Reviews (1)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Amazon.com

For the fourth release in his acclaimed Mushroom Jazz series, DJ Mark Farina lets the urban dance and hip-hop roll while staying true to the downtempo, rainy-day-jazz mode that inspired the series title. Farina has left a trail of devoted jazz-house fans in his wake, from Chicago to San Francisco. Some might not follow the path he walks on this record, which even more than Jazz 3 finds inspiration in the DJ flava of rappers like Mr. Lif and Fat Jon. Others will appreciate the easy, smooth vibe of the record, not to mention Farina's always dependable taste in selections and contrasts. Benny Blanko's "Listen" empties into the funky din of Bernal Boogie's "Phone Tap" with nary a ripple, while tracks from Scienz of Life and People Under the Stairs hypnotize and pleasantly disorient the listener with a sweaty serenity. By cradling rougher styles in smooth trip textures, Farina successfully expands his palette and keeps the series crispy fresh. --Matthew Cooke ... Read more

Reviews (14)

Farina does it again! :-D
Having followed the Mushroom Jazz series from my preorder on Volume One, I can tell you this CD is fantastic. Definitely one of the best ones in the series, if not *the* best one to date. Definitely the CD to chill to, play in the background, or just relax to. Certainly a smokers' CD. This thing jams. For me personally, the disc just opens up very jazzy, and immediately peaks with the long smooth mix of track 2 into 3 and the alternating beats of 3 into 4 (from Puts "Suite for Beaver Pt. 1" to Trankilou's "Chicago Babe"). Another nice touch is the well placed scattering of vintage sounding public service announcements and informative video narrative, along with the obligatory hip hop samples of course)

All in all, a very tight disc. I would highly recommend it will be listening to it, along with 1, 2, and 3, until the next installment is out!

Thanks Mark, can't wait to catch a show next time you swing through Boston! ;)

Another Masterpiece!!
In my opinion, Mark Farina ranks among the world's greatest
DJs. Anyone who has heard "United DJs of America"/"Connect"
etc.. or seen him live knows that he can lay out the funky
house grooves like no one else. His Mushroom Jazz albums are
pure artistry with a seamless mix of downtempo jazzy tracks
enhanced by his personal touch. The great thing about Mark
Farina is that these albums are not just a collection of great
records, they are tracks woven together into a single entity
that is fresh and unique to his style. Vol.4 definitely does
not disappoint, being funky and cool--just what you would
expect. This album fits perfectly within the whole series, yet
it sounds original and upto date. Enough said--Just buy it and
listen for yourself, this record is guaranteed to find its way
into your high rotation CDs

Farina has out done himself again
Just like the intro says "make sure you have your own personal copy to play again and again when you feel yourself getting off the track." Never before have I heard an album that can guide you through such a relaxing experience. No matter how horrible your day may have been or how bad you may be feeling, one spin of this cd and you will forget about all your troubles. With the smooth jazzy beats that seamlessly transition from tract to tract, Farina has produced another classic in the Mushroom Jazz series. If you are a fan or if you are just begining to discover the Mushroom Jazz series, this is must have in any collection.

Save your money...
First off, I am a huge Mark Farina fan and have most of his works. This collection is a bit disappointing for someone with Mark's talent. The tracks do have a "smooth-jazzy" feel, but there is a lack of cohesiveness and direction on this CD. In addition, there is too much repitition in many of the beats and he doesn't take you on that typical Mark Farina ride of diverse variety. If you want better Mark Farina recommendations, I would start with United DJs, SF Sessions or Connect.

Waking up or winding down was never so sweet
Om is a label that lately can do no wrong. I've been listening to this and Kaskade every morning since I've gotten them, vibing off their low key but inspiring energy. Om's Winter Music party in Miami was packed wall to wall with the best vibe of the conference, a feeling that seems to flows right into their music. Mushroom Jazz actually started as a weekly club night in Chicago - perhaps getting a nod with "Chicago Babe" - then a mixtape series, finally finding a home at Om. This fourth installment with Mark Farina (he's done one, two and three too) is a smooth compilation of sweet earthy, jazzy mid to downtempo grooves. There's a sexy hip hop thing going on at the same time... you know what this music would be good for, right?? Opening up with Pete Rock "A Little Soul" a minimalist beat and high hat are punctuated with old instructional record samples, horns and claps. Standouts include DJ Spinna's remix of Tek 8 "Seven Days" and the soulful vocals on Laurnea "Keep Your Head Up." Waking up or winding down was never so sweet. ... Read more

Album Description

As dance music has evolved, so too have Way Out West. What originally began life as a producer-based outfit has grown over the years.After two years of almost constant production work, writing and recording, the band are set to release their third, and self-proclaimed, "best album to date" Don’t Look Now.

Originally a duo, Bristol, UK-based producers Nick Warren and Jody Wisternoff – top class international DJ’s in their own right; the pair have added a ‘secret weapon’.Enter Omi. A featured vocalist on tracks for Starecase, Timo Maas, an all girl drum ‘n’ bass outfit, Eden and the one and only Peter Gabriel, Omi brings an emotional authenticity to Don’t Look Now that is sorely lacking on so many other electronica artist albums. Fans of Way Out West’s past releases won’t be disappointed, but neither will fans of Sarah McLachlan or Dido. It’s just that sort of album.

Don’t Look Now glides from the staccato kick-drum and yearning vocals of upcoming single, ‘Anything But You,’ to the epic space age poignancy of ‘Everyday.’ Luscious soundscapes shift gracefully from the textured balearia of ‘Chasing Rainbows’ to the main room dirty odyssey of ‘Killa’ through to rollicking bongo twists and mangled basslines on ‘Fear.’

The album also includes a second CD bonus mix by DJ’s Nick Warren & Jody Wisternoff featuring tracks from Gray Area, Martin Buttrich, Hiratzka & Kazell, and Way Out West. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential recording

The Rolls Royce of trance-house mixes, and every bit as cool as the polar bear on the sleeve, this first edition of Sasha and John Digweed's Northern Exposure sets is the tightest and most effortless of the series. With 11 superbly arranged cuts from the likes of William Orbit, Rabbit in the Moon, and the Future Sound of London, not one moment is wasted. The disc's flavor is decidedly organic and wholly evocative of all-night mountain raves or desert parties. Starting with the early-morning stretch of Keiichi Suzuki's delightfully sunny "Satellite Serenade," the duo swiftly build the tempo up to the breezy ambient plateau of Morgan King's "Free" before heading into harder house territories. The metronomic pulse and atmospheric chanteuse vocals of Fuzzy Logic's "Obsession" form an incremental crescendo with Orbit's "Water from a Vine Leaf." Being a condensed version of the European release, the closing salvo from Banco de Gaia's "Last Train to Lhasa" confirms the since-validated fact that these Exposure journeys have infinite potential; Sasha and Digweed are among the first DJs to create mix sets that tap into earthy, human emotions. It is precisely this unique flavor that will make you yearn for a dance floor, beach, or campsite, packed with deliriously dancing bodies. Yes, really.--Steffan Chirazi ... Read more

Reviews (101)

First of a fantastic trilogy
Two warnings: 1. This is NOT a trance album, not even a "real" house album. This album takes you more to the chillout side of dance (i.e. Ambient-House). 2. This album is addictive. You may find yourself in a position when you can't click the eject button to take the CD out.

Sasha & Digweed are considered to be the most respected and of the most sophisticated DJs today. Listen to this CD and you'll know why.

The CD is a chillout mostly, begining with two 'real' ambient tracks (FSOL's "Cascade" is their best track ever) and slowly builds up to a harder beat with tracks like "Obsession" and a fantastic remix for William Orbit's "Water from a vine leaf" (yes, Orbit existed before "Ray of light"). Surprisingly, the tracks begin to mellow down a little towards the end, unusuall for mixed CDs - but puts you in the right mood, with tracks from Apollo 440 and Banco de Gaia (a very fast mix for "Last Train To Lhasa"..).

One thing that I must mention : This is only half of the story. This edition (the US edition) contains only one CD! I have the UK (original) edition that comes with two CDs. The second CD is a bit more trance like, but is as good as the first. I wonder why they sell it a single CD here (probably to sell two seperate CDs and make more money).

An expertly-crafted journey into a dream-like soundscape
The mix CD. Whereas the market is flooded with a bunch of substandard, cookie-cutter, no-name DJ garbage, it's comforting to know that we can always turn to the true masters of the Art. While the pace of Northern Exposure 1 may be a little slower than their individual Global Underground sets (which are also excellent), the technical prowess displayed within this mix by Sasha & Digweed is extraordinary. While listening to it - even when I was paying attention - it was difficult to discern just when they were mixing in the next track and when they weren't. No mistimed beats, no unbalanced mixing levels, no mismatched tracks. The songs blend together so seamlessly that they can't help but stir your emotions. The problem with most of today's mixes is that while they are accurately mixed, they're rarely seamless. This CD belongs in every aspiring DJ's collection, for both inspiration and study of technique.

