. The word breathtaking comes to mind. Never have I popped into my CD player an album that I can play from end to end and feel the same exact exhilarating thrill even after what must be the 1500th time I've played it!It's a perfect recording from start to finish. Absolutely no filler in this one. Bjork uses her amazing voice, her flawless sense of rhythm & her creative sense of genius to sheer perfection. Conjuring up a deliciously eclectic mixture of sounds guided along by the punky pixie's unique character & charms this CD boasts something for everyone. From the pulsating house beat of "Big Time Sensuality" to the exotic tropical beats of the powerful & moving "Aeroplane". From the Bacharachesque feel of the lilting "Venus As A Boy", the fierce Techno throb of "Violently Happy" to the omnious dramatic haunting single "Human Behaviour" (Quite possibly the finest single ever made, there are few artists who can conjure up enough diverse sound to appeal to the wide range of folks one can imagine getting into this album. Bjork is one of music's great little treasures & her's is a voice we are lucky to have!

Bjork's most accessible album - an excellent intro.
Although I am partial to Post as my favorite Bjork album, Debut is an excellent place to start for those interested in checking her out for the first time.

More dance-oriented than her subsequent releases, Debut was 4-5 years ahead of its time upon its release in 1993. Many are familiar with the kettle drum groove of the first track, "Human Behavior", from its run on MTV years ago. The rest of the album is quite different and is also very eclectic.

The star of the show, of course, is Bjork's voice. The sorrow in her voice on "Crying" is so strong that it almost compels one to tears. Not an easy achievement on a polyrhythmic dance track. (Whitney Houston, eat your heart out!) Her voice is also well showcased on a harp-accompanied cover of the old standard "Like Someone In Love".

Other standout tracks include the happily emotive (and vocally expressive) "Big Time Sensuality", the gentle dance groove of "One Day", and the conversational voice/saxaphone interplay of "The Anchor Song".

Classic Bjork - Debut
Bjork is back with a new sound...her own.

1. Human Behaviour - The first single from Debut. This is one of Bjork's earliest songs and still one of the best. Her voice soars and has one of the greatest videos I've ever seen. 10/10

2. Crying - When I bought I was hesitant to any song I hadn't heard before. I was letting the cd play one day from Anchor Song and on and this came on. It is wayyy better live though. But still one the best songs on the cd. 9.3/10

3. Venus As A Boy - A really good Bjork but it really does depend on your mood. It's very poppy and upbeat. It has some great Icelandic lyrics though. 8/10

4. There's More To Life Than This - I first heard a sample of it in a Bjork Megamix (Igor's Violenty Happy Remix w/Depeche Mode). I loved it. I downloded it and bought the Venus as a Boy single just so I could get the studio version (Non Tiolet Mix). 10/10

5. Like Someone in Love: Annoying. I absolutely hate it. 0/10

6. Big Time Sensuality : When I first heard the fluke version I loved it from the beginning to the end. This version is way better though. It sound very 'Ray Manzeryck' like. 10/10

7. One Day: I love her voice but I don't listen to it often b ut nontheless it is a very very good song. 8/10

8. Aeroplane: Definetly my favorite song on the cd. At first it sound indimated and unproportionate. It is on of the best songs she has ever written. Better live though. 10/10

9. Come To Me: Hate it. 0/10

10. Violently Happy: Let's put it this way...it should have been on the Greatest Hits CD.....10/10

11. Anchor Song: I love the jazz sections and Bjork's voice. It simply soars through the song. 10/10

Over all rating: 8/10 or... 4/5

One day it will all make sense...
"Debut" is such a fabulous album because it seems to age along with the listener. At 19, when I first heard this music, I didn't know what Bjork hinted at when she wrote "One Day."
Now, at 27, I cry when I hear the song because I can feel the movements of my first child inside my womb. She perfectly expressed the hopes of motherhood without actually mentioning babies at all. True to her subtle nature, she playfully weaves a tapestry of meaning using baby sounds and ambiguously playful lyrics ("The aeroplane will glide gracefully around the volcano/ with the eruption that never lets you down.")
"Debut" is chock-full of such expressive gems, and should convince even the most casual listener that Bjork is more than a kook in a swan dress; her artistic vision is matched by an enormous talent that removes her by light-years from her contemporaries.

Bjork's solo debut excels
If I were forced to categorize this music, I would have to call it techno, but it escapes the sense of sterility and coldness that I associate with that genre through the expressive power of Bjorkfs unique vocal style. From the moment many years ago that I first heard the Sugarcubesf gBirthdayh on our local college radio station, the unrestrained passion and joy in her voice captivated me. I have never heard anyone sing like this before, and the fact that this extraordinary voice is wedded to quality material with innovative rhythms, melodies, and arrangements makes this disk a real winner. ... Read more

Reviews (53)

Best Tiesto album out there

I somewhat like Tiesto, with his collaborations with Ferry Corsten in Gouryella, his independent productions, and of course, his records and remixes, but not to the point of exuberance. Not until I managed to pick up this album.

This is easily the best album that Tiesto has ever done. I was a bit underestimated, considering what I've heard on his "in search of sunrise" mixes. Though, I never thought this type of pure hard trance would be fashioned in a way where it could be transitioned effortlessly, and that's what Tiesto has done.

Overall, an incredible mix by one of the Netherland's best. This reminded me of Paul Van Dyk's "politics of dancing" or Ferry Corsten's "mixed live in spundae". Two very excellent albums that feature hard beats, big bass, and emotional downpoints. The cover's great too. It's probably the best looking cover in my collection. A great example of how fun and dark a club scene appears in an eye of a dj.

This disc is ACE!!!
WOW! This amazing CD was released over 2 years ago, and still runs circles around basically everyone else in Trance! This is the most amazing Live album I have heard to date as well. Anyone who has had the pleasure to see or hear Tiesto, knows that he is definitely on the top of the Trance DJ's, right up there with Paul Van Dyk. Amazing.... just get it... i HIGHLY recommend this outstanding Trance set Live from Amsterdam. It is ACE!!!

The One Hit Wonder Tiesto
I am so tired of tiesto playing the same happy go lucky songs that every other else plays. Tiesto had one good CD, summerbreeze, thats it! All of his other CD's are just the same old crappy club hits everyone else plays. I've seen him live (Ultra Music Festival 2004,wish you were there Gerald) and he plays his one or two signature songs and the rest sucks. This live in Amsterdam is one CD,and we all know he didn't spin for 74 mins. How about putting out a double disc for a change. On top of that, half the songs are 3 and 4 mins long. That "Just Be", he put out blows, really blows. Plane and simple in DJ terms, Tiesto couldn't hold a needle to Oakenfold or Acosta. If I could say one thing to Tiesto, it would be "Please stop putting out crap, please!!!"

frozen in time
This cd is well ahead of its time. In my opinion, this has got to be Tiesto's harder get your ass on the floor type mix...no doubt thats exactly the reason he recoded it live at a club in Amsterdam. Slightly different than the rest of his mixed Cd's. Favorite tracks in order...Viola, forever young, gothic dream, afterburn, cloudwalking and of course silence. These tracks are nothing less than amazing! Beautiful progressive flow with all sorts of melodies, riffs, and cutbacks. A masterpiece. Perhaps the best Live mixed Cd ever made along with Ferry Corsten's live at Spundae....No doubt most trance fans know or have heard about this CD..if you havent check it out, you have everything to gain!

