Album Description

Nude Dimensions is a Naked Music series devoted to thedeepest, sexiest tracks to be found in the racks, we'veenlisted the showmanship of one of San Francisco'sbest-kept dj secrets, Mauricio Aviles. Mauricio has beenpaving the way for deep house in San Francisco for the past 10 years and is probably one of the most recognizable heads in the SF scene. ... Read more

Reviews (16)

La Musica de Sexy House
A refreshing break from all other normal house music compilations already available, Nude Dimensions Volume 2 has come to be known and regarded as one of the standards by which soulful & sexy house music is judged by.

From the first track to the last, Mauricio Aviles has compiled an album which represents the smooth grace and vibes that depict sexy deep house music. What makes this CD so attractive in my opinion is the subtle soulful R&B grooves. Special standouts include "Superficial" [#1], "Pure" [#2], and "Aquanote" [#5]. Extra consideration should be given to Lovetronic's Vocal mix of Lisa Shaw's "Always" [#14]: this song personifies the true deep and soulful vibe of house music mixed with a touch of R&B; especially given the beautiful latin percussion sounds at the end of this last track on the CD which back up the soothing vocals. The heart and "soul" of the entire CD can be found in tracks #8, #9, #10. These tracks alone make the album worth purchasing. Miguel 'Migs' remix of MJ Cole's "Sincere" [#10] is the MVP standout track of the album by far.

Those looking for the end-all and be-all definition of what "sexy house" music should resemble should not looking any further than this album. It's smooth rhythms and sexy appeal are simply amazing. The producing is wonderful and the arrangement is outstanding. Almost every time I listen to this album I find myself appreciating a different track in a refreshingly new way *each* time. I can not give this album enough mad props; great for giving any party that "sexy" feel, any of these tracks could be found at the best house dance clubs around the globe. Super sexy? You betcha. I am positive that this CD will continue to set the standard for soulful sexiness years after it's original release date. What are you waiting for? Take your clothes off now.

Brilliant
Originally, I heard a few of these tracks on the internet, and I knew I had to own it. Mauricio Avila is a relatively unkonown San Fransisco dj and on this Dimensions installment he puts himself out there and shows just what a dj should be. Avila is like a fantastic lover, he's never too gentle and he's never too hard, he puts you right where you need to be.
The second track of Blue 6's Pure gets a fantastic remixing by the brilliant Miguel Migs. The entire cd is wrought with deep grooves and [hot] basslines. Avila mixes records effortlessly, like two ships passing in the night. The dub version of Undercover Agency's I Need You in my Life gets the []vibe underway and its nothing but continual []shakin' from there on. Track 8 is Sirus's Big Ben, the epitome of deep house. And by far the best track is undoubtedly track 12. Cooly's Hot Box track Could You Love Me? is nothin short of brilliant.
This installment of Nude Dimensions is without a doubt one of those rare albums that one does not need to skip over tracks. It's a brilliant mix of music and it fits into any situation. I have played it in my car, at work, and at home when friends come round for drinks. This album should be part of any self-respecting house music lovers collection. Its a definitive classic.

If They Only Knew...
...what they're missing by writing off all house music as mindless thump thump s***. Trippy, erotic and soothing R & B based house music to satisfy your soul.
Highlights include "Chocolat" by Afro Elements (track 3), the Miguel Migs remix of "Sincere" by M.J. Cole, and of course the beautiful "Always" by the lovely Ms. Lisa Shaw. But really this record is meant to be listened to (and danced to) as a whole, as an experience or a journey.
Truly uplifting.

VOLUME 2: TAKING IT HIGHER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Volume 2 of the Nude Dimensions series surpasses Volume 1 by leaps and bounds with funky, seemless remixes of songs from dance floor masters MJ Cole, Bougie Soliterre, Blue Six, Solor House and Astro Trax! This baby is a non-stop party and should only be played if you plan to really get down and dirty with it! NOTE: Not for the weak of heart, or folks who can't dance!!!

Eargasm...
Simply put, the Nude Dimensions series from Naked Music is the best there is in deep, sexy house. It doesn't get any better...period. Jay, Bruno, Mauricio, Dave, etc - you guys are brilliant.... ... Read more

Album Description

Nude Dimensions was pieced together by Naked's own BrunoYbarra and Petalpusher (Miguel 'Migs') to showcase thejourney so far - deep, delicious, sexy unreleased cutsalongside industry standards by the likes of CharlesSchillings, Bob Sinclar, Atjazz and more. ... Read more

Reviews (16)

Breakin' It Down......it's da Bomb!
What can I say, this CD has now become a Classic in the world of Naked Music releases. Talk about Funkdafied, this CD covers everything you ever thought Funky was and should be when it comes to House. This CD is mixed by one of my favorite dj's and that is the wonderful Miguel Migs. The standout tracks on this disc are "Breakin' It Down" and "Music & Wine" the rest of the CD is also great. Naked Music has made a big niche in the world of Dance Music, and this disc was they're step in the right direction. Nude Dimensions Vol 1, has set the standard with it's trademark being deep soulful vocals and funky bass filled beats.
You can't go wrong with this gem as it will be a permanent fixture in my dance music collection.

incredible, fun, deep loving music
I just recieved Nude Dimensions Vol 1 in the mail yesterday....
Oh my goodness, this cd rocks

my fav tracks are
1) Li Sha - thats why Im here (Migs Transporters vocal)
2) Lovetronic- you are love (si brads playback dub) and the (jayus afrotronic ext. vocal) mix
3) weekender- spirit in your soul .... (absolute fav track on the cd)

I found the energy in this compilation fluid, never letting up, soothing, and relaxing. The mixing is excellent, inticingly driving you to the next track.

Overall 5 out of 5 .....

a must for deep house lovers!!!!

Metro Gnome
Man, do you MEN need to have $ex with a metronome? If that's workin' for y'all better than Cialis, then by all means, get this CD. Me, I'd be smashing the cd player during foreplay. Monotonous, but sexy. Gimme Barry White instead. Now that's nekkid muzak. Uh-hmmm.

A worthy addition to your dance music collection
Miguel Migs has put together a very good dance mix CD. It has the generally high quality that we have all come to expect from him and, of course, Naked Music. I have to stop just short of giving this a perfect 5-star rating because it's not as consistently excellent as Miguel's superior effort, Nude Tempo I. Although I listen to this CD often (almost every day), I often find myself skipping past certain tracks, especially track 5. Nonetheless, if you like dance music with a sophisticated feel to it, you can't go wrong with this CD.

THREE DIMENSIONAL NUDE DIMENSIONS!!!
The Nude Dimension series has got to be the hottest and most sought after dance CD on the market today! It's easy to say that with the mix of smooth house grooves and incredible vocals from the likes of Li'sha and Janet Rushmore! If you're a club head, DJ or just like good house music with sass-appeal, this is the CD for you! ... Read more

Album Description

Volume 3 takes a snapshot of the wide spectrum of dancestyles being produced around the world blending electro,broken beat and nu-jazz with signature deep house feelthat's been this series hallmark. ... Read more

Reviews (46)

Fine smooth, but without the same magic
After a fantastic one and two. Naked Music released Vol. 3 with a lot to live up to. I mean what do you do after a complication such as Mauricio Aviles' Vol.2, which made you fall in love with house music all over again?

I'll cut to the chase; Vol.3 is a bit of a disappointment. Not because it's a bad album (its actually quite good) in itself, but because I can't help to compare it to it's predecessors. After all it is part of a series. It's definitely got that Nude Dimensions hallmark of sleek, sultry and sexy deep house. However it's missing the magic of its predecessors!

I miss that "oh yeah" feeling you get when you hear a series of tunes that just gets better and better. The feeling that makes it impossible for you to sit still.

This CD has its high points especially in the first two tracks where you get the feeling that you're going to hear something special and tracks 12 and 13 which are just lush. However, I keep listening and waiting for the magic to happen as each track rolls by...

Personally I think Naked music are champions in their chosen arena and I know they'll continue to be so, but I can't honestly tell you that this mix is one of their best.

Keeping the nude vibe...
Rain starts th CD off sounding like the last two compilations, but this one wanted to stray....If you read inside the Cd it says that Naked Music wanted to experiment a bit with this volume. They wanted to use more percussion, and different beats from around the deep house dance globe. What results is same Naked Music, keeping up with the latest music trends. That's what DJ's do best: experiment and come up with awesome sounds that we can chill to. Favorite tracks: Rain, Everyday and Step into the light. Just a reminder, buy the previous volumes and you won't be sorry.

My First Chill-Out CD
This Cd is great to Lounge around the house and chill-out to. I love the mellow beats, and funky-jazzy spots..Pick it up no need to second guess it !!

Pleasantly surprised
I have just spent a weekend listening to this on repeat at a friend's place and have only good things to say about it. I logged onto this now to order my very own copy and found a lot of backwards and forwards on the quality of this cd, how it compares to previous releases etc. So I felt compelled to add my bit.

I have not heard volumes 1 and 2 so cannot comment on them. All I know is that I enjoyed this cd very much. Re the reviews: some interesting comments regarding slip covers, varying styles and failure / success rates on the mixing but at end of day doesn't it just come down to the way you felt at 'that' time when you heard it? Sometimes you don't have to understand why and why should you? And often enough even a complete dissection of the success or failure of an album will fail to dissuade you that YOU like or dislike it more or less, right? So I am adding my comments to the list of people that liked it.

Fantabulous
Love the vibes from these waves. It's completely fresh sounds that are just great for crusin'. ... Read more

Album Description

It is with great pleasure that we unveil the secondinstallment in Naked Music's Carte Blanche series, pushingthe envelope even further and blurring the lines betweenjazz, funk, trip-hop and soul. Dedicated to fulfilling thesonic desires of our 'between the cracks' quest - we've dug up a good sampling of musical gems worthy of recognition. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Classy
being a House fan from the old days and only buying classics,
i just recently discovered this remarkable and hypnotizing brand of music.
I'm kicking myself for not pursuing this earlier...
Shame on me for giving up hope on House.
It's a nice welcome.

sensual and soothing
This album in every aspect is fantastic!
Great chillout tunes, excellent for any occasion: A party with friends, a night with your loved one, or even when you're alone at home, or driving your car.

