Amazon.com

Elektra lived through Moby's wild musical mood swings only to have him jump ship to V2 Records where, on first try, he produced a genius, groundbreaking album that made him a household name. What's a hapless major label to do? Why, put out a quickie compilation attempting to cash in on his newfound fame, of course. Moby Songs is a veiled "Best of the Elektra Years" collection of the techno wizard's singles released under the Elektra umbrella. The problem with this disc is that Moby's discography is Babe Ruthian in its homerun-to-strikeout ratio. Furthermore, his best work occurred before and after he signed with the label. That leaves Elektra pulling 6 of the 13 tracks off of Everything Is Wrong (Moby's only consistent work while signed on). The rest is culled from his famously awful alt-rock offering Animal Rights, his collection of soundtrack work I Like to Score, and the title track from the Move EP. Moby Songs only serves those who are more morbidly curious with a snapshot of the man's scattered track record. Those who are interested in his finest should stick with his self-titled debut (which includes the rave classics "Drop a Beat," "Everything," "Next Is the E," and the original version of "Go") and Play. --Beth Massa ... Read more

Reviews (32)

A good collection of Moby songs
Ok, so my last review was lame heres a new one...

First of all here is the actual track listing

1. First Cool Hive 2. Go 3. Into The Blue 4. Now I Let It Go 5. Move [You Make Me Feel So Good] 6. I Like To Score 7. Anthem 8. Hymn 9. Feeling So Real 10. God Moving Over the Face of the Waters 11. Alone 12. Novio 13. The Rain Falls And The Sky Shudders 14. When It's Cold I'd Like To Die 15. Living 16. Grace The collection consists of 8 songs from "Everything Is Wrong", the other 8 are from "Move", "Animal Rights", and "I Like To Score", If you own those or plan on buying them you should skip this collection, if you don't have any of them you should try it out, it is a good collection, most of the songs are beautiful and calm.

Moby is up there with the greatest! A collector's item.
"Songs" basically summarizes the New York DJ's efforts from 1993 to 1998, allowing listeners who are new to his music, or who might have first heard of his work through his 1999 VERY GOOD album album "Play", a chance to get exposed to his earlier work.

I would like to cover each of the songs real briefly, so it can be made evident how eclectic an artist Moby is:
1) First Cool Hive: You have heard it. Sounds a lot like some of the "Play" songs.
2) Go: first written by Moby in conjunction with David Lynch and Angelo Badalamenti (long time scorer for Lynch's movies), has certain elements from Twin Peaks 'Laura Palmer's Theme.
3) Into The Blue: sweet Mimi Goese's voice accompanies Moby's music. Song #14 has Mimi Goese as well, and both rank among the best of the album.
4) Now I Let it Go: like a celtic melody, very quiet an soothing. I let it go as well...
5) Move (You Make Me Feel So Good): very dance-oriented tune. Most likely you've heard it on some disco floor.
6) I Like To Score: a very funky down-tempo guitar-driven tune, very contagious, very hard not to tap on the floor to it if your listening to it while sitting.
7) Anthem: a trance tune with some Gregorian chants/Opera voiced over.
8) Hymn: very sweet, piano-drive tune, very "Play"-like as well.
9) Feeling So Real: a very 'pop' techno tune. Not one of my favorites from the album, in all honesty.
10) God Moving Over The Face Of The Waters: one of Moby's most beautiful compositions. You've heard it, I'm sure. If you haven't you need to.
11) Alone: just feels like walking on your own through the middle of the desert... at night... a 10+ minute epic.
12) Novio: (boyfriend, in Spanish) another beautiful Moby tune, revisiting the Gregorian chants theme.
13) The Rain Falls & The Sky Shudders: one of those songs to sit down an listen to on a rainy afternoon. Actually has the sound of the rain in the background.
14) When It's Cold I'd Like To Die: Mimi Goese interpreting yet another beautiful tune with Moby's music.
15) Living: very optimistic tune with a guitar leading it into
16) Grace: Moby's closing statement for this compilation album says it all. Incredible song. Not hard to find some Brian Eno-like influences in it.

Whether your musical preferences are along the lines of dance music, new age, Gregorian chants, or just about anything, this album deserves room in your collection. It carries incredibly beautiful as well as vey contagious songs, that will make you respect Moby (as I now do), and most likely expand your collection to contain all his albums.

Equivalent to Sonic Wallpaper
I found this CD to be pleasant, soothing, unobtrusive background music. I enjoyed "Play" and other of Moby's work; however, I found this CD to be to be the equivalent of sonic wallpaper - it's there, but it is meant to fade into the background.

Music fans can do much better
Moby's "Songs" is basically a collection of some minor work from his stint with Elektra, and as such, is an album that should not have been made. Moby as an artist is overrated to begin with, so a trip into "Songs" is especially unnecessary.

To begin with, Songs opens with "First Cool Hive", a track that is very reminiscent of the most repetitive and irritating elevator music of Enigma, a band which has become nothing but the butt of jokes. There was some hope that the album would improve as "Go" and "Into The Blue", the two most tolerable tracks on the album came on, but they still offered very little for an appreciator of music to sink his or her teeth into. Things head back downwards as sappy, unoriginal tracks like "Anthem" and bad party music tracks like the despicable "I like to Score" and the weak "Feeling So Free" started playing from my stereo. Moby seems to be trying to serve boring and pretentious music to fans that haven't bothered to try the better Stereolab albums over Moby's predictable, one layered collection of songs. In fact, the whole album feels like shallow, predictable, and uninteresting music by a minor talent. That's to bad, because Moby at his best offers up some hypnotically catchy tracks, especially when a talented vocalist backs him up, but then again, Moby at his best is few and far between, and Moby at his worst dominates in Songs.

Those who like music that doesn't challenge them to listen can add a star, and if the purchaser of the album also wants no more than a nice piano segment or a little background music while they read can add an additional star. Those who seek originality and creativity in their music can take the last star away.

Interesting
I hate techno, rave, dance music, etc...but I have found Moby's mobysongs quite interesting. I slip over the dancy, techno tracks and go to the ambient tracks. Here is where Moby connects. He is kind of like the modern version of Brian Eno with a pop flair. In fact, I wish he would become more Enoish and drop the dancy stuff altogether! Mobysongs is a good place to start for someone new to Moby like myself as is the similarly interesting (for the same reasons) Play. Give it a listen. ... Read more

Amazon.com

With pop song-collection soundtracks becoming an increasingly popular way for artists and labels to market new music, the connections to the films they're supposed to be supporting becomes increasingly tenuous. Witness Trainspotting #2;. Inspired by the success of director Danny Boyle's bleakly hilarious tale of a band of smacked-out Scottish louts and the strong pop collection that underscored it, #2 is nearly as thematically compelling, if artistically suspect. These are songs that, as the producers put it, "inspired the filmmakers or (have) been inspired by the film." Thus we get star Ewan McGregor's memorable "choose life" monolog sampled and looped over the dance music of PF Project or Joy Division's "Atmosphere" simply because the director "always wanted Joy Division in the film." What's next?Gone With the Wind featuring Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Free Bird"?--Jerry McCulley ... Read more

Reviews (12)

you OWE this to yourself, best collection of hard-pop/techno
Amazing, Brilliant, and better than it's predecessor. There was so much good music crammed into the super-successful movie "Trainspotting", That one CD alone just couldn't do.

This CD is a sequel for the succesful soundtrack taken from "Trainspotting". This also helped familiarizing the "Soundtrack Sequeling" in the record industry, which proved later on by "Hackers 2", sequeling the soundtrack to the movie "Hackers", also with Johnny Lee-Miller.

On this CD, The filmmakers were kind enough to insert the tracks that were on the movie but were cut from the original Soundtrack CD (Dark Train, Underworld). The filmmakers added cuts from songs that were on the movie (A Final Hit, Leftfield), Tracks that inspired the filmmakers (Atmosphere, Joy Division), Tracks inspired BY the filmmakers (Choose Life, PF. Project), and extra-additional cuts.

If money's of no limitation, there's only one way to recreate the experience of "Trainspotting"... That is to view the movie with the latest of surround technology on an ultra-wide screen. The alternative is mounting this CD on your stereo and re-experience every second from the movie. That will do just fine.

Only half of a soundtrack, the rest is filler...
This is not much of a soundtrack when one has to consider that most of the songs on this album were not used in the film, or if they were they were different mixes. Notable is the inclusion of the other Underworld song, "Dark & Long (Dark Train Mix)," which was used during Ewan MacGregor's sobering up scene, and was for some reason absent from the first soundtrack CD. The other tracks on this album that were in the film (exclusing the first track, Ewan's "Choose Life" narrative) were Ice MC's "Think About the Way," and Heaven 17's "Temptation." Mixes of songs from the first CD include a Darren Price remix of Underworld's "Born Slippy," which is still a pretty good mix, but might have been better suited for a single release merely because of the extemporaneous nature of this second CD altogether. There's also the full-length version of Leftfield's "A Final Hit," which is actually a welcome track, a remix of "Nightclubbing," as well as Iggy Pop's "Passenger," and David Bowie's "Golden Years," neither of which were in the film anywhere, nor are they listed in the end credits soundtrack listing. Sleeper and Primal Scream had songs on the first CD, so here they each have two new tracks, and because they probably couldn't get another New Order song to fit in the feeling of "Transpotting," they got Joy Division. While I love "Atmosphere," I fail to see the reason or logic behind its inclusion on this CD. But then again, this second CD was just meant to capitalize on the success of the first CD anyway, so...whatever. If you like this, get it and listen to it. I'd only listen to half of the songs here, but that's me.

Great album, but falls short of the first one
I enjoy this album very much, however I don't like it near as much as the first one.

The remixes aren't as good as the original tunes and there are a handful of tunes tossed in that seem out of place here. Habanera? Golden Years by Bowie? Huh?

I loved it
The tracks on this CD are expecially great when running on the treadmill!

Complements Its Predecessor Well
"If truth be telt," as Begy would say, give or take a few songs from each CD, one Trainspotting soundtrack would suffice. I for one find this soundtrack to be vastly better than the "orange" (first) Trainspotting soundtrack. Although Trainspotting #2 has its pros and cons, its pros greatly outweigh its cons, resulting in my giving it a 5-star review. OK, let's get to the best bits first (titles are in 3 classes [best, worst, ordinary] followed by track-order). "The Passenger" by Iggy Pop is a catchy little ditty which, though not included in the film, definitely merited inclusion/is even worthy to replace Pop's "Lust for Life" as Trainspotting's theme song; "Dark & Long" [Dark Train Mix] by Underworld is the song that's playing when the lead character, Renton, is having bizarre nightmares in the teenage bedroom of his parents' house. It is one of Underworld's many electronic epics and I can't praise it enough; "Golden Years" by David Bowie is a classic and was included on this album because it was the original track that Diane was to sing to Renton as he was coming off heroin in the aforementioned bedroom. Fair enough;"A Final Hit" [full-length version] is just a "prolonged" version - only by a minute or so - of the edit which is on the orange soundtrack. Still great;"Temptation" by Heaven 17 is the song playing in/outside the club when Renton is accosting Diane;"Our Lips Are Sealed" by Fun Boy Three is a great tune à la New Order, and the reason it is included is because it was going to be used in the film but the correct spot for it could not be found (the director and producer felt that they related strongly to the group of friends in the story);"Atmosphere" by Joy Division was only included on the album because director Danny Boyle is from Manchester. It's very dark yet melodic, like most Joy Division songs;"Inner City Life" by Goldie is a great song in itself but its inclusion on this soundtrack is questionable: it was only included on the album because author Irvine Welsh stated that "It's what the characters would be listening to now";Born Slippy Nuxx [Darren Price Mix] by Underworld is possibly the best (re)mix of this song, and I've heard many, including the brilliant Deep Pan mix. Now to the two not-so-good tracks - sod it, they're just plain awful: "Choose Life" by PF Project is Renton's "Choose life" monologue superimposed on incredibly long, tedious, cheesy techno music; "Nightbclubbing" [Baby Doc Remix] is ineffably awful: just think of what would happen if you played incredibly amateur techno music with the lyrics and music from "Nightclubbing" at the end, albeit in an almost unrecognizable incarnation. The remaining tracks on the album, which I would rate half-decent are: "Habanera from Carmen", the classical music playing while Renton is citing the list of items needed to withdraw from heroin; "Statuesque" by Sleeper can best be described as "chick rock which really rocks", I believe it was used very briefly in the film; "Think About the Way" by Ice MC is the dance music playing when Renton moves to London. It's quite good; "Come Together" by Primal Scream is the epitome of 90's rock and, according to the liner notes, its admission in the album is the same as "Our Lips are Sealed" by Fun Boy Three. I'll consummate my review with an apposite quote from the late Frank Zappa: "Rock journalists are people who can't write, writing about people who can't play, for people who can't read." ... Read more