The man
What can i say to the god of trance? He has been the man and continues to dominate over everyone. Taking his cue from long time friend and mentor Ferry Corsten, Tiesto repeatedly soars to new heights time and time again. Being someone who actually saw Tiesto live (Nocturnal Wonderland Sept, 2001 ; Lake Havasu, Ca) I can tell you he is nothing less than amazing. This CD brings alive what so many wish to accomplish. A sense of wonder and being. Nothing else can describe the talent of the man: Awesome. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Pure, weightless elegance, Involver is true to its title, as Sasha comes up with a mesmerizing stunner. Two years after the lukewarmly received artist record Airdrawndagger, the Welsh waxman and frequent John Digweed co-collaborator has retreated into remix territory, but with a twist. In an effort to meld songwriting ambition with his feather-light touch behind the decks, 10 stellar tracks were totally remade in-studio, not just blended together. The result sounds livelier than dagger, putting Sasha's superb instinct for dance flow to work. Still, despite the presence of Felix Da Housecat's "Watching Cars Go By" stomper, it's a very even record; themes patiently recede and resurface from the bubbly bottom of the mix. The warm, warbling melody from Petter's "These Days," for example, reappears long after you think it's vanished for good, lifting U.N.K.L.E.'s "What Are You to Me?" into hypno-dance orbit. Songs like Spooky's "Belong" and Lostep's "In a State" breathe the same air, rising and falling with interlocking rhythmic poetry. It's a daze of a record, ideal company for moody afternoons spent staring up at wispy clouds and vapor trails. –Matthew Cooke ... Read more

Reviews (33)

A Fresh and Creative Platform for Electro
Beacause Sasha's latest release 'involver' interferes with such a variety of exclusive tracks, and it is mixed/crafted in such a 77-minute way, it is probably one the most IMPORTANT electronic music releases in a long time. Here is an album that may require further listening in order to fully understand its gravity. Much like 'Airdrawndagger', it is in a sense somewhat timeless. The art of creative writing, djing, and producing is being transcended once again with Sasha. Although 'Airdrawndagger' remains as one of the greatest electronic track collections of the turn of the millenium, 'Involver' should and will attract a wider spectum of people: those who wish to dance, some who chose to chill, a few who are in search of oblivion.

As an amateur prog/tech music critic I feel it is my duty to evaluate and think of a compilation in a both domestic AND live environment. In reference to the 20 minute section between DJ Spooky's 'Belong' and Lostep's 'Burma', one must acknowledge the pure beauty and energy this would create in a dark, crowded club. Unlike some of today's underground music genres, this new kind of presence Sasha has created is everthing but boring, traditional, generic, or insignificant. 'Involver' promotes the idea of personal signature in the ubiquitous digital world we live in, sasha: a true and important artist.

A New Refresment for my ears. Sasha Hits to the fences
Sasha has put here a mix that you have never experienced before yet it sound so familiar cause it has that new, fresh sound to it that you have been awaiting to hear again. To me it reminds me of the new sounds that came out of the earlier electronica days. This time they are mixed from song to song and come into a new trend or style of techno music. This is good as it seem a lot of DJ's are spinning the other guys anthem mixes and house beats to death and now before its too late, someone (be it Sasha or someone else who wants this music to evolve) needed to take this music a step into the future before it burns out rather than fades away (Some Def Leppard words of wisdom).

Involver is crafted so well that I agree with one reviewer that there isn't a bad song down the list. It's different from what everyone else is doing, a very innovative, creative mix. I too will make a airdrawndagger reference here. If airdrawndagger was a 5 star fresh new style/ prelude of what Sasha was up to, then that would make Involver a 6+ Star complete package mix! I'm not saying this is the greatest DJ mix album of all time but it is truly the best thing in its time (June 2004) to come out this year! I just love the new/old feel of the music and the new direction it goes in. If your looking for a dance CD you'll wait till the last third of this album to get your fix, sorry.

This is a great album to kill time, chill out to and listen to while you wait for the next Mastermind (Sasha or whoever) to come out with the next breathtaking, house style, old school electronica, 1 - 3 Trance anthem beat thing to come into existence and get sold off to you in CD form! Enjoy this one! I'm sure Involver will become known as a "classic" by the fans!

On the brink of. . . berzerk
I was in NYC the week that Sasha Released this album and spun at Crobar. I did not make it to the event that night.

Then I happened to learn that he was doing an in store appearance at Virgin in Union Square. I was only able to hear the last 11 minutes of his set--which I was told was an hour. There were only about 100 some people there.

Basically---if he had spun for a half hour more the place would have turned into a full on all nighter. He blew the first floor off the building------

And it was with tunes from INVOLVER. This is worth noting as I have read people who think he needs to return to his GU:Ibiza ways. At one point, I too wished that INVOLVER--was a floor stomping mad hatter party. But Sasha is really pushing himself as a producer/artist as much as he is already the Man Like who can mix with his right toe alone.

No, you probably won't blow your windows out with this one. But I guarantee, Beyond any reasonable doubt, that this album should entice you to want to hear him spin live even more. He has never been, but cannot, now more than ever, be given the label as simply a great mixer, but an artist as well.

And AIRDRAWNDAGGER is still amazing.

Absolutely Fabulous!!!
Where do I start...Sasha is a God! I have never written a review before because I really never had a need. I have never felt strongly enough about a CD to comment on it, until now. I did not know what I was getting into when I bought this, as I have been mildly impressed with Sasha's previous work. Yes, his mixing is always impressive, but except for Commmunicate and Northern Exposure, I have not been blown away, until Involver.
This CD has taken me places I have not been in a long, long time and I was sober too!!! This is music I have been waiting for: a little bit different, a lot interesting and absolute candy for the ears!
I cannot stop listening, I don't want to stop listening! Involver gives me goosebumps, makes me smile and I find myself talking to myself: "This is amazing", "Wow", "Incredible"
Just when you don't think it can get any better, it does, over and over.
This is a rockin and "rollin'" CD (if you know what I mean :-)
The only downside is track 9, "watching cars go by", it is a buzzkill, just doesn't fit, but track 10, "on my own" makes up for it, and then some, it is incredible, with a fabulous driving bassline that drags you out of your trance, begging you to dance.

I have NEVER heard anything like this and I wish there was more of this out there. If anyone knows of another CD that is similar PLEASE e-mail me: missyL3@hotmail.com, I would be forever grateful.
This is the type of music to listen to really loud, lying down next to a beautiful person. You both will be smiling, and the music will take to some quite magical places.
Thank you Sasha for creating something that I knew was capable but have not been able to find. Oh, I almost forgot, the mixing is, of course, flawless!!