Excellent!!!

Excellent chill out music
Relaxed, Jazzy, Laid-back house music. Make me remember my first Naked Music album was Midnight Snack which is released in 1999, what a nice album it was, so different from other mainstream chill out flood. This album is even better with much better sound. Non of the songs in this album disappoint me.

By the way, Amazon.com wrote the release date wrong, it is not in 2001, it was in Oct. 2000. However, this album still has the refreshing and up-to-date feeling. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Falling loosely under the rubric of the '90s lounge/exotica craze--specifically the revival of interest in bossa nova, samba, and Brazilian-inflected jazz-funk styles--this CD culls a consistently interesting set of tracks from a widespread network of musicians and record labels. Although some of the artists actually hail from Brazil, others are spreading the good word from France, Italy, and even Norway. Portugal's Nortesul Records starts the collection with a delicately beautiful song from singer Teresa, and the perfect balance of solid groove and chanteuse vocals hits a peak with the Tom y Joyce track "Vai Minha Tristeza", one of several tracks from performers associated with France's Yellow Productions. Italy's Nicola Conte's "Bossa per Due" combines organ, guitar, and wordless singing with a little sitar and synthesizer, swooping into a breezy four minutes. Also from Italy, representing the Irma Records stable, the Cordara Orchestra presents the CD's title track, a gently melancholy instrumental that has early '70s sit-com written all over it--you can just see Jack Klugman or Mary Tyler Moore having a pensive walk in the park after some minor and not irreversible emotional defeat. Overall, the mix of rhythmic complexity, emotional cool, and a slightly kitschy sensibility will satisfy aficionados and may pleasantly surprise newcomers. --Bob Bannister ... Read more

Reviews (20)

Probably the lowest rate
I am not agree with the most people that makes review of this CD. Infact my real rate it's between the 2 and 3, probably the lowest!I am sorry but i cannnot understand why in this work there are 3 songs like the last 2 (Balanco and Cordara Orchestra) and like the third one (Hi Fi trumpet).It's a pity because the rest it's quite a good job. In any case the project (a jet society around the world) was probably too ambicius. The resault it's more a travel in the night clubs where you can find old rich men with young nice girls. This is the atmosphera that i feel on this Cd. In any case there are something good ( for exemple the first song Lisboa a note) and with good mix (in particular between 5 to 9 tracks).At the end i suggest not to buy it.....but if you buy more than 100 cd in a year...well you can also buy it!

Nice laid back party music
When this is playing in the backround, people don't really stop what theyre doing to listen to it, but it does bring everyone's spirits up. It's a very jazzy funky collection of 50s-70s sounding lounge music from the very modern, to the cheesy burt bacharach-ish last track. Most of it is very enjoyable, but a few just make me laugh and hit the 'next' button, such as Stereo Action Unlimited's 'Hi Fi trumpet'. Overall a very nice cd and a collection of songs and styles I have yet to find anywhere else.

Swanky, smooth, and samba-riffic!
This cd has it all, a perfect soundtrack to poolside cocktails, a cool-down drive, or after dinner fun with a select few. A somewhat skewed and slightly blunted approach to Carnivale that will leave you wanting more, and ESL (the label this is on) has it for you. Dont' miss out!

A worthwhile revivalist attempt
Beckoned by the hip sophisticates and alluring travel photos on the album's cover, I picked up "Jet Society" from Amazon, along with twenty other discs. With so many albums to listen to, however, the CD was stored neatly in my shelf and never given a second thought. One day I found myself craving a little bossa-funk, so I decided to give "Jet Society" another chance. I'm certainly glad I did. I've discovered some new artists and added a few more favorite songs to my playlist.

Teresa's "Lisboa A Noite" is my favorite track. Check out Pink Martini if you dig this sound. "Hi-Fi Trumpet" has a great latin feel, with a few flute, trumpet & vocal bits to spice things. "Seasons" offers up some retro-modern funk. Organs, jazzy flutes & funky guitars jam as a breathy female voice says "hey, wake up." Unfortunately, by the time you've made a dent in the tracklist, you may do just the opposite. Tracks 7-9 don't quite jive with the others and are worth skipping. In fact, the rest of the album drags until you near the tail end of the disc, at which point the sophisticated jazz-funk of "Cinnamon & Clove II" will perk you up and leave you hungry for more. Sorry to say, there's only one track left for you after "Cinnamon & Clove II," and that's the title track.

In addition to the dull bits near the end, bossa fans may be annoyed to find Nicola Conte's "Bossa Per Due" on this album. Featured on 18 different discs, and a few television commercials, this song (though enjoyable on the first few listens) has grown repetetive and I'm downright sick of hearing it on every compilation I own.

All flaws aside, "Jet Society" is a great compilation, and an essential for those unfamiliar with the budding lounge revival. As the cover booklet states, "these songs suggest a world that can only exist in our imaginations." Pick up a copy of "Jet Society" and escape to your own unique world.

sweetness
You know those super-cool bossa nova do-do-la-la vocals you here over car commercials as the honda or peugot glides down a frosty curving highway? Well, the songs in their entirety are on this collection of brazilian, portugese and italian music, each breezier and more soulful than the next. ... Read more

Amazon.com

You're having a dinner party. The in-laws are going to be there. So are some of your closest "after-hours" friends. You need music, something mellow but not despicably insipid. Welcome to a double-disc set that will cover all the above bases. Featuring Dido's "Home with Me (Chillin' with the Family Mix)," St Germain's wonderful, downtempo "Sure Thing," and Royksopp's jaunty "Eple," it's mainstream enough for the progressive suburbanites in your midst. Meanwhile, Badly Drawn Boy's "The Shining" and "Nights Interlude" from Nightmares on Wax are culled from a deeper well of modern folk and jazz, respectively. The second disc, which contains some absolute gems, works overall as a more fluid mix. After Jakatta and Moby bring us further in, Dusted hit the dubbed-out trip-hop trail with "Childhood." Witchman (a.k.a. John Roome) has the set's best moment with "Leave No Trace (Dub)," a smoky bit of wicked seduction that makes for a marvelous chill-out gem. --Steffan Chirazi ... Read more

Reviews (53)

Oh man. Awesome.
There ARE thousands upon thousands of chillout compilations. It seems like the in thing to do if you're a producer.

But this one is still excellent. I purchased this a couple days after it came out, and I've been in love with chillout music ever since; a good introduction indeed.

The track selection is a great way to get anyone into chillout. It showcases big names in downtempo (Thievery Corporation, Zero 7, Massive Attack), stuff you've probably never heard of (Royksopp, Dusted), and even commercially available stuff (Dido, Moby, Deep Dish, Chemical Brothers).

The first disc is the easier to enjoy of the two, as it's livelier, funkier, and would probably go well with your girlfriend, a couch, and dimmed lights. Standouts on the disc are Zero 7's "Destiny", one of my favourite songs ever, Royksopp's incredibly catchy tune "Eple", and the classic Massive Attack tune "Hymn Of The Big Wheel". The only shortcoming on the disc is I Monster's "Daydream In Blue", which doesn't really fit with the mood of the rest of the CD.

The second disc is slightly more abstract and full of lesser known artists. But it does include two very classic tracks: Moby's "Go", and The Future Sound Of London's "Papua New Guinea". Standouts on this disc are Banda Sonora's "Guitarra G", a slick drum+bass track with flamenco guitars, as well as the warm and fuzzy track "16 Again" by Neon Heights.

All in all, this collection is well worth your money, especially for someone who is new to the realm of chillout music.

another chillout album...
For those of you who haven't an extensive cd collection of chillout beats this cd would make a nice addition to your collection. I recently purchased this cd as it makes a nice compilation including many of the artists I hold in high regard making an appearance. I must say that the track selection is for the most part exceptional with several of my favourites being listed including "Zero 7 - destiny", "Future Sounds of London - Papua new Guinea" an excellent downtempo version which also makes for an excellent dance track via Hybrid's remix, "Massive attack - Hymn of the big wheel" a moving and vocally aesthetic song as only Massive Attack knows how.. and "St Germains - Sure Thing" a popular track regularly played in bars and lounges since its release on "Tourist".
The cd also includes a few more 'commercial' American tracks from Roger Sanchez ,Jakkata, Dido and Gorillaz , each having been mixed to keep in with the deep and downbeat atmosphere created by the rest of the tracks. Personally I don't think these hold up alongside the European masters of chill on the album like Zero 7, K&D, Thievery corporation and St Germain. CD 2 starts to lose its flair after track 10 with a few sterile and rather flat tracks.

The Best CDS Yet
When I first heard the cd, I was like man, this would be awesome to chill too, not knowing it was called Ultra Chill. When i found out i knew i had to have it so i bought volume 1 and 2. I loved Volume 1 with Nigntmares on Wax, Gorillaz, Dido, and many more. But when i put in Volume 2 i have to admit i was a little disappointed. But all in all i love both cds and if had a second chance would DEFINATELY buy agian.

fantastic compilation
I discovered this CD when I walked into a music store in downtown San Francisco and it was being played in the store. I immediately asked which CD it was and after listening to some other tracks on a listening station promptly purchased two copies (one for myself, and one as a gift).

I don't buy many CDs.

