Reviews (19)

Trance Party 3
Trance Party Volume Three has a great collection of Trance-Pop tunes (though most are under Robbins Label). Here's a little bit of what I think of each track:

01 DJ Sammy - The Boys Of Summer - - Another 80's cover done well by DJ Sammy, this time around Loona & Mel do vocals. Great song... makes you feel nostalgic. 5/5

02 4 Stings - Diving - - A pretty cool song, it's getting a bit old now... couldn't they have used "Let It Rain" (the new single) instead? Oh well, still a good song, nice transition from The Boys Of Summer. 4.5/5

03 Foggy - Come... (Into My Dream) - - I'm surprised they didn't opt to use the Pulsedriver mix for the CD, as it has more vocals, this version of the song is mostly instrumental, but it's still good though. 5/5

04 Divine Inspiration - The Way (Put Your Hand In My Hand) - - Pretty good song, but not one of my favorites. 3.5/5

05 Sterbinszky & Tranzident featuring Jewls - Gates Of Mind - - The instrumentation in this song really reminds me of DJ Sammy & Yanou's "Heaven", but it's not quite as good as Heaven. 4/5

06 Candee Jay - If I Were You - - Finally! The main reason I bought this CD was to hear Pronti & Kalmani's new dance act Candee Jay!! The song itself though is reminiscent of other Alice Deejay songs (mainly Will I Ever, Celebrate Our Love, and No More Lies). 5/5

07 Lasgo - Alone - - Again this song is kinda old, but it was just released in America so I guess you could consider it "new". In m opinion, this song is better than the first single "Something". A little more emotional. 4.75/5

08 Outfly - La Marche De La Lune - - Eek! What a name for a song! Has a strange transition from Alone. This song is pretty boring in my opinion... 2.5/5

09 Tara Lowé - Be With You - - Awesome! This song is written and produced by Dave Vervoort and Peter Luts of Lasgo! Though in my opinion this song is better than most Lasgo songs! 5/5

10 J&R Project - Keep It Up - - Nice synths, but not many vocals... Has a pretty good transition to Dee Dee's The One. 3/5

11 Dee Dee - The One - - Awesome song! Dee Dee is Ian Van Dahl (with a different singer and another DJ). I know most people don't like her voice but I like it, a classic song (but not quite as good as "Forever") 5/5

12 Kate Ryan - U R (My Love) - Désenchantée was originally planned for this release, but the Happy Boys decided to stick to English and release this song instead. It's still a good song, but Désenchantée would've been better. 4/5

13 Andain - Beautful Things - - This song creeps me out... Where's the beat??? I don't see why it was put on this CD, the song [stinks], it's not as upbeat or catchy as any of the other songs on this mix. 1/5

14 Hannah Rose - Dreaming - - The chorus is a little too vocoded for my liking, still an alright song though, they should've toned down the chorus... 3.25/5

15 Laava - Wherever You Are (I Feel Love) - - La la la... Pretty catchy, Robbins will be releasing this as a CD Maxi-Single pretty soon, good song. 4/5

16 Ian Van Dahl - Secret Love - - They opted to use the Midnight Radio Edit for the CD, I personally prefer the C & V mixes better but hey it's still an awesome song, with awesome vocals, so pure... 5/5

Overall, this is an awesome CD with a few bad tracks, but believe me you'll wanna listen to this CD more than once! Trance Purists probably wont care for this CD much due to it's Trance-Pop feel, but for mainstream trance lovers this CD is awesome, it features the debut of Candee Jay and Tara Lowé! Get this!

HOT HOTTER N HOTTEST!!!!
Absolutly Amazing Addition to the Trance Party CDS! Volume 3 marks Robbin Enterainment's 3rd anniversary to the Trance Party Collection.
The first volume was hot, the 2nd volume was hotter, and the 3rd volume is the hottest!

THE SONGS-

1) DJ Sammy:The Boys Of Summer- Great song, with its good vocals and soothing sound, go to the beach and play this song and have a party! LOL
2) 4 Strings:Diving- Pretty good song, not bad vocals, not the best either, but still a good song.
3) Foggy: Come...(Into My Dream)- Well, I really don't see what the hype is all about, cause this song isn't that great. It IS good, but not my favorite.
4)Divine Inspiration: The Way (Put Your Hand In My Hand)- Another OK song, its pretty basic, but good.
5) Sterbinszky & Trazident feat. Jewls: Gates of Mind- This is a great song, but i was surprized it was pretty old.
6) Candee Jay: If I Were You- Nice Vocals and tune.
7) Lasgo: Alone- This is a good song, but i liked her song "Something" better.
8) Outfly: La Marche De La Lune- Well first of all, what does this song mean? This is not my favorite song.
9) Tara Lowe: Be With You- I forget how this song goes, so to me its not a great song.
10) J&R Project: Keep It Up- I like this song for some reason, I do not know why.
11) Dee Dee: The One- I love this song! One of the best! I do like DEE DEE's vocals.
12) Kate Ryan: U R (My Love)- Ok song, but i wish they would of choosen "Desenchantee" as the one she sings.
13) Andain: Beautiful Things- A song thats not that beautiful.
14) Hannah-Rose: Dreaming- Good song with the nice vocals and good melody.
15) Laava: Wherever You Are (I Feel Love)- Absolutly a great song, WONDERFUL Vocals, Wonderful Tune, just wonderful!
16) Ian Van Dahl: Secret Love- My favorite artist, one of my favorite songs, and the perfect way to end the CD. GREAT Vocals, Great Melody. My favorite.