Amazon.com essential recording

Moby is an ambitious man, both musically and philosophically, and that quality seeps into every aspect of Everthing Is Wrong, from the wunderkind DJing that stretches the genre limits of techno to the angry, antiestablishment manifesto on the CD sleeve. The record's opening salvo of dancey club music sets the listener up for "All That I Need Is to Be Loved," which, out of nowhere, bludgeons would-be club kids with tuneless, mad vocals and punked-out guitar solos. The same bait-and-switch formula repeats twice on the CD at almost regular intervals in the industrial shriek of "What Love" and the sudden, slow, and acoustic bent and folksy vocals of "Into the Blue." All three shifts are jarringly abrupt. However, dance-floor continuity is in Moby's blood, and he uses these songs as parts one, two, and three of the underlying rage that drives the record's concept. Without these three tracks, in fact, you'd have a moody yet convincingly cohesive danceathon, bouncing between house breakbeats ("Feeling So Real," "Bring Back My Happiness") and blissed-out trance ("God Moving Over the Face of the Waters"). Instead, Moby expresses his bewildered and desperate view of modern life by periodically yanking away the escape of blind, danceable ecstasy, using that discontinuity to express the eyes-wide-open ruminations of a furious idealist. --Matthew Cooke ... Read more

Reviews (65)

One of the essential dance pop albums of all time
Alot of techno artists often decry Moby's lack of innovation or genuine craft, but that was never really Moby's agenda. Moby built his name on his ambient work, which is frankly some of the moving, inspirational music you will ever hear in pop. Ambient as a form of chamber/soundtrack music, melancholy melodies, Baroque fills, and epic dynamics. Really very beautiful stuff.

Using ambient as his foundation, he forms 12 great pop tunes that run the gamut of styles -- house, classical, trance, jungle, punk, hip-hop, and world-beat -- map[ing an emotionally wild journey into the heart of Moby's faith. At parts, you'll be hurled into pits of rage. At others, you'll be moved to tears. And frequently, you'll feel a pure ecstatic joy that exceeds most house music.

His Christian faith informs almost all of Everything Is Wrong, for in a sense, most of the tracks are really gospel songs, put to his ambient "orchestra", and mixed in with beats. Ear candy and chicken soup for the soul.

To judge Moby's music on purely dance terms is to ignore that Moby is a modern soul man. And this is truly a great soul record in a genre often assumed to have none.

such a letdown
... i had a single from this album and a song called IN MY LIFE completely rocked my world...
MY MISTAKE. do not call this album techno. call it top 40, or electronic but not techno and do not call it punk rock inflenced or even rock oriented. there is little rock on this album. this album is the predeccesor to play. if thats your bag then by all means this is for you but it is a bland mix of top 40 wanna be music.
i also bought animal rights by moby. THAT is quite electic with a good mix of musical styles...
yes i did like the soothing intro of hymn, the funky beat of lets go free (song is 37 seconds long) and the blues of what love but this is not a reason to keep this overrated mess...

Yo! Fo' Real though....
This sh** is the BEST! MOBY RULES. Long LIVE M to the O to the B to the Y!!! YESS.

This is not so wrong!
Moby is probably one of the most influentual dance artist to date, this album however was released before his big breakthrough in America. The music is a little diffrent to what it sounds today, but if you listen to it you can hear that certain songs are simular to what moby is making today. "Anthem" reminds me alot of "Why does my heart..." but it's more of a house song. "Into the blue" and "First cool hive" are also something for newer Moby fans. There are many slow and beautiful songs on the album like the piano song "Everything is wrong" and "God Moving Over The Face Of The Waters". my favorutes are the uptempo techno songs "Feeling so real" and "Everytime you touch me" those are simply wonderful. A few songs are almost punk-rock, they are very noisy and should be ignored. Moby is in the middle of his progress. A very good album with a great mix of diffrent flavors. Must have.

Moby's OTHER Defining Album
Long before there was Play, 18, the Gwen Stefani duets, or videos in spacesuits, there was Everything is Wrong, the album where Moby slid in under the radar and came into his own. It's an ambitious and groundbreaking album, that goes from piano laced ambient ("Hymn" and the seminal "God Moving Over the Face of the Waters") to infectious get-on-your-feet techno ("Feeling So Real") to trance like investigations into deeper musical channels ("First Cool Hive" and "Anthem", which is a personal favorite). Though a bit uneven, this is by far a defining album for Moby, and an extremely worthwhile listen for anyone who enjoyed "Play" or "18". ... Read more

Amazon.com

Understood in any language, across any time zone, Global Communication tolls for the human spirit which knows no boundaries. As one of the most significant releases to cross the ambient currents of the '90s, 76:14 places itself alongside benchmark electronic releases from Brian Eno, the Orb, and the Future Sound of London. These synth-dominated ventures allow the armchair traveler to indulge in atmospheric wanderings which suggest virtual galactic discovery. But often enough the textured beats keep things grounded to dissuade the listener from being lost in the void. Vocal samples from nine languages also remind us of the international and diplomatic intentions of this otherwise electro-instrumental album. Strap in and enjoy the liftoff for all mankind. --Lucas Hilber ... Read more

Reviews (34)

Classic ambient album
One of the most perfect ambient albums. Some tracks do have beats but most songs are carried along by the melody or bassline.

Probably the best 'warm' ambient album, if you get my meaning, as opposed to the 'icy' ambient of Biosphere's 'Substrata'.

You really have to have this album in your collection, ambient fan or not. It's one of those all time classics, a trend-setting milestone. Check out the 'Tick-Tock' song, you get what I mean!

The BEST "Ambient" album you'll ever hear....
I have been an audiophile for 40 years and I have never heard anything quite like this album. The only thing that may compare, or at least be in the same league, would be some of Brian Eno's work, but even Eno admits he's more of a sound manipulator than a musician. These guys are musicians!

Music should provoke emotion and connect to memories. This music makes me feel warm..and mellow..and smart..and young. It takes me to places music has never taken me. I know this sounds pretty sappy, but it's true. If you are a real music lover and you want a mellow music revelation...buy this music. And if you have to pay $80 for a copy of Pentamerous Metamorphosis, their other out of print classic...buy that one too. You'll love them both! This is amazing music!

Get this one...
This is one of the best ambient/electronica discs out there. Just the right mix of percussion, obscure voices, and mellow cruising.

Get this one...

What more can be said?
How fortunate I was to be about 18 years old during the 1993-1995 heyday of Ambient and IDM music. I have all these famous artists on their original Vinyl and CD. But my purpose isn't to brag here...
Nothing more can be said about this album that hasn't. While teetering on the edge of cheesy New-Age, its genius is that it never falls over that line, dripping with emotion and depth without ever becoming Enya.
But seeing as how I so enjoy when others plug a recommendation that sound similar to the artist, I'll say this - you MUST pick up Pulusha's Isolation, who just happens to be this same duo. This EP (or was it a single?) is as gorgeous as 76:14. Don't know if its still in print, though.

Track-By-Track Descriptions & Impressions: Pure Gems Here.
I recently happened to find this album and instantly bought it without a trial listen since Ifd been so absorbed in their track, gEpsilon Phaseh mixed in Chilled Out Euphoria. And after the first listening, this turned out to be an ore of pure gems, according to my expectation. I love all the tracks, especially track 3. and 7. + 8. They all are ambient music in general, but each has a slight different shade from each other. So, let me show you what they are like.

1. g4 02h:
Itfs like youfve found a secret door to a magical night in wonderland like Harry Potterfs world.
2. g14 31h:
The breeze-like chorus will soothe your mind, and its mild melody and antique tick-tock rhythm will induce you to sleep. It feels so comfortable and cozy. A long quiet night in a rural district.
3. g9 25h:
It starts with the warm chord progression, which creates a dreamy atmosphere. Before long, the minimal melody in the background promotes it to the sacred level. Soon after that, the solid and heavy rhythm assaults your brain. It sounds like footsteps of a giant or something. I feel theyfre most energetic rhythm in this album. Meanwhile the flute-like main melody flows really relaxingly. In total, this track keeps a desirable balance between dynamics and statics.
4. g9 39h:
The faint operating sound of some machine and signal sound of a radar, make me feel Ifm in a small submersible exploring somewhere deep in the ocean. Itfs so dark and quiet. A definite sleeping pill.
5. g7 39h:
The fast clicking rhythm gives this track haste. The subsequent heavy creeping bassline gives it gravity, big stomping 4/4 drumbeats give it momentum, the beautiful chord gives it temperature, and some melodies give it cuteness, brightnessc This track has many aspects. So, I canft express the overall impression. Ifll leave it to your ears.
6. g0 54h:
Yeah, itfs literally Global Communication. In their language, people from some countries speak by radio one after another. And they seem to be conveying the same message. Is this the record installed in the space probe, Voyager? By the way, the last message spoken by a woman is Japanese. And what she is saying is: gSekaikibono dentatsu,... Oto no baitai o toshite tsutaerareta kandotekina hyogen.h = gGlobal Communication,... Moving expression which was conveyed through the media for sound.h This isnft a song at all. As I said, itfs a message, and also a decent introduction into the epic, g8 07h / g5 23h.
7. g8 07h / 8. g5 23h:
These two are a combined track. Its rhythmic bassline and retro minimal phrase are really impressive. The heavy backing synth-strings are gigantic, adding serious climax vibrations. And high-pitched serene echoing sound is heart-achingly appealing. But the best point of this track is its development. Itfs so refined, intricate, well-considered, as dramatic as another masterpiece by GC, yes, gEpsilon Phaseh (, which is incredibly emotional and blissful, one of my all-time favorites; so, check out this track too). Compared to gEpsilon Phaseh, g8 07h+h5 23h is in a more powerful direction. Totally, a rare exquisite piece of music.
9. g4 14h:
This track is like the dismalness and calm after a storm. Everything has been destroyed and wet; the sky is still covered with thin clouds, and what you hear is mild breezes and waterdrops trickling from a roof.
10. g12 18h:
Itfs like a requiem. Every element of the track (: chorus, bass-strings, melody, other effects) just drifts and drifts so slowly, gentlyc Itfs repetitive, vague, but not bad. I take it that this just represents eternity in heaven. Another strong sleeping pill.

Although this album was released years ago, it doesnft sound old and cheap. Fadeless quality glimmers here. All in all, truly atmospheric. Itfs like GC have created another world behind headphones / speakers. So, this album works really well when reading, meditating, and sleeping (; all insomniacs should get this right away). Now Ifm really looking forward to the day they re-start releasing their new works worldwide, and communicate us with their global sound. Ifm always ready. ... Read more

Reviews (166)

I'm glad to be alive....
Happy, sad, beautiful, gorgeous, scary, strong, full, rich, pationate, delicious, lush...It is, it was and it will be...
These are some of the words, thoughts and feelings that come to mind thinking of this.

Sometimes something so fantastic and wonderful comes along in life, it just has to be experienced, or life just wasn't what it could have been. That's what I can tell you if your wondering about getting this.