I love both CDs in this set, but if you're more into the faster sound of today's trance mixes, buy the import, since disc 2's considerably faster than disc 1, although expect songs from the mid-90s, as this mix was created in 1996. However, disc 1 has some of the most amazing mixing around to date, and is definitely my favorite of the two, making the purchase of the US release (which doesn't come with disc 2) a great choice regardless... and a more economical one if the import price gives you second thoughts.

Bottom line is that if you're a fan of these guys, you already have this set. But if not, click that "Add to Cart" button NOW! You won't be disappointed.

In case you are replacing your original copy....
Just wanted to point out that this compilation is meant to be (by which I mean when it was originally released in the UK) a 2 disc set, one called North and one called South. I ordered this only to find out that on this US version you only get the one disc (North). It is still very good, but just thought I would warn those expecting a two disc set.

Dig weed?
I don't know about you, but I never heard any of these songs on the TV show "Northern Exposure". But seriously. Hard to believe this disc came out 7 years ago. Despite the fact that it's now considered to be old, it is a great set. "Sasha" and "Digweed" put these tracks together seemlessly. I really like to think of this as just one long track, which of course is the point. I might have liked other choices more, but what's here is still classic. This is more mellow than it is aggressive, but at the right place and volume, it should take you where you want to go. There may be better sets out there today, but this will still give you an "Out Of Body Experience".

Pure bliss...
So that's what all the fuss is about! This is about perfect. It's a bit different than their later works, but Digweed and Sasha find perfect harmony here. Digweed, who likes the subterranean and Sasha, who prefers to soar above the clouds, meet half way here. What a mix.

This album is something of a mystical journey, taking you deep within and ascending ever higher until about halfway you find release. You can really feel the grooves.

It's definitely worth the hype.

My only bother would be that you gotta pay out the nose to get the second disc (issued, apparently, everywhere but in the U.S.). Why isn't it available in the states? ... Read more

Reviews (6)

uggghhh
Do not buy this vocal crap. You can get two Ferry Corsten for the price of this unmixed, vocal crap. Please, do not waste your money.

THE Trance Album
When I got this CD, I flipped through it and was neutral about it. But when on the airplane I listened through it fully, I realized that this wasn't just your average trance album. It was THE trance album. Many people do not like Trance Music, and if they don't they will probably dislike this album a whole lot. BUT, for those Trance Fans out there, this is your album. I will go through each song and review them now. Let me just say that not every song is great, but the fact that some of the songs are probably the best ever makes this album so amazing.
1. Lasgo: "Alone" (4:00) (B+) This song really is overplayed on the radio, but that happens with every Lasgo song. Good song.
2. BT: "Simply Being Loved" (4:38) (A-) Though there are much too many edits to the song, this is a very good song.
3. Motorcycle: "As The Rush Comes" (3:30) (A+) One of the best songs on the album. That haunting tune just keeps on impressing me. The vocals aren't the best, but does anyone pay attention to them truly in the song?
4. DJ Sammy: "Sunlight" (3:15) (B+) The vocals aren't the best, but the music gives you a good feeling. DJ Sammy did better on "Boys of Summer" and "Heaven".
5. Ian Van Dahl: "Reason" (2:58) (B+) This song is old, so I'm surprised to see it here. It's a good song.
6. 4 Strings: "Diving" (3:32) (A) Very good song. Vocals are good, tune is great, much better than 4 Strings' first song.
7. Darude: "Music" (3:30) (B+) The music (heheh) is great but the vocals are not great. It's supposed to sound like that, crazily.
8. Andain: "Beautiful Things" (4:09)(A) Very good song. Great vocals, great tune, makes you feel good.
9. Oxygen feat. Andrea Britton: "Am I On Your Mind?" (3:17) (A) Some of the words I can't understand but the rest is all great. The vocals are great, and this mix is very well...uh...mixed.
10. Divine Inspiration: The Way (2:58) (B+) Well, I really like the background beat. The lyrics OK, the music is great.
11. Paul van Dyk feat. Hemstock & Jennings: "Nothing But You" (3:32) (A-) I love the music. This, I think, was a cell phone commercial in the UK according to the Now 55 inlay. Jan Johnston & Kym's vocals impress me and they go well with the tune. The name of the song is weird though because it has no relevance to the lyrics.
12. KMC feat. Sandy: "Get Better" (3:42) (A-) Very good song. I like the lyrics, the vocals are so-so, and the music is super.
13. Kontakt: "Show Me A Sign" (3:45) (B) The worst song on the album, though all the songs are so good this song really doesn't turn out to be bad. The vocals are good. The music is nice and the tune is catchy. It just isn't a good song, though.
14. Terra Skye: "Is This Love?" (3:48) (A-) I really like the tune and vocals. This song is old and should have been put on Best of Trance 3, but whatever. Very good song.
15. Kate Ryan: "Desenchantee" (3:38) (A+++ etc) THE BEST SONG ON THE ALBUM BY FAR. VOCALS ARE GREAT, MUSIC IS WONDERFUL, THOUGH IT IS IN FRENCH IT IS SO CATCHY THAT YOU WON'T CARE. YOU CAN GET A TRANSLATION ON THE INTERNET ANYWAY. THE SONG IS ABOUT CHAOS AND NOTHING BEING RIGHT, BUT THIS SONG CAN'T GET ANY MORE RIGHT. MY FAVORITE SONG.
That wonderful song (15) concluded this wonderful album. I don't see how it can get much better; maybe replace the Kontakt Song with Jan Jonston's "Am I On Pause?" or something good like that.
THE GOOD:
"Desenchantee" "As The Rush Comes"
THE BAD:
"Show Me A Sign"
THE UGLY:
"Music" "Simply Being Loved"
DEFINITION OF DESENCHANTEE:
Disenchanted.
OVERALL GRADE:
A-/A

Great overview of the Trance genre...
For a compilation album, this is really great mix of trance music. The mix of songs by various artists even manage to flow well from one to the next. The three best trance artists from this era are all represented: Lasgo, Ian Van Dahl, and 4 Strings. Several other very popular artists (though not particularly favorites of my own) are also represented such as DJ Sammy, Darude, and Paul Van Dyk. If want a really good mix of songs, particularly if you're looking for a broad overview of some of the best Trance out there, then this is an excellent place to start.

Not The Best, But It's Alright
Robbins Entertainment has just released volume four of "Best Of Trance". Do not let the name "Best Of Trance" fool you. I hope these people at Robbins Entertainment are not using the name just for ripping people off. The first two volumes were excellent, but volume three was mostly boring. Volume four has okay trance, but I have heard better trance than some of these songs.

This isn't a mixed compilation. This is the kind of album where there are g a p s i n b e t w e e n the songs instead of the mixing where the songs sound like they've runintogether. Fine by me whether it's mixed or not.

Lasgo's back with their single "Alone". It's a nice song. It had enough success to make the radio in the US. I heard it on Star 93.7. BT's in this compilation with "Simply Being Loved". It wasn't the mix I expected to hear (I was thinking about the version from "Ultra Dance 04"), but still okay. I just feel bad that BT's got into a feud with Paul Oakenfold recently and BT used to release for Perfecto. Motorcycle's "As The Rush Comes" is in here. I kinda grew to like this trance song to be honest with you. I don't know why. I really enjoyed Darude's "Music". I just liked the vocals in it. There's also "Nothing But You" by Paul van Dyk. (The first PvD song in Robbins "Best Of Trance" series and PvD is a trance master. Another reason why the name of these compilation CD's are a joke.)

There have been better singles by these artists than these singles in "BOT 4". "Diving" by 4 Strings was selected instead of "Take Me Away", DJ Sammy's "Sunlight" was chosen instead of neither "Heaven" nor "Boys Of Summer" and Kate Ryan's "Desenchantee" (sung in another language) was chosen instead of "Scream For More". These songs are still okay but it still could've been better. All the other songs are kind of boring. But they're not as boring as most of the tracks in volume three.

Volume four is better than volume three, but not as good as volume's one and two. They should put Ferry Corsten in one of these albums. Ferry's gifted. Remember that this isn't the best of trance but it's okay trance. Maybe Robbins Entertainment should have called it "Robbins Trance Collection" or something like that.