I love this CD, and I hope you will buy this, and enjoy it too!
HAPPY LISTENING!!!

One of the best, if not the best Trance CD's I've ever heard
I heard my friend playing 4 String's "diving" in her car from this cd and I knew just from that song that I had to go get it. this is the essential dance cd to get a party started and just listening to it makes me feel good and thats what i expect out of a good trance cd. heres some reviews of my favorite songs..

4 strings "diving": the second song on the cd and one of the best in my opinion. awesome vocals, awesome beats. if you liked "take me away" by 4 strings, you'll like this song even better.

foggy "come into my dreams": one of the most SLAMMIN songs on the cd. really gets me pumped. the bassline and the beat is absolutely insane and the vocals are greattttt. a really good house vocal

Divine Inspiration "the way (put your hand in my hand)": one of the best songs on the cd. the piano solo in the song is absolutely perfect for the song and the vocals are great. a really feel-good house vocal.

Lasgo "alone": another good house-y song. i love everything lasgo does but the radio really played this song out BAD so i just skip it. if you like lasgo but are looking for a new song from them to bump, try "dont belong to you". in my opinion its the best song on the cd and should of been released even before "something". trust me.

tara lowe "be with you": second best on the cd. the beats are so hard and the vocals are so hot, this song does not disappoint.

dee dee "the one": another one of the best. its got a hard bassline and slammin vocals. this song definitely has the potential to be one of the biggest house anthems of all time, up there with "castles in the sky", "something", and "feels so good" and others along those lines.

kate ryan "u r my love": my personal favorite on the whole cd. as you're listening to the vocals in the beginning of it, you can tell that theyre building up to a HARD beat and the track does not disappoint. my recommendation if you've never heard it before.. put it in the cd player and play it as loud as it goes and watch the room shake.

laava "wherever you are": another great song. good vocals, good beat. awesome track.

ummmm I LOVE this cd
one word...AWESOME I have been playing this puppy out like there's no tomorrow. and it's great cuz this cd only has like 2 "fillers" so I can really chill or drive or whatever with this cd. my fav songs on this are:::
:4 strings diving
:foggy
:well i'll finish faster if I name the only 2 I DON'T like which are that gates of mind song and the boys of summer is cool but it is played out. Hope this was some help! ;0)

I'm American and EVEN I SAY it isn't everything I expected..
I'm a big fan of real trance like 'Hard Trance From Europe' by DJ Session One or artists like that. I like some of the songs (more specifically Outfly, Tara Lowe, J&R Project, Dee Dee, Kate Ryan, Hannah-Rose, LAAVA) which is the reason I put up with the other ones. For a "trance" CD, these song's are short and are okay if you're a radio-cut song addict. Not the best, but some songs are okay. Two stars. You earned every single one. ... Read more

Album Description

Fresh from their World Tour supporting the Morning Sci-Fi album, Hybrid pick up the torch on the next installment of Distinctive’s influential Y4K breakbeat mix series.

Known as outstanding DJ’s in their own right, Hybrid’s Mike Truman & Chris Healings have logged thousands of air miles of the past few years spinning an upfront selection of progressive leaning breakbeats and house as well as their fair share of exclusive Hybrid remixes of classic tunes.

Y4K captures the explosive essence of a live Hybrid DJ set opening with a exclusive intro produced by Hybrid especially for this collection and closing with their own remix of Lil’ Louis’ Chicago house classic, "Blackout".

In between Hybrid drops some of the hottest tracks of the moment, including the new Orbital single "One Perfect Sunrise" (remixed by Stereo 8),Evil 9’s take on "The Way" by Dylan Rhymes, and a Luke Chable mix of GusGus’ "David". Also worked into the mix is an exclusive track from Andy Page & Lee Burridge and The Chemical Brothers’ quintessential classic, "Chemical Beats". ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Haunting, deeply emotional and totally intense
I've come to expect a lot of things from Aaron Funk and his Venetian Snares. But not this. In the past Funk was the master of splattery, maniacal drum and bass, all chopped up and poundingly complex, relentless and completely brain frying. Which I obviously love, but on this here new record, everything has changed. There's still plenty of maddeningly complex drum programming, but now it's merely a framework for actual songs, gorgeous, achingly mournful and surpsrisingly melodic songs. Piano, soaring strings, delicate pizzicato melodies, horns, moaning cellos, even occasional smokey torch song vocals. Remember the Aphex Twin song "Boy/Girl", quite possibly my favorite Aphex track ever, and rightfully so, a totally catchy, immediately memorable string section, wrapped in spikey swaths of drill and bass. Well, this is basically a whole record like that, but with a decidedly more Eastern European vibe, minor key and melancholy, with entire tracks of just strings and piano, NO rhythms. It sounds a bit like Arvo Part jamming with Aphex Twin if you can imagine that. One of the highlights is track three, a cover of Rezso Seress' notorious "Hungarian Suicide Song" which ends up sounding like some lost track from Portishead or Lamb. Slinky and sexy and so so good. The whole record is just amazing, every track offers up something new, whether it's dark doleful gypsy strings, mournful minimal piano, ridiculously intricate drum programming or all three somehow perfectly melded together. Haunting, deeply emotional and totally intense.