I love everything by 'The Twin', and after hearing just about all of his stuff, I liked this at that time but didn't love it yet because of 'RDJ Album', 'ICBYD', and others taking up the majority of my music time. I just couldn't get over the melodies.
I digested all of this now and I wish that I took this in first, in all of its' glory. Go buy it, it will be the best money you'll spend on an EXPERIENCE rather than just "some tunes". Not once have I got so many visuals, thought about so many things, or just simply enjoyed music so much.

I recall a conversation with my friend that has splendid taste mind you, about when an artist is going to come out that will strike you as brilliant. I thought that not since 'The Beatles', 'Pink Floyd', etc. has there been artists that will strike you as brilliant. The time is now, with 'Aphex Twin'.

Take this album in for what it is. Cherish it. You will be rewarded. Like being in love, eating wonderful food and drinking wonderful wine, or any other great experience, this album will make you feel glad about being alive......Peace.

Selected Ambient Works Volume II
Selected Ambient Works Volume II was my introduction to Aphex Twin after hearing Trent Reznor praise this musician. The influence was undeniable. If you enjoyed "A Warm Place" from Nine Inch Nail's The Downward Spiral, SAW II is simliar, but let Trent stick with industrial. Because Aphex Twin has set the definitive album of ambient music and no one could possibly hope to conquer. SAW II doesn't move forward, it just sort of floats in this restless limbo. Time slow down and it feels like entering some holy sanctuary personally. I get eerie chills and the ground seems to drop out from underneath me. I think I actually go through physical paralysis when I listen to this album. Nonetheless, I find people interpret the music in wholly different ways which is all the more amazing to have a piece of art so abstract. People have called it egotistical or pretentious, but the problem with art these days - music, film, and most forms of entertainment is that it isn't egotistical or pretentious. It's all too "middle-of-the-road", humble, don't wannt scare the horses fodder. So call it what you want to. This album is full of endless possibilities just waiting to be discovered. Play the discs seperately, simultaneous, start one a few minutes after the other...experiment, it all seems to swirl and blend together beautifully. This isn album to be experienced alone and in complete silence. This isn't party music or jeep bumpin' beats so recommend it to your friend, but don't play it with him or her sitting there. If you are someone who is open-minded and not afraid to try something new or believe music is ART (in every sense of the word), doors to new possiblities, life changers - get this album. If you have come to believe that music is nothing but entertainment categorized into your Top 40 chart hits or whine about which member of group/band are better looking, then do yourself a favor and stay away from this album.

wait...
This is an incredible album, but not all of the songs are worth it.
Aphex Twin elitists (I am one, believe me) would insist that every song is incredible because Richard made them, but this is honestly not the case.
He's made albums (ahem drukqs)where some tracks, though works of art, weren't the masterpieces that Mr. James is capable of.
About 60 percent of the tracks on this cd are truly worthy of RDJ, therefore the user should make himself a one disk compilation using a CD RW program. I suggest the following tracks as essentials
From disk 1 tracks 1, 3, 4, and 6
From disk 2 tracks 1, 2, 5, 7, 8
and if you can get it from a file sharing service, the unrealesed "stones in focus" song is excellent. Enjoy the good tracks...

The Most Perfect Album I've Heard
I own hundreds of cds from all kinds of genres, yet I have never heard music speak so clearly to me as this Aphex Twin album. This stuff simply can't be categorized. I guess the term "ambient" fits best, but its really a case of no lable being sufficiently decriptive enough to describe what is here. There is no pretense in constructing these sounds to fit a certain musical style. That's why I respect Richard D James' vision so much. No matter where you are, what you are doing, or how you are feeling, there simply is something for any kind of person on this engrossing, 2 disc set. I suppose the only people that won't like this are those looking for instant results, or gratification. You know, the short-attention span type. Still, I'm completely convinced that even the most easilly distracted or bored person would eventually fall under the spell of some of these mesmerizing mood captures. Not songs, mood captures. From compellingly primal evocations to the serenely cerebral and, frankly, settings from seemingly unrecognised, alien-like sectors of the human psyche, this album, more than anything else I've ever come across (Brian Eno's amazing 'Ambient 4: On Land' would possibly equal this depth if it had the sheer variety that's on these 2 discs) captures what it is to be human in sound. The seemingly impossible was achieved here in 1994. That's the highest praise that I think that I could ever give to any music. I simply can't imagine this music ever becoming dated sounding. This exists outside time. Thank you, Richard.

great
Just great. I am a fan of his music for quite a while and all of his records are special in their own way. Tracks with a little twist only RDJ can add. Sometimes a bit sinister, but thats ok for me! Most of his tracks are sertainly refreshing and energy boosting. A philosopher teacher once said: "to enjoy and appreciate the quality of sertain aspects (of whatsoever) you have to have rotten spots besides it". In case of some of the tracks ("ventolin" (medicine for asthmatic patiens) for example in which you hear a sample of a person hyperventilating), annoying bleeps, cracks and sounds are added in such way that when they fade away in a track you almost feel a releef....a contrast between serenety and rotten (no offence) ... Read more

Amazon.com

The Blue Album is the seventh and supposedly final album by one of dance music's most enduring pioneers. Orbital's blend of techno, breaks, and acid has been mimicked but never quite copied in their 10-plus years at the top. Fans looking for sweeping cinematic dance numbers may be confused by first track "Transient," six minutes of techno bubbles, awash with echo, but not so much as a bass drum in sight. However, as it is common for their songs to be progressive, here it is the album itself that progs. Beginning in a chilled style best described as techno-Enya, the beats pick up and the synths get spikier until "You Lot," a classic Orbital piece complete with theological dialogue and a swirling melody.

"Bath Time" is more downbeat, a warm baroque number that slows the pace only to enhance the impact of next track "Acid Pants," a twisted acid monster featuring Sparks on vocals, which could well be the highlight of the album. The closing song featuring Lisa Gerrard is upbeat, jolly tech-house with her ethereal vocal soaring over the top--a fitting end to an album and indeed career that brought techno to the mainstream and kept analog synthesizers cool. --David Trueman ... Read more

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Given that remixers' recourse to acoustica is the next logicallink to down-tempo electronica, it's no surprise that the Kings ofConvenience's beguiling debut has undergone this treatment.Versus sees the winsome, lovelorn ditties of Quiet is the NewLoud reinterpreted by the likes of fellow Norwegians Royksopp (whoselovely remix of "I Don't Know What to Save You From" appeared on the"Failure" single), Four Tet, Ladytron, andAlfie, among others. Apart from Ladytron, who opt for theircharacteristic warped synth-pop, on the whole the assembled cast gentlytweaks the songs, rather than offering any radical reworking of them.Evil Tordivel update "Leaning Against the Wall" with sprightly hornsand keyboards, leaving the song less introspective, but stillrecognizable. Wayward folksters Alfie remake "Failure" (also included on the single), but are less successful, astheir skewed lo-fi tends to overbear much of the all-important melody.Riton'sremix of "The Girl from Back Then" adds gentle sprinkles of nonchalant,shuffling beats, but the highlight is the "Weight of My Words" remix byKieran Hebden, a.k.a. Four Tet. As showcased on his glorious Pause album, he meldsbubbling electronica with an organic, folky ambience, perfectlydemonstrating the premise of Versus. --Suzannah Brown ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Kings of Convenience- Versus
Think Everything But The Girl, but seriously without the girl. Think, an equated mix of acoustic based tracks with subtle electronica. Think Kings of Convenience- Versus. This album features some fresh remixes by the likes of Andy Votel, The Four Tet, Bamboo Soul and Royskopp the latter remixing the opening track "I don't know what I can save you from" reminiscent of Alison Moyet's "Only You". The songs are taken from the duo's album Quiet is the New Loud, however it seems that this album is getting more audience approval as a result of it's listening able factor. It is a perfect hybrid of relaxing yet upbeat tunes and melodies that will have you singing along and tapping your feet with this Norwegian duo, who are everything but Tracy Thorn.

More innovative than the source
In a day where there are so many good remixes of horrible songs, and horrible remixes of great songs, this album finally brings us a real treat. This is masterful; a piece that should be viewed as a model for what remixes of folk should look like. The artists on this disc recognized the essence and soul of the music it is derived from and the experience this creates is an even more passionate rendition of the same emotions of the first album. Taking the brilliant originals, recognizing the reason they exist as their own exceptional works, and reworking them to make those points even more prominent.

Gold for the Price of Silver, Toxic Girl, and Weight of My Words are highlights for me. I hope this album is viewed as a model, and purchased in the same volume as the first album is. If you like Quiet is the New Loud, you must listen to this. If you like folk and electronic music this is a must own.

if you feel like stoning
Very good chillout music. Royksopp's rendition of Don't know what I can save you from is reminiscient of the background music of the old kid's computer game "Treasure Cove", which is laidback and lovely. The circus-sounding Leaning against the Wall by Evil Tordivel is fresh and amusing, and Winning a Battle, Losing a War should be heard by anyone who's ever loved someone without being loved in return.

Who wouldn't like this?
I see I'm not the first person who was a little shall-we-say skeptical of the concept. I mean, really. Electronica remixes of acoustic folk lullabyes? Does it get any more gimmicky?

Yea, all signs pointed to "save your money" on this one. But deep down I wanted to believe. I knew that a concept like this really could make for wonderful music, if only it was done right. With taste, with imagination, with respect for the source material -- I mean, it could be really good! Couldn't it?

So, with a little trepidation, I purchased Versus. I bought it used, so as to limit my losses. And what do you know.

It's better than I'd even hoped. My wife loves it too -- we even found that the baby will stop crying when we put it on. She just stares at the speakers with an expression halfway between awestruck and dumbstruck.

We love it so much that we were hesitant to buy the original versions ("Quiet is the New Loud") until just recently. I figured they would seem empty to us. Wrong again. Blown away again. But that's a subject for a different review.

I can go back and forth between this and QitNL without any of that jarring feeling -- you know, like when you hear an old song that your favorite band covered once, and you're so used to the cover that something always seems to be missing, and you can't stop noticing its absence? Well, none of that. It's like each of the artists brings such a new vision to their track that they created a whole new song altogether. Almost all of them, anyway.

Maybe if I'd bought QitNL first it would be different. I don't know. I say, get this one first. It's a little more "hooky".

There is a bit of repetition. Personally, I would have chosen just one of the "Failure" mixes; they're just too similar. Not so with the two versions of "Leaning Against The Wall." They're very different and both fantastic and both fit in well. And Four Tet coming back again at the end? Love it. Can't get enough of that one.

Usually I try to explain "if blah blah, then you'll like this, and if blah blah blah, then you may not." But I don't really know what kind of music fan wouldn't like this disc. I don't know, your mother, maybe. If you see a one-star review ever show up here one day, your mother is suspect.