Best Of Trance, Vol. 4
The latest installment in the "Best Of Trance" series from Robbins Entertainment is a very good trance CD. This isn't your hard-hitting, euphoric trance - this is euro-pop trance. Some call it cheese. I sort of enjoyed all of the songs here, they all sounded the same, though. This isn't a mixed CD, and the tracks are mostly radio-edits, but that certainly doesn't take away from the sheer ammount of tracks on this CD. I'd rather have quality over quantity. This CD has lots of very pop-ish dance tracks that not everyone would enjoy. Overall, I wouldn't recommend this CD to the hardcore dance addict - but for those who enjoy euro-pop trance, and to anyone looking out to get started in this genre. Certainly not the "Best Of", but it will have to do... ... Read more

Album Description

2004 Grammy Award Nominee Sasha returns with the highly anticipated follow-up to the hottest and most critically acclaimed electronic music album of 2004: Involver. To be clear, the most exciting thing about this release is that this is not "Involver 2", the Involver concept is Sasha finding the space between artist, producer, and DJ. Fundacion on the other hand, is a whole new take on DJing. He's given up the turntables and CD players in exchange for a custom designed mixing setup that uses the Ableton "Live" software and a one of a kind controller that Sasha has dubbed "MAVEN" to create a never before heard kind of mixing.

To showcase this new technology and its sonic capablities, Sasha launched a bi-coastal residency (at New York's Crobar and Los Angeles's Avalon) with the closing party in New York being the launch party for the fruition of the entire endeavor: the Fundacion mix CD.

Fundacion will be the recorded version of what Sasha has been doing live at his residencies: effortless on-the-fly re-edits, mash ups, and flawless blends. ... Read more

Album Description

Underdog is a bi-weekly Sunday deep house "experience" founded and hosted by Jay Hannan at the Notting Hill Arts Club in West London. Jay is well known, not only in his native London but worldwide as co-founder along with Ben Watt of the now legendary Lazy Dog club.

A real departure from the 'cold, expansive' super clubs and their assembly line of compilation albums, the album is composed of tracks that have now become classics at the club over the last year. Throughout the mix there are unifying elements running through the core creating Jay's own unique "genre" and allowing people to instantly recognize any Underdog mix and also relate this CD to the afore mentioned Lazy Dog CD's.

The mix starts with Mercury Award nominated artist Terri Walker then flows effortlessly into funky deep house before blending into more Latin influenced beats, African house, even flamenco before finishing with luscious deep vocal tracks including an exclusive only for this album mix of Kaskade's "It's You It's Me" - a song which epitomizes this CD - it really is for you and me! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Excellent
I was extremely dissapointed to see Lazy Dog come to an end but I am pleased with both Ben Watt and Jay Hannan's follow up work. Jay and Ben have taken different paths with their music, with Ben moving into more subtle, ambient deep house and Jay pushing dance oriented deep tracks that have strong (though not contrived or overwhelming)jazz, African, and Latin influences. The Underdog mix is listenable and danceable from start to finish with stand out tracks spanning from songs 5-8. An excellent disc for the deep house lover.

surprisingly impressed
I loved Ben Watt's contribution to Lazy Dog I and hated Jay Hannan's. Thus, hearing that he has a good house CD is a relief. It's not that this disc has individual jams that I just had to have. This is just a decent CD if you want to listen to an hour's worth of house. It would be a good set at any club. Nothing revolutionary happens on this disc. However, I don't regret buying it. It was enjoyable, despite not being extraordinary. Long live the deep house sound! ... Read more

Album Description

Ravin, the celebrated French DJ responsible for the highly acclaimed "Buddha Bar III", presents a sexy new compilation that enchants and inspires. Featuring a vast array of artists, including Femi Kuti, Riccardo Eberspacher, Bliss, and Nicos, "Siddharta" truly captures the spirit and essence that has made the "Buddha Bar Presents" series unforgettable. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

A 10 star double album!
I have all of the buddha-bar albums(three and four being my favorites)and I recently purchased dj Ravin's Siddhartha:spirit of buddha-bar, volumes one and two. Without a moments hesitation, I would rank the first disc of the set "Emotion" as one of the finest compilations of world music I have ever heard. From begining to end it is flawless in technical and aesthetic qualities. It is a true journey of delight - for all the senses. "Passion", the second disc of this set is great too, but "Emotion" is my favorite. If asked to give a recommendation to a first time buyer of ethnic/world music, this uni-album is where I would begin and if you are a long time admirer of the buddha-bar series - buy this album without fear of disappointment. DJ Ravin has proven - once again - he is masterfull.

Gobsmacked
If you're into music from the likes of Claude Challe, the Buddha Bar series, Thievery Corporation, Blue Six, Nitin Sawhney, etc. then this outing from Ravin, the genius behind Buddha Bar 3, is quite probably the BEST asian-inspired lounge CD that I have ever heard.

The choice of tracks and their order are superlative: this is one album that you can genuinely say that there's not a bad track on there. Superb stuff, highly recommended.

(shame about "Spirit of Buddha Bar Vol 2" however...but that's another story)

Seductive
From the opening Qawali wail through the final passionate work out from Femi Kuti, this is a very seductive disc, ambient, techno inspired and otherworldly in every respect. I'm way too old to do ecstacy, but, as I listen to this I get that Peter Gabriel sense of "I love to be loved." Indeed, this is all mood enticingly seductive and relaxing. This sets you in a very different fram of mind and should never, never be listened to while driving a car, or operating heavy machinery. Get yourself parked on a sofa, a bed, the bloody floor for that matter with someone you want to squeeze, and take the ride.
Techno culprits Ben Hassan and Riccardo Eberspacher and Mars Lasser are featured, and whoever this DJ producer is has done an intoxicatingly good job blending the sirens' calls. I emerged from listening to this for 2 hours like Woody Allen in SLEEPERS with his orgasmatron. This is non essential all the way, but if you have the [$$] to blow on some fun, this is great. ... Read more

Album Description

From DJ/producer Kaskade comes a deep house masterpiece that transcends the genre. Smooth vocal gems and soulful compositions. "A captivating album of jams that are deep enough for late night dance floor action and melodic enough for next week's dinner for six. Quite lovely"--Billboard. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Perfection
I first heard "Stepping Out" on Energy 98.1 and wanted to hear more from Kaskade. This San Francisco based artist is extremely talented. The album "In The Moment" features several guest vocalists. Plus, the different beats throughout keep the album innovative. My personal favorites are "Steppin Out" and "Move". I think Bret Garner's vocals are fantastic on "Stepping Out". I buy a lot of dance music each year and this is one of the best for 2004. I highly recommend this album.

"In the Moment" Kaskades beautifully!
I had the awesome privilege of getting to meet Ryan Raddon, AKA Kaskade--DJ/producer extraordinaire--at the Virgin Megastore in Salt Lake City, where he was spinning some original vinyl, signing autographed copies of his new album "In the Moment." (With an unassuming demeanor, Ryan's a pretty nice guy who happens to have Utah connections. Having pioneered the dynamic house scene in the state--and an ingrained player in the electronic-underground--he continues to produce quality material.) Upon listening to this fabulous CD, I was taken aback by the subtle complexities of the sonic architecture: Along with the stunning vocals and the organically soothing instrumentation, and the impeccable sound-layering techniques employed by Ryan, et al, it's a great album to play at clubs and at parties. I'd highly recommend it to anyone who likes the sultry beats and stylistic overtones of Kaskade.

Bravissimo
Kaskade's sun-drenched sounds left grooves in my skin. The album is a buoyant journey, it gave me a hypnotic head-rush of a swing ("I Like the Way"), took me on a gondola ride ("Honesty"), lifted me through the serene wailing of calm storms approaching ("Maybe"), dipped me into a phantom mel(l)o(w)drama ("Soundtrack to the Soul"), uplifted me out my nostalgic musicbox world and finished me off with a soothing bossa-nova balm ("Strum"), wearing topgun shades, under a palm tree ("Yeah Right") tickling with energy ("Move") and sucking a bittersweet ginger candy ("Let You Go").

Very, Very Good
This Kaskade CD is one of the best things I have heard this year.
The tracks are so diverse that there is something for everyone.
Pick this one up for the hammering basslines, soaring vocals and massive synths. This one ROCKS!