Funk's best LP yet.
I thought A. Funk had reached the peak of his career with "Huge Chrome..." but I may rethink that.This album is possibly the most interesting new music I've heard in quite a while.I personally do hope that he continues to extend this branch of his musical catalogue--keeping with "Winter in the belly..." and "Huge Chrome..."DO NOT check this album out if you are not interested in new and forward thinking music.

Vsnares.Solid.
This album hit me like a rock with Vsnares' abstract IDM.Lacking a single song in 4/4ths time, the beats were unique and crisp.The use of violin added a harmonic sound and besides the ending of Masodik Galamb, the electronical segments of the song were never too repetitive or annoying.An excellent album for any IDM fan. ... Read more

Reviews (19)

BUY IT!
An endless journey of the best drum&base has to offer! Know when you buy a new CD and maybe a couple of pieces are really good and the rest is just kind of OK?...This is NOT the case with the DJ Bukem's mixed masterpiece "Logical Progressions, Level 1". My review could be short and just leave it with "BUY IT!", but it deserves far more than that. Just 4 pieces are produced by LTJ Bukem, but the entire album (it is a double CD!) is coherent enough that you will not even notice when the pieces changes from one to another. It is (like Annika from stockholm put it) music to do anything to! It is the profound drum&base sound with a fast rythm, moderate by a smooth and floating base, spaced (spiced) with floating synthesizers and voices that brings your mind either to the city pulse and warm summer night or ice-climbing in the twilight in Kiruna, Sweden, or the night when you meet your love under the light of the midnight sun in Tromsoe, Norway.....you choose....and it will fit.

Ambience + musical versatility = L.T.J. Bukem
One of my all time favorite D'N'B cd's. Track after track is smoothly mixed without blemish on disc B. Just when the ragga and jump up mania was at it's peak, L.T.J. Bukem came with a new feel, a new vibe, and a new flava for the massive. A revolutionary figure in the evolution of drum'n'bass, LTJ Bukem decided to go against the grain and do his own thing. He proves that versatility is vital for musical growth especially in the realm of drum'n'bass. You should enjoy the legendary "Music" which made him famous and if you like the vocal side of d'n'b then the song "One and Only" by PFM is sure to have you pressing "repeat one" on your CD player. This is aaaaaambient, chill out jungle but you can also have a go on the dancefloor with tracks like "Western" with MC Conrad. How can you call yourself a drum'n'bass head and not have this CD???

LOVE IT
This is one of my first CDs to Drum and Base, and I love it!!! Not very hardcore drum&base, it's just really cool to listen to.

Absolutely Fabulous!!!!!!!
Now I'm a BIG fan of LTJ and have 4 of his CDs, but NONE of them come anywhere near this one. Hands down, this is the best CD he's EVER done!!!!!! On the other CDs of his that I have I have only a select few that I'm willing to play over and over again. Just to clarify, I consider a song good if I'm want to hear it over and over again and/or I bob my head to it. Another criteria I have in considering a song good is if it plays in my head a lot. This CD has me bobbing my head to EACH AND EVERY song on it so I KNOW it's fabulous. I like the fact that it has a lot of songs written LTJ himself. What's even better is they are the best of the best he's ever done. I've heard a lot of LTJ's songs and (unfortunately) theres quite a few that I don't like but on Logical Progression he definitely picked the creme de la creme. He has definitely put on wax music of caliber to rival his PHENOMENAL live sets. I pray one day he will return to play a set at my fave club, Necto, and play these songs as part as part of it!!!!

correction
In my review I incorrectly compared 'so long' on disc b to an Aphex Twin piece. It is 'dannys song' on disc a I meant. Sorry about that. ... Read more

Album Description

Four Tet is Kieran Hebden, and he has released eight albums between his solo Four Tet work and band efforts as Fridge.Rounds is a beautiful montage of shuffling percussion,piano, guitar and folktronic excursions. 10 tracks. Domino. 2003. ... Read more

Reviews (28)

makes Wesley Willis look like Dom Deluise
An innovative and diverse electronica album. Incase all these other reviews haven't informed you yet, Four Tet makes their music from obscure samples of everything from jazz to gamelan to folk to ethnic to glitch hop to ambience and everything in between, often fused together to form some cross-cultrual form of electronic world jazz or something. THe result is a rich, beautiful, intoxicating, evocative collection of ineffable music that stands in a league of its own making. It definately stands up as just as good as the post-rock instrumental scene, right up there with Do Make Say Think and Godspeed You Black Emperor!, but in the same sounds nothing like them. If you're a fan of THe Books, check them out, or if you've heard of Four Tet first, check out Books later. This is the future of electronic music. Also check out Manitoba, Third Eye Foundation, Prefuse 73, and her's some random artist who is nothing like any of them---Wesley Willis.

Not as good as rave reviews: Not enough 'there' there!
I bought this CD because I enjoyed the two cuts included on two different CD comps as published by the British music mag 'Uncut.' For some reason its editors chose this album as one of the tops for the year 2003. I humbly disagree with the choice. The reason is that I'm sorry to say that the two best tracks on the album are the ones I already own. If you listen to the sound samples you will find instrumental music that is spare, eery, and well, chilly. I know that there is a whole subculture of music fans that are enamoured by this form of musical expression. I find that I like it but in small doses. Thus I recommend this album only to people who can sit through an entire CD of this trance-inducing music and warn away people such as myself who, either from a lack of concentration skill, impatience or a fondness for red meat need something more than 50 minutes or so of gauzy if pleasant ambient music.