Good, but not consistently good
I disagree with some other reviewers. I love Disc 2. It has a hip, mellow but uplifting mood, and flows nicely. Disc 1 is more hit and miss. I'm a bit sick of the Dido track; it's been around a while and used a lot it seems, or maybe it's just that it was the theme song for a TV show that has killed it for me. I've listened to Disc 2 far more than Disc 1. But I'd hesitate about spending full price on this double disc album when only one of the two discs is a keeper. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Fatboy Slim and Paul Oakenfold, two of the most famous DJs in the world and kings of big beat and house, respectively, are supremely showcased in this double-CD collection. The Essential Selection, Vol. 1 glorifies each mixmaster's equal, yet mutually exclusive talents in roof raising. The back-to-back discs are an enlightening example of the yin and yang of club music; Fatboy Slim's grounded, drier, giddier expressions of overlapping funk and disco juxtapose Oakenfold's spatial, entrancing continuum supplemented with buzzing, flatulent bass lines, and celestial synths. Both DJs are experts in flow, building beats seamlessly into climactic moments of frenzied, adrenaline-fueled euphoria, then swinging the vibe down again with the subtlety and patience of a free-falling feather. No doubt Fatboy Slim is known for his deliberate lack of subtlety stylistically, but when placed in this context, immediately compared to Oakenfold's ethereal grooves, it's evident that Stormin' Norman possesses copious finesse. Because of their stylistic polarity, like platinum and gold, these DJs shine with matched but multihued brilliance, and like soil and sun, are indispensable components of a diverse dance music ecology. --Beth Massa ... Read more

Reviews (45)

Crazy-style
While this album is a valuable piece of my collection, it can be hit-or-miss on a track by track basis. The largest problem I have is that the two sets are so different - while I like both, it doesn't seem to make sense to have both in the same box.

Fatboy Slim's set starts off with an annoyingly loud beat but falls into its groove by the fourth track, at which point he unleashes a set that includes some of the best track-to-track mixes I've heard anywhere. His lead-ins between tracks 4 through 9 are mind-bogglingly excellent, and then... the set degenerates into another annoying beat that continues through several full tracks. The remainder is spotty, though his mix of Groove Armada's "At the River" bears mention.

Oakenfold's set is, well, Oakenfold. It's neither above or below the standard for most of his other material, and difficult to differentiate from Tranceport. It doesn't spend a lot of time in my MD player, but I'll throw it on at a party. Nothing specific on this second disc jumps to mind.

I think this set is worth buying just for the incredible zone Fatboy Slim hits in the middle of the first disc, but I suspect not everyone would agree with me. Be sure to listen before you buy this one.

great paul okenfold. OK If you like fatboy slim
I was very disappointed when I played disk 1 in the car on the way home from the music store. Then I played disk 2 and I felt better, a lot better. To me, It's worth the price of the set. (Note the 5 stars)

I didn't check out Paul Okenfold's mixes till he was rated best in the world by "Details?" and I bought TrancePort. This is better than TrancePort.

I guess I don't like Fatboy Slim too much. Although I have liked a couple of his other CDs like "You've come a long way baby." I have them all I think. I didn't like this CD at all.

FYI: I like Trance (Sahsa, John Digweed), NewAge (Enigma, Euphoria), Breakbeat (DJ Icey, Kurtis Mantronik, Micro), Techno Industrial (NIN, Front 242) and Chemical Bros. I really really liked the first Chemical Brothers, and the "Brothers Gonna Work It Out" mix album. I don't like Prodigy as much.

This is Comical!!!
Boy, do I love this. Fatboy Slim tears it up on his CD, Oakenfold continues to put me to sleep!!! All I have to say is, if you have the extra money to drop on these CDs, buy it for Fatboy Slim's Disc. Truely one of his better...

Two genres, two discs, two different moods
First of all, if you've never been exposed to electronic music, buy this double CD set. It is a rarity among dance mix compilations since it includes two popular but very different styles of dance mixed by two of the biggest DJs in the world. Almost all other dance mix sets contain one style exclusively, so this album is truly a 2-for-1 deal.
If you happen to be an electronica guru, this compilation may not whet your thirst for innovation. The first CD, Fatboy Slim's big beat mix, sounds dated, despite being fairly high energy. True, there are it's fine points, such as the few tracks in the middle of the mix that create an enjoyable climax, but as a whole the mix sounds old and worn. Unless you're a truly big Fatboy Slim fan, his mix probably will have you hitting the "skip" button on your CD player over and over again to escape the repetition of annoying beats.
As for the Oakenfold mix, it's the reason I gave the album 4 stars. Stand-alone, this CD is one of the best trance mixes to come out just before the trance genre began to flood with exhausted, overplayed, producer driven stagnation. Some critics have panned the Oakenfold mix claiming the song selection was second rate. I could not disagree more. Most of the songs are wonderful selections on their own right, utilizing pure emotion. The CD begins with a surrealistic soundbyte of a New York Thanksgiving day television weathercast, which quickly builds into an energetic hill with the likes of "The Spirit" and "Free". The 3 song climax is among the best I've ever heard, and one that can't be missed. Of note is Solarstone's "Seven Cities", which literally makes the listener feel as if he/she is truly on an emotional ride. The closing two songs on the mix are a wonderful cool-down, of note is "Viola" which is one of the best late night driving songs ever.
Overall I think it's a ...investment well worth the cost.

big beat and trance together?
Fatboy Slim and Paul Oakenfold are two of the biggest dj's out there right now, producing great mix cd's and doing sellout shows. so where did they go wrong on this album???

The first disc, the Fatboy Slim essential mix, rolls with the likes of The Chemical Brothers, Underworld, Art Of Noise, Groove Armada, and of course Fatboy Slim. Each track follows right on into each other but no track is very similar to another. Pinpointing the genre of this disk would be difficult. If you've ever heard Fatboy live, you know what I mean. Funky swelling guitars, disco beats, and twisted vocals fill the air with sound as this disc wanders on. While his "On The Floor At The Boutique" mix had a bit more personality, this mix has more big tracks. The highlights are Fatboy's own "Everybody Loves A Carnival" (very similar to "Everybody Needs A 303"), Mr. Spring's funky "Blaxtraxx 3", Underworld's "Born Slippy" (very tweaked by Slim), and the closer with Groove Armada's "At The River" is the best part of the album. In my opinion, this disk is much better than the staggering disk2.

Disk 2 is Oakenfold's mix. While Oakey has been known for playing the big tracks everybody likes, I don't know what he was trying to do with this mix. His almost blasphemist use of "The Baguio Track" and the sickly tech-pop of "Free" and "Perfect State" make this disk unaccomlished. The best part of the mix comes on tracks 7-9 where his real talent finally begins to show with the strings in "Another Day" building up to heavy emotional trance on the awesome "Flesh" and "Seven Cities", the latter being the best track on the album by far. That vibe is way too soon deminished with the slow, housey closing tracks, which sound disturbingly out of place. His other mixes ("Tranceport", "GU004: Oslo", and "Another World") are MUCH better.

Listen before you buy. ... Read more

Album Description

Showcasing the best (as well as unreleased) mixes fromNaked Music's inception to present... Bare Essentialsshowcases a broad spectrum of tracks from the back catalog. Featured on the compilation are tracks from Summerland,Petalpusher, Blue Six, Groove Collective and Night Sourceas well as some out of print remixes and exclusive edits.This is an introduction to the Naked Music story so far.Astralwerks is now reissuing long out-of-print catalog. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

House+ Funky + Chill + ...
The tracks included have a funky feeling, the bass sometimes is house like, others more funky, the Blue Six tracks are excelent ... but the others are not that high level, that's why I put 4 stars.
A good point is that you can listen many times without getting bored, this is something difficult to find with this style of music!
you really feel like moving your feet with this elegant and sensual music,I recommend it for those who like Brand New Heavies, Incognito, with a house&funky touch

It's a classic
The kickoff of the 2nd generation of Naked NYC. You must own it, if you own anything naked.

not that good
Too many of the tracks sound exactly the same and I'm not sure I get the particular groove the band is aiming for. It has a funk vibe but the songs never actually funk out, and you can't call it "chill" either because it never chills out. The singers never stand out in any track. The CD would be a lot better if they varied the presentation of music a bit. As it is, it is just one long watered-down eletronic funk thing, and this has been done better elsewhere

Still Listening
I bought this CD, let's see, almost a year ago and I'm still listening to it. That's unusual for me b/c I get bored quickly with certain types of music. Someone once said, most of the music business is about "selling the talentless to the tasteless," Amen. However, these guys are talented! If you want something silky smooth to relax to, and with a swirling sexy vibe on top of that,buy it.

Highly recommended
This CD was recommended to me in a music shop while I was vacationing in Whistler. There are atleast 4 standout songs, and the rest of the cd grows on you the more that you listen to it. Then imagine, to my surprise, that one of my favorite songs was actually featured on one of the latest episodes of Sex and the City. If you like lounge house music without too much electronica, this collection of music is for you. ... Read more

Album Description

Following in the tradition of Nude Dimensions and MidnightSnack, Carte Blanche fills the gap with its unique blend of percolating, sidewaze delights. The perfect antidote forthe discriminating listener, with its eclectic selection of jazz, breakbeat and midtempo gems. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

TRULY ECCLECTIC!!!
"Carte Blanche Volume 1" is the perfect CD for parties, loungin' around or for wallpaper music. It's not overpowering with filler garbage or overused chillout songs or even techno/D&B beats professing to be chillout. The mixture of breakbeats, jazz and funk on Carte Blanche is sure to win over any average music connoisseur. The mixing and music selections are stunningly appropriate, and the songs accentuate each other. The amazing and most impressive thing about the Naked Music Records label comp CDs is the uniqueness of their songs and the unaccessibity of the artists in most records stores. The bad thing is once you've heard most of the songs on their discs, you're frantically looking around for more material from the featured artists. However, you'll find solace in knowing that "Carte Blanche" is more than enough to tide you over in the meanwhile.