Instant Classic
This one blew me away. If you haven't heard of Kaskade, you will. An unbelievable artist album with gorgeous, sweeping tracks that will get you moving on the dance floor. I can already tell this is the album that I will remember when I think of summer 2004. The track Steppin' Out is an instant classic. ... Read more

Amazon.com

In a music landscape filled with slick, but predictable mix cds, we can thank the dance gods for Sander Kleinenberg. Hailing from The Hague, Holland, his willingness to venture into more cerebral material lifts This Is Everybody Too into the same tech-space dreamland that gave its predecessor, Everybody such a lovely kick. The electro and experimental tangents are more in the foreground here, as both discs in the 2-disc set are woven throughout with sparse sounds from the likes of the Junior Boys ("Birthday") and Robag Wruhme (the schizophrenic "Hugenduble"). But along with the New Wave fixations and highbrow electronics, Too gets dirty as well, especially on Kleinenberg's own ultra-funky "The Fruit" from Disc 2. And there's nothing intellectual about the big thumps and up-vibe house melodies that drop on songs from Deepsky, Ericke, among others. Few DJs, in fact, can pull off a compilation with such appeal to both the brain and the body, but that's just another day in the office for this man. --Matthew Cooke ... Read more

Amazon.com

Gabriel & Dresden's Bloom isn't hugely different from any other post-trance, Global Underground-school dance record. But these two well-known producers (from their work with Britney Spears, Annie Lennox, and others) reach outside the usual thumps to provide bursts of electro-synth and organic, funk-based rhythms. The first disc in the 2-disc set starts strong with the brilliant, self-produced "Arcadia," but gets lazy occasionally (please not another cheesy Sarah McLachlan remix!). Depeche Mode fans might be annoyed that G&D felt it necessary to spin a version of "Here Is the House" (by Andain) that replaces Dave Gahan with diva vocals (or maybe they just couldn't get the rights?). Disc 2 bounces back with "Athena," a blissful head-bobber that makes life seem bright and lovely. Later, against all odds, the duo finds new depth in the endlessly remixed Dido ("Don't Leave Home"). It's the next track though--the squishy and sublime "Sub" from Bigtop--that really gives the dance floor something meaty to chew on. It's a beautiful thing when progressive house at least tries to be truly progressive. --Matthew Cooke ... Read more

Reviews (14)

Turns up my Pulse!
When I walked into Sam Goody at my local Mall, I was looking for some dance/techno music. Finally, after searching through many albums, on of the staff members asked me what I was looking for, so I told her. Almost instantly, she picked out PULSE, and told me this was a great choice. Not knowing too much about good dance/techno music yet, I went with her advice and bought it. When I got home, I tried it out and it was great! These were songs that I had remembered a long time ago, which were some of my favorites. Songs such as "Rhythm is a Dancer", "Another Night", "Beautiful Life", "What is Love", "Tonight is the Night", and many more. Practically the whole CD was good songs, so I never get bored of it. If you are new to dance/techno music and you want some old flavor that you can really dance to, then you should pick up PULSE. It worked for me!

The Best of 90's Dance Music
This cd is chock full of all of the overplayed club hits of the 90's but I grew up with this stuff and it just has a nostalgia factor to it. My problem with the cd is the fact that it is very misleading in the versions of the songs it gives you. For example, Rhythm is a Dancer is NOT the version that was played on the radio and the cd does not tell you that anywhere on it. The same goes for Mr. Vain which is drastically different from the one that you might remember. Another thing that bugs me is how short some of the songs have been cut down to. I know that they have to shorten the tracks to fit them all in, but I would rather lose 1 or 2 of the songs and get the rest in their full form. The same thing was done on Madonna's Immaculate Collection. You're listening to a really good song, which you think is nowhere near being over, and then it just ends. Bummer.
Overall it's pretty good though.

Motivational Dance Cd enabled me to lose 30 lbs!!!!
I was a couch potatoe with no drive when I bought this cd awhile back. Since implementing this cd into my life, I have lost a good 30 lbs and still losing! It has motivated me from cleaning up the house to working out. When you have motivation, you keep moving, therefore you burn calories. I believe music changes the way you feel. If you want a great pick me up, I highly recommend Pulse.

Great for Running!
This album is the perfect pump up for EXERCISE! I trained for a marathon last summer to this CD and - YES, I made it all 26.2 miles thanks to the energy imparted by this cd! I am now ordering Fired Up! To prepare for my next marathon.

Get Up And Dance!!!.
This CD is impossible not to groove to. "Pulse" features some of the biggest and best dance hits of the 90's. Snap's "Rhythm Is A Dancer" was a huge hit and is a great way to kick things off. Other big songs follow such as Robin S.'s "Show Me Love" and the fantastic pop/dance single "Another Night" from the Real McCoy. Ace of Base are here with "Beautiful Life"...*although I would've rather seen "The Sign" on here* as is CeCe Peniston's club staple "Finally." However, the best track goes to La Bouche's fabulous "Be My Lover" which is one of the best dance songs ever. Other stand-outs include "Rhythm of the Night" by Corona and Le Click's "Tonight Is the Night."

My one big complaint...where is C&C Music Factory??? "Gonna Make U Sweat" was probably the biggest dance song of the early 90's and is sorely needed here. If it was on here, this album would pretty much be perfect. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Surrender kicks off with a nervous, vibrating whine that brings to mind the first three seconds of Hendrix's "Foxy Lady." But it's just a tease; on their third album, techno's Chemical Brothers have all but turned their back on the rock muscle that earned 1997's Dig Your Own Hole gold status in the U.S. Oh, there are guest rock vocalists galore--New Order's Bernard Sumner, Mazzy Star's Hope Sandoval, and Oasis's Noel Gallagher--but only the latter brings out the crunching big beats that the Chems all but invented. The rest of Surrender hews closer to the thinner, synthesized textures of the electro revival that's swept the dance-music world. Much of the time that's just swell. The leadoff track, "Music: Response," is a seamless trip back to 1985, complete with vocoderized singing and Morse-code beeps. And Sumner's "Out of Control" replicates the thrill of hearing the gloomy Joy Division morph into a swell synthpop band. But without the propulsion that their trademark aggression usually provides, the Chems just barely come up with enough ideas to carry the listener all the way through an album, much less rock a dance floor for an hour at a time. --Jeff Salamon ... Read more

Reviews (228)

Kudos to the Chemical Brothers
I think it's too bad that customers buy a new album, like Surrender, and expect it to be another Dig Your Own Hole, and trash it if it's not. I take my hat off to the boys for trying something new rather than stay with the same old Block Rockin' Beats routine. I enjoy "Hey Boy" because it seems more sarcastic than egotistical (their references to 'superstar DJs' and the cheerful 'here we go!'.. sounds like they are making fun of the hype rather than basking in it) I also enjoyed the retro 80s flavor of music:response. My favorite song on this album is Got Glint?... it's a simple song but there's something fresh about it and the 80s flavor about it really appeals to me. Some of the melodies in this album also have a nice eastern ring to it that is subtle but refreshing. Someone who prefers the older chemical brothers might come away dissappointed but if you're willing to listen to something new and different, give this one a try! P.S. See them live if you can. They are wonderful and the concert's what got me into them!

Stayin' fresh
In an age of comercializing, conforming, and making all music sound like 'pop,' it's nice to know that while other artists are changing over to the pop sell-out side, the chemical brothers are still pumpin' fresh beats. Although this album is a great deveation from their earlier works (DYOH, and Exit Planet Dust), I was delighted to see a brand new sound that didn't flow like a generic "TRANCE-MANIA VOLUME 1 (through 10)." Surrender has by far the most diverse sound I have ever heard on a CD. It would be imposible to put into a certain genre of electronica, because it explores all of them. From the slightly retro Music:Response, to some killer trance in Out of Control, to down-tempo, progressive, and the amazing finale, this album rocks through all genres with equal force. If you're a true block-rockin'-beats fan, you might not like this album because only tracks 4 and 5 mimic the Brother's truly original sound. If you are trance-obsessed, you might be a little better off, but not by too much. Yet, if you love a very diverse compilation of music on one disk, GET THIS NOW!!

P.S. When I saw the Chemical Brothers live, they started the show with Hey Boy, Hey Girl, mixed into Block Rockin' Beats; and then mixed the vocal chorus of Block Rockin' Beats and Music:Response TOGETHER to a background mix of the two songs' beats. These guys are TRULY FANTASIC live.

great begining but trails off
let forever be and out of control are possibly the best tracks ever from the brothers. other tracks are ok but last half of cd is suspect with slower songs and are somewhat weak. music response is a crazy track check it out.

I wouldn't call this a follow-up to Dig Your Own Hole at all
Ok...sure, this album has its UPS for Under The Influence, Out Of Control, Let Forever Be, and Hey Boy Hey Girl...but...I was rather dissapointed on the "style" that they chose to make this album make you SURRENDER to them after hearing the Grammy Award Winner of Dig Your Own Hole. Music: Response was an excellent introduction to the whole CD, but, after that, things started to go a little downhill with songs such as Orange Wedge and The Sunshine Underground. I didn't feel that those songs went anywhere except for in their layed back way...even the song Surrender was terrible. I gave this album 3 stars for a lot of the downfall songs in the album. It is still good to have though if you are a die hard fan of The Chemical Brothers.