The best of the 'Kings of Convenience' albums....
This is a exemplary slice of 'Folktronica' (Folk inspired Electronica), and with this release they take existing artists (Ladytron, Four Tet, Andy Votel, Röyksopp), and rework them to work within a 'Folktronica' rearrangement (mostly downtempo melodic harmonies), and if all of this sounds a bit 'Pleasant'.....you'd be right, but that shouldn't distract from what is some of the most blissfully hushed electronic music. '"Andy Votel's - Winning a Battle, Losing a War" steals the show with it's tremulous choruses, and gentle Synth-Pop strumming, containing as much melancholic ideas, as conventional singer/songwriter acoustic artists.....and although there is nothing song wise (apart from 'Ladytron's' remixed "Little Kids") that raises above quietly melodious grooves, this album has a real substance.....it could even be argued that "Quiet!!...is the new Loud!!". ... Read more

Amazon.com essential recording

After their groundbreaking debut, brothers Paul and Phil Hartnoll quickly put trendy tags like "rave," "techno," and "hardcore" behind them. With Orbital 2, the brothers went to great lengths to show that some of their primary interests lie beyond the dance floor, as influences likeMiles Davis andSteve Reich crept into the fragmented, floating arrangements. Atmospheric tracks such as "Lush 3-1" and its near relative "Lush 3-2" transcended established electronic formulas by breaking away from regular beat patterns, and they borrowedOpus III vocalist Kirsty to create the catchy, entrancing mesmerizer "Halcyon + On + On." Orbital had come a long way from their breakthrough single "Chime," and by all indications would never go back again. --Aidin Vaziri ... Read more

Reviews (74)

This music will bring tears to your eyes - it's sublime!
I first heard Orbital at a friends house about 5 years ago and it was this experience that has turned me to favour dance/electronic music above all others. It was "Belfast" (on Orbital1) that I heard that day but seeing them live at Glastonbury festival that year, playing material from the brown album, honestly brought tears to my eyes. Having not heard the album until that night, I was totally blown away by the raw emotion that the music provoked - the hands in the air build ups, the soaring layers of sound, the pumping hard edge and the shear beauty of the music in general. They sampled loops from Bon Jovi - "You give love a bad name" and "Heaven is a place on earth" by Belinda Carlise and blended them over a track making a unique crowd pleasing moment that I'll never forget. I don't feel that the Hartnoll brothers have done better than this album (except perhaps "Belfast" and "Chime"). Instead of a wordy musical review, all I can say about this album is that it's one that I'll always listen to and if you haven't, do so now! If you fail to be moved by it then I suggest you ignore this type of music altogether.

Trance at its best
Orbital2 is self-actualized trance. It does not, and could not, get any better than this. Each track is ingeniously constructed and executed to be the most lushious techno you'll ever hear. Vocals are minimal in this album, and when used, aside from the beginning and end tracks (neither of which is musical, though Time Becomes can be particularly trippy when listened to with stereo earphones), are a part of the music itself.
With the exception of the slightly inferior Planet of the Shapes, each song will envolope you in perfectly combined loops of various sounds, some of which are very creative in their apparent origin (especially those found in IMPACT (The earth is burning))
All songs are excellent to dance to (REMIND is my favourite in this respect), and the very ambient nature encourages creative and energetic movement.
Some will recognize the song HALCYON + ON + ON from the Hackers soundtrack. The music, as well as the rythmic E-Es, make this track particular ecstatic, though a bit slow, to listen to.
MONDAY in some ways is the most creative trance song on the album. Loops are layered very deeply in this song, and it is interesting to follow each one as the song progresses to a very complex, highly ambient level. It appears that Orbital tryed to duplicate this song with the similar-sounding, yet farly inferior, Kein Trink Wasser of the Snivilisation album.
The deceivingly titled WALK NOW... is one of the fastest songs on the album, and is also quite excellent to move your body to.
Then finally there are LUSH 3-1 and LUSH 3-2 both of which live up to their namesake, though are too short to enjoy as much as they should.
I very strongly encourage that this album be given a try by everyone, regardless of musical tastes. I only wish Orbital would make more albums like this one, but I am very thankful they put this one out.

My Orbital 2 Review
Being born and raised in the city where House Music was born, and where a lot of good industrial music was made (WaxTrax!)namely Chicago, I consider myself an expert on House, Techno and good, underground music in general. You name it, I've heard it. Early 80s mixes with Kratfwerk songs, Africa Bambaata and the Soul Sonic Force, to house mixes throughout grade school and high school days, not to mention the WaxTrax! sound (Ministry, RevCo, Front 242. I've been a fan of underground dance music since before the general public was even aware of its existence. Not to mention Depeche Mode, New Order, and industrial/alternative mixes. For you youngsters out there, the term "alternative" actually meant something at one time. Anyway, once our "House Sound" made it to Europe, especially England, and then became Techno, I've loved the techno sound, and since then, I have been in perpetual search of the "perfect trance/techno sound". I have found it twice. In 1993, I bought Orbital 2, partly because I thought the CDs name was interesting, "2". Tracks 3 through 7 are as good as techno/trance gets, especially the trancey part where Track 6 (Remind) melds into track 7 (Walk Now). I mean, I've heard it ALL, AND ORBITAL 2 IS AS GOOD AS IT GETS, IT IS THE ULTIMATE IN EVERY SENSE OF THE WORD!!!! I have bought this CD 6 times because copies have gotten stolen, worn or whatever, and it is as good today and the day I bought it - maybe because it was before its time, or is timeless. DIVERSIONS, with remixed versions of tracks from Orbital 2 is every bit as good. Here is my list of techno/trance perfection:
ORBITAL 2, DIVERSIONS, IN SIDES(AMERICAN RELEASE #1), FUTURE SOUND OF LONDON'S ACCELERATOR, EXPANDER AND PAPUA NEW GUINEA REMIXES, HIGHER INTELLIGENCE AGENCY'S COLOURFORM, TRANCEWERK EXPRESS' TRIBUTE TO KRAFTWERK VOL.1, BLADE SOUNDTRACK TRACKS 12 AND 13 (COVER OF NEW ORDER'S CONFUSION), MOBY'S 'COME ON BABY' SINGLE, AND EARLY GOA TRANCE FROM 95-96, ORB'S 'ULTRAWORLD)
Never mind the Oakenfolds, Sashas, and Digweeds, their early stuff is OK, but mostly they put out what I refer to as "Friendly Techno", if you want the real thing, the stuff that is dark, ominous, hard-driving, tripnotic, you must go to the source, and.......if you only buy one CD in this life, make sure it's Orbital 2....

I'm on my fourth copy
I bought this CD a decade ago and it has held up exceptionally. I am on my fourth copy because i simply play them into the ground. If you seek music that is simultaneously intellectually stimulating and emotionally soothing, look no further. I cannot recommend the brown album enough.

Awesome CD!
Orbital 2 is so great, it makes me want to make music. Especially the tracks Lush 3-2 and Remind. Those, along with Halcyon + On + On make this CD worth owning for anybody, I don't care what your musical tastes. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Steeped in placid, retro innocence, the updated sounds of Mono may have you nostalgic for pastel plaid patterns in a tripped-up Brady Bunch groove. Nonetheless, Formica Blues offers plenty of modern tricks that won't leave you hanging on the dance floor reaching for your platform shoes. Oscillating between current trip-hop standards and blameless wanderings, the album presents harpsichord turns, abstract jungle beats, slithering guitar, and spacey whirls. Perhaps the most notable distinction is the dainty female vocals of Siobhan De Maré which suggest influences ranging from St. Etienne to Hooverphonic. On the whole, it's a striking album with enough cross-generational reference to keep the masses cultivated. --Lucas Hilbert ... Read more

Reviews (73)

A slow, sexy retro groove
Of course, "life in mono" is known as that song from Great Expectations(the movie), but this cd has much more to offer than just that. The beats are just deep and float perfectly with Siobhan's whispery vocals. You get great grooves and sexy vocals which all build up to wonderful music to chill to. Portishead fans, chew on this while you wait for the next portishead album. Although be warned, the music is a lot different-more 60's inspired, like spy movie music, and more upbeat, not at all depressing. "Silicone" is a great pop song that gets stuck in your head, "Playboys" has a bit of raunchy power guitar that makes you wanna get up and conquer the day-and my favorite, "The Blind Man," is quite simply: music to get busy to!! Pop this in next time your love is on their way over, and it's sure to set the mood. The songs that have choruses like girl groups of the past like "Slimcea Girl" are great, although the one low point in the album for me was "High Life," because it was a little bit TOO bubblegum for me, and didn't pick up any of the great beats. Otherwise, i heartily tell you to BUY THIS ALBUM!!!

Hooked like everyone else, caught for different reasons.
Like most who own this album, it was the haunting need to hear "Life in Mono" that made me buy it. However, after a year and a half of life in Mono, I automatically skip the first track. While I still love that song, it definitely belongs on the sound track, its simply not what I want to hear when I want to listen to Mono. The other tracks are with out equal. Nothing I have found before or since brings to light the true, sweet agony of lost loves and broken hearts. Not mearly some form of electronica, Formica Blues blends beautifuly the sounds of Blues, French Jazz, Bosa Nova, and yes, electronica. The electronica, though, is really only used as another sort of instrument, or perhaps simply a way to join the other sounds in a new way. Essential to Mono's particular sound, but hardly the main element. Its the deep basses, horns, piano, guituar, and esspecialy that most heavenly of voices, that make this a must for anyone who has truly loved and lost. If you haven't, you most likely won't understand.

A work of genius
This is a superb album, full of brilliant poetry (the lyrics) set to evocative music....the words and music perfectly matched to each other in every instance. This is art in sound. And look at these reviews: 73 of them, all full of praise. Get the message: This is a special, special album. It's a joy to listen to, sometimes funny (if you 'get it') sometimes profoundly touching, always brilliant, engaging, ethereal, transporting, full of meaning, a scene-setter you will want to come back to again and again. You will not regret purchasing Formica Blues by Mono.

HELP, SOMEONE--I'VE GOT MONO!!!
I seem to always be the late bloomer when it comes to what's hot--the Hotel Costes series, Massive Attack, DJ Shadow, BOC, Radiohead, and a couple of other folks--and now I've recently discovered MONO who have been out since 1996...Although you couldn't tell that "Formica Blues" is that old by the albums very contemporary and up-to-date sound. At any rate, this CD floored me at first listen with (...) vocals from super siren, Siobhan De Maré and outstanding production from hip cat, Martin Virgo. MONO has of course been compared to other more well-knowns of this genre (albeit needlessly). The difference in MONO and others of their ilk is they're more accessible and have a purer sound. Their music isn't overdone or distorted beyond recognition. There's emotion in the music and lyrics that range from sensuous to joyous to melancholic to uplifting. It's hard to pass up a song on "Formica Blues" which is a testament that MONO has put out a pretty solid debut! Highly Recommended!!

A wonderful sense of style...
I listened to this cd for the first time today and I ultimately love it's jazzy/blues foundation. There are a lot of jazz instruments used in this music which give all of the songs a wonderful, sexy groove. On top of the jazzy foundation lies the smooth, serene and pleasing vocals along with the drum and bass rhythms. Groups like Portishead and Massive Attack (whome I love) can sometimes be too overwhelming with their more legato pieces whereas this group tends to find the happy medium. I really enjoy this cd and the casual scenes that enter my mind from listening to it. ... Read more

Reviews (79)

One of the Best Electronic Albums
First of all, it's Prodigy. In case you didn't know, Prodigy is one of the greatest musical forces of our time. Liam Howlett, the brain behind the Prodigy, is one of the greatest musical minds of our time.
Music for the Jilted Generation is Prodigy's second full-length album. In my opinion it is, so far, their most worthwhile. I haven't listened to any other Prodigy album more than I have listened to this one.
Music for the Jilted Generation begins with an interesting, atmospheric introduction, with a vocal sample of "So, I've decided to take my work back underground. To stop it falling into the wrong hands." Supposedly this was Prodigy moving away from the pop sounds they had been accused of producing earlier with, for example, the hit rave single "Charly."
The sounds on Music for the Jilted Generation are more dark. That is not to say they're depressing though. They are actually a combination of many things. Whatever the case, they evoke a response. Some words to describe it are energetic, insane, euphoric, nostalgic, adventurous, and futuristic. An interesting thing about Prodigy's music is that it often manages to sound classic and futuristic at the same time.
If you are not already a fan of some electronic, or techno, music, or haven't even heard much, this album may take some getting used to. The first song I knowingly heard from this album was "Poison," which I loved almost right from the start. When I listened to the rest of the album, I was put off by it. Eventually I discovered the skill, talent, and beauty behind it.
"Break and Enter" is a fast techno-type song, with a nice vocal and cool synthesizer sounds. A nice breakbeat and good percussion, as well.
"Their Law" also has a nice beat, with heavy metal type guitar sounds. There's a synthesizer hook on this one that sounds very English to me, and very cool.
Anyway, "Full Throttle" contains a very nice piano hook. "Voodoo People" was one of the more popular songs, and indeed it is good, but not my favorite. "The Heat/The Energy" is reminiscent of horror movies.
"Poison" is one of the best songs I've ever heard. If you hear the song you'll probably not forget it. It's a hip-hop style track, but not like anything you've heard. It has very neat electronic effects, and the whole track is very cohesive.
"No Good (Start the Dance) and "One Love" are somewhat more accessible songs, and sound more pop than the other songs. They sound like a lot of rave or techno music, but still with the Prodigy touch. "No Good" has machine-like sounds that sound kind of harsh.
"3 Kilos" is a very laid-back song. If you're in the mood for it, it can be very beautiful-sounding.
"Skylined" is perhaps not as memorable a song, but still very nice. It's more atmospheric and "soundtrackish."
The album closes with "Claustrophobic Sting." It's one of the most scary songs I've ever heard, and it's pretty good, too.
Admittedly, the production on this album is not as tight as on Fat of the Land. But that doesn't keep it from being great. There is very little wrong with this album, and the work put into it really shows. To me, Music for the Jilted Generation is more of an experience. Moreso than Fat of the Land, it takes you somewhere. This is a classic album, one of my favorites.