If you can judge a book by its cover, this one lives up
A great mix of chilly acid jazz with a splash of soul. Perfect for the newly curious -- perfect for dinner parties, or any other time you're just sitting around drinking. In fact, I've found the only time it isn't perfect is first thing in the morning (tried it). What's more, there are seemingly dozens more albums on the same theme, so when you hear this and just can't get enough, you have plenty of choices.

if you like it chilled, you will LOVE this whole label
We work, we have families, we aren't in the life (ok, maybe we are, but that's another review...) and so we come to trust others to search through volumes of material and select the best. That's what the Naked-Music label does for me. I love (and own) everything they put out. Deep house, chilled, danceable, partyable, at the beachable. This first compilation CD in the Carte Blanche series set the tone for the others that followed. These are all good. Smart, sexy, lucious. Check it out: do a search for "Carte Blanche" and there it is: 5-star reviews all the way. Follow this label. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

goa trance at it's best
well, does goa trance come any way except great? this box set is awesome... the first 2 cds really have the usual goa stuff that's so awesome, but the last cd really kicks some ass. it's also know as the album "optimystic" by psygone, which alone makes the box set worth buying. check out the reviews on optimystic - it kicks serious ass.

if you can find it, pick it up. it's a great set of psytrance and goa. the last cd is worth the money alone, plus you get 20 other tracks of hard trance tunes. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Fine mix of dark trance and complex progressive house
Chris Fortier is one of a growing legion of excellent young American dj's who spin in the mold of better-known Europeans like Sasha, John Digweed, Dave Seaman, and Nick Warren. Curiously (to me, anyway), a major geographical center for the trance/progressive house club scene in the U.S. is Florida, which Fortier, Noel W. Sanger, Boyd Westerman, and David Padilla all call home. Many American progressive dj's are currently linked through the Balance Promote Group, a record charting pool organized by Fortier in association with his Orlando, Florida, based Fade Records. It is largely out of recent tracks promoted by the Balance Group that Fortier has mixed this excellent new cd.

Fortier has released two previous mix cd's, "Alpha" in 1997, and more recently the trancey-breakbeat "Atmospherics: The Breaks." Both were very good, but I think that "Trance America" is his best so far (despite the lackluster title). In keeping with current trends within the world of more underground trance and progressive house dance music, the feel of this mix is dark, complex, and definitely NOT "uplifting." People who have enjoyed Sandra Collins' recent "Tranceport 3," Sasha and Digweed's "Communicate" (particularly the second cd), and the refreshingly new sound textures pioneered by such artists as Cass and Slide and Steve Porter will find this to their liking. There are no soaring synths, builds-and-breaks w/snare rolls, or tracks on which the first thirty seconds provide a complete map of the subsequent seven minutes of formulaic "Euro-trance." The music is highly rhythmic, deep, and dark (I know I keep using that word, sorry), requiring more of the listener than does the lighter, airier fare that has dominated trance releases overall over the past few years. I know it sounds snobbish to say this (and I don't mean for it to be) but those who are most likely to enjoy this mix are people who have followed trance/progressive house for a while now and are looking for music that is pioneering and sophisticated while also still being great for dancing.

Progressive trance done right.
The trackselection and mixing here is absolutely unbelievable. Finally someone from this side of the shores can gracefully spin a style which has been long dominated by such British acts as Sasha, Nick Warren, and John Digweed. Never have I hard a progressive trance set so cohesive since Sasha's Ibiza GU set. Chris Fortier may probably be the next king of the deeper darker trance style (Which currently includes the likes of Danny Howells and Steve Lawler). The only problem I have is not getting a two disk set, and the [bad] title (Many may confuse this set with the Ministry of Sound - Trance Nation America Jimmy Van M + Taylor set). After already purchasing Digweed's latest riskier LA GU set, I hope Digweed could sound half as good as Fortier in his future sets. After listening this set, I'm more excited to see where electronic music is heading.

The Tranceport of dark progressive mixes
This set does for progressive what Oakenfold's Tranceport did for euphoric trance. A tight little package with a bunch of great tracks. It lacks the expansile qualities of a 2-disc set, but that's an essential part of its charm. A real groover this.
I agree with the other reviewer, the cover art is spot-on, evoking the dark essence of the music within. OTOH, the album title is more akin to those lame series like "Trance Anthems." But, hey, it could've been called "Trance Is Door" or "Trance Fatty Acids."

Impressive Compilation
Fortier delivers an excellent selection of unique tracks with this compilation. Good quality progressive that is deep, dark, and envigorating. the cover art is a perfect symbol of the overall feeling of this disc. It may not be a hard banging bass cd, but his mixing is undetectable and his great taste in techno will definitely grow on you. This is what the beautiful trance of 99 is evolving into... Dark, techy, intelligent music that requires patience and respect. This is a one-of-a-kind compilation that any techno lover will appreciate

If you're a Digweed or Oakenfold fan you'll like this
I picked this up randomly at a local DJ shop without even knowing who Chris Fortier is. Anyway it's how Euro-trance sounded at the Mellenium. Like somewhere between Oakenfold and John Digweed's Bedrock, but not as much Slacker sound to it. Not much of an edge either, which could be good or bad depending on your liking. Global Underground is probably thinking up an exotic city to send him to right now, and the cardboard box around this one will really be cool... ... Read more

Reviews (33)

WOW
WOW is the appropiate way to describe the selections on this cd. Any reviewer who thinks this cd does not deliver the best in electronica really doesn't know anything about music and is not allowed to read ANY of my reviews.

Prodigy's "No Good" and "Choose Life" featuring Ewan McGregor are the songs I use to pack the dance floor as well as BT's "Flaming June", Atomic Babies "Smiles" and The Propellaheadz "Take California".

I can never get enough of "Fat Boy Slim's" BIG BEAT. "Going Out Of My Head" delivers big time with a sample reference to The Who's "Can't Explain". And definilty check out Doormouse's "414". It is the most hardcore dance track I have ever heard.

Also this cd's pacing is very good meaning it doesn't drag like most techno, dance & electro cd's.

This is one of BoBo's "Required Listening" and is the beginning of an awesome collection of music for you. Digital Empire II & III deliver the same type of diversiry as this cd. Try this one first

BiBi from BoBo

Superb 2-Disc Compilation
"Digital Empire: Electronica's Best" is, overall, a superb 2-disc compilation of mainstream electronica/techno songs from the late 1990s ('95 - '98). With so many popular bands/artists featured on here, it's easy to please most listeners.

Disc One starts off with one of my favorite songs and bands on here: "No Good (Start the Dance)" by The Prodigy. It's an almost un-Prodigy-like track--particularly if you're used to their songs like "Firestarter" and "Smack My B*tch Up"--mainly because of the female vocals.

A few of my other favorites on Disc One are pretty much the obvious choices: "Busy Child" by The Crystal Method, "Roots" by Mark Verbos (ok, not so obvious), and "Choose Life" by PF Project featuring Ewan McGregor from the movie "Trainspotting" (no f-ing four-letter UK swears here, though; it's all censored). In my opinion, this latter track (#11) should have traded places with the last track on Disc One: "Shnowed In" by Hawke. Number 12's ok (though I tend to forget it and turn the CD off after 11), but 11 would have made a better finale.

Disc Two, as well, opens with another good song: "Block Rockin' Beats" by The Chemical Brothers. Like Disc One, it's full of mainstream, high-energy songs (like a few of my faves: "Going Out of My Head" by Fatboy Slim, "One 4 Da Head" by Buzz Fiend, "414" by Doormouse, and "Born Slippy" by Underworld--yet another track off the "Trainspotting" soundtrack), as well as some slower, more mellower tracks, such as two gems that come to mind: "Subconscious" by Rabbit in the Moon and "Flaming June" by BT.

Together, these two CDs provide well over two hours of mostly high-energy electronica music. If you're a fan of more than a handful of bands/artists on here, then "Digital Empire: Electronica's Best" is definitely a must-have. You'll love it. Also recommended: all the other "Digital Empire" CDs.

Best CD ever
As the subject says, this is the best cd ever. I am a techno junkie, and have always bought cds like this, but most end up pretty bad. Then I got this one, and was blown away. There is not *one* bad track on the entire 2 CD set! I highly, highly reccomend Digital Empire. You won't be dissapointed.

Electronica at its finest!
Every aspect of electronica is covered in this beautiful 2 cd set, and covered well. Each song is a new dream. Both CD's take you deep into the mystic land of music especially hipgnosis on the second cd, flaming june by BT, and of course the Rabbit in the Moon track. I have used these CD's at raves, basketball games, and to relax entering a trance that allows me to sleep in the realm of the unkown. Heh.

Blah - Buy something else
There are a couple of "classics" in this 2-disc set but unfortunately, it spends a lot more time on the shelf collecting dust than it does in my cd player. I say, keep looking...save your money. There's better dance/electronica out there. ... Read more

Reviews (59)

Re-review...
I first reviewed this CD half-a-year ago, which is when I got it; at that time my interest in Trance/Techno music was rather new. All this time I have been actively listening to Trance, and my knowledge of this genre is now quite good. I can now say that is STILL the ABSOLUTE BEST mixed Trance/Dance/Techno CD I have ever heard, both in terms of track selection and mixing. The first 7 tracks on this CD (inclusive) are spectacular. They will blow you away -- especially 'Communication' (3), 'Exodus' (6) and 'Unlovable' (7). The last 4 tracks are good, though not as astounding. The style represented here is Epic Trance. This variety of techno features gorgeous, swirling synths, fantastic build-ups and moments of emotional tension and release, and an excellent fast beat. As one of the reviewers said, Kimball never crosses the "cheese" line that some uplifting-trance DJ's like Ferry Corsten do. If you still haven't listened to this CD, get it NOW! This is the only CD I can recommend without any reservations whatsoever, to EVERYONE.

A Trance CD Worth Getting
I recently got "ICU Generation: Trance 2000 Episode 01" mixed by Kimball Collins. There are some good points and some bad points. I'll start with the good points: Kimball does a great job mixing through the eleven tracks. Hats off for including "Communication" by Armin van Buuren, arguably one of the best songs of this entire genre. I thought the beginning tracks of the CD are gold, and definitely gives the mix a good start. Also, Kimball knows when to switch songs and leave it running till the end. The bad points: I believe Kimball's mix towards the end stagnates, and he loses creativity. The songs all sound the same, and although that is the point of being a great DJ, a more diverse playlist would have been appreciated. Take for example Paul Oakenfold's masterpiece "Tranceport vol. 1." There were several progressions throughout the album. The best mixes are those that change pace and push back with energy.

As a whole, I think this CD is worth getting. However, I have heard better. If you haven't already, get Oakenfold's "Tranceport," any of Ferry Corsten's "Trance Nation" series, or Paul van Dyk's epic "Vorsprung Dyk Technik," to name a few.

Best Trance Album ever made
For five years now, this has been my favorite trance album. Almost every song on it is perfect in balance, taste and intensity, and it is beautifully mixed by Kimball as well.