Apology Accepted! ... "Involver" is tremendous
After "Airdrawndagger" I was wary in buying "Involver" but ... after one listen I am accepting "Involver" as a more than adequate apology. Full of complex, driving, rich sounds and very cool beats, he hit it with this one. The first track utterly rawks, with some very 80s Tangerine Dream-like voicings and bluesy-sexy patterns, and it goes from there. A great one to plug in your headphones with, turn up and get lost with. A must have for chillout or afterburns. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Despite Paul Oakenfold's status as "the world's most successful DJ" (according to the Guinness Book of Records, no less), and producing bands like the Happy Mondays and U2, Bunkka is his first real stab at solo superstardom. Abandoning the podium trance with which he made his name, Bunkka sees Oakenfold marrying Hybrid-like breakbeats with rock, hip-hop, and progressive house--not to mention a healthy dose of pop. Add an impressive list of guest vocalists--Tricky, Nelly Furtado, Ice Cube, Perry Farrell, Hunter S Thompson(!)--and a slew of radio-friendly tunes, and it soon becomes clear that Oakey has gone straight for the populist jugular. Fair enough, but no amount of star turns, catchy choruses, and occasional flashes of brilliance can hide the fact that Bunkka is fundamentally a patchy album. It occasionally pushes the right buttons, but its blunt, schizophrenic nature risks compromising Oakenfold's appeal with his traditional fan base.--Matt Anniss ... Read more

Reviews (97)

better than one would expect
seeing as how everyone has loved this album in the reviews posted so far, i will be the devils advocate. the production was the most impressive work, and perhaps oakenfold gets 5 stars for the production, although not groundbreaking by any means, (see BT-MISL, or Hybrid -wide angle for more innovative work).
the album starts off with the amazing; "ready, steady , go"...which def will be popping up in ads and movie trailers soon. then the next 2 songs slag off into mediocrity, with the bland southern sun and the absurd time of your life with perry farrell. However, Oakie comes back stong on the next string of tracks, hypnotised, is a beauty, but the real album center piece is Zoo York, with its sampled strings from "Requiem for a Dream". This song is the one stand out track that demands respect. Perhaps Oakie has it in him to be scoring films after all.
Then comes Nixon's Spirit, with the weird spoken world mumblings of Fear and Loathing's Hunter S. Thompson. Not bad, but not needed. Hold Your Hand is another magical track, that has a bouncy hip-hop feel, and the vocals are perfect. From then on, the album needs to end. Starry eyed surprise with that loser from crazytown is lame and is not memorable, and when the rap/rock fad ends people will wonder why oakie wanted to use him? vocal greatness..no..just for a few more albums sold. the ice cube track, get 'em up, is odd, they edited out the swears, which takes away the impact of the song, get the balde 2 soundtrack to hear the better version. Motion (somewhat of a grower) and The harder they come are just wasted tracks with big name vocalists (i.e. nelly furtado, tricky), a waste of the record companies money. Worth buying for Zoo York alone and ready, steady, go. Not bad for Oakie. Not too bad at all.

Paul Oakenfold is not a talented human being.
Bunkka should be boxed with a 2nd cd, that 2nd cd should be Michelle Branch or one of her teen pop sensation friends (or maybe Crazy Town or whoever he got to help him) because thats the target audience with this album because those kids (when they're not listening to Metallica and Michelle Branch) like to listen to Paul Oakenfold's Bunkka and pretend they're at a rave, which is their #1 dream...too bad their parents won't let them go, time to rebel. I strongly advise that you avoid this album as if touching it would instantly give you AIDS.

This is no sellout
All you ignorant people who label Oakenfold as selling out are, well, just ignorant. As Michael Jackson on South Park said, "That's just ignorant." And it is. Do you think you're coming off as a smart, intelligent, know-it-all trance fans when you say he has sold out? Those two words are so misused and abused together it's disgusting. I don't even have the time to go into this further, it's not worth it. But I wanted to defend Oakenfold and this CD and mention that there is no selling out and it's an excellent blend of styles to create an edgy, well-balanced mix of great music. Obviously, anyone who is saying he sold out isn't truly knowledgeable about music. Try to sound like you know what "true" music is, but you don't. And you people obviously aren't artists yourselves, because if you were, you would know the dire need to completely explore new terrain from time to time. I'm done. Buy this CD for a good time, end of discussion.

you yanks just don't get it? from a brit!!
Bunkka is not like anything Oakenfield has done before, which is good. Amazon double it up with Tranceport which is like chalk and cheese.I'm sorry but the professional reviews do not do it justice.Another guy says it is schizophrenic but that the point the juxtaposition of styles.This CD is not background music you positively have to engage with it.Play it on a Walkman and get a boring job done quicker.Play it in the car (the best place to listen to any music as you are encapsulated)very, very loud and drive fast. Its music to live to, that gets in your very soul.It is music to dance to not dance that has gone we have all moved on.

Not what you might expect
Paul Oakenfold has been one of the most famous trance remixers for a long time now but this is actually his first solo album where he's making the songs by himelf and the result is quite average actually. Remixing others songs is not such a difficult thing, afterall most good dj's are able to make a decent remix or a song.

If you expected many dance songs then you've bought the wrong album, Only "Ready steady go" and "Southern Sun" sound like typical Oakenfold songs. The rest are a commercial mix with Guest Artists that take more place then Paul does. I loved "Starry Eyed Surprise" with rock-rapper Shifty Shellshock, it's no Oakenfold song but it's catchy with a gtood hook. "The Harder They Come" with Nelly Furtado was allright and also nice to see Emiliana Torrini appear on "Hold Your Hand". I never liked "Get Em Up" with Ice Cube cause the Rap-trance mix doesn't fit. "Time Of Your Life" with Perry Ferrel is so so. I Paid attention to the collaboration more then the song itself.

Let's not blame Paul for trying, many others including Basement Jaxx did a album with guest artists, the case here is that making a "own" album is morr then just adding a wide range of guest artists. Paul should have taken his time and created something that the fans really wanted to hear. Sure some songs are good here but they are far from the great trance remixes he normally makes. Average album. ... Read more

Amazon.com

An oasis of calm amidst the turbo-fueled clubbing tornado that is Ibiza, Café Del Mar is the White Isle's original home of red-eye chill-out vibes and weepy sunset soundtracks. The series of compilations bearing the bar's name, meanwhile, have long patented that authentic sound of Balearic bliss (even claiming Madonna as a huge fan), and this seventh volume maintains the high standards. Founding DJ Jose Padilla may have long moved on, but his successor, DJ Bruno, is clearly well aware of the old adage about not fixing what ain't broke. There's the usual mix of names well known (Moby, Bedrock, Nightmares On Wax) and head-scratchingly obscure (Uko, Lux, Aromabar), but the sound of beautiful music for loved-up and lazy beach bums stays the same. Frankly, this sounds as good at home as it does on the early-morning terraces of San Antonio. --Calvin Bush ... Read more

Reviews (28)

Drifting and Dreaming
Of all the Cafe Del Mar CDs I have (3,5,6,7 and 8), I enjoy listening to this one the most. Jose Padilla has moved on, but Bruno clearly understands the definition of "chillout".
Lux's opener, Northern Lights, sets the pace, and is followed by a remix Afterlife's Breather 2000. Incidentally, Steve Miller has a hand in both groups, and both reappear on Volume 8. Apart from Northern Lights, Deep & Wide's Easy Rider, and Beautiful Strange by Bedrock are worth mentioning. Among the best tracks is Moby's Whispering Wind, which was later included on the Play b sides. I do not know why it wasn't on Play, because in my opinion, it is better that anything on Play. Nightmares On Wax have done an amazing remix of a song by Bush, Letting The Cables Sleep. Bush are a rock band, similar to Blur and Oasis, but this track fits seamlessly onto the album.
This disc is good after a long day, during an easy day, at any time during the day. You can listen to it, or play it in the background. It's not good if you need some solid music to get your teeth into, but otherwise, it's great.

unique downtempo grooves
A year after buying Vol. 7 and Vol. 8, I still find myself spinning these grooves up. Timeless downtempo joy.

Nikolai Safavian Says Get This
This tops the Del Mar collection. It is also among the best played in clubs in Bukara and Baku. Every person has music moments that need this.