Mindblowing Techno With Slamming Beats!
I've got all of Prodigy's albums - but this is their best. Many people have argued that this wasn't Prodigy - but they missed the fact that every album of theirs is different (Experience is hard dance, Fat Of The Land is more rock/hip-hop, and Dirtchamber Sessions Vol.1 is a DJ mix album!) This, however, is simply superb - every other track on here deserves to be a single and on the radio, the others deserve listing again and again until you're asleep...

Break And Enter - despite the 8 minute running time, is by far and away the best track on the album - very hard beats, tough sounds, with a sweet sounding vocal sample gliding over the top - replete with breaking glass and alarms, and awesome kicks starts.

Their Law is the most metal track Prodg. have ever done. Very rocky.

Full Throttle - the closest the album gets to "Experience".

Voodoo People - Good single. Catchy, and fun to sing along to the vocal!

Speedway - goes on a bit, but screams along at a pace similar to the cars in the background...

The Heat(The Energy) - best described by it's title...

Poison - slowest on the album, but still good to chill to.

No Good (Start The Dance) - back to familiar ground. The best out of all the singles that came from this album.

One Love(Edit) - another single, but slightly out of touch with the rest of the album, and I'm not quite sure why...

The Narcotic Suite (3 Kilos, Skylined, Claustrophobic Sting) - is an outstanding bookender to a modern music classic.

The running time - 13 tracks! 78 minutes! - blows away Experience's 12 tracks/60 min, Fat Of The Land's 10/56 and Dirtchamber's meagre 8/51. And the artwork is fantastic - a face rising out of metal makes for a great cover - not to mention the inner sleeve artwork (policemen swarming out from a dark city toward a bridge, and trying to cross it so they can stop a huge hippie festival over the ravine, but stopped by a knive-wielding freak about to cut the bridge ropes, and giving them all the finger! Oops - I've gone on too long.) What more can I say? This album smashed the dangerous The-Second-Album fears of the pop industry by not only being better than its predecessor, but better than anything else pulled off by anybody in Prodigy ever again. This is fantastic - pure technophile's dream. If that's you - get this now.

Absolute Masterpiece
I have been saying that i've always loved early to mid 90s electronic music a lot more than the modern stuff being brought out now. Reason being is because back then songs were so progressive and epic. Starting off smooth and getting hard. But now songs usually start off with a hard beat and stick to it with modernised synths and things. Old Skool music rocks! And this is the perfect example of what i'm talking about with the mid 90s music. Its beautiful. Every track is so well thought out, so well programmed. Liam Howelett knows what his fans wanna hear and he accomodates by giving them awesome music! This is the best Prodigy album out of the 4 IMHO. I say if u like Experince get this. If you liked Fat of the Land then wait for the next album because this is very different than it.

The one Prodigy album that has aged gracefully
When I first heard pre-Fat of the Land Prodigy, I thought it sounded kind of dated, and got a bigger kick out of FotL's blatant pandering to the American Rock palate. But even that was a guilty pleasure, as this was the mid-90's, the heyday of IDM, and I wore my anorak proudly. ;) Since then I've lost my fear of straight-up dance music, and I have to admit that this album in particular sounds far less dated than the music Autechre and Black Dog were making at the time. The underground ethos within is particularly appealing here in post-9/11 America, where even having a burger feels like taking sides. Yeah, all the overused breakbeats are here, but like Nirvana did with those same tired old three chords, they manage to build something special on top - it just took me time and maturity to hear.

As for the music itself? It takes me to the same place in my head as Hendrix, but makes me want to dance until all my troubles have poured out of me like so much sweat. There are sonic and melodic twists and turns that no one else in this style pulled off, even though they had the same arsenal of sounds and beats at their disposal. There is so much in this album to appreciate beyond the superficial trappings of its genre (trappings Prodigy no doubt helped make common) that to try and describe its sound is missing the point. Like an earlier Prodigy album title implies, it needs to be experienced.

Essential Prodigy!
Time flies by, it's now 10 years ago we were danicng to The Prodigy's heavy dance beats on "Music for the gilted generation" when Dance music was on it's peak. It's undoubtly the best Prodigy album to date and one of the true classic techno albums of the 90's. "Fat of the land" is probably their most famous but "Gilted generation" was the one that launces their techno era, they had changed their sound alot since their earlier albums from trance related music to hardcore techno, still with the Prodigy sound tough. This album has 13 songs and all are good, alot of variety aswell. The samplings they made on this album was out of this world. They introduced fantastic samples, flutes and live drums "Poison" which is one very dark song. "3 kilos" live drums and a sound that reminds me of hip hop. Heavy rock guitars "Voodoo People" which also includes fast meliodic techno beats and "Their law" with pop eat itself. Fast dance beats and addictive melodies mixed with vocals on "No good (start the dance) one of my favorites here. "Break & Enter" got some fantastic samples of broken glass, screaming voices and fast breakdown beats, probably the most artistic of the album. A edited version of their previous hit "One love" is also good and "Speedway" from fastlane, a slow developing song, a bit like "Break & Enter" This album is a true master piece of one of the most influentual techno groups of all time, hence Prodigy was almost bigger then teen idols Take That. I recommend you to buy this, play it hard and dance! ... Read more

Amazon.com essential recording

If techno ever does become the sound of young America, don't expect Richard James to be its poster boy, deserving though he may be. A native of Cornwall, England, James is obsessed with the mechanics of music making: As a kid, he took apart and reassembled the living room piano. Under the names Aphex Twin, Polygon Window, AFX, and other aliases too numerous to mention, he showed that he could make entire tracks with the sounds produced by tapping on a Coke can. Like the indie rockers of yore, he revels in his marginality because of the creative freedom it gives him. His full-length U.S. debut, Selected Ambient Works Volume II (1994), includes some of the most serene sounds this side of the Orb, but his favorite hobby is the not-at-all-blissful pastime of driving a Daimler Ferret Mark 3 tank through his parents' backyard.

None of his recordings have captured the competing impulses to lull you to sleep and blast out your eardrums as well as Richard D. James, his third and best album. As the title indicates, James has turned inward for inspiration, painting aural pictures of real and imagined scenes from his west country childhood. "Goongumpas" is a fanciful, playful tune that wouldn't sound out of place on the soundtrack to Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. As his adventures with the family upright indicate, James was a bit of a devil even as a child. "Beetles" is the sound of a boy frying bugs on the sidewalk with a magnifying glass, and "To Cure a Weakling Child" shows flashes of the sort of sadism found only on preschool playgrounds. If you still doubt that young Richard developed early on, the romantic Nino Rota-style strings on "Girl/Boy Song" are just made for passionate seductions, and the tune appears in three mixes, each one hot and hornier than the one before.

The raucous undercurrents of even his calmest tunes and the sources of many of his most common sounds are what link James to the rock tradition. With Richard D. James, the artist solidifies his position as an electronic music mastermind who has earned a spot beside such well-respected innovators--whether or not he's destined for stardom. --Jim Derogatis ... Read more

Reviews (115)

Just a note:
Richard D. James Album is the first ten tracks of this album:

1. 4
2. Cornish Acid
3. Peek 824545301
4. Fingerbib
5. Corn Mouth
6. To Cure a Weakling Child
7. Goon Gumpas
8. Yellow Calx
9. Girl/Boy Song
10. Logon Rock Witch

When bringing the album to America, the record companies decided that 32 minutes was too short for an album and added on the (entertaining, but IMO inferior) 5 tracks from the Girl/Boy EP.

11. Milkman
12. Inkeys
13. Girl/Boy Song [£18 Snare Rush Mix]
14. Beetles
15. Girl/Boy Song [Redruth Mix]

Those five tracks are BONUS TRACKS - they are NOT part of Richard D. James Album. Please consider this when reviewing the album.

As for my opinion, RDJ Album is a masterpiece of Drill n Bass, which is the term for the lightning quick, spastic drumming that is so prominent in this work. Note that this rather up-tempo drumming isn't always intense...it can actually be quite soothing (For the best example of this, see Flim from the Come to Daddy EP). For this, I couldn't do anything but give it 5 Stars. Once again, Aphex Twin has released something completely alien to my ears and I love it.

Absolutely Amazing.
I recently purchased "I Care Because You Do" and this album and already I'm addicted to the work of Richard D. James. Although this album is somewhat short, it still packs an immense impact on your ears.

Songs like "4" sound like he took music from the nintendo game "Zelda: The Adventure of Link" and completely rearranged it and added some fast, happy beats. "Peek ..." is my favorite song by far, however. I can't explain it except that it is chaotic and beautiful at the same time - which I can only imagine is hard for any elektronik artist to acheive. "Corn Mouth" is insane - enough said - but I do like it. "Cornish Acid" and "Fingerbib" are great as well - and "Milkman" is HILARIOUS. "Logon Rock Witch" is a compilation of noises and bings, bongs and rings. It's cool. "Girl/Boy song" is cool - but actually, it's one of my least favorites. Sorry.

Also, the import version of this album ends after "Logon Rock Witch." The American version of this album has added the "Girl/Boy EP" after track ten which includes tracks 11-15. I hope that that clears up some questions. Also, to find out why RDJ is a genius - play this music on a disc player and put in headphones. When the albums over with you'll know why he's a genius... but - only if you have an open mind.

way too overrated
the sound of this cd is incredible. Aphex Twin made it off of his analog studio but where did he get this sound. If you read the back of squarepusher's "Feed Me Weird Things" Richard D. James gives him all the credit. I love this cd but i don't like the fact that all of his songs are under 4 minutes. He couldn't hack it. Here he is doing drum loops on an 808 through a filter bank while squarepusher has cruddy equiptment making the most out of it and doing 6 minute long drum solo's. Thats talent.

Richard D. James: A Genius Of Electronica
I bought this excellent CD a long while ago, and I still love this album. Even though it falls short compared to his earlier works (ex. Selected Ambient Works 85-92), this frenzied fusion of ambient, drum n' bass, drill n' bass, and some hardcore techno elements make this album a must buy. But this album should be heard only by people who are accustomed to the Twin's sound, otherwise newbies might like it, but think, "Good Lord, this is crazy!" It's such a shame that A great country like America is bogged down by (in my opinion) foolish, pop-rap. Techno should get a much bigger recognition. It's about time people listened to more competent music.