Cheesy but good
Trance music is by far my favorite sub-genre of dance music. It is also the most misunderstood and overlooked genre in the dance scene. A lot of professional djs view it as the pop music of underground music (i.e Armand Van Helden). To a certain extent, I can see why, at least with this particular compilation. Of all the trance music I have listened to over the years, IMO Kimball Collins is the one dj who puts out the cheesiest trance music that I have heard. Not that his work is terrible but I think his music borders on the velveeta side of trance music when you compare him to the forefathers of trance music like Paul Oakenfold, Paul Van Dyk, and BT. I bought "Trance 2000 Episode 1" after hearing a sample of the cd at my local Sam Goody a few years ago and was immediately hooked. Besides this cd, I also bought Kimball Collin's other mixed cd "International Club Union: Session 1". Between the two cds, I think "Trance 2000 Episode 1" is slightly better. I found myself liking the songs on this cd slightly more than the other mixed cd. Kimball does a solid mixing job. He may not be Oakey, Van Dyk, or BT but he does a fairly competent job at mixing. Like I said earlier, the songs borders on the cheesy side of dance music but they are still good songs to listen to while getting ready to hit the town on a Saturday night.

Kimball's best CD
Without a doubt, Kimball's best CD.
Filled w/ emotion & energy. Great for listening too w/ your girlfriend.
Coming on Strong & Exodus - best tracks. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Legend has it that there is a coffeehouse in Japan where people go solely to sit and listen to jazz records on the Blue Note label. DJ Krush brings this kind of obsessively curatorial (and sometimes a bit too laboratory coated) approach to hip-hop derived turntablism. Code 4109 is his fourth full-length release. This continuous 68-minute mix is the first devoted to capturing the effect of his live DJ sets as opposed to his own music in the studio, although he includes some of his own pieces (which are among the most weirdly interesting on the CD). The title of his second LP may have been Strictly Turntablized, but he doesn't lean too heavily on the wildly cut-up, gymnastic style of the North American turntablists such as Invisibl Skratch Piklz, Kid Koala, or Qbert. The first 15 to 20 minutes of the set contain a fairly downtempo blend that includes segments from France's DJ Cam, a bit of Eminem, the vocals from the Beats International/S.O.S. Band "Just Be Good to Me" and a couple of borrowings from jazz-lite pioneer John Klemmer. Tracks from Jazzanova, who hails from Berlin's easy-listening electronic scene, and Canada's Portishead-influenced Esthero continue the laid-back feel, although the latter third of the CD gets a little denser and stranger. --Bob Bannister ... Read more

Reviews (16)

The Ultimate Trip-Hop Album
I'd like to start by saying that I own (either burned or purchased) every single Krush CD and this is altogether his greatest release. DJ Krush is a mastermind and this fact is the most apparent in this semi-continous session. Code 4109 undoubtedly has a distinctly hip-hop beat throughout, but the music categories he spins range from everything from JAZZ to "off-the-wall" female vocals (suprisingly effective) to traditional Japanese instumentals to current Japanese Rap (ie: THA BLUE HERB). If I could choose my favorite track it would have to be #18, "Beatalholic Reformatory" without a doubt the trippiest trip-hop track ever recorded. Code 4109 is a masterpiece that is a VITAL part of any hip-hop or trip-hop afficionados collection. (...)

A MASTERPIECE...
After playing through Code 4109, one thing should become very clear to any attentive listener, DJ Krush is a musical genius of our time. Don't be fooled by it's subdued and somewhat melancholy introductory songs, this CD is a 68-minute powerhouse of an album. Personally, Code 4109 is my favorite record from Krush. It has a more hard-lined hip-hop beat throughout compared to some of his other works, but where it's shines most is in Krush's selection of vinyl and odd samples... It can include everything from: rap tidbits, to off-the-wall female vocals, to full-on Japanese rap, to wildlife sounds, to Jazz, to traditional Japanese instrumentals, to dark samples of noises whose origins are unknown. Though it's extremely hard to choose, I would say that my favorite track is #18, "Beataholic Reformatory." This is one of the most creative and crazy tracks that Krush has ever conceived. If there has ever been an album that I'm able to play again and again and still hear new things, then Code 4109 is it. If some wierd circumstances forced me to buy this again, even if the price were in the 100 dollar range, I would still purchase it. (...)ESSENTIAL LISTENING FOR ANY HIP-HOP OR TRIP-HOP HEAD(...) buy this album at any cost.

ridiculous
I can't believe I'm the first person to review this album! Truly one of the great mixes overall, and nearly the best by the venerable Krush... Keep 'em coming!

Out of this world.
This album is quite simply the most breathtaking piece of art, in general, i have ever encountered. The soundscape of each track is unbelievable, each track always seems to blow me away EVERY SINGLE TIME. The impeccable production by this man, mixed with some brilliant track from other fantastic tracks, such as Jazzanova's 'Coffee Talk', make this album my all time favourite.
The darkness, and incredible emotion emitted by this album never ceases to amaze me. Try it. Listen to 'No More' in the dark by yourself, no distractions. It really is an amazing experience. I swear by this album, i listen to it at least once daily, and along with most other Krush works, it is a true masterpiece by a genius of our time. Simply incredible.

Who rocks the house?
I'm one of those folks who think that Krush is at his best when he's strictly working the turns. That said, I think that the readily available 'Back in the Base' and the tantalizingly hard to find 'Strictly Turntablized' are his best albums, naturally. But this is a close third. As a fan of the work that DJs do, but not so much that I want to sit around listening to hour-long displays of virtuoso juggling and scratching, this fits the bill. It's filled with dark, heavy and very urban beats, features some great vocal samples (the appearance of Japanese rap stars 'Tha Blue Herb' is a big plus-- and take my word for it, if you speak Japanese you know how good these guys are), and keeps moving at a great pace. But it doesn't get bogged down with guest vocalists that interrupt the flow of the music and force the painfully talented Krush to take a backseat while they dispense fair-to-middlin' rhymes. This album will please hipsters and skratchaholics even though it's accessible enough for folks who just want to enjoy some kickin' beats. It's tough to go wrong with this one.

For a couple more examples of non-stop, incredibly catchy and too-hip-for-words DJ mixes, check out the 'Live at the Future Primitive Sound Sessions' discs, volumes one and two. You'll be fighting off the ladies with a stick. And yes, they still sound amazing three years after the fact. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Combining the talents of the internationally renowned DJ John Digweed and the lesser-known but formidable producer Nick Muir, Bedrock broke wide open with the massive 1999 trance anthem Heaven Scent. This collection starts with a glorious, remixed version of that song and doesn't let up, launching into an impressive array of energetic trance. Bedrock doubles as the name for Digweed's U.K. club as well as the pair's label, so much of the record is given over to other like-minded DJ's and producers associated with the twosome. Each gets a chance to spin their finest wax. Danny Howells, who released a fine contribution to Global Underground's "Nu-Breed" series last year, gets his licks in early, mixing up the second track, "Repercussion" with a typically lithe touch. The great New York DJ Jimmy Van M and Austin Leeds make appearances as well, with Leeds giving a graceful feel to the second disc's more ambient leanings. --Matthew Cooke ... Read more

Reviews (7)

A solid buy for progressive DJs and hard-core Bedrock fans
The ultra-trendy progressive house label Bedrock (founded by John Digweed) released FOUNDATIONS in 2000. This two CD collection brings together many unreleased remixes of tracks features on the label, and it's a interesting release both for DJs who want to get their hands on tracks not found anywhere else and for fans of progressive who just want to hear more of their favourite producers.

FOUNDATIONS opens with Bedrock - "Heaven Scent (John Johnson Mix)". It's a great mix, even though "Heaven Scent" in all its forms has been played out since its appearance in 1999, this is one of this collection's more captivating tracks. The two remixes of Science Dept. tracks, "Repercussion (Funk Function's Future Mix)" and "Persuasion (Dominica Mix)" are slow, hypnotic songs that would be easy to build a set up with. Van M & Leeds - "More (Austin's Unreleased Mix)" is an idiosyncratic mix that regrettably sounds too dated for use today. Ditto for the two Moonface tracks here; "Futurised Fears" and "Overactive" were key tracks in the progressive house scene of two years ago, but now could be attacked as bog-standard progressive fodder. Disc 1 closes with Bedrock - "Voices", which is a track that I think has gotten better with age.

The second disc of FOUNDATIONS is a bit more anthemic. It opens with Mainline - "Narcotic." Featured one Sasha and John Digweed's COMMUNICATION collaboration, this deep and organic track is so subtle that it may only work as an opening to a set, but it's fantastic nonetheless. Austin Leeds - "Force 51" is an incredible track, featuring a slow buildup to chugging synths that still refrains from being cheesy, and it is perhaps the best track on FOUNDATIONS. Leed's other track, "Moondriver", is a less anthemic track that moves along just fine. The fourth track, Steve Lawler - "Rise 'In (Nalin & Kane Vocal Mix") is the low point of this collection, as the atrocious vocals ruin what is instrumentally a solid track. Happily, FOUNDATIONS swiftly recovers with Saints & Sinners - "Pushin Too Hard (Futureshock's Confession)", an excellent remix that keeps all the catchiness of the original but is full of added surprises. Alchemy - "Bruiser (Evolution Mix)" is a wispy, ambient remix like much of Evolution's work, but with its odd tempo jumps does something new. Revolt - "Moonlit (Room Drumland Mix)" is one of Revolt's most disappointing tracks, but a DJ might find room for it at the end of a set.

If you are just the average fan of progressive house, FOUNDATIONS isn't worth getting. This unmixed collection is really for DJs and hard-core Bedrock fans, who will find a lot to like in it.

Better than excepted
even though this CD was listed as used, it was in "mint" condition, in fact still had the manufacturer's wrapping.Also came in very quick within 2 to 3 days

Going,going,gone
Um. Where did my head go?...