Thanks.

My first Chemical Bros. album. Really good stuff.
This was my introduction to the Chemical Brothers. I didn't know what to expect. I heard a few songs off of Dig Your Own Hole, but I kept hearing that this album was completely different. Well, that's not exactly true, but it is a good listen. "Music: Response" is quite interesting. It sounds like 1985 rap beats with some weird robot voices. Under The Influence seems to most liked song from the album. I find it to be ok. Nothing spectacular. Out Of Control has the singer from New Order singing and playing guitar on it. This one is quite entertaining. My absoulte favorite songs would have to be Orange Wedge, The Sunshine Underground, and Hey Boy Hey Girl. Those 3 songs alone are worth the price. Orange Wedge is a attempt to do DJ Shadow-like material. The Sunshine Underground is a very pshycadelic song that just builds and builds. And Hey Boy Hey Girl just rules. The only song I didn't like was Asleep From Day. It never went anywhere. I reccomend this album if you're mildly or really into electronica. Enjoy. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Meet Neil Barnes and Paul Daley, the two crafty Englishmen that comprise Leftfield. Their debut, Leftism, is amazingly diverse, ranging from chunky electro, complex textures of beats, to radio-friendly accessibility. The album's 1995 US release helped open up the states for techno-electronic music: The classic single "Open Up," which features ex-Sex Pistol/PIL ranter John Lydon, was one of the first dance singles to push popular radio barriers with its high energy beats and b-line hooks. "Original," with a guest vocal from Curve's moody crooner, Toni Halliday, delves deep into breakbeat territory with purging lyricism and rhythms. --Daniel Shumate ... Read more

Reviews (62)

Best Album for Electronica Newbies...
This should be an "essential" recording. If you're one of those people who suspect that electronic music has no soul, this is the album that will change your mind (somewhat ironically, it was made by two white guys!) Suffused with tribal rhythms and reggae vocals, the album never strays into D+B predictability, or the stoney tedium of dub. It's a proud album with a lot of heart, and magnificent breadth. The more dance-oriented tracks are balanced by truly beautiful instrumental compositions like "Melt" and "Song of Life". Many electronic acts struggle to incorporate vocals into their music successfully (think Plaid), but Leftfield does so effortlessly. From the incomprehensible chanting of "Afro-Left", to the world-weary, black-widow vocals of "Original", everything is spot on. They even manage to make John Lydon listenable (OK, semi-listenable!) There's my only complaint: on "Open Up" the political sentiment is little bit overdone (a chorus of "burn hollywood burn" doesn't exactly light my fire), but that's only one song. Overall, this album is positive, exhilarating, and as others have stated, accessible without being commercial.

Release The Pressure -
Next to Robert Mile's DREAMLAND, Leftfield's LEFTISM is one of the best dance albums to ever be created. You may not know it yet but when you listen to this album for the first time ever you are likely to have heard at least 3-4 of these songs before for most of these are national anthems when it comes to the dance and electronic field. To put this under one catagory, however, would be wrong, for this album is quite diversified. You've got your aggressive techno (Black Flute) as well as your dreamy trance beats (21st Century Poem, Melt) along with some african and reggae influences (Release The Pressure, Afro-Left) along with the occassional breakbeat (Storm 3000). The 3 most rememberable songs, however, would have to be "Original", which features the moody vocals of Toni Halliday from Curve, "Inspection (Check One)", which pulsates with the most addicting beatlines ever heard, along with their huge dance single, "Open Up", which features the ex-punk singer John Lydon from the Sex Pistols whom is electrifying here with the high-energy beatlines.

I don't know what else to say other than my prompt to persuade you to buy this, for this is the ultimate dance party all rolled up into a single CD.

This is HIGHLY recommended... ENJOY!

L as Leftism
Don't just this album by the cover, it's actually very good. "Leftism" is Leftfields masterpiece in music, not only a exellent techno/electro album before it's time but it also lead the way for band/artists like The Chemical Brothers, Basement Jaxx, Prodigy and Moby. "Leftism" was perhaps not as big commercially as the others but it's a original album with many good songs and influents, never cared for their other albums and eventually they split up in 2002 but this one is topclass. The sound is a mix of diffrent genre's, the best songs are however the slow beautiful ambient tracks like "Release the Pressure" and "Melt". Some of the songs also has other influents like african music and ragga. The album never get's boring and still wouldn't feel dated even if it's from 95. I remember it as it was yesterday. "Leftism" is class.

Original. Never Gets Old.
The song "Original" on this cd has become my personal anthem - and this whole cd is top of the tops. Such excellent melodies and good beats, and so danceable all in one. Good for driving to, or just chilling out with.

This album has to be one of the greatest of the 20th century, and I know that is saying a lot. I don't think it will ever be "dated".

I haven't heard the second album by Leftfield - I've heard it's not as good but part of me doesn't want to be disappointed so I've not gone out of my way to hear it.

good-better-best-BESTEST
Having heard this album wayyy back in 95, enjoying a amsterdam-blended herbal cigarette, it blew my mind. The blend of styles and influences of electronic/house/industrial/africa etc.etc. is still fresh and it just doesn't lose it's musical magical touch. It remains a MUST-HAVE even though my music tastebuds have evolved in the past years, I couldn't depart from this album. I severely recommend this album, (it's just a pitty their second album coulnd't live up to this icon). But that's just what it is: a brief& rare moment of genius in time, touching our inner ear leaving you longing for more. It's the BESTEST!! Enjoy:-) ... Read more

Amazon.com

Alice Deejay finds its inspiration at the nexus where house music meets Eurovision songwriting. The creative force behind Alice Deejay, and the voice fronting it, is a Dutch club DJ identified only as Judy. She's enlisted two other singers (Gaby and Jane) and a host of European house-music producers from the more pop end of the spectrum--people whose credits include remixing Ricky Martin's World Cup theme song and the Vengaboys. The result is a mixture of melodies that are heavily Europop with maybe a dash of contemporary U.S. Britney-'n'-Backstreet Top 40 over a beat that started with Giorgio Moroder in the late '70s, took a trip through the British Hi-NRG style in the '80s, and hasn't yet quit. The handiest comparison to someone who has combined a similar set of elements in an obviously successful way is to Cher and her hit "Believe," but the proof that crafting melodies that catchy is not easy is also on display. --Bob Bannister ... Read more

Reviews (139)

Better than I expected, But still not Perfect
I thought this was going to be one of my favorite cds ever. Now, I'm not too big on house and techno music. I listen to Real McCoy, La Bouche, Aqua, and Vengaboys, but I don't consider them to be too techno. They're like "Fun" music. Especially Aqua and Vengaboys. But anyways, when I first heard "Better Off Alone", I actually thought this was going to be such a great cd. I mean, it takes a lot to make me like a techno song, because personally, they all kinda sound the same to me when I first hear them. Fast beat, same beat, one or two words, then beats again. Very repetitive. Well, Alice Deejay actually sings in this cd, or so I thought. The first song, which is, "Back In My Life" is my favorite. It's really fast, but Alice sings a lot. I love to hear her voice for some reason. I think she should have used more of it in the rest of the album. The second best song is also the #2 song "Better Off Alone" This started off being my favorite song, but it's way overplayed. I have a cd consisting of 12 remixed versions of this one song. Maybe that's why I got over this song in about 2 months. Next on the list of my favorites is #3 "Celebrate Our Love" Again, lots of vocals and an catchy beat. It seems to tell a story about love. It's great, you'll love this song, except she seems to say Saturday Night Love instead of Celebrate Our Love", but who cares, it's a great song. Might be my second favorite now because by the time you read this review, I probably heard Better Off Alone 600 more times already. Other good songs on this CD are #8 "Fairy Tales", and #11 "I Can See". "Fairytales" starts off with a storm. It makes you feel like your in the game Zelda and you're on a mission to save a princess or loved one and you're searching for her in this very dark and stormy night with rain pouring, but nothin's gonna stop you anyway as the upbeat music will make you keep going until you find her. "I Can See" is a song that should have followed Fairytales because it kinda sounds like she's thanking you for being rescued and she can see it in your eyes that she loves you now too. Now, lets move on to the Bad songs. The worst song has got to be #14 "Alice Deejay" Just that title gave me a bad impression of a song. I mean, what was she going to do, tell me about herself? No, but instead, she kept reminding me that "She's a Deejay, Alice Deejay" That's all I heard throughout the song. Drove me nuts. I think the music was pretty good though. This was a song that I wish she didn't vocalize so much. What Irony huh? Another bad song in my opinion is #13 "Got To Get Away". While not as bad as #14, this one was close. I'm glad I got away from listening to this song twice. Again, all she said was "I Got To Get Away" over and over and over. All the others songs were pretty good to ok. I mean, just average techno songs. If you like house or techno, then you'll probably like more songs on this cd than I did, but if you're trying for more vocal like vengaboys or Aqua, then this isn't the right cd for you.