My feet, my arms and my ears....ARE MELTED OFF!
I was introduced to the Aphex Twin after I saw the videos on the Chris Cunningham DVD...and was blown away. I couldn't breath after I heard and saw the "Come to Daddy" video. I knew after that, I had to find all of his music. This was the first album I bought because according to most, it is his best. Some people call him a musical genius, perhaps even the next Mozart. I believe it. Richard D. James and his self-titled album are spellbinding. He is a true visionary. James' songs not only have amazing drum and bass beats but have heart and soul. Each track connects the listeners with a different aspect of his psyche and even his soul. I cannot express how much his music has touched me. The Aphex Twin is one of the most influential musical talent that exists on the earth today. Each track is terrific but these are the ones that stand out to me:

4
Fingerbib
To Cure a Weakling Child
Girl/Boy Song
Logon Rock Witch (Most original musical composition I have ever heard)
Milkman

It is a must buy for those who wish to experience the masterful voice of the Aphex Twin. ... Read more

Reviews (49)

Trying new things: some work, some don't
When I heard Juno Reactor was coming out with a new album I was very excited. From the taste I got from the Pistolero single it looked very good. The CD isn't bad. It's not their best (Beyond the Infinite is, in my opinion), but it is good.

It starts off with Pistolero which is a very interesting mix of synthesized sound and music from spaghetti westerns. All in all, they pull it off and it sound really good. The second track is a harsh sounding track with frenetic, tribal-sounding drumming. It's good too. Track is a calmer, bass-driven, low-key track that is a well-placed change of pace.

Track 5 is my favorite. It's what I've come to love about JR and has the same energy that dominates Beyond the Infinite. Track 7 falls into this category too and is another highlight of the album.

Tracks 8 and 9 are also calmer. 8 is almost ambient and 9 seems strongly influenced by God is God from Bible of Dreams.

Juno Reactor has never sat back and rested on the success of prior albums. This one is no exception. They experiment with new things and definately are continuing moving forward. Shango is enjoyable, but I don't know if they will ever top Beyond the Infinite. If you enjoy anything by JR, you will like Shango too.

This, is awesome
This is an awesome CD by the gods of GOA that are Juno Reactor.

Pistolera - Excellently played spanish/mexican style guitar, combined with superb vocals and an excellent beat.

Hule Lam - Definately reminds me of Conga Fury. African drumming and singing, with Junos own awesomness mixed in there.

Insects - Extremely basey slow pased song. You'll need good speakers to pick out the lowest notes.

Badimo - Dark lyrics, slow tempo, low sound. All I can picture when I'm listening to it the Cave-Rave scene from Matrix Reloaded, in slow-mo.

Masters of the Universe - Mood swing! Fast tempo, extremely busy. Female singing, I think they've used her before because I recognise the voice, but I'm not sure.

Nitrogen part 1 - Slower than MotU, but faster than Badimo/Insects. Almost depressing, but not quite.

Nitrogen part 2 - Faster than part 1, and a much different mood. It was featured in the racing game 'Kinetica', slightly edited. Very good song.

The last two are ambient tracks. Good when you're in the mood, but I rarely am, so I haven't really listened to them yet.

All in all an excellent CD. Not quite as good as Beyond the Infinite, but still great.

HIGHLY reccomended for any fan of Techno/Trance.

The Only Incredible Trance I've Ever Listened To
From the first gorgeous guitar note on the song Pistolero to the sonic landscapes of Song for Ancestors I was completely won over by this cd. I originally heard of Juno Reactor way back in 4th grade because of a song they did for Mortal Kombat, but never paid attention to them because I thought it was just another techno band. This sad process of exposure to their music occurred over the past 8 years, and much to my regret I didn't purchase one cd from them until last year. If you've ever watched The Matrix Trilogy, they're in there. The music from the historic Freeway Chase, Burly Brawl, and final battle between smith and neo were all written by Juno Reactor (except for one that was a collaboration). Believe me, you will not regret buying this cd. Pistolero effectively blends the classic guitar sound of spaghetti westerns with psychedelic trance (and yes, they used a live guitarist for the entire thing). Insects is a dramatic and bass heavy song that'll get your head bobbin' before you know it. Masters of the Universe is also known as the song from Kid's Story in Animatrix when he skateboards from the agents. Thankfully the best song on the cd is the one song that can't be bought as a single. Nitrogen Part 1 was simply my favorite song of all time. This may be hard to stomach for some people who can't understand how a song without lyrics can convey any amount of emotion. You may be surprised, not just at how good the song is, but that the song actually transforms in the last few minutes. Trance songs are notorious for being unimaginative loops with a droning bass beat. Nitrogen Part 2 is basically a raver's dream come true. And Song for Ancestors is just beautiful. Warning: this is a new breed of trance that blends live and computer generated music, and it's damn good. There's some very nice ethnic vocal singing mixed in to Masters of the Universe and Song for Ancestors that brings to mind the gorgeous intro to Conga Fury. Another thing I recommend is to listen to this music alone in your room with your eyes closed because these songs actually paint pictures in your mind if you relax enough. Buy this cd now, please. Two other cd's I recommend from them are "Bible and Dreams" and "Beyond the Infinite" (which is out of print, but I was lucky enough to get it from a private dealer).

Good adventure in electronica
I have amassed quite a collection of electronic and ambient albums and i have my favorites. This may turn out to be one of them. First, I am introduced to Pisterelo and I feel I am in an old western fighting off Mexicans, then the second track takes me to an exotic tropical isle with tribal cerominies around a huge bonfire on white sandy beaches. Later, in Nitrogen part 1 and 2 I find my self in a quasifuturistic industrial multiplex trying to stop illegal chemical disposal that could lead to an enviromental catastrophy! I am completely nuts, no?

very cool sonic experience
Sonicly speaking , this cd uses non-cliche warbles and squakes in just the right amount as well as drums that successfully avoid sounding like cliche old school dance (which is the worse drumming ever); full , rich , deep drums aalong with tasty breaks in songs give this cd a five stars .The overall cd has an eery vibe somewhat to it which gives it an added kick of appeal .I'm not in the least interested in dancing and bars but this fact goes to show this isn't a shallow cd . ... Read more

Amazon.com

Moby is back on dance floor turf after the full-body assault of the hardcore Animal Rights. Here he rounds up his existing soundtrack work (for The Saint and Scream, among others), debuts his funky retro take on the James Bond theme (rejected by the producers of Tomorrow Never Dies), and reprises his towering guitar assault on Joy Division's "New Dawn Fades." Fans of his classic Everything Is Wrong disc should check "Go," a house track fueled by a Twin Peaks sound bite. --Jeff Bateman ... Read more

Reviews (24)

Good stuff
I am one of the many people whose first Moby album was Play. I liked that album so much that I decided to check out some of his previous stuff. Of all the other albums he has put out, I think I Like to Score is the best. I was surprised how many of these songs I had already heard before and never knew it was Moby. New Dawn Fades and God Moving Over...were two songs that I remember hearing on the movie Heat and I always wondered who did them cause I liked the songs so much. Those are two of my favs cause I had heard them before, but the other songs are all good too. The album is similar to Play in that it features a mix of dance songs, bluesy songs, and some that sound kinda like classical music. Love Theme is one of the better soulful songs, while Go and James Bond Theme are good high-paced, dance songs. An excellent album and I think Moby should think about doing a volume II because he has had more songs used in movies, including some excellent work on Any Given Sunday.

I like this score
Many Moby's fans often treat this album as his weakest effort collecting rare,unreleased and re-recorded tracks used in movies.actually thees songs are not that bad as some say.
Of course it is not a Regular album but it is not lacking any chronology and it is very good as you listen to it from begining to the end.

1."Novio" - Typical slow moby track with ambient piano and some gregorian choirs.very poetic and relaxing. 5/5
2."james bond theme" - energetic,agressive and dancable theme with kiler guitar.horns are outstanding.i really like that track,it is really dynamic and fun 5/5
3."go" - Moby's classic,his first hit.Contains theme from David Lynch's Twin Peaks theme.dark,full of electronic beats,amazing.this version is refreshed a bit but still very fine. 5/5
4."Ah-ah" - very psychedelic acid-techno song.wierd but good,this songs was on his debut album,here it is remixed and it sounds more agressive 4/5
5."I like to score" - quite short song driven by funky guitar.it is only interlude for me,nice but nothing special 3/5
6."oil 1" - this was on "the saint" movie,fast dance track,musically it is moby at his best techno years but the woman moaning here can make it sound boring after some time. if not the woman's voice i wuold give it five stars. 3/5
7."new dawn faces" - amazing Joy division cover,Moby songs here and whole songs has havy guitar arrange.different than the rest of album but i just love that songs in both versions.Hard rocking track. 5/5
8."god moving over..." - great ambeint piece,one of the best from "everything is wrong" album,here is in shorter edited mix,100 times weaker than long album cut. you must hear it in 8 minutes version to feel it. 3/5
9."first cool hive" - relaxing track from "everything is wrong" - here in longer version.driven by great vocals and interesting bass riff.one of my favourites 5/5
10."Nash" - short spanish styled piece. 3/5
11."love theme" - guitar sounds like Mike Oldfield himself recorded it.the songs sounds sadly quite standard and too sweet,but hey,it's love theme. 3/5
12."grace" - sit down and relax to this 5 minutes minimalistic piece of music.simmilar to some "play" tracks. 4/5

In conclusion it is a must-have for any moby fan. I got this album after "play","18" and "everything is wrong" and i like really this cd,it reminds of more earlier moby style represented by his mid-nineties records. Do not expect a masterpiece,it is a collection,but tracks like "go","new dawn fades","novio" or "james bond theme" are making it a really good buy

A good listen.
The good thing about this release is that...well, pretty much all of the tracks are good. The bad thing about this release is that the tracks are waterd-down, shortened ones from the originals. Such as the track "God Moving Over the Face of Water", the original is much longer and more heartfelt. I do however like the little extras in the version featured on this release. I recommend it to a Moby fan, but nothing else. I am a Moby fan, therefore I enjoyed this release. But it's not my favorite by Moby. But it still manages to get a 4/5 from me.

I like to score
I don't know why "I Like to Score" gets a lot of heat from other reviewers. I always thought "I Like to Score" (and still do) was a solid Moby album. Yes "Play" was my first Moby cd that I bought but at the time when I bought "Play" (in '99), I lived with a guy who was a big Moby fan and he owned "I Like to Score" and would play it quite a bit. I thought Moby's cover of the James Bond theme was/is tight. That song should have been used for the last James Bond movie, not Madonna's watered electro-clash "Die Another Day". "I Like to Score" kicks off with the hauntingly beautiful "Novio" which can also be found on "Everything is Wrong" (an essential Moby album to own). In fact quite a few songs off "I Like to Score" can be found on "Everything is Wrong" like "God Moving Over the Face of the Waters" and "First Cool Hive" but they also can be found on various soundtracks hence the purpose of this collection, Moby's music from soundtracks. "I Like to Score" may not be the sonic masterpiece that "Play" is but it is not the POS that some people make it out to be. It is a good solid album. People to need to listen to it with open ears and open minds, and not expect "Play pt.2".

Some Good Stuff
This release is not the most particularly strong mix of music that Moby has ever created. Many of the songs are from Moby's earlier releases (such as First Cool Hive, God Moving Over the Face of the Waters, Go, etc), and are almost all remixed to better fit the needs for the movies they were in. While this CD has some neat gems like the James Bond Theme (which is funky, fast paced, and energetic), this album definately drags at times with some of the super down tempo instrumentals that does not give the world a great idea about what Moby is truly about. A better repository of early Moby work can be found on MobySongs 93-98, which includes most of the work off this CD. ... Read more

Reviews (70)

Big beat trance.
That sounds like a contradiction in terms, but it truly describes what Juno Reactor is up to on this fine album. This is incredibly rhythmic music that you could either dance to or use as background to meditation, depending on your mood.

I discovered "Bible of Dreams" in an Amazon review for another artist, and I'm glad I took a chance on it. I haven't read much about Juno Reactor, yet this album is one of the best techno discs I've heard. I'm always on the lookout for something that stands out from the crowd, and doesn't just rehash the same tired studio gimmicks. "Bible of Dreams" is one of those albums, endlessly entertaining and beautifully produced, with nary a false note.