I'm definetly hooked
This is the first volume of this series that I got. All I can say is, superb!
The quality of the music in this CD is absolutely amazing. If you're looking for something calm yet trendy and cool you will definetly like this.
I'll be adding more volumes to my list very soon.

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU
I'm so grateful for such beautiful music. Put this on, the whole world opens up. It is so gorgeous it makes you glad to be alive. That ain't no jive! You need this CD in your car, at the bar, even in war. It extends your vision SO FAR! That beat, so great--don't hesitate! Hear it--with God you've got a date. For this CD there's not enough stars to rate. Thank you all world class musicians for CHILL OUT DOWNTEMPO--It's heaven sent for us below! ... Read more

Album Description

German dance compilation featuring the finest in trance music featuring such artists as Talvin Singh, Afterlife, A New Funky Generation, dZian and Kamien, Mandalay and many more. 15 tracks in all. 1999 release. Standard jewel case. ... Read more

Reviews (32)

Another great downtempo cd to add to my collection
I can't really say that I am all that into the Cafe Del Mar series. My only other copy is volume 8 and that one it took me awhile for the music to grow on me. I found volume 6 (Jose Padilla's last contribution to the series) in the used cd bins today. I really liked what I saw as far as the track list goes. I love Mandalay's "Beautiful" and Talvin Singh's "Traveller". As I am listening to this cd, I am definitely more impressed with this series than I have been wtih Ultra Records' downtempo series "Ultra Chilled". I find the Cafe Del Mar series far less commercialized than some of the chill out compilations that I have come across in the past year. I truly enjoyed volume six of Cafe Del Mar a lot more than volume 8. Although I thought "The Messenger" by A Funky Generation was a totally useless track, I thought as a whole the album was a solid collection of contemporary downtempo music fitting for a night after hitting the nightclubs. I can almost see myself stretched out on the sands of Ibiza while listening to this cd. Just an incredible cd of today's best downtempo/chill out music.

really smooth and mellow
Definetly the best way to describe it, smooth and mellow. It's a real chill CD. I first bought Cafe Del Mar 7, and then 6. I found 6 to be so much more sensual, and truely some of the vocals, melodies and rhythms on this can twist into you and wrap you up for the nite. I can't take my ears away from the CD when I listen to it! Outstanding Tracks...dZihan and Kamien 'Homebase', Mandaly 'Beautiful', Paco Fernandez/Levitation feat. Cathy Battistessa 'Oh Home' (unreal vocals) and my most favourite track-Humate '3.2 Bedrock' (it's like a light mix of soulful dance...just gorgeous). It's one of those CD's that's able to adapt itself to different type's of tastes, just gorgeous, and really recommended to anyone who's in the chill scene. The final in the Cafe Del Mar series produced by Jose Padillaand a beautiful one at that. Let's hope there's more to come in the future, and Cafe Del Mar will continue in it's lush soothing tones. Cafe Del Mar Volumen Seis, a beautiful compilation.

The best of the 10 CD series
I absolutely love this CD. I own all 10 of the Café Del Mar series and I think this is by far the best one. Numbers five and seven are also quite good as well. Give it a try!

NOTHING LIKE THAT GROOVY AMBIENCE--GREAT FOR HIGH FINANCE
Wow I love that modern feeling where the ambience is created to initiate creative action all day long. It's the groovy heartbeat that puts me in the flow. I get ideas--it's great for making dough. It makes me happy--like all of life's a show. The world's my oyster--I got all my ducks in a row. Lucid sights and sounds--can I be any more alert? The past is below, I've transcended the foe. Out of my 60 new downtemp CD's I'd rate this in the first ten. I loved it so much I bought all of the cafe del mars. With this music on all day and night, my spirit shoots to the stars.

Doesn't Get Much Better Than This!
I don't own a lot of chillout related CDs and there's a reason for that: Most of them are predictable with the same song used over and over again on various compilations that pretty much copy each other's ideas. I enjoy trip-hop and lounge music but it's very hard to find a flawless album that you can pop into your stereo or discman (whichever one's handy) and let it play without skipping a single beat but this is a rare exception. Aside from 'Chill Out In Paris 2' [mixed by David Visan], this is SO FAR the best I've heard in this genre and it's my first Cafe Del Mar experience so I was pleasantly surprised. Jose Padilla did a great job at compiling and mixing all this together and I'm curious to scope out anything else he's done. It flows at a very nice pace (mostly mid-tempo speed) and has many different atmospheres to keep it fresh and inventive. There's not a dull moment on here and while the entirety of 'Vol. 6' is amazing, I find myself especially enjoying Mandalay's breathtaking remix of "Beautiful" (I never tire from listening to this particular piece) and the world grooves of Nitin Sawhney's "Homelands" (I've been meaning to check his work out for a long time now) and the gorgeous "Adios Ayer". And, of course, anything by Talvin Singh is worth hearing... The whole thing is, really.

I truly love this and am more than impressed. ... Read more

Reviews (47)

So this is what heaven sounds like
If heaven had a soundtrack, I would have to say that the music would be provided by the English trip hop duo Mandalay (Saul Freeman and Nicola Hitchcock). I was first exposed to Mandalay's music when I heard "This Life" on the soundtrack to Madonna's ill-fated box office bomb "The Next Best Thing". I loved the laid back trip hop beats, ethereal melodies, and Nicola's delicate vocals. I bought "Solace" a few years ago when I found a used copy of the cd. For a double cd, it was at a good price. Disc 1 consists of original songs compiled from the duo's two albums that were released over in Europe. Disc 2 consists of remixes. The remixes are alright but I personally prefer the songs in their original format. I did like the Calderone After Hour remix for "Beautiful" though and the Nitin Sawhney remix of "Deep Love". When I first listened to "Solace", I was completely moved by the music. At the time, I had never heard anything so beautiful (no pun intended). The lyrics fit perfectly with the ethereal melodies and Nicola's fragile vocals. My two personal favorite songs on the album definitely has to be "Beautiful" and "Deep Love". The songs just took my breath away and almost moved me to tears which is rare for me. The same can also be said about "Believe". What moved me about those songs were not only because of the sumptuous music and vocals but also the lyrics which I found to be quite inspiring and magical to listen to. I hope that I will be hearing more from Mandalay very soon, if not it is the music industry's loss that this English duo didn't get the proper exposure in this country. I wish pop music would sound as beautiful as what I heard on "Solace".

top road to mandalay
If you havent heard Mandalay already, you are missing quuite a bit here. From their UK debut Empathy in 1998 to their second release Instinct in 2000, this Manchester duo can do no wrong with ambient melodies and a hauntingly beautiful vocal.

This is the 2-CD set that captures the best of those 2 CDs into one regular CD and another remixed for the US market. Though unfortunately, they havent made much headway in the mainstream market, they have certainly gained a cult following. Songs like Not 17, Beautiful and Deep Love feature a dreamy and trip-hopp-ish setting matched by a irresistable vocal from Nicola. Her vocal is a heavy contrast to the unique vocals of Lou from Lamb, which I strongly recommend too.


The brilliance of this duo consistently shines through song after song with perfect seamlessness.

The excellent deal here must be the second CD of remixes culled from the CD single releases in the UK that were unavailable to the US. 11 smashing remixes, and seriously none of them were bad. Many of these remixes are given a new touch with finesse and kick, mostly within 4-6 minutes, and is easy on your ears without too much repetition. Even Victor Calderone shows better promise here than usual. The first 5-6 remixes are best.

Pretty good deal. You'll get the original wonder as well as the faster reworks.