Its Like a Drug!
Ok, first off, ... either is boring, but there are huge differences however. On this cd, Judy (Alice Deejay) uses her pure vocals which are beautiful, melodic, and mature, unlike Sarina's which are just simply fun and bouncy, but barely show an emotional side to the effort.

The Trip Begins with an exiting upbeat and energetic "Back in My Life", beautiful voice mixes with great background music and to top it all off, great lyrics. (5/5)

"Better Off Alone", ok so we've all heard this one, good at first, but kinda loses its flavor after the first 50 times of play. (1/5)

"Celebrate Our Love" a beautiful dance anthem here, this here is one of the many reasons to buy the album. (5/5)

"The Lonely One" Kinda slows down the pace of the album, but still very good. (4/5)

"Who Needs Guitars Anyway?" Its strictly an instrumental, proves what a good dj Judy is, and with this song, the question is answered, who does need guitars when we have such beautiful electronica such as this? (5/5)

"Will I Ever?" This one is a really cute song, pure bouncy, caffine hyped, dancefloor fun! (5/5)

"Elements of Life" I can't say its one of my favorites, but its not bad, its kinda breathy and quiet, its quite a different experience from the tracks before it, it grows on you though. (3/5)

"Fairytales" Also not one of my favorites, but it stands out from everything else on the album, the back beat sounds more like a "rock" style drum-beat, rather than a euro-dance UNCE-UNCE type drumbeat, so for being different I give it credit. (3/5)

"Waiting for your Love" When you hit this track you start to wonder if the album gets to be as outstanding as the beginning of the album was, but don't worry, you'll get back up there, it takes time, this one was more a filler song in my opinion, not the greatest. It kinda starts out sounding like that metro remix of Everytime It Rains by Ace of Base. Could've been much better in my opinion. (2/5)

"No More Lies" And here is the peak of the mountain so to speak, the wonderful, catchy, beautifully crafted melody/harmony work, who can say no do a dance anthem like this? Should've been the single instead of "Better off Alone" in my opinion, its 50 times better. (10/5)

"I Can See (See it in your eyes)" Pretty good, not much else I can say about this one, just a basic trance-pop song here. (5/5)

"Everything Begins with an E" The second of the two instrumentals, still very good, but in my opinion, "Who needs guitars" was better. (5/5)

"Got to get away" I think "Higher and Higher" should've been put on this cd in its places, "Got To Get away" is pretty much just some more filler, but I give it credit for being tolerable atleast. (3/5)

"Alice Deejay" The explanation to the talent behind the music, she doesn't lie when she says she is rythm, she is music, she's a dj, she is ALICE DEEJAY! hope for much more to come in the future! A Perfect Conclusion the trip. (10/5)

So there you have it, go experience it for yourself now, you won't regret it! as once said by Judy, to fully experience the trip, TURN IT UP!!!

Great music, horrible singing
Although Alice Deejay obviously has a lot of musical talent when it comes to the synthesizers, her voice is weak, nasal, and incredibly grating, and ruins what would otherwise be an album full of really great songs. Fortunately, there are 2 instrumental tracks, and one track where she uses a vocoder to mask her awful voice, but all the other tracks make me wish she'd enlisted someone else to sing. I'm sure that there's some sort of music out there for which her voice would be perfect, but it's definitely not anthem-y techno, and she comes off sounding like Fran Drescher trying to belt out Haddaway's "What is Love". (OK, it's not quite THAT bad, but it's too close for MY comfort.)

Who Needs Guitars Anyway?
Who Needs Guitars Anyway?~ Alice Deejay is right there is no need for guitars on this very likeable album that is euro techno affecionados dream with distinct beats and a sense of laissey faire fun.

No guitars needed
Dutch group Alice Deejay was one of many dance groups that came out in 2000. Great beats and meliodic sound. Commercial dance but at the sane time good. Reminds me alot of the eurodance of the 90's but this is less vocals in, actually the vocals only appears on the chorus, not like Lasgo and other neu-groups that wants to write too much lyrics to their songs. The very meliodic sound makes the songs catchy and radiofriendly and very good to dance to. "Better of Alone" "Back in my life" "Will i ever" and "The lonely one" all follows this path and are dance classics. Those songs are the best one's on the album. Not all songs are like that though, a few instrumental. Quite simple stuff, but enjoyable and fun. This was Alice Deejay's only album ... Read more

Amazon.com's Best of 2001

Since Simon Radcliffe and Felix Burton of Basement Jaxx released the unbelievable Remedy in 1999, house music has experienced a slight identity crisis. But even as trance and Fatboy Slim-style big beat saturate the dance floor, the primal, funky soul of true house that the Jaxx duo know and love clearly reverberates beneath it all. With Rooty, Radcliffe and Burton finish the job they started on Remedy by listening to their instincts, stripping away the gloss, taking some creative risks, and coming up with some of the rawest grooves in recent memory. The first track and single "Romeo" doesn't waste any time, parlaying an irresistible hook and a relentlessly up vibe into the most danceable three and a half minutes of 2001. Frankie Knuckles-era Chicago house and War's deep Latin funk are audible throughout, along with an adventurous production sense; "SFM" packs in a wild kaleidoscope of howls and cross-rhythms while slinking along and rubbing itself on the furniture like a cat in heat. Still, given the level of creative license at work here, the record sometimes misses the mark. Songs like "I Want U" reach for progressive funk, but forget the low bass end that can give a silly, airy song some gravity. But more often that not, the band's decision to eschew beats in favor of dirtier, sexier means of rhythmic expressions pays off. Witness the fat bass line at work in "Get Me Off," as a breathy tease of a lead vocal turns into an outright come-on. Somehow both relentlessly modern and a throwback to simpler, funkier times, Rooty is an effective way to jog the memory should you have forgotten the egg that came before the trance chicken. --Matthew Cooke ... Read more

Reviews (90)

Let Rooty Shake Your Booty!
Lately I've been buying electronic music like there's no tomorrow but out of them all I'd have to say that this is by far one of the best albums in this overcrowded genre. I bought Rooty by Basement Jaxx about 2 months ago yet I'm still playing it like it's brand spankin new. All the songs here have irresistible hooks with catchy and lusterous female vocals that are wispy and fun, circling around all this funky house music. The singer's vocal styling for "I Want You" sounds a lot like Nelly Furtado with a crazy, warped-out melodie that is oddly accessible while songs like "Jus 1 Kiss" and "Broken Dreams" are loaded with heavy bass lines accompanied by sometimes poppish or sometimes funky house soul. Not all these songs will make you want to dance but they will most certainly make you tap your foot or bob your head up and down to the appealing dance beats. Prince even has an evident source of usage here on songs like "Crazy Girl". The only song I didn't care for was "SFM" with it's electronic hip-hop. And while the beat is highly contagious the rapping is completely out of place, even amidst all this influential old-school. The most recognizable songs here are probably "Where's Your Head At" (which was a huge club hit) and "Do Your Thing" (which was used in some kind of commercial, which I fail to remember...) Out of all of these song, though (which are destined to become classics, I'm sure) my favorites would have to be the naughty "Get Me Off" and "All I Know".

Overall I'd say that this CD is one that ALL electronic dance fans should own. Without Rooty to shake my booty my collection would be completely lost. (And that goes for you as well.) So buy it already!

This is highly recommended.

My booty sure likes Rooty!
I totally bought this on a whim. I'd never heard this or the first album, but I thought the cover art was really cool and the reviews were great, so I picked it up. God, am I glad I did! It is one of the best CDs I've ever heard. I love the weirdness and eclectic mix of sounds on it. It's definitely one of the most creative albums out there. There isn't a bad track on it - the whole thing is listenable (and I can't say that about many CDs). The best song on it is "Get Me Off." The beat and the layers of sound are incredible. It reminds me of Lords of Acid a bit. Other faves are "Romeo," "Breakaway," and "Where's Your Head At?". This has been said below, but the whole album is a weird and wonderful hybrid of Daft Punk, Prince, and...who knows. Just check it out. It's definitely a great one!