BEAUTY, BUT PURPOSE?
This piece of music flows through speakers like perfectly crafted clouds of dark candy coating. Its delectable, intoxicating, and haunting, but you feel as if this aural feast is lacking in the building blocks. The simple joy of something beautiful is infused within these tracks. It is a cold, frosty, somber joy that is not unlike Nick Drakes folk recordings. The old, "life is dark, and I'm sad but isnt that tree wonderful" kind of feeling. His sounds shimmer, and overlay like a child's view Steve Reich. The abstractions in sound are wonderful, the dissonance is eloquently stated, but the anchoring of these abstractions within a simply gorgeous progression is a bit of an easy sell. Brian Wilson did it with the Beach Boys, as did Dave Axelrod. But to use beauty as a listening marker in a piece of music that relies so heavy on pulses and glitches is an easy way out. The atmospheres created by Four Tet are undeniable, and the level of taste in tone and sound is way above par. Suffice it to say the guy knows his way around a record collection. As a stately bit of 21st century electronic pop it funtions a high art. But the importance of this recording is not immediately recognizable when projected against the new century's diverse musical landscape.

Cheap Tortoise rip off
Wow! Four Tet sounds much like Tortoise, except not nearly as good. If anyone thinks Four Tet has some shred of decency, go pick up any Tortoise album and be amazed by the difference.

THIS IS MY FOUR TET!!!
After getting "Rounds" from Four Tet I must say that I'm still trying to process it. "Rounds" tends to meander a bit from song to song, but the entire set is interesing enough to have me grooving with "Hands" and "Spirit Fingers" to chilling me out with the beautiful cuts, "Unspoken" and "Slow Jam". The feel of "Rounds" is somewhat esoteric, and the production sounds almost amateurish and incomplete, but all in all, this one will satisfy the IDM crowd and chillout fans alike. ... Read more

Amazon.com

In the never-ending move to cross novel musical idioms, The Myth of Red has an air of inevitability about it. An ambitious fusion of opera arias, Russian folk tunes, and art songs with beat-driven electronic soundscapes, the album largely succeeds in bridging incongruous musical worlds. A gifted classically trained vocalist, fetching soprano Sasha Lazard lends her talents to 13 tracks inspired by or based on Rachmaninoff, Verdi, Saint-Saëns, "Ave Maria," and "The Incubus" by the notorious poet Charles Baudelaire. Nimbly aided by the production, programming, and keyboards of Frank Fitzpatrick and David Tobocman, the lovely violin of Lili Hayden, and production ringers DJ Spooky and Delerium, Lazard delivers a smooth, classy, and fairly sedate collection that will appeal more to adventurous classical and world-music fans than hard-core electronic aficionados. The Myth of Red succeeds most when it picks up the pace on tracks like "Forbidden Dance," "Awakening," and the slyly funky "Temptation." Not surprisingly, two of the best tracks are DJ Spooky's galloping "Battle of Erishkigal" and a remix of "Awakening" by the incomparable Delerium, an act whose depth of feeling and mystery Lazard and her crew seem to strive for but don't quite achieve. Fusing several centuries of music is no small task, but Sasha Lazard actually makes it seem natural, which is a testament to her talent, training, and choice of company. --Carl Hanni ... Read more

Reviews (19)

An exquisite and hypnotic debut
Most people, myself included, know Sasha Lazard as the voice behind the English version of the love theme for the film "Princess Mononoke." I'd been trying to find more of her music ever since then, and I was quite excited when I came across her CD "The Myth of Red" at a local record store.

Loosely based on the Sumerian myth of Inanna/Ishtar descending to the underworld, "Red" is a collection of tracks fusing opera vocal with electronic beats and arrangements. Lazard employs a number of collaborators, including violinist Lily Hayden, singer E-Day, and techno maestro DJ Spooky to deliver a hypnotic debut full of potential. The songs are all gorgeously arranged and delivered with standouts including the seductive "Awakening", the crystalline "Angeli", and the kinetic and rousing "Battle Of Erishkigal".

"Red" is a phenomenal debut album and speaks highly of Lazard's promise as a singer and arranger. Fans of Emma Shapplin and Sarah Brightman's more pop-leaning CDs will find much to enjoy here, while fans of Trance Opera and similar groups may find the tracks -- while beautiful -- lacking in kinetic potential. The CD also includes the aforementioned theme to "Princess Mononoke" and a remix of "Awakening" by Delerium which, while interesting, fails to improve on the original but could give Lazard access to a club audience.

All in all, a great album with much to like. Highly recommended for opera fans and electronica fans alike.

Quasi-classical music mixed with triphop and light techno
In the realm of today's classical/pop fusion, where does Russian soprano Sasha Lazard fit in? Her voice is splendid enough, similar to one of the Opera Babes, but the majority of songs contain a beat more at home on a Massive Attack album, i.e. industrial trip-hop, or on lighter moments, on Dido's No Angel. To prove it, there's also a techno DJ and a Delerium remix to enhance a techno side, but not as excessive as Bond, so classical purists will want to eschew this. The Myth Of Red is a concept album inspired by the story of Ishtar (q.v. Gilgamesh) about a woman's journey to the underworld and the process of finding and recognizing beauty on her way out.