Top road to Mandalay
If you havent heard Mandalay already, you are missing quite a bit here. From their UK debut Empathy in 1998 to their second release Instinct in 2000, this Manchester duo can do no wrong with ambient melodies and a hauntingly beautiful vocal.

This is the 2-CD set that captures the best of those 2 CDs into one regular CD and another remixed for the US market. Though unfortunately, they havent made much headway in the mainstream market, they have certainly gained a cult following. Songs like Not 17, Beautiful and Deep Love feature a dreamy and trip-hopp-ish setting matched by a irresistable vocal from Nicola. Her vocal is a heavy contrast to the unique vocals of Lou from Lamb, which I strongly recommend too.

The brilliance of this duo consistently shines through song after song with perfect seamlessness.

The excellent deal here must be the second CD of remixes culled from the CD single releases in the UK that were unavailable to the US. 11 smashing remixes, and seriously none of them were bad. Many of these remixes are given a new touch with finesse and kick, mostly within 4-6 minutes, and is easy on your ears without too much repetition. Even Victor Calderone shows better promise here than usual. The first 5-6 remixes are best.

Pretty good deal. You'll get the original wonder as well as the faster reworks.

simply stunning
this two CD set is simply put, stunning. there is a woman i have known for years, and i have always thought she was one of the most beautiful women i had ever laid eyes on....everything about her...her eyes, smile, voice, laugh, her delicate features...i once told here that if her beauty were ever to be captured by music, Mandalay is what she would sound like...it's that simple. i know she is out there, and i know she has this CD...and i also know that she and i will always think of each other when listening to this magical CD. miss you sweetness...

ONE OF MY FAVES
I get a kick out of people who say "this is a pale imitation of Cocteau Twins,' or "this is inferior to other chillout artists out there." Blah and Blah to both of those statements. While Cocteau Twins' vocalis Liz Fraser is in a class all her own, Mandalay's music is much more complex and classically structured than Cocteau Twins' music (which Liz and Robin have both acknowledged gets very improvisational at times). You can hear Saul Freeman's strong musical training in Mandalay's music. Although I appreciate Cocteau Twins for being innovative, Mandalay are a much more "solid" act. Their songs are just more listenable than the Twins'.
As far as other trip-hop/chill artists, I don't think many of them (besides Portishead, Goldfrapp, or Massie Attack) come even close. Nicola's voice is distinctively eerie and poignant. You'd be hard-pressed to find a better collection of songs on one disk. Ignore the naysayers--this is a perfect album. Just ask Madonna, who has been a huge fan of Mandalay's for some time. Sadly, Mandalay broke up in 2003. Nicola is now doing collaborations and working on a solo project (YEAH). ... Read more

Amazon.com

Since the Chemical Brothers explosion, new big-beat acts from the U.K. are greeted with skepticism, but Propellerheads are no copycats. Alex Gifford and Will White did the usual groundwork by releasing singles and EPs before giving up a full album. The groovy single "History Repeating," featuring '60s cabaret vocalist Shirley Bassey, plays slightly into the lounge revival of the late '90s but with a James Bond-esque style that grabs attention similar to Portishead's "Sour Times." The recurring spy film theme makes this a perfect soundtrack for Austin Powers's first rave--"On Her Majesty's Secret Service" is actually a Bond remake. Propellerheads also slip in full-on "rock" jams ("Bang On!") and slick urban cut-ups reminiscent of De La Soul, who appear on "360° (Oh Yeah?)." Shifting tempos from laidback to lightning-fast with exceptional ease, Decksandrumsandrockandroll is a solid collection of funky, jazzy, hip-hop-influenced dance music that has earned its mainstream acceptance by delivering the goods. --Liisa Ladouceur ... Read more

Reviews (109)

Outstanding CD.
After seeing Propellerheads on my recommended list several times, I finally gave in and bought the Decksandrumsandrockandroll CD. Terrific choice! I loved the album from the opening song. Propellerheads are amazingly versatile and the range of styles and moods exhibited on this disc are astounding. The covers "History Repeating" (Featuring Shirley Bassey) and "On Her Magesty's Secret Service" are absolutely first rate. Other wonderful tracks include "Take California," "Velvet Pants," "Bigger ?," "Cominagetcha" and "You Want It Back" (Featuring Jungle Brothers). Lesser tracks, but still quite good, include "360 / Oh Yeah" (Featuring De La Soul), "Winning Style," "Bang On!," "Better ?" and "Spy Break." I find no merit in "A Number of Microphones" and I wish I could get it off the CD.

I've now listened to this CD about 20 times and I thoroughly enjoy it. Some of the songs provide excellent dance music. However, the humorous banter and the aforementioned "Microphones" track don't stand up to repeated listenings and I'm left with the urge to edit the disc. Alas, this is a minor complaint and some listeners may actually enjoy this stuff. All in all, this is an outstanding disc and I'll be looking forward to their next offering.

An awesome mix of many styles of music
I bought Decksanddrumsandrockandroll for Take California, but after hearing the other tracks I forgot about it. The Propellerheads have done a great job of mixing backbeat, techno, jazz, ambient(?) and some other styles that I can't think of names for. This CD is definately a genre-bender, almost all the songs just plain sound cool. My favourites are Better?, 360°, History Repeating (great vocals!), Winning Style, Cominagetcha, Spybreak, OHMSS, Band On!, and Bigger?. However, if you're more into 'hard' techno, (or whatever it's called) for example, the newer Prodigy stuff, this may not be for you. It's cool for dancing, and listening, but don't slam it into your CD player and wait for something exciting to happen, because most songs aren't very dramatic and are sometimes a bit repetitive. But they're good. -+SrCosmo

Propellerheads straddle rock and Big Beat
Is it rock or is it Memorex? The Propellerheads have the trademark Big Beat aesthetic, thumping trancelike rhythms, along with a level of rock intensity. Overall 'Decksandrumsandrockandroll' combines thick heavy backbeats with guitar-vitriol, creatively chosen samples/overdubs, making for a fast-paced relentless sound. This CD stands above the rest of the Big Beat genre, with the same type of free-spirited abandon reminiscent of 70's rock, plucking strands from a wide range of musical elements in typical electronica fashion. Yet this is not some hastily put together computer driven beat-fest, it's musically challenging, exceptional production, demonstrating artistic integrity all in the spirit to create. Exhilerating, hypnotic and rhythmic. Born to run, born to dance, and feel free to imagine the wind blowing against your face.

Makes my day better... EVERYTIME!
This is gooooood music! I have been listening to this for years and it never gets old!
It gets you going and makes you happy! (warning: if you don't like driving fast don't put this in your car - it's a much better workout/morning alarm/be happy thing)
You might have heard some of this from the Matrix movie in those slow/fluid/powerful/raw action scenes.
I like many kinds of good music, from Ella Fitzgerald to Alice in Chains (Dirt), to Evanessence, and back around to Gershwin, so whatever your taste is just close your eyes, buy this, take that leap and you'll never look back.