I'm a little disappointed, though, in Remedy. I bought it because I liked Rooty so much. It's good, but I find it less interesting. And it seems to be missing something to hold it together, unlike Rooty. Plus, some of the songs are downright annoying to me (particularly songs #3 and #4). Maybe if I had bought Remedy before Rooty I'd feel differently, but Rooty is just a very difficult album to live up to.

they do their thing better than many
I saw a song from Remedy in a coke commercial a few years ago and ever since then I've been exploring all the possibilities in electronic music, from Daft Punk to Autechre to Roni Size to whatever. Basement Jaxx always amazes me because they manage to pull so much totally bizarre wackiness into a generally tight and cohesive whole. I mean come on, there are moans and screams and random spoken vocal bits and sirens and funky guitar riffs and it all works. How (...) do they do that? Remedy was cool, just because it was barely more creative than anything else at the time, but Rooty defies expectations by delivering a sound that's not just a skewed take on techno but a totally developed sound in itself.

Most of the songs are good, but like the Amazon review said, sometimes they forget the low end and end up with stuff that sounds weird but doesn't make you want to move your feet. The album races through a LOT of variety, especially with the south of the border flair of broken dreams, the gospel energy and the mind altering spasms of SFM and Crazy Girl. The songs are a lot shorter than they were on Remedy, leaving the album pretty short but massively effective. The only remotely weak link would be I Want U, but it is not bad enough to skip most of the time. (Oh yeah, I must be the only Basement Jaxx fan in the entire world who finds Where's Your Head At pretty annoying). Even the chilled closer, All I Know, is well done.

Besides being assertively unique and having unprecedented diversity, Rooty is one of the most accessible innovations of its kind. If you look at much of the material from a musician's point of view, there is still a lot going on from the aspect of chords and rhythms and integrity to the plethora of genres. Most marginal or good dance producers have only a rudimentary understanding of music, but Basement Jaxx does more than dress up crapy material in wild studio sheen. This is good stuff, even though it can get so silly that it's actually corny.

It doesn't quite "Get Me Off".
To be honest, after all I heard about "Rooty", I expected a bit more. It's not bad, just not excellent. "Romeo" is a good start. "Where's Your Head At" is definitely the high point of the disc, and also the most aggressive track. I actually was hoping the rest of it would be more like that. The other tracks are more dance/pop, and most lack a driving beat. It's not that I wanted something like "Lords Of Acid" or "Ministry", but something similar to "Junior Senior" or "Daft Punk", which this may be, but not as good. So again, it's decent, just not that exciting.

The Ultimate Dance Album
Now, the only reason I even heard of this album was because I saw the absolutely HILARIOUS music video for 'Where's Your'e Head At' with the monkeys, and I really dug the song, so I found this album. It is the ultimate album of its genre, far superior than any other dance album I have ever heard. My favorite song is 'Whre's Your Head At', but that's just me. If you are planning a party, get this and play it loud. People will thank you. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Monster was an unflinching movie that took you to the edge of the abyss with Aileen Wournos, a prostitute who murdered seven of her customers in Florida in the 1980s. Director Patty Jenkins' film is a sympathetic portrait of Wournos and BT's (Brian Transeau) score ranges from hopeful to harrowing. Fans of BT's trance music won't find any of his familiar beats and techno strategies here, but a work that is just as immersive. Mixing ambient Americana, melancholic minimalism, and atonal atmospheres, this isn't the kind of score you might expect from a musician more associated with dance, trance, and pop music. But BT pulls out all the emotional stops here from the poignant opening theme, "Childhood Montage," with its haunting keyboard refrain, to the stomping guitar twang rave-up on "Ditch the Car." Instead of the usual soundtrack of truncated cues, BT has fleshed out his themes into extended works that segue through the disc. An additional bonus is a DVD-A 5:1 surround mix that puts you right in the middle of BT's spectral swirl. Adding an additional 9 tracks of music, BT paints a 360 degree sound world that is as enveloping as it is compelling. --John Diliberto ... Read more

Reviews (7)

All I can say is:
I have about 500 CD's of all types of music, rock, new age, electronicia, trance etc. etc. This is one of the best CD's I have heard in years. The movie was excellent and the score was incredible. I drive a lot in my profession and I listen to this CD and it makes a great background theme for life. I am very impressed with BT, in particular the work on this album. There are no weak tracks. I dont know what else to say to convey the power of this CD.

Classical BT
If you have fallowed BT and read about his past, you know that he had listened to classical from when he was a small boy. So to me, this is the album he's always wanted to do. Just waiting for the right movie, the right moment to release. This is a great CD. I would show it to my rocker friends, to my grandparents, and make 4 copies of it. So I can listen to it in the car, at work, at the gym and at home.

And that's just the CD part.

The DVD I got to listen to in a 5.1 sound system. Engulfing is the only way to describe it. Such good music, made for 5.1, and it shows.

But if you ask me, its not 5 stars, its 6. It compares to nothing!

An Extremely Powerful Score!
This is perhaps the most emotionally charged score I've heard in my life (as well as one of my favorite soundtracks to date). I watched the movie (at least five times) and I love it! It became one of my top ten favorite movies ever! After I heard the music from the movie, I bought the soundtrack the next day and have listened to it alot. I think this was the perfect music to support the movie as well as the perfect music to listen to in your free time. I didn't even know who BT was until his score to Fast and the Furious. And now I keep up with all of his releases and I've become a huge fan. His score to Monster is his best yet. From "The Bus Stop" to "The Ferris Wheel" to the "Courtroom" track, this is by far the best soundtrack, I think, so far of 2004! You need to get this soundtrack as well as the movie! This was a unique soundtrack because of the DVD feature which is really awesome too. Trust me, buy this soundtrack because it's worth every cent!

Perhaps the best trance out right now
This is a killer collection (no pun intended). I digged the film and have found this collection by BT to be better than the film soundtrack. Very dark and powerful, just great.
This is one of my favorite CDs out right now, along with mr.deviant's "Techno Obsession" which is a killer mix of power rock and hard dance music.

Incredible music
As a collector of film soundtracks and scores, I notice that certain tracks appeal to me mainly because they remind me of the scene from the movie they are taken from. This is always enjoyable but it is also a novelty that eventually and inevitably dies out.

This, the "soundtrack" to the amazingly powerful movie, "MONSTER," is not an example of that sort of disc.

This is incredible music, in and of itself. If this soundtrack was not an album on its own (no movie) then I would still give it 5 stars. It is not a reminder of the scenes from the film. It is a full-fledged piece of musical art that is at once overwhelmingly beautiful and entrancingly powerful.

The tracks are elaborated and extended for the album, which is great because we are presented with long, long melodies like "The Bus Stop" that go on for nearly 10 minutes. I am reminded of the old tracks of Miles Davis that went on for over thirty minutes and remained exciting, inticing, and intimate throughout. This CD, even its longest songs, do not bore the listener at any point. In fact, just when a song seems to be overdoing it, it takes a sharp turn. (For example, a beautiful strings arrangement is interrupted by a poudning drum-beat and an electronic melody.)

It is recommended not only to those who enjoyed the film, but rather to those who crave an album of beautiful, exciting music. ... 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

Amazon.com

Director Doug Liman (Swingers) tells the story of a day in the life of a botched drug deal that includes supermarket checkout girls, soap opera actors, and a British expatriate. Dawson's Creek's Katie Holmes, Armageddon's William Fichtner, and The Sweet Hereafter's Sarah Polley are among the stars. No Doubt leads things off with the unremarkable "New," the band's first single in two years. Steppenwolf's "Magic Carpet Ride" is given a 1999 remix by Philip Steir, which means lots of stuttering beats, turntable swipes, extra beats, and inane noises. Fatboy Slim uses the same methods, but "Gangster Tipping" is a more appropriate context. Esthero with Danny Saber delivers the atmospheric "Song for Holly." Goldo is rightfully nightclub sleazy with "To All the Lovely Ladies." DJ Rap has an '80s synth groove mastered for "Good to Be Alive." The French band Air work a subdued vibe for "Talisman," the soundtrack's most sublime moment. --Rob O'Connor ... Read more

Reviews (62)

One of the Best Soundtracks of 1999
Incorporating a blend of various musical styles, the soundtrack to the film "Go," is one of the best soundtracks released in 1999. With a selection that no doubt will appeal to young adults, the soundtrack is as good as the film was.

No Doubt's single "New," was one of the best songs to come from the Anaheim, California band since the release of their "Tragic Kingdom" album. The song played at the films end credits, was a blend of No Doubt's style of rock with great lyrics.