Digweed & Friends Never Miss!
First of all everyone should know that this cd is not mixed but if you really appreciate the music it should not matter. Cd one starts off with a deeper mix of the Bedrock hit 'Heaven Scent' and then gets a little deeper with tracks from the Science Department and Van M & Leeds. For those who dont know Danny Howells is a key contributor to Science Department. If you like these tracks I would recomend Danny Howells 'Nubreed' it is awesome. Cd2 is like a classic rock album with all of your favorite tunes including Steve Lawler's 'Rise'In" which one of the top tracks out now. Over all Bedrock hits the nail on the head again, I would recommend this cd to anyone who is a Sasha& Digweed, Howells or Lawler fan. You will not be dissapointed!

top highlights from Global Underground, bonus mixes
First off, this is a 2-disc set, Amazon isn't posting a complete track listing, so I've included it within the review.

Trance fans of the deep and stylish, Bedrock collectors, John Digweed obssessives, yup this two-disc round-up certainly has all the groups covered and stands up as a top-notch dance label compilation and precursor to the Bedrock artist album (that'd be Digweed and Nick Muir) slated for a February 2001 release. Picking off the numerous exclusive highlights from the last half-dozen Global Underground sets and like-minded others (Danny Howells' Nocturnal Frequencies 2, Pete Tong's Essential Mix) and adding a small selection of debuting tracks, well, that sure sounds like a winning formula.

Now it has to be said, even at the expense of turning in my gold-plated Digweed Fan Club card, that the breathtaking `Heaven Scent' original is inexcusably not included, replaced by a drab John Johnson mix that muffles the exultant hook and thus, the beauty. Getting past that, Science Department (Danny Howells and Dick Trevor) have two excellent takes on `Repercussion,' the delicious melody of Funk Function's version -- who is Lucien Foort, a quality spinner in his own right, import-hunters should seek out his 2-CD Singularity set released this year -- and the minimal elegance of Dominica afterwards. Austin Leeds and Jimmy Van M (finally given the proper stage for his sets with Ministry of Sound's Trance Nation America) don't really do much with their unreleased `More' mix, taking a full five minutes to open up. Moonface is Phil Thompson, beginning to be touted as Bedrock's next big thing with a solo album targeted for early 2001 as well. His `Futurised,' first heard on Global Underground Hong Kong, radiates a skin-crawling, trippy darkness backed with a harder, slower beat, and is simply, incredibly cool. `Overactive,' unfortunately, is a plodding DJ tool. Finally, the original `Voices' wraps up the disc, though the arguably slightly better Slacker and Freelance Icebreakers (Jimmy Van M and Sean Cusick) aren't included; probably because everyone already owns Communicate anyway.

Speaking of Communicate, it's mildly disappointing to see Mainline's `Narcotic' and Austin Leeds' `Force 51' both there and again here, though they are solid tunes, as is the mostly percussive `Moondiver.' The Nalin & Kane Vocal mix of `Rise In' will raise eyebrows for the unexpecting, but their druggy, psychedelia-clouded take is inspired and technically polished. Futureshock's rub of `Pushin Too Hard' doesn't alter enough to stand out as much as their past efforts, perhaps doesn't need to. Alchemy's energetic `Bruiser' (Evolution Mix) was picked as the last track on Pete Tong's Essential Mix, and rightly so, it's a soaring keeper.

So what's holding this back from being a great album? In unmixed format, the tracks have extended filler (Vinyl Stretch Syndrome) on each end; perfect for mixing but disruptive to continuous listening. This makes Foundations that odd case where the whole doesn't equal the sum of its parts. Grade: B+ (the tracks) B (listening experience) ... Read more

Reviews (16)

One of my favorite soundtracks
"Hackers" may have been a not-so entertaining movie (to me) but the music that went along with the film was and still is awesome. I only have the first two volumes. I like the original soundtrack slightly more but the second volume is quite good. Either way, "Hackers" has some of the hottest techno acts today, from Prodigy to the legendary Orbital. A former roommate owned "Hackers 2" and I immediately fell in love with it. Gotta love the Emirion Mix of Prodigy's "Firestarter". I wasn't big on the original version of "Firestarter" but I thought the Empirion Mix gave the song a much added energy that the original version was lacking. Plus the remix is a lot more danceable than the original version. "Hackers 2" was my first introduction to Brian Transeau (aka BT). The same can be said about Chicane. I just loved Luce Drayton's "To Be Loved" (Disco Citizens R+D Edit). Luce reminds me quite a bit like dance diva Jan Johnston. I wasn't really wild about the intro to Orb's "Toxygene" but once I got passed the samples, I got into the actual song. I just could have lived without the cluttered noises in the beginning. I think Leftfield's "Original" is one of the sexiest songs around thanks in part to Curve's Toni Halliday. "Original" certainly has a trip hoppy element to the song. I wasn't really crazy with the original version of David Bowie's "Little Wonder" however I thought the Danny Saber Dance Mix made the song much more interesting (just like the Empirion Mix of "Firestarter"). I wasn't too big on Scooter's "Fire". It just wasn't one of my favorite songs on the cd. Overall "Hackers 2" certainly is one of my favorite soundtracks that uses today's hottest techno acts around.

Now here's a great cd. . .
The Second Hackers Soundtrack (Review)

Artist Name: Multiple Artists
CD Title: Hackers: The Soundtrack 2
Description: If someone asks me what techno is about, and what the best cds are to get, I tell them to get this one. Without a doubt, this cd is the BEST electronica album all time, encompassing (almost) all the best trance/house/dance/techno artists around, utterly blowing away the other two Hackers cds.

Note: My burnt version of the cd does not have "Go", by Moby, which is a great song, and only adds to the greatness of the soundtrack.

Songs:

Firestarter (Empirion Mix) - Prodigy

My Comments: The first song on the cd is a hard-hitting, eight minute mind-blower that every other cd revolves around. Although nothing like the original Firestarter, the Empirion mix is no less, if not more, incredible. I can't say much about this song, except that you have to listen to it In all aspects, it is flawless, if not perfect.

Rating: 10/10

Toxygene - Orb

My Comments: A great song, by one of the most well known techno artists in the industry! This song has heavy bass is one of the most original electronic songs I've ever heard. It's could almost be considered a "classic" Notice: just because you like this song, don't go buying Orb's other cd's! Their other cds are nothing like this song (mostly), and you may (or may not) like their other albums.

Rating: 9/10

Little Wonder (Danny Saber Dance Remix) - David Bowie

My Comments: One of the best dance songs on the cd! Hell, it IS the best dance song, even though I don't like it too much. I never thought anything with David Bowie in it could be cool, and except for this one song, nothing can, anyway.

Rating: 9/10

Fire - Scooter

My Comments: One of Scooter's best songs OF ALL TIME! Even though every one of the Hacker's songs are great party tracks, this is the one that IS THE BEST. If the Bowie remix doesn't get people dancing, this'll get them jumping, and if they don't in any way positively respond to this song, they're dead. Notice: If you like this song, go get all of Scooter cds.

Rating: 10/10

Narcotic Influence 2 - Empirion

My Comments: Incredible. Possibly my favorite song on the cd. This has a cool, smooth lasting appeal that truly does border on the edge of having a narcotic effect on one. Although not EVERYONE will like this song, many will, but some may find it a bit boring. My friend said,"It's like a boring version of the Firestarter remix, except without any climaxes." Well, both songs are done by the same artist, Empirion (The Firestarter remix is really nothing like the original song!), and admittedly, although it is nothing bad, alot of his songs are alike

Rating: 10/10

Remember - BT

My Comments: I guess every song on this cd wins one sort of award or another, and this wins for MOST BEAUTIFUL SONG. It is entrancing, heart-felt and driven by incredible female lyrics. Some, (only those with immature music tastes) may find this unnappealing and mellow, (I even did at first!) but I beg to differ! This song is fast paced with tons of electronic elements in it, and BT is (in my opinion) the best electronic artist to blend female vocals with electronica. This is a perfect song.

Rating: 10/10

Go - Moby

My Comments: What can I say? It's a great dance song, nothing spectacular or remarkable, but nothing bad about the song, either. I'm not the biggest Moby fan, and I enjoy a lot of his music, and this is one of the party tracks that he's most well known for. (Next to. . . Bodyrock, perhaps.)

Rating: 9/10

Inspection (Check One) - Leftfield

My Comments: This wins the coolest song on the cd award. Combining heavy bass and head-nodding rythm with brilliant electronic aspects, something which Leftfield does best. This is, IMO, Leftfield's best song they have ever made. In FACT, this is my second favorite hip hop sort of techno that I've ever listened to (Smartbomb, by BT, my number #1)

Rating: 9.5

Cherry Pie - Underworld

My Comments: What can I say? It's Underworld, and this is the only place (I think) where you can get this masterpiece. It doesn't, in any way, change or redefine Underworld's image, only refines it, definetely one of my favorite songs by them. Not everyone will like this song, as many don't prefer Underworld's kind of electronica.

Rating: 9.5

To Be Loved (Disco Citizens R-D Edit) - Luce Drayton

My Comments: I don't know who the hell Drayon is, but it's still a pretty good song (I'd hate to hear the original version!!). Actually, it still gets a really high rating, but is probaly the least best song on the cd, the female vocals and entire song being enshadowed by BT's massive Remember track. If you like this song, you'll like Remember alot more. That's all I can say.

Rating: 8.5/10

Speed Freak (Moby Remix) - Orbital

My Comments: Definetely the fastest, wildest song on the soundtrack. There is no other techno song like this, by anyone. (Except, of course, for the original song. If you like this, you'll like Moby, but you still might not like much of Orbital's stuff. (I didn't like In Sides, although Middle of Nowhere was one of my favorites). My friend thinks this song is freaking awesome, and it is.

Rating: 10/10

Get Ready To Bounce(Radio Attack) - Brooklyn Bounce

My Comments: What the hell is a "radio attack"? I guess they mean "radio edit", but anyway, it's still a great song, keeping up the pace near the end of the cd. My friend and I call it the "Kool-aid" song, because it sounds like the song off a koolaid commercial. (Although this song came out, like four years before the commercial, so we should be calling the koolaid commercial the brooklyn bounce commerical!)