The medieval sounding Latin-sung "Stabat Mater" is derived from 18th century composer Giovanni Pergolesi's religious composition of the same name. This track like others features keyboards and programmed drums familiar on Dido's No Angel. It is briefly reprised later.

Taken from the "Georgian Song" by Sergei Rachmaninoff, and featuring a melodic and melancholy violin solo by Lili Hayden, the trip-hoppy "Awakening" details the woman's flight to the underworld and the song sung by her earthly lover to bring her back. The Delerium remix for this stretches it an extra two and a half minutes, including thumping oontsa oontsa beats and bass which depending on one's mood, makes it cool or intrusive.

A medieval-like chorus permeates the religiously atmospheric "Ode To Innocence", taken in part from Giulio Caccini's "Ave Maria." The pulsing Massive Attack-like bass synth and a reggaeish rap by E-Day are prominent here. Definitely not as pure as Charlotte Church's rendition on Voice Of An Angel, but different.

Lili Hayden joins Sasha for "Tell Me Why" inspired by a section of La Traviata. Then, a French spoken word intro taken from Baudelaire's "Le Revenant" by Charles Fathy leads into the techno beat of "Forbidden Dance" also sung in French.

No backbeat is present in the quiet and haunting piano number "Romance," which highlights Sasha's lovely soaring voice, and a melancholy violin. My second favourite song.

The Massive Attack-like backbeat returns in "Temptation", adapted from Nikolai Rimski-Korsakov's "Charmed By A Rose", and sings of her seduction by the underworld's Incubus. The light techno and rap scratching by DJ Spooky characterizes the exotic Middle-Eastern/Russian sounding "Battle of Erishkigal." Sasha just vocalizes here, adding to the siren-like atmosphere.

My favourite song here is the lovely and haunting theme song to Princess Mononoke, alas all too brief. The description of the person matches that of the movie's title character: "when the sun has gone I see you/beautiful and haunting but cold/like the blade of a knief so sharp so sweet. nobody knows your heart."

If you can appreciate Sasha's voice enough without being too distracted by the constant drum and synth programming, this album is quite the ticket. The songs sung in Latin or French may lose the storyline of the concept, but Sasha includes a nice written bit detailing the conflict felt by the heroine:

"I live in shades of black and white. I am drawn to the dark... I rise to the lure of the lights. I am seduced by the pulsating, pounding sounds that spell danger. I am in constant conflict. I am touched by the sweet, the good, the kind. I am passionate about the dark, the tumultuous. I am ripped apart... torn in two by the battles I fight within my heart."

As for the album title, it's based on what red symbolizes according to text from Stephanie Busuttil's Red, be it seduction, life, death, euphoria, but most important of all, "red is the key and when applied to lips, will open all doors."

The Myth Of Red
Sasha Lazard's debut album was inspired by the story of Ishtar - the Sumerian Goddess who descended from heaven to the underworld. The Myth of Red tells a story of a woman who has grown restless with her pedestrian life. She was lured down to the underworld by the dark charms of the Incubus, the infernal lord. She succumbs to the seduction and is lost in his terrifying embrace. Annihilated and left for dead, she is awakened by the plaintive cry of her earthly love. Only after struggling to find her way out of the dark does she emerge and recognize for the first time the true beauty of light [taken from inside the booklet].

I, for one, have always been drawn to concept albums that come to reveal a story because, if done right, they contain such mystery and intrigue and with classical-crossover spreading as fast as it is, Sasha Lazard seems to standout among the other acts surfacing and I am very pleased with what I've heard so far and can only hope that she continues to follow the path she's currently taking and grow as an artist for she shows a lot of promise here.

Sasha was first heard with the haunting theme song to the popular anime "Princess Mononoke". She then put the wheels in motion for this captivating synthesis of styles. Her operatic voice is set to fresh, hip music with special guests DJ Spooky on "Battle of Erishkigal" and violinist Lili Hayden on "Tell Me Why" and "Awakening", which Delerium (Bill Leeb) remixes on the second take/closing track. The songs are mostly upbeat for she draws her influences from today's more modern sounds, including Reggae and dance, fusing contemporary electronic rhythms with Russian folk tunes and classical arias.

This isn't exactly new or groundbreaking and I wouldn't dare compare her to the amazing talents of Emma Shapplin and Sarah Brightman but she's got a gorgeous voice and the albums appealing nonetheless so I definitely recommend it to fans of this genre.

Absolutely incredible.
I am jealous of the reviewers who saw the live performance. I bought this CD by accident (like all other reviewers) and was shocked and stunned after listening. If you enjoy what Sarah Brightman, Emma Shapplin and Filippa Giordano do..you MUST have this CD. Simply outstanding.