Awesome
I just bought this cd and it has not left my cd player. I can't believe I didn't get this long ago. It's got a great beat, it's funky, you've gotta move while you listen. It's a classic. It's one of the best cd's i own now! if you dig The Chemical Bros, The Streets, FatBoy Slim, etc. you will love this cd. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The unique collaboration between Groove Armada's Andy Cato and left-field jazz/dance singer Rachel Foster that first premiered in the summer of 2001 gets an extended airing on the Pursuit of Happiness. The album is a decidedly laid-back affair, which never breaks above the "at rest" pulse of "Into the Sun." It's clear to see why so many have compared the Foster/Catto collaboration with Ben Watt and Tracey Thorn, as most of the tracks are strongly reminiscent of Everything But the Girl. "Best Days of Our Lives" and "Angel" also follow the pleasurable "spaced" style developed on Sade's Lovers Rock. Echoes of Groove Armada's infamous "At the River" feature heavily on "Jericho" and on the windswept album closer "Higher Ground." While all the stereotypical chill-out clichés can be used to describe the album ("lazy summer afternoon music," "4am post-clubbing soundtrack"), Pursuit of Happiness is perhaps three years too late, and although pleasant enough, serves as a quaint reminder of the summer of ‘99. --John Galilee ... Read more

Reviews (37)

Awesome debut!
The pursuit of happiness by Weekend players is a pursuit well worth your time. As an Everything but the girl fan, I was really pleased to hear a similar type of feel. If you like Tracy Thorn's vocals, you'll love Rachel Foster's! She sounds like Sade in a couple of songs, which is not a bad thing at all. "Higher ground" is a track that will no doubt be this CD's best even though it's repetitive nature might initially turn off some, but you can't deny this track's sensual and chill nature. I've been told by a couple of married friends of mine that they love to listen to it because of reasons that you will discover once you listen to it. There are other standouts on this CD such as "I'll be there", "21st century" and "Best days of our lives" which sounds as if Sade sung it herself. I really loved this CD when I initially got it sometime ago as an import and this version includes 2 remixes. I definitely would recommend this CD as it definitely gets you going in all sorts of ways. They really have an excellent mix of chill and dance music that I really liked. I can't wait to hear from more of this duo!

Pursuing Happiness - a good thing!
A great soundtrack for your drive to work, and a nice wind down for the ride home - sunny days only - windows down of course. This is definitely a cd that was meant to be played in the car, a soundtrack for warm sunny evenings driving home from the office - longing to be driving home from somewhere more exotic. I was expecting to be overwhelmed and blown away by an eclectic production (ala my first Everything but the Girl disc), but this was not the case. Instead I was presented with a solid, melodic, and inspirational journey with lots of vocals, smooth grooves, and an occasional easy beat to keep the ride interesting. And, I know I've heard some of these tracks before, but I dont know where...that kind of mystery always makes a disc enjoyable for me. If you like Zero 7, EBTG, Jose Padilla and the usual cast of downtempo, eclectic chillout artists, you'll want to go out and pick this up. Enjoy...and don't forget to roll the windows down. The warm breeze is nice this time of night, on the highway of your own pursuit of happiness.

Falling in Love
OK, I was falling in love when I had the pleasure of receiving this as a birthday gift. It was really a wonderful soundtrack to have at the time. The music is simply hauntingly beautiful and can make your haeart ache (in a good way) It stays with you and has made very nostalgic wehnever I listen to it. This CD holds a special place in my heart and brings me to a place that I will always cherish. It was that powerful for me. I know it had a lot to do with timing but I think you'll understand when you hear it. I would say 8-9 songs are absolutely stellar which is rare. Buy and listen to it a lot.

not dissappointed
I kept hearing the song, Jericho, on the jazz station I listen to at work. I thought it sound like Julia Fordham.. kept missing the title/ artist. Finally got it today. Never heard of the artists, but now a fan!

Incredible
This powerful album instantly converted me from a heavy "drum n bass" fan to smooth electro listener. The emotional tracks of this CD are all around flawless. Jazzy vocalist Rachel Foster is currently a daily addition to my life! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Less experimentally brash than his more recent release, Tricky's debut CD Maxinquaye is actually a better introduction to the British hip-hopper turned international trip-hopper than his later work. The dozen smoldering, moonlit tracks are less concerned with loopy aural exaggeration than they are with showcasing Tricky's slow-mo rap and singer Martine's sexy soprano. With the exception of the stellar "Pumpkin," (featuring vox from Alison Goldfrapp), the duo mix a colorful palate of rhythmic vocals, throbbing backbeats and gravelly electronic textures. Toss in large doses of sexual innuendo and Maxinquaye becomes a libidinous foray into languor and lust. --Nick Heil ... Read more

Reviews (85)

Trip-hop masterpiece
Coming out of collaboration with Massive Attack, Tricky was clearly bursting with ideas of his own. On Maxinquaye he sticks to a trip-hop bluieprint, ironically nicking Karma Coma's lyrics for the brooding 'Overcomes' and even sampling Portishead's 'Glory Box' - one of the classic triphop songs - on 'Hell Is Round The Corner'. Yet he infuses the sound with a dark, understated urban menace and with singer Martina Topley-Bird he creates sweltering, sexy grooves that sometimes, as on 'Abbaon Fat Tracks', descend into pure erotica. She has a sultry, alternative voice which complements his laidback rapping style very well, both of them sounding very British. Its an intriguing combination though its a shame that he doesnt take the mic and go solo more often. His only real freestyle rap comes on the almost old-skool hip-hop of 'Brand New You're Retro'.

Occasionally as on 'Strugglin' they wander astray without a tune and it makes for a somewhat routine track, acceptable as a 2-minute filler but unbearable stretched into 6 and 1/2 minutes. Yet there's more than enough to make up for it: the masterpiece of paraonoia that is an inspired cover of 'Black Steel', Topley-Bird's voice awash in aggressive guitars and gritty production. Her voice is an acquired taste, especially on tracks like 'Ponderosa' where her sound is totally Estuary, but its nicely broken up by the lush 'Pumpkin' which takes the ingenious tactic of marrying a Massive Attack-style backing track to Orbital (and, after this album, Goldfrapp) vocalist Alison Goldfrapp and a brooding Smashing Pumpkins sample. Also, when the tracks are as good as 'You Don't' which is reggae-tinged and almost like the Horace Andy tracks on 'Blue Lines' its churlish to complain.

Ultimately, Maxinquaye is not only a trip-hop masterpiece but an urban classic. Highly reccomended to fans of not just triphop but those new to the genre or mainstream hip-hop fans.

Trip-hop masterpiece (4.5 stars)
Coming out of the critically acclaimed Massive Attack, Tricky (having dropped Kid from his name) released his debut in 1995. Strange thing is, he's nowhere to be seen for the first three track, dropping by on the fourth slo-mo song. He uses the services of singer Martina Topley-Bird to chilling effect over sexy and dark songs.

Overcome: highly percussive opener, sexy singing. rowr. A
Ponderosa: another slow, sexy song with a strange carnival interlude. A
Black Steel: the worst song, a metal cover of Public Enemy; pointless, I always skip over it. drags the album quality down. D
Hell is Round the Corner: a stunning turnaround, slow-mo trip-hop based on an Isaac Hayes sample. brilliant. A+
Pumpkin: shimmering production, the quality continues. A
Aftermath: the longest song, just ride the groove. A-
Abbaon Fat Tracks: blatantly sexual lyrics, but so sexy you'll sweat. A-
Brand New You're Retro: furious tirade against hip-hop haters, blazing track. B+
Suffocated Love: the best track; great melody, sexy lyrics and singing, a must-hear for any trip-hop fan. A+
You Don't: ragga flavored track, not too shabby. B+
Strugglin': dense song, Tricky sounds like he's struggling to breathe. but he's more normal than some. A-
Feed Me: hypnotic closer, leaves you stunned. A

Fans of trip-hop will no doubt appreciate this dense and sexy album from an artist who has not been able to reach the heights he climbed with this album. Play it loud and float away.