I've seen "Bible of Dreams" referred to as ethno-techno, as it sports Middle Eastern inflections (check out the brilliant "God is God") alongside its heavy drumbeats. "Swamp Thing" combines exotic conga drums and percussion with a rude slide guitar (think White Zombie on safari). Though oddly diverse, the album is truly of a piece. This is, simply put, techno with a big imagination and few self-imposed limitations.

Highly recommended, if you're looking for something new and different.

Redefining the Genre
Quite simply, Juno Reactor is the only trance music I'll listen to, but I don't know if that's the appropriate statement to make--if "trance" means the album is supposed to be filled with repetitive, dull, thudding bass beats and uninspired, faintly melodic screeches overhead, then this album is sadly mislabeled. This is an incredible CD, filled with track after track of innovative, powerful music that truly does make you feel that for the moment, you're not quite on Earth. "Kaguya Hime," "Komit" and "Conga Fury" are all rhythm-intensive, energetic songs, with the last being a particular standout that evokes images of a primeval, every-man-for-himself tribal ceremony. The guitar riffs and tropical drums of "Swamp Thing" are unabashedly funky, while "Children of the Night" delves into a dark, intense Gothic mood that's closer to the spirit of classic "vampire" novels than anything Hollywood's churned out in the past decade. In contrast, the calmness of "Shark" conveys a relaxing "underwater" feeling. The only weak pieces on this CD are "Jardin de Cecile," which is calm and reflective but boring when compared to the album's other works, and "High Energy Protons," which just doesn't contain the musical ingenuity evident in the rest of the album. Overall, though, this CD is an excellent buy for both committed trance fans and dilettantes like me. If you think the techno/trance genre is more or less a waste (which I thought for a long time), this album will make you change your mind.

Hmmm...
It's a good album alright... but some stuff just isn't so great..

Jardin de Cecile - Starts off with a lush pad, that reminds me of Forest Temple from Zelda: Ocarina of Time, then the beat comes in and drives the song into tribal mode where metallic bongos fill in.

Conga Fury - Another tribal song incorporating live congas and a lovely female vocal drone. It's a bit too long though.

God is God - Beware! people say this song is great, although it isn't really that great at all. Sure its got all the Middle Eastern stuff, but its way too repetetive.

Komit - This is like Watkins travelling back to the days of Transmissions. This song is a nice piece of techno that sometimes slips into drum n bass with hypersynths.

Swamp Thing - Not really impressed by all the guitar in this track but the congas/bongos are good.

Kaguya Hime - I really like this track. Some may say its plain and stupid, but I say its its simple and clever. Nice acidy bass and metallic drums.

Children of the Night - Ugh! Worst song! totally ruins the album im sorry to say.

Shark - Very mellow down tempo ambient. It features some Vangelis style brass synth.

High Energy Protons (Orion Mix) - This doesnt sound as full as the original because it doesnt have many effects and things like that. Doesn;t live up to the original at all.

Im giving this album 4 stars because its a great album but a few songs kind of ruin the whole thing.

They rock!
Juno Reactor is awesome. Their music would fit in the trance category, but it doesn't wear on you like a lot of repetitive music in the genre, and it isn't overly trippy. They best way to describe their music is that it is trance, but with more substance. Case in point: listen to the sample of Conga Fury or God Is God; the pseudo-Middle Eastern female vocals in the background add a cool texture to the music and elevates it beyond most music in the category. Also look at the ratings: they don't lie. Highly recommended. Also, if you are into the Juno Reactor sound, try S.U.N. Project. The two rank at the top of my trace list.

Electronic symphony
Quite frankly, this is an amazing album, beautiful and symphonic, each song with its own melody. This is the modern symphony. From this, I bought everything that Juno Reactor has done and I have not been disappointed by any of it. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Goldie meets a caffeine-fueled Portishead on the full-length debut from a much-buzzed Manchester duo. Louise Rhodes provides the Bjork-like vocals, Andrew Barlow the complex drum & bass underpinnings. --Jeff Bateman ... Read more

Reviews (84)

The music is engaging, but the vocals are strictly average.
I found this album to be a great disappointment. Several critics awarded it with great review and I thought, like many others, "Hey. This might be worth buying." The trip-hop genre has much to offer, and many exceptional artists have emerged from it's core. Portishead, Massive Attack and Tricky come to mind immediately. They each show wonderful talent in this new and engaging genre. Lamb, however, falls short with their debut. The music is compelling and it keeps the artist interested, yet when Rhode's voice flows in, it loses much of the impact. Her vocals are strictly average and aren't really anything to drool over. There are a few worthy tracks, however, that shine through the rest of the blandness here. Songs like "Lusty," "Zero," and "Gorecki" are somewhat worthy, yet songs like "Cotton Wool," which was an supposedly an incredible song is nothing but annoying, boring and the consistent change of beats throws the listener off track - and he changes the track number. It is the background music here that is to love, yet it is smothered by the "not-so-tender" voice of Rhodes. Songs like "Gold," "God Bless," and "Trans-Fatty Acid" come to mind right away. The beats and the music are something to admire for they are complex and the melodies are very catchy, but the lyrics brought about by Rhodes degrade the music and make it strictly average.

Lamb does offer some good songs, however, just not here. "B-Line" off their new album features a new and refined Rhodes and her lyrics are more sensual and grasping. Her voice also shines through and is not scratchy and "annoying" as it is here. The music, as before, is still captivating as well. For true entertainment from Lamb, indulge in "Fear of Fours." Their debut will only disappoint.

Grade: C

Breathtaking
Let me start off by saying that Lamb is the best band EVER. Out of the 2,000+ cd's that I own, this one is STILL the most frequently played, and I have had it for three years. Lamb is a complete anomaly. This band offers the interesting combination of Louise Rhodes deeply introspective and tangible vocals, with the choppy percussion and innovative programming of Andy Barlow. You might think that this combination would yield complete sonic chaos, but it does quite the opposite. The marriage of Lou's dreamy vocals to Andy's complex compositions takes the listener on a spiritual journey. The cd opens with "Lusty", which is a very intriguing track. "Lusty" features sparse melodic stabs, a hard percussive backing, and Louise cooing "only you can soothe me, come cool me down..." With that, Louise perfectly conveys the heart and soul of a person in love. And love really IS the theme of this album. "God Bless" features jazzy basslines, seductive beats, and orchestral instruments. It is quite beautiful. "Cottonwool" is perhaps the most breathtaking song I have ever heard. The song is made up of various loops and breakbeats combined with dreamy atmospheric sounds. The effect is eerily beautiful. This coupled with Louise's incredibly profound and soulful lyrics makes "Cottonwool" one of Lamb's best songs. "Transfatty Acid" features weird distortion (it sounds like Lou is singing through a can) and a strange buzzing/electricity type aura. This song makes you feel like you are in another world. "Transfatty Acid" is extremely innovative and the musical effect is mindnumbing. "Zero" is sweet and mellow. It features acoustic guitar and strings and the effect is very powerful. Lou's singing is especially good on this track. "Merge" is strange in that it does not feature Louise's vocals. But it is not a weak track by any means. This track feels like an interlude of sorts, but it is a very refreshing one. This track has a surging bass line which is overlayed with sharp, brassy horns. Then the beats come in fast and feverish, and this song builds into one hell of a climax. This song is exhilerating, to say the least. "Gold" is rather jazzy. It features, what sounds like, an upright bass, combined with sweeping drums, and a marimba(?). It is mellow and soothing, especially following "Merge". "Closer" is the only track that I would deem to be filler, but it is still quite good. It is jazzy, like "Gold" but this has the hard percussive beats that some of the earlier tracks had. "Gorecki" is the heart and soul of this album. This is the best song ever written! In fact, a sliver of it was sung in the new movie "Moulin Rouge" by Nicole Kidman's character Satine. "Gorecki" has the most heartfelt, emotional, honest, passionate lyrics ever written. Louise sings this song so endearingly, that it honestly brings tears to my eyes. This song is a delight musically, as well. It is subdued at first, with soft percussion, and a dreamy, relaxed aura. As the lyrics grow more intense, so does the melody, and the very end of this song absolutely soars. It takes the listener to another plane of existence. It is nothing short of breathtaking, and if you listen to no other song on this album...listen to "Gorecki"! "Feela" is kind of like an experimental, musical trip to a confessional booth. It's as if Louise is singing this song to herself, and the music is very minimal. I equate this song to Madonna's wonderful (but comparatively less inspired) "Mer Girl" on Ray of Light. Now for a word of caution: Do NOT turn off the cd once it goes quiet, or else you will miss the hidden track, which is a remix of "Cottonwool". It is a great remix, too. Definitely worth waiting for! So, basically I recommend that you BUY THIS CD IMMEDIATELY! I think it is the best cd ever recorded, and this is coming from a girl who also happens to be a musician, and the proud owner of over 2,000 cd's. This cd is gold. Trust me.

amazing..........sike!
Look, this is not what people make it out to be. Unfortunately I was duped into buying this waste of space on a cd shelf. It is not even close to Portishead, and is light years from Massive Attack. The Bjork-like comparisons could not be further from the truth. This act, like many others, is completely irrelevant in the world of music. Listen to your Portishead, Massive Attack, and Bjork albums...and stay far away from this.

you'll fall in love with this cd
there is a lot of emotion with the lyrics. there arent any songs youll have to skip over once this has been in your cd player for a while either. my favoritez were cotton wool and gold, but they are all great.

Probably the best Trip-hop cd in history!
I first heard about Lamb from my ex... Anyways this cd is so good, it drove me to start djing myself.
Recommended with a capital R! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Although Autechre's Sean Booth and Rob Brown are firmly rooted in the British hip-hop and electro scenes of the early 1980s, their music is experimental, mathematical, and precise; electro is used merely as a starting point for further exploration of synthetic sounds. On Incunabula, their contribution to Warp's Artificial Intelligence series, the roots of their sound are laid bare. Electro beats are tranquilized and obscured, shifted into alternate time signatures, and used as anchors for repetitive synth hooks and dense layers of effects, resulting in a sound that is exquisitely cold and mechanical. The title, which means "beginning," couldn't be more appropriate: as the years passed, Autechre's music became more dense and oblique; hence, a quick listen to "Incunabula" is essential to decoding the plot. --Matthew Corwine ... Read more

Reviews (48)

At their most elegant and melodic
One of their first releases, this was released as part of Warp's wonderful 'Artifical Intelligence' series.

It's the sound of Autechre before they got harsh and too robotic. What most people call 'classic Warp', this would sum it up. People say electronic music sounds too cold and distant. Sure, this album is defintely cold and distant, but conversely it's also one of the most beautiful ambient electronic albums available. Though it sounds machine-driven, it sounds beautiful. It's proof that machines make sweet music too.

On here the exquisite 'Bike' is just beautiful to listen to, and 'Basscadet' with it's clashing, stuttering beats and manic handclaps is easily proof that Autechre could make both challenging and beautiful songs in one.

My favourite Autechre album.

Halcyon + on + on
Autechre's debut album gets excellent reviews for good reason. Entering the UK charts at #1, it also was a well-deserved commercial success. Still, there some distinct musical differences to Autechre's later-era output. The rhythm constructions are more fragile, subdued, and fluid, and tracks like "Bike" and "Lowride" even expose Autechre's hip hop roots. "Incunabula" comes up with very beautiful and aesthetic melodies which never seem to be trite, formless, or trashy. Rather allied to '70s electronic pioneers like Brian Eno, Kraftwerk, and Tangerine Dream, "Incunabula" is also a work with concept character. From "Eggshell" on, Autechre take you on a plesant, neverending journey through time and space. Listen to "Windwind" and imagine a moonlit mountain range covered with shimmering ice and snow. I never thought that electronic music could have such an emotional power and quality. This is excellent trance music without the boredom of many other new age or ambient records. Unlike many of Autechre's other efforts, this album is palatable for everyone, even for people who usually don't care about techno music.

excellent dive into autechre
My favourite Autechre tracks are the more accessible and melodic ones, like Eutow off Tri Repetae ++ and Lowride featured here. If you think Autechre is a hard listen(or unlistenable), check this album out. Lowride shows a nice hip-hop influence, a funky piano and a catchy melody - my favorite here. Autriche and Bike are also nice and tuneful.