Rating: 9/10

Offshore (Disco Citizens Edit) - Chicane

My Comments: An entrancing, soothing song which was smartly left for the near-end of the cd. Incredibly beautiful, almost as beautiful as Remember. (Even though the two songs are NOTHING alike!) Although surprisingly short, even shorter than most pop songs, which I thought was odd, I still loved it, and still do love it, although I not crazy over it like most of the other songs.

Rating: 10/10

Original - Leftfield

My Comments: At once haunting and beautiful, with the dreary, smooth female lyrics making the song a definite legend. That's about all I can say about this brilliant track. Listen to it yourself, and you'll find out why it's so good. Maybe that is because no other electronic sounds anything like it. . .

Rating: 10/10

Overall/Average Rating: 9.5

The Best Songs: Firestarter Mix, Fire, Narcotic Influence 2, Remember, Original
The Worst Songs: To Be Loved

Best Song: Firestarter (Empirion Mix) - Prodigy
Worst Song: To Be Loved (Disco Citizens R-D Edit) - Luce Drayton

Highest Score: 10/10
Lowest Score: 8.5/10

Great Soundtrack - if you like Techno
I love techno, so I really got into this Album. The mix is excellent, and it makes great music for a party. But if you don't like hard-core techno like Prodigy, you probably won't enjoy this album. Warning: if you play this in the car, you're likely to drive 15 miles over the speed limit! :)

It's all good
Even if you didn't like the movie (which i thought rocked) get this sound track, it is the heart and soul of what techno is, or should be. With mdern techno gods like leftfield, org & orbital, you will not be disapointed. upbeat and in theme with the hackers movie you'll find yourself wanting to dance through most tracks on the album. The best track on the album in my opinion being track no. 2 Toxygene by Orb, which is twisted and powerful. GET IT! GET IT! GET IT! is all i can really say i personally believe you will not be disapointed regardless of your musical tastes anyone can appreciate it. cheers all

the reason I'm hooked on techno
my brother gave this CD to me because he thought it was a crummy gift that he didn't want. so did I, until I actually listened to it. now both of us are scouring the stores for anything new in the world of techno. anytime someone asks me what the heck I'm doing listening to "that junk" I lend them this CD. it shows them the brilliant variety that's out there. the only downside of converting my friends to techno is that I have to hassle them to death to ever get this CD back! ... Read more

Album Description

Thievery Corporation, David Byrne, Zap Mama and Le Tigre are some of the artists remixed by DJ Madson on this eclectic soundtrack album for the movie "The God Who Wasn't There."

Brian Flemming's controversial film provokes strong emotions in the viewer with its no-holds-barred exploration of faith. "Jesus didn't exist" is just a beginning for this groundbreaking, sacred-cow-exploding movie, which is sure to leave many viewers shaken and reaching for what's left of the tethers of their religious belief.

And they shouldn't look to this soundtrack for much comfort. The chilling "I Don't Wanna Wait" evokes the paranoia of the "Rapture-ready" crowd that is memorably lampooned in Flemming's movie. David Byrne's refrain in "Is This The Real Thing?" only reminds one of the doubt the movie so effectively plants in the viewer. But there are some humorous breaks. Ritualistic percussion and verbal nonsense propel "A Way Cuddy Dis 3000" (which remixes Thievery Corporation and Zap Mama). And just try to keep a straight face while listening to "The God Who Wasn't There"--a techno re-imagining of the saccharine "Footprints" story found in Christian bathrooms everywhere.

As compelling, stirring and fun as the movie on which it is based, "The God Who Wasn't There" is that rare soundtrack that both stands on its own and extends the experience of the film. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Think while you work
I sat there wondering how I could be relaxed by music at the same time it was making me think. It allows me to enter a mystical trance world while I kept focusing on the work in front of me. Hearing David Byrne brought back memories of the good ol' eighties. As does the bass riff from Another Bites the dust on Ten Turntables and a Slide Trombone - always a favourite with a die hard Queen fan. The remixing is brilliant. It takes you on a journey from historical times (Blood Sacrifice Ritual) to the heart of Africa (A Way Cuddy Dis 3000) to modern fundamentalist raving (I Don't Wanna Wait) out to Sagan's Cosmos (A Cosmic Error) and all the way to the brief history of our Universe (The God Who Wasn't There).
A great compliment to the film.

Fantastic Soundtrack from a Fantastic Film!
Just saw this movie at its premiere in San Francisco, and I have to say I was blown away! Easily the best film of 2005.
A "Bowling for Columbine" for Christianity -one of the bravest, most mind-blowing, outrageous and funniest films I have ever seen. Run, don't walk, to see it, and bring your Christian friends with you! And the soundtrack is every bit as amazing, too: David Byrne, Thievery Corp., Zap Mama, and many more. DJ Madson has done a kick-ass job on this debut album.

Thought Provoking...
I'm not really what you would call a techno fan, but this has to be one of the finest CDs I've listened to in quite some time! Not only is the music first-class, but also the message behind each song is extremely thought provoking (expecially - "The God Who Wasn't There"). I can't wait until the release of the forthcoming DVD! Highly recommended, definitely worth the money.

Wouldn't Know It's a Soundtrack...
This CD is exceptional. I put it on yesterday, and started some schoolwork, and I was still at the same place in my studies when the CD finished playing. The lyrics are extremely thought provoking, and they refuse to let your mind wonder from the speakers. Most soundtracks are boring and have little in common with the movies, but this is great, and follows exactly like the trailer. I can't wait untill June sixth!

Nice blend of techo and new age
Crossing the borders of pure techno and pure new age, this music has the best of both. The spiritual component is also faintly visible but the music when imagine with the movie trailer makes a effect of where the story is leading us. In short, the sound track creates a visual perception of how the film would be. Highly recommended. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Mtv doesn't have the right!
Mtv doesn't have the right to even pretend they know whattechno music is. Come on, DJ Skribble is so bad it's not even funny, and the only thing they know how to play is Barfy Spears and the Skankstreet Boys. This collection does have some good artists on it, that's why it gets 3 stars. The Chemical Bros., Fluke, Underworld, Aphex Twin, Orbital, And Prodigy are all great musicians, but the thing is MTV just slapped all this together in one big sticky mess. How bad is the world when Underworld is anywhere near Atari Teenage Riot (or as I call them, Atari Barfage Riot.) The good songs on here are okay, but nothing special. Any fan of these artists can find these songs on their CD's. They could have at least had remixes or something special on them. The way this CD is set up, there is virtually no reason someone would have to rush out and buy this CD.

An artifact of '97 Electronica
It's funny, in looking back at this CD, I feel some peculiar nostalgia in listening to what folks in 1997 believed was the future of music.

As for the content, there are some essentials. Underworld's "Pearl's Girl" still melts my cortex with its synth line that ebbs like amniotic fluid. The tracks by Photek and Apex Twin are still great abstract electronica(see the Mille Plateaux label for further excursions.) There are also some overproduced misfires like the Chemical Brothers remix of "Voodoo People and the Chrystal Method's work that sounds like Musak for future "extreme sports" commericals(whoops! it did.)

Overall, Amp marks a time when MTV had this brief period of innovation before the advent of the Boy Bands and Total Request Live.

One of the BEST electronic compilations
First that all, I'm an electronic music fan from Colombia. I remember that my first SERIOUS contact with electronic music was the AMP TV show, via cable television, way back to 1996. In south america, just like in the U.S. the fresh new sound of the AMP TV show captivated a lot of people like me. And just like in the U.S., here in Colombia, finding good quality electronic music was a lot harder than now...

So when this CD came out, I ordered it in a music store that worked with imports, and WOW... even now after six years, few discs on my collection have the ammount of quality that this one has. It has the biggest artists in electronic music, as well as some of their most famous tracks. Of course, this cd may not be of the likeness of the "bang-bang-bang-boom-boom-boom" techno-fans, because every track on this album is pure flowing style. Real quality. Buy it NOW.

the original gangsta
This CD's a great starting point and nothing more. it was best back in 97 in my friend's car when we first heard aphex twin and atari teenage riot and laughed it off, only to end up putting it back on later. before circuit city came along and labeled it "electronica" and god knows what else, this was the best starting point for american listeners to get into british techno. only a few stinkers out of an otherwise very diverse (drum 'n bass, chaos, cyberPUNKROCK, straight up big beat) and catchy bunch, sure to sell any disbeliever after time.

Experimental MTV?YES!
Can you believe I have owned this CD since 1997? I stumbled across AMP one Sunday night after watching 120 Minutes. On AMP, I was exposed to for the first time Prodigy, the Chemical Brothers, Future Sound of London and many other cutting edge artists. From that moment on, I knew I had to have the CD! I agree with the other reviewers here, it is a taste of what MTV in the US can be if they chose to get back their experimental and groundbreaking roots. With songs from the likes of Goldie, the Chemical Brothers, Underworld and the now infamous Prodigy...this CD gives you an overview of the first AMP shows. I can tell you, all of these groups are still very much popular here in Europe and are not "One Hit Wonders" by any means. If you want a taste of experiemental MTV before the Nu-Metal and Boy Band take over of 1998, respectively, then pick up this CD, you wont regret it. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Appreciation...
Just a note to the previous reviewer... *all* appreciation is in the mind, not 'in the sound'. The sound is heard in the mind. That said, some will appreciate this stuff and some will not. In my opinion, the music isn't even important... the Moog (and the artists who created and played these sounds) are the stars of the show. Listening to this music is like watching a (pretty bad) movie starring a great actor... In my opinion, the unique and magical sound of the Moog (when played by people who know what they're doing) can redeem the worst, cheesiest song and make it into a masterpiece.

If you like that unique analog Moog sound, you'll probably like this -- it's that simple. But please, don't buy it mainly for the music -- likely you'll be disappointed. If you buy it because you love the sound of the Moog, you're sure to be rewarded.