TRICKY IS TRICKY!!!!
I stayed away from this CD for the longest, scared of what I might hear--I mean Tricky does look slightly demonic. But all that aside, "Maxinquaye" turned out to be just the opposite of what my initial perception was. It is in fact a masterpiece that can only be tantamount to the works of Massive Attack, Portishead and even DJ Shadow. With sexy vocals from Martina and Tricky himself, "Maxinquaye" keeps it appeal in 2004 with material that doesn't at all sound dated or forced, but instead sounds fresh and innovative as the day it was released. Tricky is truly a "trip-hop pioneer." "Maxinquaye" is haunting, sexy, profound, intense and down right funky! Highly Recommended!

Number 1
After owning this album since 1996, I can safely say...This is the best album I own. Hands down.

Being Haunted Has Never Been This Much Fun
This debut album, like Tricky's work with Massive Attack, signified an innovation in contemporary pop production and arrangement, like Eno's best work was to the 1970s or My Bloody Valentine's was to the early 1990s, and is probably the best trip-hop album ever. Tricky's bleak and cynical vision finds form through bizarrely juxtaposed collages of samples and loops that sound like he put his memories of music through a blender, as if he were both reveling in and taking revenge on our cut-and-paste society. Who'd ever have thought to assemble together the strange samples one hears on down-tempo tracks such as "Overcome" or "Ponderosa"? But it's not without humor (starting with his spliff-ravaged speak-sing) and a thorough sense of irony, exemplified most strongly on the piece "Strugglin'" with its dislocated rhythm track of a gun being cocked. Then there's Martina's sleepy voice chiding and hiding through the mix. This is a sexy, smoky, disorienting and beautiful album by a madman. ... Read more

Reviews (30)

Somber beauty for the center of a soulful night
There are times when you can tell a book by it's cover . . . Enter the world of Baxter and you will see how perfectly and seemlessly these three musicians have created this haunted brooding corner of the world. Former Salt vocalist Nina Ramsby has joined forces with Ricky Tillblad and Carl-Michael Herlofsson to take the listener on a journey through the hearts midnight meanderings. Searching,yearning, questioning, such lines as "Just tell me once again if you have dreams of me becoming you" will leave you wondering just what your lovers dreams might be, as well as your own. And yet Baxter is full of enough instrumental and rhythmic adventure to keep things very interesting on a musical level. This is not a CD that will leave you bored or depressed. As if to drive this point home, Nina sings on the last track "Oh my love, don't take it too seriously . . .". Is she speaking to her lover, or to the action of love itself. You'll be awake all night wondering . . . listening.

Perfect - except....
This CD is fantastic trip-hop, and I think any trip-hop fan will agree. Track one is just beyond beautiful, and track two is one of my all-time favorite songs, but soon after, around track 5 or 6, the effect wears off, and all the tracks seem to blend together, until the last track, which is wonderful. It's a shame, really. All the beats begin to mix and, unless you're very attentive, you can't tell when one song started and teh next one began. To keep this album fresh all the way through, the blokes from Baxter shouldv'e divided up the boring tracks with a few great ones inbetween. Oh well, this CD is still quite great, you just won't be able to listen to it all at once. My advice: Buy it, but don't listen to it constantly, that way, when you come back to it, it'll still seem fresh. That's what I do.

Nina Ramsby
Nina Ramsby (the singer for Baxter) was also the singer for Salt. Salt made one album "Auscultate". Both albums are very good.

Lovely
To a Trip-hop fan....I highly recommend this CD. Comparable to sneakerpimps. Dark feeling with groovey hip-hop beats behind it all. 4 stars on this one.

Beautiful Trip Hop.
Remember when trip hop was all the rage? Unfortunately, the musical style seemed to flicker and die, but Baxter will always be in my cd collection.

This cd is perfect. Nina's voice is lovely, the songwriting excellent, the musicianship pristine.

This cd reminds me of when I lived in Portland and would roam the city streets in the rain, completely alone, yet surrounded by the hustle and bustle of the city streets. That is when I first heard of Baxter, and the mood of the music just seemed to evoke a particular essence. Sort of gloomy, lost, yet beautiful, and powerful in its own quiet way. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

The Jaxx
I Will Rate Each Track Out Of 10 ( DISC ONE )In This Exquisite Album -

Red Alert 10/10
.The best song on this album. Extremely catchy, and will have you dancing before you know it. a classic!

Good Luck 10/10
.Mastrpeice! Song about someone who was cheated on, it is fast paced and has beautiful vocals backed up by a powerful beat!

Romeo 8/10
.At first, you may think its repetitive, but it does grow on you.'Pumpy' is the best word to describe it

Oh My Gosh 7/10
. Jaxx's New release is great! But doesnt match to most of the other tracks, still good. Video is funny too.

Bingo Bango 9/10
. You could call this repetitive, and you could be right. but somehow you just fall in love with it, or at least i do. Listen closely to the great beat!

Wheres Your Head At 4/10
. I Hate this. well maybe not hate, but still, i usually skip it. Maybe the reason i dont like it is the 'wheeeres yo head aaaaat' shouts, it annoys me greatly. thats my opinion, at least.

Rendez Vu 8/10
. A Nightclub Anthem simply by the beat, and its totally great! like may songs on this album, they tend to grow on you, if you havent heard them before. but keep listening and you will 'feel' it.

Jump And Shout 5/10
. Has A big reaggae feel to it. i dont really like it, as i dont of wheres your head at. the chorus is awful, and the verses, well, usually i like stuff like that, most of my albums are hip hop but im not feeling this. skip!

Lucky Star 7/10
. Simply not higher beacuse its dizzie rascal. i gave it a chance of course, and yet again, dizzie has failed to impress. he is a total disgrace to hip hop. The chorus is good, and if it wasnt there, my rating of this track would drop! 'round round round we g... 'SHUT UP DIZZIE YOU IDIOTIC EXCUSE FOR A RAPPER'

Plug It In 10/10
. wow. Surely, no, this isnt... JC from nsync? IT IS! WOW! Hats off to him, this is my second faverioute track on the album. Chorus, verses, Beats, evreything, it Fits. Masterpeice, you cannot not adore this track. And i cannot stop my finger pressing the repeat button evreyime this track comes.

U Dont Know Me 6/10
. I swear ive heard something like this before. its uncanny. but anyway, im not so fond of this track. maybe its to slow for my liking, hehe... ok moving on-

Do Your Thing 8/10
Another 'pumpy' tune, And A Total catchy workout track. so get up there and 'do your thing!. And can i note at this point, i see alot of people are comparing jaxx with outkast. PEOPLE, THEY ARE TOTALLY DIFFRENT.
BASEMENT JAXX- DANCE
OUTKAST- HIP HOP
and yes, i do own speakerboxxx/love below,stankonia and aquemini. these two artists cant be used as comparisions...
Also, note, dizzie rascal if your reading this - Outkast are proper hip hop! learn!

Jus 1 Kiss 7/10
. Likeable track, certainly euphoric. not much to say, hear it for yourself.

Flylife 6/10
. Im running out of thoughts to write about. Lol. ok this songs average, some parts i like some parts i dont. one thing for sure is the beat. and this is why basement jaxx will always rule over fatboy slim, chemical bro's, etc.