I just love this album
I had the plasure of watching Sasha prepare her voice and practice before a show.It was only me and onther girl in the room.At the time I had no idea who she was but after hearing her strong vocals and the wonderfull music behind it I was hooked.I only wish I got up the nerve to introduce myself. She real is very statuesque and intimidating in person...and yes it is her voice only throughout the entire album. No tricks. ... Read more

Amazon.com's Best of 1998

Amon Tobin's mixing of jazz noir with breakbeats on Permutation resulted in one of the most infectious electronica discs of 1998. Using hard-bop drum samples, extended horn passages, and a constant groove, Tobin succeeded where others have fallen short: he captured the essence of jazz and made it ready for the dance floor. Thoroughly enjoyable and swinging. --Jason Verlinde ... Read more

Reviews (48)

absolutely positively undoubtedly excellent
i had first heard Amon's music in the éS skating movie Menikmati. at first, i thought the music was too good to be true, and it almost is. i rushed out, bought Permutation, and listened to it. WOW!!!!!! this stuff is amazing! since then i've bought every Amon Tobin/Cujo album, and absolutely loved every minute of every one! his skill of, not making music with instruments, but making music with ...music... is absoutely amazing, and his work must be extremely difficult... well, my personal faves on Permutation are Bridge, Sordid, Nightlife, Sultan Drops, and Toys. If you buy this or any other Tobin CD, be prepared to be blown away... he's amazing!

This is it.
Yes, this is it. Possibly my favorite album of all time. Amon Tobin is without question my favorite music artist and this is his best work, in my opinion. Supermodified is soooo close to capturing that title, but for some reason I like this album a little more. All of his work is incredible though, and all should be listened to.

I like the album because it takes me to another world. I like how 'Like Regular Chickens' sends a shiver down my spine once the first chords echo at the one minute mark. I like how the bass on "Bridge" picks up and makes me feel like I'm in a car chase in the 1940's. When "Sultan Drops" starts playing, I can imagine myself in the desert. "Nightlife" is all over the place, starting off in a Wild West Saloon, then taking you through some insane carnival at night. I've not been able to find a more addictive beat than the one in "Sordid". I'm not insane, the music is.

Amazon.com called this one of the best albums of 1998. I call it one of the best albums of the 90's period, and easily one of the finest 'electronic' albums ever. I say electronic because the music is made with samples, but it is so much more than that.

If there's one negative thing I can say about this album:
After you listen to it other music will seem, how do I say this... less satisfying.

Woah... Slick stuff
Amon Tobim - what can you say about him? Whether it's his stuff on Ninja Tune that you're diggin' or his stuff under Cujo, one thing's obvious from the get-go - the guy can make one heck of a beat. This one, Permutation, has stood the test of time for me because I picked this one up around when it came out and after about 5 or 6 years, I can still pop it in and it sounds pretty fresh.

But those beats... they kick! From the begging track which displays some heavy beats and jazzed sax's mixed in you get a pretty good idea of what the vibe of this is going to be. Its definitely dark, sometimes eerie but the most eerie parts are the "lighter" sounding cuts like "Night Life" - which has an interesting crash to it - dig the flute in there! The way it speeds up is vintage Tobim. The pure Tobim fans might not have been so thrilled to hear "Sordid" on TV; it was on the BMW X3 commercial circa Jan 04. But there are so many good tunes here, that's only one of a few gems.

HIGHLY recommended. Can't believe it took this long to review it... good cd but it is sooooo heavy. And hey - the last track on this CD can be found with lyrics on Bebel Gilberto's album called Tanto Tempo as they redo a bossa nova classic: "Samba De Bencao". No doubt Tobim laid the groundwork and it was a perfect marriage of the new and old school sounds of Brasil. But be warned if you're more into Oakenfeld, Sasha sort of DJ's this is not in the same mold... not by a long shot. But if you dig this, you might (I emphasis might) also dig Buscemi's "Camino Real".

Classic evolution of Jazz
Call it drum n' bass, trip hop, whatever...but in essense Amon Tobin is without question a jazz musician. Sure, he uses electronic equipment, like Miles Davis and Herbie Hancock encouraged in the 70s, but who can deny that Amon Tobin's music is not innovative, creative, and original.

He first came to my attention under his moniker Cujo in 1996, releasing "Adventures in Foam" on Ninebar Records. Rereleased in 1997 by Shadow Records it introduced the world to it's new ruler. 1997 also saw the release of his Ninja Tune debut, "Bricolage". "Permutation" is his 1998 offering, and possibly the album that forced the underground music industry to see that he was indeed here to stay. Incompassing jazz, hip hop breakbeats, drum n'bass loops, samba rhythms, and a load of otherworldly sounds, this brazillionaire created what is arguably his best work to date.

To go thru a list of tracks on the album would destroy the point. "Permutation" is not purposed to be listened to in tracks, but as a complete body of work. From the beginning we are pulled into his world and not released until the end, and some of us, yes some of us, have yet to be released. Myself included. "Permutation" is a masterpiece. 'Nuff Respect.