A Contrived and Forced Look at a Fascinating Genre
I suppose if you've never ever heard of a moog record this would be a decent place to start. My feeling from listening to the album is that it was compiled by an MTV VJ or turned about by the fad machine associated with MTV...
The person who stated that it was essentially a Jean-Jacques Perrey and Gershon Kingsley copilation was absolutely correct. Thats what makes this record so bad...Perry and Kingsley were pioneers, but they made the bulk of their electronic music before the moog(on things like the Ondes-Martenot that you never hear of anymore)and a good portion of their music is more important because of their innovative use of tape-loops in pop music...not their use of the moog. Check out perrey and kingsley's "The In Sound from Way Out" to see what I mean.
Martin Denny is on here, god knows why...he made about one moog album, and it was alot of his most boring stuff. His records are still all over thrift stores, go dig if you're interested. Hugo Montenegro was great, and I believe his moog album is still in print, if not, its on ebay for not alot. Command Records has two of the best "greatest of" albums for this genre: Electronic Eclections with Dick Hyman(whom I consider to be tops for all around cheesiness) and Richard Hayward and Walter Sears who did a version of Girl From Ipanema that gives me chills every time. As far as contemporaries, check out the Moog Cookbook-Ye Olde Spaceband, and AIR-Moon Safari...from the 90s, and still a great example of moog related music.
In closing, if you're interested in this genre, more power too you, but this is a novelty collection for rich kids who'll go on to whatever gets fashionable next week. I'm not an expert but i've got a collection of a couple hundred records, you can find alot more interesting, higher quality examples of Moog Records.
email me if you'd like some title

Not all it could be and I ain't biting
Though I'd certainly describe this as a good, fun CD, it lacks extremely necessary artists in the Moog (rhymes with Pogue, like the band the Pogues) era. As described by Disinformation Records representative Richard Metzger in the CD's liner notes, those who know their Moog will be severely disappointed in this collection of classics. You do get a good number of out-of-print hits from artists whose records would cost extreme amounts on auction sites and collector conventions, but there's no diversity and some of the best artists are completely absent. There is no Bruce Haack, (though he is briefly mentioned in the liners (where his name is misspelled!!)), no Wendy Carlos (or Walter Carlos!!), not even any Raymond Scott, the original creator of the prototype Moog later popularlized. Many of the tracks included are covers of Hollywood tunes and classical arrangements, and the last track is a completely worthless Fatboy Slim remix of E.V.R. Why is it included on a 60's and 70's hits CD? Who knows, maybe he's a shareholder...

Anyways, here's a list of all the performers as they appear on the CD:
1)Hot Butter
2)Perrey-Kingsley
3)Jean Jacques Perrey
4)Richard Hayman
5)Martin Denny
6)Perrey-Kingsley
7)Gil Trythall
8)Enoch Light and the Light Brigade
9)Perrey Kingsley
10)Armando Travaioli
11)Perrey-Kingsley
12)Elektrik Cokernut
13)Armando Travaioli
14)Elektrik Cokernut
15)First Moog Quartet
16)Hugo Montenegro and his Orchestra
17)Dick Hyman
18)First Moog Quartet
19)Jean Jacques Perrey (remixed)

It's also helpful to note that many of these groups were actually organized by Perrey and/or Kingsley. In effect, this is nearly a best of Perrey and Kingsley CD! The label rep goes to all the trouble of claiming he wants to reissue OOP and expensive classic tunes, but he only has like 3 artists on here, not to mention the lame Fatboy Slim remix.

Despite all the huge flaws in this release, it's still a fun listen. There are only one or two tracks on here that aren't worth the time, and even the covers are fun. I'd recommend it to those of you who aren't huge Moog fans, but not to the hardcore followers (though you guys probably know not to buy it already). For those who are still learning ot beauty of the Moog synth, I suppose I'd recommend this. The actual records are far too expensive now, so go ahead and pick up the cheap comp and see what you think before shelling out major cash...

It is 2002 and it is time for something new.....
.........and this is not it!
The 2 cuts that stand out are Popcorn by Hot Butter and E.V.R. by Jean Jacques Perrey. The rest is a pile headache inducing kitsch. The appreciation of this quaint style of music lies purely in the mind and not in it's sound. No matter what is claimed, this stuff did not influence Krafwerk and should be sent back to the rubbish bin as it is begining to smell. Wendy Carlos was a pioneer on many fronts, but Bach's music is what makes her recordings last. The tracks included here are not even composition they are just pastiche.

Fun Fun Fun
Although this compilation of vintage electronic music starts out as a fun and highly enjoyable listening experience, it begins to drag and becomes somewhat annoying towards the end. Perhaps it would have been better as a shorter album, omitting inferior tracks such as "Foggy Mountain Breakdown" by Gil Trythall (one too many electronic hoedowns), and both of Electrik Cokernut's unintelligent covers of pop songs ("Jeepster" & "Back Off Boogaloo"). The good songs are very good, e.g. "E.V.A." by Jean Jacques Perrey, which sounds like it could have been recorded yesterday, and "Bond St." by Enoch Light and the Light Brigade which, although it barely features any synthesizers, is a highly entertaining version of the Burt Bacharach tune. But many of the inferior tracks become a chore to sit through, especially when you begin to feel, "Haven't I heard this before?". Despite its flaws, I would still recommend this to anyone interested in the origins of modern electronic music, anyone who wants the song "Popcorn", or anyone who loves Disneyland ("Baroque Hoedown" is the theme song to.....now with an electronically enhanced voice...."Disneyland Main Street Electrical Parade!"). ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Great CD For People who like Digital Music
I thought this collection was great, but not as good as the first one. It has some pretty hot beats like Cetch Da Monkey, Believe, Luv Dance, 3lectro, and Dub The Dice, and even comes with a pretty good sampler. The only reason I give it 4 stars is because CD 2 completely sux. There is nothing good on there, and the first song - (where the hell did that come from???) Still, I am looking foward to future Digital Empires

Excellent CD
"Aftermath" features the next step from "Digital Empire-Electronica's Best". Released in the same year, this cd features more selections from the previous cd's artists. The fatboy slim "big beat" edits are definitly my favorite on all the "Digital Empire" cd's. On this cd, BT's "Godspeed" definitly gets my attention as well as "Florr.i.d.a", "Deep Sky" and definitly Crystal Methods "Coming Back". If you like the first DE cd, you'll like this cd. Check it out! Bi Bi from BoBo

wow.. just... wow
i gave this one 4 out of 5 cuz regardless of your taste, this cd has such a wide variety that SOMETHING isnt going to be cool for you.
lemme jus say that Back On a Mission (DJ Dan Remix) is one of the best house tunes ive heard in quite a long time oh WOW what a buildup! aside from that, there are quite a few killers on this collection. pick it up!

Quite a Well-Rounded compilation.
Disc one, opening up with "Crystal Method's Comin' Back" an excellent track! Although, I must admit it gets repetitive after a while. Its hardly one of the highlights of this compilation. The next two tracks are kewl within themselves. You have to listen to them for a while to "catch on" Propellerheads remix of Velvet Pants track four, isn't really impressive... Still its a good track for the compilation. I think the original is like 10x better though. Frankie hits you constantly with claps on the fifth track, I dont recommend that one for pleasurable listening. If you like headaches, well... the rest of disc one besides "GFS's Creep" which seems to be a form of D&B, I kinda like to listen to it while im chilling out, and "Deep Sky's Legend" If you are a fan of dreamy trance. This song kicks you have to hear it, it's on my favorites list!

Disc two is definitely the better of the two! It opens up with some happy techno music I dont even really want to analyze... I guess if your in a really trippy mood... Anyways, Track Two *Another highlight of this compilation* Roni Size keeps you moving with this track, its a killer! From the beginning he starts out relatively slow.....building you up for this total lapse into tha kewlest beat! Its definitely going to make you move! The Third track, a remix by the chemical brothers (I find it to be apparent) They just have a way of twisting the beat into their own sound. Its a very likable track, a little selective but listen to it a few times you will start to love it. Now, the fourth track is a Dance killer. From the beginning the beats seem to be sending earthquakes right through the floor! Turn this shi0t up because the track is going to level you! The Mantronik Track *highlight of the compilation*, has some of the coolest vocals you will ever hear, this track definitely did "blow my mind" Its VERY addictive. Even if you dont buy this compilation, hear this track because its worth your attention! Cirrus track, on a mission... not very kewl... its a little too cluttery sounding for me. Expansion Union! Playing with lightning! This track, omg talk about building the sound, throwing you all over the place! Another *highlight of the compilation*. Juan Atkin's skyway is a chill out track...play it low and stay layed back... Well, we made it to the absolute *best track of the compilation* Transeau's Godspeed. This guy does trance like nobody else, besides maybe van Dyk. BT's trance is a little less traditional but nonetheless very enjoyable! Listen for the climatic sound building.... The highlight of all trance tracks. That drum roll prelude, you know? The next two tracks are pretty kewl but not worth noting, the last track of the compilation, Dont stop by the freestylers... Pretty uplifting I would say! It sounds like it could be a cheerleader music or something but its worth a listen!

Well you've heard my direct opinion on this compilation. Go ahead. Buy it. I have bought lots of music and I recommend this compilation to you. It has those tracks that "keep it active in your cd player" Peace all.....

11 OUT OF 10!
This compilation gets bonus points from me. The previous compilation was a "best of" set, giving new electronica fans a wide variety to listen to. Meanwhile DE II takes it a step further, exploring smoother and harder sounds than before.

All the returning artists did well with their second contributions, except for Rabbit in the Moon. "Floori.d.a" lacked the consistency of their previous releases on "Digital Empire" and "Urbal Beats" (another great comp). It wasn't what I expected to hear from past comps, but was okay.

Roni Size's "It's Jazzy" did excellent with its fast moving drum loops and sharp cuts into the sound.

But the highlight of it all was probably the contrast between neighboring songs "Playing With Lightning" by Expansion Union and "Skyway" by Infiniti. It goes from the hardest sound to the smoothest sound on the album and they (strangely enough) fit together in the lineup like key to lock.

And finally, I received a nice little surprise inside the 2 CD set--a CD sampler titled "In The Mix," which covered more of the club scene that DE II didn't really cover.

So, considering the total package deal, I give it an 11 out of 10 with a bonus point for it's depth and value. ... Read more