Their best disc.
If you're new to their music, start here. Complex, mathematical and presicse, "Bike," "Autriche" and "444" are my favorites, but the entire album is amazing.

Autechre's more melodic approach to music started here...
Autechre's debut album is worlds away from the precise Glitch & fractured Techno that they went on to become accomplished producers at. This is an album of stark metallic sounds that sound conventionally at odds with the melodic song structures, that are entirely instrumental. Something else worth noting is that each songs gradually unfolds and uncompresses itself, moving between brooding arrangements and rhythmic drum pattern backed by synth & organ tones. It's strangely compelling in the way that over the course of the frequent six minutes plus tracks, that you'll find yourself growing in appreciation with each strikingly precise track. Think a more detached and synthesized alternative to 'Board of Canada' and you'll not be far of. This is galvanising, Cerebral ambient techno music, and along with the sophomore release "Amber" would mark Autechre's more subtle compositions before their successive albums slowly moved into more (although equally accomplished) 'Glitch' electronica....unquestionably recommended. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Call it an aggregation of some of the best contemporary percussionists: Trilok Gurtu, Zakir Hussain, and Asian Underground star Talvin Singh combine under the sonic washes of producer Bill Laswell to show the possibilities of Indian percussion. It's definitely a beatfest, but one of subtlety, where what is being said isn't as important as the way it's being stated, and the dialogue between hands includes a lot of silences. Gurtu comes from a more jazz tradition, Hussein a classical background, and Singh represents the brash young things of the dance floor. Mostly Laswell leaves it to them to provide the sonic entertainment, which is as it should be with delicate swathes of sound barely intruding, just coloring the proceedings. While it's not for everyone, those who love Indian percussion in all its forms will find this album a complete joy. --Chris Nickson ... Read more

Reviews (15)

Tabla Beat is the Science!
This CD is a MUST! Bill Laswell has done it again. He's rounded up the top Indian based percussionists together to create the best record yet of the whole "Indian Breakbeat" cuture. Zakir Hussain is regarded as one of, if not the best Tabla player or percusionists in the world. He's one of the creators of "East meets West" sound. Here he is featured as the main Scientist along side the other "Who's Who" of the Indian fusion scene; Talvin Singh: The Asian Underground Original, "Tablatronics" pioneer; Trilok Gurtu: another longtime Jazz/Fusion percussionist who's drum set style is totally unique and mind blowing; Karsh Kale: NYC's Tabla Breakbeak Kingpin and special guest Sultan Khan: who's one of the only masters of the Sarangi (a bowed instrument) as well as a beautiful vocalist too. These guys all shine together. Laswell with the help of Singh and Kale over see the production of this futuristic release, so think "Drum and Bhaya"(Bass). Exellent fingerwork and TAPistry woven in with exellent programming. If you liked Talvin's Anounka or OK records this is the next step right here. Think incredible rhythms and filtered Tablas. Organic vs. Electronic. All stand out tracks, but aspecially "Dont Worry", "Big Brother", "Audiomaze" and "Alla" a fitting tribute to Zakir's late father and teacher Alla Rakha, Who was the man who brought the Tabla to new heights and made it a household name with longtime partner Ravi Shankar. Buy this now! I need it on Vinyl too!

And the Tabla thumped on!
Zakir Hussein and Talvin Singh have given us the DnB crazy but tired of typical three layerd cheesy DnB loops a great album. This album is like a peanut butter and jelly sandwich! (For those who love the peanut butter and jelly sandwiches!) Music is the bread, electonica/techno/DnB is jelly and Indian Tabla the peanut butter. Listening to the album is like enjoying peanut butter sandwich with a cold glass of milk! Having disaapointed by Talvin Singhs recent offerings I was not much optimistic about this particular collaboration. However, I was rather pleasantly surprised right from the beginning of the first track (Secret Channel) till the very last track of the album. Surprisingly, I did not feel the urge of skipping a single track. This album can indeed be listened all the way through. No filler tracks what so ever. My current favorites are track #4 titled "Don't Worry.Com", a wicked mix of Tabla along the thumping DnB lines, and track #6 titled "Devotional" a nice mix of traditional Indian and the techno sounds. I was glad to have bought the album.

oh,that Billy-boy!
mr laswell has done many things,but this was quite a suprise!it consists of both chilled and upbeat tala(a middle eastern hand drum)drumming mixed with laz's trademark electronica that gradually fades in and out of the songs.it's a real trip-an-a-half for anyone not ignorant enough to dismiss it as "boring".

out of control
listing to this right now, so good i just had to right a review on it. This cd is freaking insane. Best way to lose you mind

Ecstasy.
This is a great CD. Although the music is fusion, percussions dominate. Completely. Tracks 2, 7 and 11 are just superb. The others are great. TBS proves there are no limits.

If you like "live at stern grove", you should like this one too. The difference is that this is a studio album and so the music has been mixed (well) in comparison to "live at stern grove" where you get to listen to the music as is. Also, this one is percussion-dominated.

The tabla sequences are long and amazing. Its a complete delight. Nothing less. Your will see your fingers tapping. ... Read more

Reviews (40)

It's SUPPOSED to be different than Karma!!!
When I first listened to this album I was a bit disappointed by the much-mentioned pop influence on this. But a more openminded listen through really made all the difference in the world. I found myself really liking this album a lot. There is such a broad range of talent and experience on this album that after listening to it I feel sated, full, and content. I feel as though I have been taken from awe to passion to ecstasy to fear to sadness to contemplation.

I feel bad for those who can't get beyond comparing this album to Karma. Yes, Karma was great. Yes, Kristy Thirsk and Sarah McLachlan have wonderful voices. Yes, Poem is a bit more conventional and radio friendly. But there is much to be appreciated on this album if you give it a chance. All the singers have simply beautiful voices. The music is still very much the lush sweeping world-spanning style that we have come to expect from Delerium. There are still many ritualistic danceable songs, as well as shivery thought provoking instrumentals.

My favorites on this album are track one, which is just so awe-inspiring, and track 8, "Daylight" with MAtthew Sweet. But opinions will vary. Simply put, this is a favorite of mine, alongside Karma, and in my opinion Delerium is still as delerious to the mind as ever.

An Album for "Silence" Lovers
I'll direct this review at those of you who fell in love with "Silence" from Karma. "Silence" was great because it mixed expert electronic music with the intense, angelic vocals of guest singer Sarah McLachlan creating a captivating musical experience. Delerium must have known this was the sweetspot of Karma and so they decided to make Poem, an entire album devoted to songs with talented guest vocalists. (There are a few pure music tracks on the album, which are still very listenable.) In the end, while not having anything that outdoes "Silence", Poem has at least 5 songs that hit the nail on the head with the same formula. Kristy Hawkshaw, Jenifer McLaren, Joanne Stevens AND Rani Kamal are amazing vocalists, and the very well-crafted electronica on this album fits their voices perfectly. It's a crime to do anything but close your eyes and drink in the sound when these songs are playing. The two other songs with guest vocals deviate from the pattern slightly as Leigh Nash and Matthew Sweet have less 'angelic' voices, but are still excellent songs.
So buy this album and 'drink up'! And if there are some of you who don't 'get it' right away, do give it a few listens as I guarantee there are songs you will like as much (or nearly as much (hey "silence" was amazing))) as "silence".

YES
It is impossible to add anything more to the positive reviews others have made. Great ambient music, uplifting and like an undiscovered treasure everytime I play it. The insiration for this album was apparently the success of Silence on Karma, if Poem is supposedly the child of Karma then this is one of those times that the child has surpassed and outstripped the parent. If you like this you will love Conjure One.
My only complaint if you could call it that is Silence, such a brilliant, outstanding track and because of that I think I will scream if a buy one more CD that has the Tiesto In Search of Sunrise Remix on it, last count I had 16 copies of it. Overplay can and for has for me killed a truly inspirational song. When I play Poem now I skip Silence.

Delerium's best album...
I wasn't a Delerium fan until the release of Karma in 1997. After buying Karma, I went backa nd bought their earlier work (and while it was good, I liked very few songs). Poem & Karma are my favorite CD's from Delrium. Every single track on this CD is good (of course some are better than others). Give it a listen and you are bound to fall in love with it as well.

Outstanding as usual.
My favorites (the ones which stand out from the rest) :
1. "Underwater", very moody.
2. "Inner Sanctum", dark and eerie, simply beautiful.
3. "Amongst the Ruins", sort of like "Forgotten World", mystical.
4. "Innocente", again, dark, moody.

The rest are also very good, although the above 4 are what I think really stand out. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Blank & Jones With Robert Smith of The Cure, Imagine That!
Funny as this may sound, but a trance single with the vocals of The Cure's Robert Smith actually turned out great! I've never expected anything like this! This must have been one riskae experiment for the German DJ duo Blank & Jones, and the outcome turned out sweet! "A Forest" became an excellent single! Tracks on the EP include the radio edit (referred to as the "Short Cut") and the full length Original Mix. Both tracks are masterpieces! There's also the Vegas Cossmo Remix, a darker remix with the composition from the piano in the default mixes done by synthesizers making it sound like a theme song to some UFO sighting. Other tracks include "Summer Sun," an okay nine and a half minute long club mix, "Flaming June" (this is not a cover up to BT's "FJ"), and "A Night To Remember." I like the vocals in "A Night To Remember." They're dark and monsterish. The EP also comes with a DVD featuring the "A Forest" music video and an interview with Piet Blank, Jaspa Jones, and Robert Smith. Overall, this EP is great! I salute those three guys on their effort. What a sweet single.

Ay!
What on earth is this? This is terrible! Robert Smith + Trance = A REALLY BAD IDEA!!!

Wow, it couldn't get any worse!

Uplifting Trance Featuring Robert Smith Of The Cure!
Blank & Jones have done it again, they take the singer from one of the eighties most popular progressive new wave groups, in this case, it's Robert Smith of The Cure and voila they have an instant club hit. Blank & Jones also had a huge hit last year with "The Hardest Heart" featuring the popular 80's singer Anne Clark! This E.P. is worth every cent because not only do you get four remixes of "The Forest" but also three songs from Blank & Joneses new cd "The Mix Vol. 2". Remixes for "The Forest" include my personal favorite, the "Original Mix" (6:56) which is a high energy trance track with Robert Smith's trademark vocals, a hauntingly beautiful song. The "Vegas Cossimo Remix" (6:52) is slightly different with harder synthesizers and more on the progressive side. The "Tripeller Remix" (7:25) is toned down more than the other remixes and there are less synthesizers. The Bonus Tracks are "Summer Sun" (9:28) which is a hypnotic sounding track with some chanting and loaded with swirling synthesizers. "Flaming June" includes "B&J's Reconstruction Remix" (6:06) which is another high energy trancer with a barrage of synths and minimal vocals. "A Night To Remember" includes "The Brutus & Nero Remix" (3:44) which is more hard trance style similar to something Ferry Corsten may release. The second disc is a Bonus DVD which includes the music video of "A Forest" with Robert Smith. There's also an interview with Blank & Jones and Robert Smith. An excellent E.P. worth adding to any trance enthusiast's collection.

Robert could have done this alone
The song is ok, similar in style to what Robert did on "Mixed Up" just updated to the mid 90s. This CD was sold with a DVD that came with the video and an interview with blank & jones and Robert. In the interview, Robert explains why he did this track and the track with Junior Jack. The interview alone makes this EP worth adding to any Cure collection as these collaborations may be setting the direction for the next Cure album.

amazing
incredible track by B&J! and great remixes as well ... Read more