Breathtaking
One of the few idm/drillnbass artists i can stand. To be honest I wouldn't even throw him in with that crowd, Tobin is something completely different. His arrangement are more densely layered than his contemporaries. He also relies more heavily on jazz and hip hop to build the platform for his unique drillnbass style. This isn't one of your typical bedroom DJ's who throw albums together in 15 minutes (cough squarepusher cough). Tobin has crafted every track here with painstaking detail. I can hear something new every time i listen to this album. While every song on Permutation is amazing, "Sordid", "People like Frank" and "Toys" really standout for me. ... Read more

Amazon.com's Best of 2001

Kieran Hebden is, it has to be said, something of a genius. The groundwork for Pause was laid when Dialogue--his debut solo album under the guise of Four Tet--landed in 1999, an album that redrew the parameters of inventive dance music. A peculiar mix of live-sounding instrumental jazz and technologically super-precise laptop dance trickery, it sounded nothing like Hebden's actual group--the post-rockers Fridge--and, as it happened, very little like anything else in existence. Where Dialogue employed jazz sax and flute in its evocation of a 21st-century jazz meltdown, Pause goes even further, coiling whispers of harp and zither over layer-on-layers of fidgeting, rattling percussion. His inspirations? Well, like his friend and protég&eacute:, Canadian tech-wizard Manitoba (whose Start Breaking My Heart is easily the equal of Pause), Hebden collects sounds and melodies from a dizzying array of places--ancient British folk music, the rattle of typewriter keys, the gurgle of running water, even a field recording of a children's playground. Genius? There really is no other word for it.--Louis Pattison ... Read more

Reviews (19)

already one of my top 3 cds of all time
not since the release of dj shadow's 'endtroducing' have i been so excited about an artist/album. this is some beautiful music. four tet(guitarist for fridge) uses sounds/samples/beats in the same fashion as dj shadow. this album is loaded with incredible sounds. don't get me wrong, it's not overly done, but the feel of the album is super solid. certain stand out tracks are, well, all of them. i don't really need to analyze any certain song for you because they are all equally great. four tet has another album prior to this release called 'dialogue'. if you like this album, have at the other. i listen to a lot of music. very rarely do i get an album that really re-instills my faith in music expression. four tet has done that with his two releases. i strongly suggest that you get his two albums. if you are into dj shadow, newer radiohead, boards of canada, fridge, or any other beat oriented instrumental music, you can and will not go wrong with these choices.

Only 5? You ask...
Pause is a majestic accomplishment combining the organic electronic sounds which remind me of Boards of Canada and NOBODY has ever reminded me of BoC before, with acoustic guitars making this CD possibly the most organic sounding electronic album that I've ever heard...
The beats are hypnotic and ydroponic and the use of voices of children, like in the beg. of track 4, and guitar sounds, make for a serene atmosphere in which one can easily loose one's self (which tends to be the point, right?) The song 23 is instantly likeable in that BoC kind of way and contains trippy samples and arresting beats and even has bells and horns!
This album has an upbeat, cheery feeling which is somewhat rare in IDM and Ambient music of recent years. The use of acoustic guitar separate Four Tet from the majority of his contempories and creates an added dimension and more sound possibilities to a genre that seems to be filled with as much sound as anyone could possibly desire in terms of layering and textures. Track 7 is a masterpiece of musical mayhem, the equal of any of the great one's works and exhibits Kiernan's creative mind as well as his insane skills.
The only negative aspect of the CD I believe is track 8 which I think was the single and contains an annoying repetitive vocal sample which begs for the skip button to be pressed.
Pause is one of the few albums worthy to be described as 'Brilliant' and Kiernan is one of the up and coming superstars (although he's been around - check out Fridge) who should be getting serious recognition...

Nice- but doesn't have that umph!
Four Tet is great. Great to just sit back and chill, great to excercise to, great cook to, clean to, drink to... etc. Unfortunately, sometimes that's just not enough! I'm left with a yearning for Four Tet to take it somewhere else... somewhere higher. But he never does.

For those hard-core electronic/ambient/whateveruguyscallyourselves heads, I'd say skip this album. It's not challenging enough for your finely tuned ears. But for your everyday ambient listener, it might be worth your while to take a gander.

Indeed worthy of the 5 Star Rating....
Producer/Composer/Mixer/Turntablist "Kieran Hebden", creates a unique record, by making a record that is parts "DJ Shadow", and taking the scratchy Trip-hop of "Portishead", and although on paper, it doesn't sound promising, 'Four Tet' creates rhythms, beats, interludes with a very unusual choice of instruments 'Acoustic Guitars, Harps, String arrangements, keyboards into a shuffling melodic experimentation of complex electronica / Hip-Hop, in a way that is unique to him. And his music demands more investigation for those seeking something a little leftfield in their music....but it's not just a form of 'Glitch Hip-Hop', as Kieran produces tracks with as much warmth & substance as any contemporary Trip-Hop artists you care to mention, with some tracks stretching into sevens minutes, and others weighing in at a light 2 ½ minutes..yet all this Cd space is used intelligently, to produce something of a 'unified' sound through the use of samples, Turntables, Progressive instrumentals, and magnificent composition.

Absolutely gorgeous
Captivating, organic, earthy, beautiful collaged music at its absolute best. Highly recommended. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Fluke first gained notoriety in the early 1990s with singles like "Joni" and "Pearls of Wisdom," songs that infused hummable pop sensibilities into credible underground dance music. Their lighthearted songs and showy live PAs stood out in a scene dominated by faceless producers and music that was, at best, opaque. Unfortunately, they were too far ahead of their time. Years later, Techno has become "Electronica," stage shows and vocals are now the norm, and the aesthetic of a band like Fluke makes more sense than ever. On 1997's Risotto, they borrow heavily from the rulebook laid out by Underworld, working a series of deep and distorted grooves into a sound that's more AC/DC than Tangerine Dream. But unlike their contemporaries, Fluke have a solid understanding of simple verse/chorus/verse pop music and a broad emotional range. Fans of Underworld will appreciate vocal tracks like "Absurd" and "Atom Bomb," but Fluke's diversity and inventiveness is best shown on the narcotized and spacious "Bermuda" and the smooth drum and bass of "Setback." --Matthew Corwine ... Read more

Reviews (69)

It's... different.
Quite different when compared to their previous album - more instrumentals, harder songs and edgier lyrics. I don't like it as much as Six wheels on my wagon, which isn't to say that it's a bad album, but it loses energy too quickly. Moving one of the first two tracks down into the middle of the album probably would have fixed this somewhat.