Canadian hip-hop group, Len, provided the album with their summer hit, "Steal My Sunshine." Similar to the Beastie Boys in their early days, Len's hip-hop meets suburbia sound is truly refreshing. Other great songs on this album include "Magic Carpet Ride," by Philip Steir/Steppenwolf, "Gangster Tripping," by the amazing Fatboy Slim, and Shooting Up In Vain" by Eagle-Eye Cherry (Neneh Cherry's brother).

But the ultimate highlight of this great compilation has to be the electronica hit "Believer," by the incredible BT. BT, who is one of today's foremost electronica gurus, was also the film's music supervisor, and many of his tracks are heard in the movie. "Believer," which is the song played at the giant rave party in the film is 10 minutes of pure pleasure. Once you hear it you feel that you have been transferred to another place, because it is fantastic. It's a shame that BT's other tracks heard in the film, especially the track played during the chase in Las Vegas, were omitted from the album.

Truly, the "Go" soundtrack was one of the best soundtracks to be released in 1999. Other great soundtracks released that same year that you should check out include "Cruel Intentions," "Trick," and the "Matrix". Go and check out this soundtrack and other albums by BT for a great mind trip.

"Go" Soundtrack is a sound musical investment!
The "Go" sountrack is super! We've all heard No Doubt's "New", but the songs that really steal the album are the rock anthem turned trippy-electric-rock "Magic Carpet Ride (Stier's Mix)", the surprisingly awesome "Cha Cha Cha" by Jimmy Luxury et. al and Len's sweet little "Steal My Sunshine". "Magic Carpet Ride" has a new sound, but the roots are heavily embedded in Steppenwolf. I found myself smiling as I listened to "To All the Lovely Ladies" (think Digital Underground) and of course, the much-heard "Gangster Tripping" by Fatboy Slim. "Troubled..." is the best of Natalie Imbruglia that I've heard, and Eagle Eye Cherry's "Shooting Up In Vain" is bittersweet. This is a great car album, with a great energy that won't let you down.

Better than your average soundtrack.
I was actually really impressed with this cd, just as much as the movie. I'm not a huge fan of any of the bands, but they're all good, and song for song it all works well together. Some of the more popular tracks are "New", "Steal My Sunshine", and "Gangsta Tripping", but alot of the others are better. "Believer", "Talisman", and "Song for Holly" are all excellent, and I suprisingly liked "Troubled By The Way We Came Together". It's all just a good mix of techno, pop, and rock. Any fan of these groups, or especially the movie should dig this.

A SONG FOR HOLLY
Esthero's "Song For Holly" is by far the best moment on this soundtrack to the 1999 film "Go". Produced by Danny Saber, "A Song For Holly" is atmospheric. Mixing Esthero's impressive vocals (a cool mix of Sade, Erykah Badu, Bjork, and Everything But The Girl's Tracy Thorn) with a sense of vurnablitity and remorse yet a line of optimism. Beautiful song and me being a huge fan of Esthero's, this track (although three years old) makes me feverishly await Esthero's next album. This time, I promise she'll BLOW up!!!

Other than the butterfly of this collection-"Song For Holly"-
there's some other fairly entertaining music on this soundtrack. There's Len's "Steal My Sunshine", a well-produced and happy 'fun' ditty( rumored to be an in-direct tribute to the love drug, Ecstasy) which bubbles with amused good feeling. With a sample of former adult film starAndrea True's disco hit "More More More", how can you go wrong? :-) No Doubt's offbeat "New" still sounds up to par, Fatboy Slim's "Gangsta Trippin'" (heard on way too many cheesy teen-targeted television ads and MTV specials), and DJ Rap's "Good To Be Alive" all will keep you satisfied.

Although the clunkers- the cornball "Magic Carpet Ride" by Phillip Steir (also heard on many a cheesy television commercials), Natalie "One Hit Wonder" Imbruglia's "Troubled By The Way We Came Together", and a limp remixing of Eagle Eye Cherry's already flat "Shootin' In Vain"-could have been omitted, "Go"'s soundtrack is actually one of the last half-decent ones to be released, since quality soundtracks have now went the way of eight-tracks!

But essentially, get this soundtrack just for "Song For Holly". Anything with Esthero is worth buying!!

A great multi-genre soundtrack.
I got the "Go" soundtrack for my birthday back in '99 before I had seen the movie.And I liked it so much I bought the movie."Go" is one soundtrack that I can listen to and not have to skip any songs. It has pop, rock, instrumental, and some rap.So it could most likely please all types of music fans. I was not all that happy with Philip Stier's remix of Steppenwolf's "Magic carpet ride", it's tolerable, but I hate it when someone butchers a classic song (and don't even get me started on the monstrosity of a soundtrack that "Small soldiers" was,and for all of you that have unfortatley heard it,you'll know what I mean). No Doubt does pretty good with "New", and I really like Len's "Steal my sunshine". I think Air French Band does an excellent job with the instrumental "Talisman", and Natilie Imbrugila's "Troubled by the way we came together" has made me a fan of her's. Before I got "Go", I hadn't heard of many of the artists or bands on the cd, but they all are very talented, and I'm glad Sony bought the rights for them, because I can't picture any other compliation of artists of mostly unknowns (to me) that could make such a good soundtrack.

"Go" is (in my opinion) up with "Idle Hands" and "Dick" as the best soundtracks of '99. I would not hesitate for a second to recomend "Go", it is worth the money. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Pump Up the Jam
Pump Up the Jam~ Technotronic is one of my favorite dance albums of all time. This beat is technotronic is my favortie on the entire album and tough is one good track also.

Great album
This CD is perhaps old but it's still great to listen today. It's one of the classics of eurodance and no one will change it. I really enjoyed every track on this album : if you like one track, you will like all of them because they are similar. My favourites are PUMP UP THE JAM, GET UP [BEFORE THE NIGHT IS OVER], TOUGH, COME ON, THIS BEAT IS TECHNOTRONIC, ROCKIN' OVER THE BEAT and MOVE THIS. The best of these tracks is THIS BEAT IS TECHNOTRONIC : a great "classic techno" track that will make you dance, the band did an amazing job with this track, I love it. But I also listen to the others. A good purchase that you won't regret if you listened and like one track from that album.

Techno-Tragedy
Ever since Solid Gold has been taken off the air I have constantly struggled with ways to fill up my evenings. I have passed the time by using various outlets such as needlepoint, playing Battleship (alone), and most recently I dipped my pen into the inkwell that is Tae-Bo. But since the hamstring injury that I recently suffered has prematurely cut my Tae-Boing career short, I have been met with extreme difficulty in passing my nights. Luckily for my while I was expressing my thoughts on a VH1 message board, I saw one constant group's name being tossed about with an enormous amount of popularity. This "Limp Biszkit" as they were called seemed to be accumulating an unbelievable amount of attention. I hurried down to the shop where records can be purchased and I sampled a "Limp Biszkit" release. The anger and angst that flooded my body was so intense I was forced to throw my headphones to the floor in order to maintain my sanity. In my fit of dismay I bolted down to the local emporium and much my ear's delight I was met with the enchanting sound of "Pump Up the Jam" that was my musical savior at this low point in my life. Wasting no time, for my musical life was endangered and I feared that I may never again be able to listen to "Terrence Trent D'Arby" or "Sade" in the same manner, I purchased the "Pump Up the Jam" album by the group Technotronic. As I excitedly pressed play on my Sony Home Entertainment system, I was expecting a musical revelation but what I got was nothing more than empty hopes and dashed dreams. I was paralyzed by what I had heard and I was unable to stop the car crash catastrophe that was ensuing. Every new beginning to each song turned out to just intensify the horrible end to my musical manliness. I have never in my life looked at my home entertainment system with so much disgust. This appliance had given me so much enjoyment in years past that I could only sit and sulk on my dirty brown recliner. It took me weeks upon weeks to recover and I replied to the trash that my home entertainment system dished out to me, that I threw my my system in the garbage bin. I have moved far enough along in my recovery process that writing this review is a form of therapy and hopefully I will be able to steer away possible purchasers away from making a mistake that may prove to undo their life. So I must merely say "You're Welcome."

Essential
This CD is a must-have for any serious fan of club/house/techno music. Technotronic was revolutionary in their treatment of the genre, and their sound is a great example of the late 80's/early 90's club scene. Definitely a pivotal album in the history of dance music.

Best Album
This Album is the best that i heard in my life. Technotronic Best Songs on thi album as "Pump Up The Jam"; "Get Up"; "This Beat Is Technotronic"; Tough;"Take It Slow", "Move This"; "Rockin Over The Beat">>Very cool ... Read more