Samba Magic 7/10
. An, instrumental, with many twists and turns. truly magic, musicwize. and a great finish to one of my faverioute albums of this year! And its only began! To others - mak a better album .. go on! i dare you!

Thanks for reading the review folks. Buy the album, its one of those you will always listen to!!! ... Read more

Reviews (5)

ok
Like I said I only vaguely heard one person talk about the involvement with porn. Even though the fact that someone has a religious preference does deal with intelligence, the fact that someone tries to express messages or "various stuff" including "I'm a God-darned Satanist, and, if I wanted, I'd be in [t]his business too" (Alpha Omega). Save your comments for the forums.

Inspired Analog Soundings
BOC use analog or analog mimicry to make interesting music that at times sound like old 70's/80's soundtrack's to corporate video promotional videos or old Moog type music for b-movie sci-fi and it works very well. The themes seem to center around the dreamlike wonderland state of children as their voices are featured in some samples. Interesting chill out trip hop that I found myself listening to again and again. I must investigate them further.

the breakthrough album
I cannot but laugh at the review of the "music fan from USA" - it has nothing serious as an arguement against the music, in fact:
- BoC's "involvement with porn" is actually the sample on Sixtyniner on Twoism - a man talking about his first time, in fact the text is rather romantic; they have sampled porn movies for some songs, but it is wrongly suggested that this is what they did on Gyroscope on Geogaddi. So, basically, this is their "involvement with porn" - not making porn movies with the famous Super 8 camera, and DEFINITELY NOT on the CD cover, which is a classic;

- BoC use various stuff to make their music more interesting, they implement mathematical formulas, the golden ratio and other things that take a while to be done - so their songs are carefully and precisely produced, with subtle details that add MEANING to the music;

- references to "the birth of the satanic church, hypnotism, brainwashing, and cult movements" can only be taken seriously by a person whose intelligence is... ok, you get the point. Giving one star to this album is ridiculous - this is one of the best records ever made, and its double nature - the child-like innocence and the paranoia of adulthood is in the core of its brilliance.

Good Music at first...
Well I thought the CD rocked at first. Extremely interesting music. I liked most of the songs on there. But the legal note in the song "One very important thought" talks about censorship and protecting our constitutional rights. It got me curious why someone would censor music like this. I searched on the internet and didn't find much except somebody saying something about their involvement with porn (Maybe on the CD cover ???). But What I Did Find was that almost all of their CD's are riddled with references to the birth of the satanic church, hypnotism, brainwashing, and the cult movements. Most are completely invisible to the human ear. Don't believe me? Look it up for yourself. The devil is in the details.

A blend of enjoyable organic-sounding chillout music
Softer, subtler and more organic-sounding than Autechre and Squarepusher, this production by Boards of Canada provides the perfect blend for some nice background music to chill out to. Staying away from anything remotely similar to an ambient sound, the Scottish duo elaborates around some minimal loops without ever becoming too noisy or industrial, ocasionally adding some voice loops on top, to craft a piece of music that is fairly unique in nature. With longer songs (in the 5-to-6-minute bracket) intertwined around short ones (no more than 2 minutes at a time), the album gradually melts in your mouth, while you enjoy some good company and let the lights of your day be slowly dimmed. ... Read more

Album Description

DJ Spooky That Subliminal Kid has teamed up with Dave Lombardo (drummer for Slayer) to see what one of the world's best DJs could do with beats supplied by the best thrash metal drummer of all time. Added to the mix are the talents of Chuck D from Public Enemy and legendary Living Colour guitarist Vernon Reid. To bring it all together, Meat Beat Manifesto co-produced "Drums of Death" along with DJ Spooky. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Jack Of All Trades Master Of NONE
DJ, Producer, Musician, Writer, artist, and Filmmaker(ha) is often called a Renaissance man.Well Mr. Spooky just because you own final cut pro doesn't make you a filmmaker and just because you own protools does not make you a musician.This is the worst of Spooky's many failures!Time to pick a career and devout your life to it instead of all this haphazard look I do everything just not very well nonsense.If you want to be a musician, be a musician. You can still do those other things, They're called hobbies.

Spooky is off the chain !
Oh my God ! Spooky with the god father of political rap (Chuck D) is almost too much to listen to on a workday !

Spooky and Dave's beats are sick and Chuck D is the perfect addition to this CD. B Side wins again is so sick I almost lost my mind listening to it at work ! :-)

Much ups to Chuck, Dave, and Spooky...real "rebels without a pause"!

Even an incredible all-star line up can't help this album...
Man! Jack Dangers, Chuck D, Vernon Reid, Dave Lombardo...An incredible group of talent.However, the majority of the album loses steam with the contrasting energies of the individual parts creating a fractured and meandering whole.Credit must definitely be given to Dave Lombardo for excellent drum work, Chuck D for being Chuck D, and to Jack Dangers for the Bass and Guitar(!?) work on several of the songs.This album is a great gesture, but seems to be more of a novelty album than a repeat player.I like DJ Spooky's older illbient material, but I still feel that he is an excellent DJ, but a hit or miss producer.

Ultimately, it's the kind of amazing lineup album that I'm dying to get a hold of, but now am a bit disappointed now that I've got it in my hands...

Similar or related (and much better than this album):
Praxis
Material
Fantomas
Meat Beat Manifesto
Public Enemy

Bad
Just as simple as that.I own just about everything that Spooky has put out and I own many things that Thirsty Ear has released and this has got to be the worse release to date.Not that the idea or the combination between these musicians was a bad idea but the idea just didn't get realized with this recording.Songs seem like a bunch of pieces just slapped together and not well thought out constructions.

I just hope no one buys this album as their first experience to DJ Spooky.

Brother's Gonna Work it Out
Long anticipated and well worth the wait, Drums of Death is a supergroup recording if ever there was one. DJ Spooky and Slayer drummer Dave Lombardo initially conceived the project as a duo which eventually morphed into a full band project. Multi-instrumentalist / producer Jack Dangers (aka: Meat Beat Manifesto) signed on as did Living Colour guitarist Vernon Reid along with a few vocal appearances by Public Enemy Number 1.

Chuck D unleashes his trademarked delivery on three cuts which evokes Public Enemy's salad days, when the Bomb Squad had Rick Rubin's support to sample and pillage until pure waves of sound were at their disposal. Now those sound waves come courtesy of DJ Spooky and Jack Dangers' limitless arsenal of sound, with additional shredding support courtesy of Vernon Reid. Considering "Brother's Gonna Work it Out," "B-Side Wins Again" and "Public Enemy # 1" are all old Public Enemy tunes, it's interesting to hear how well these re-imagined hip-hop classics fit into a more modern program and how, by their inclusion, a historical continuum is created. Dalek even shows up to rap on "Assisted Suicide" backed by a surprisingly effective vocal sample of avant garde composer Meredith Monk.

The album is primarily instrumental with the main players reveling in their respective genres to magnificent effect. As expected, there are moments of churning speed metal but relentlessly funky bass, shuffling break beats and spacey dub reggae appear as well. The turntable mixing and sampling is old school cool crossed with sci-fi ambience. DJ Spooky and Dave Lombardo even break it down to a show stopping duo in "Incipit Zarathustra." "Drums of Death" is an impressive assemblage and a cogent study in rhythmic texture with the boys showing off some improvisational chops on "The Art of War." There have been numerous hip-hop, rock and jazz collaborations before but none have been as intriguingly cohesive as this. Tentatively part of Thirsty Ears' new "metallic blue" series... one can only imagine what will come next. ... Read more