Compare and contrast to Underworld's Beaucoup Fish, released two years later.

1. Absurd

The opener, and the other famous song from the album. Starts off with thumping bass beats and a woman moaning, before upping the tempo and bringing the rest of the instruments into play. The lyrics make absolutely no sense, except in an Underworld streamofconciousness sort of way. This is another one of those "better with vocoders" songs.

2. Atom bomb (atomix 1)

The song that really got Fluke noticed by the masses. Played continuously pretty much everywhere during 1996, made it onto a couple of soundtracks and into at least one game. Hard, fast, edgy techno, danceable, and with great lyrics about a cute, megalomanical girl just trying to take over the world and have some fun doing it. The video clip mixes the WipEout 2097 intro movie, in-game footage, some quick shots of Rachel Stewart dressed up as Arial Tetsuo, and a short anime sequence involving a lot of blood. I'm sure the only reason they picked 2097 was because it had just been released - Arial Tetsuo is from the first WipEout game.

3. Kitten moon

Oooh, pseudo-trance! And dreamy, heavy pseudo-trance at that. Even though it's not one of the more famous songs on the album, it probably should be. Gets fast towards the middle of the track, probably breaking the "trance" thing, but I'm not all that great with genres anyway.

Oh, and it's the second longest song Fluke have done. Now you know.

4. Tosh (mosh)

Surprisingly, this isn't punk or metal. In fact, it's more of a buzzy dance/trance beat than anything else. You could mosh to it, but you'd look pretty damn stupid.

5. Bermuda

Another synth and piano number, feeling a lot like something out of Oto.

6. Setback

The intro part before the breakbeat kicks in reminds me of tolling church bells, for some reason.

More Underworld-style lyrics, and a sort of ambient background to go with the beats (although, there's some bleeps that make me think of CoLD SToRAGE).

7. Amp

Similar to Setback, but without the vocals and more bouncy. Not too much to say about this one, really.

8. Absurd (reeferendrum)

Is it just me, or are Fluke the only ones who're any damn good at remixing their own tracks? Don't give me any of that "Born Slippy vs. Born Slippy.NUXX" crap - this track sounds absolutely nothing like the original. It's mostly heavy drum beats with a soaring, twinkly piano and harp line.

It's also the 10th track on the Sasha/Digweed mix album Northern Exposure 2: East Coast Edition, albeit slowed down a little.

9. Squirt

Yet another breakbeat number with a swelling synth-line. The lyrics really make this one stand out; they're not like anything else on the album, and Jon Fugler really doesn't sound like himself. Nice track, though, and the single has some excellent remixes.

10. Goodnight lover

Ambience. Bells. Guitar. Progressive backbeat. Wind off the bells and up the guitar and backbeat. Add in a synth-violin noise until it sounds like something from a James Bond movie. Not a bad closer, and the lack of lyrics winds down nicely from the previous track.

Fluke had some help from Steve Dub on this track - he's the guy who engineers all the Chemical Brothers albums.

incredible!!!! awesome album!!!
fluke is truly an incredible band. risotto is an absolutely outstanding cd. their style of techno/elecronica is just amazing!! you can relax to it, you can dance to it, you can listen to it anytime and enjoy it! every track is awesome (except bermuda, which is mediocre), one can literally listen to the whole thing and not get bored.i buy new cd's, but i keep coming back to risotto. absurd and atom bomb i think are by far the best tracks. i personally like setback and mosh too, although some would disagree. squirt is also excellent, although it takes some time to develop a liking for it. basically, if u are a techno, electronica, and drum n' bass fan, this cd is one to buy!!! way to go fluke!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Nice
I actually found this album after searching for a song from one of the Matrix Reloaded trailers (Absurd-Whitewash Mix for those who are interested). Great album though, it's that kind of music you search for and perhaps find one song of on any one album - here you get ten... YAY!!

Very very very good stuff
It is exactly how I thought it would be when I only knew Atom Bomb. It doesn't have a dull moment, every song is a joy to listen. I definitley recommend it.

A Keeper
I came across Fluke when searching for some electronic videos about two years ago (Absurd, Atom Bomb, Bullet, and Tosh). I really liked their unusual style and quality. So, I bought "Risotto" because it was somewhat instrumental. They do have the similarities of Underworld, but when you listen carefully they're actually different.
"Absurb" and "Atom Bomb" are my most favorite tracks. Both had great beat and mysterious vocal which I find very mesmerizing. And the short lyrics of not knowng what he's trying to say just makes me want to hear more.
Nothing boring here. Where else can you find a cd like this? It's one of a kind (may go out of print). "Risotto" is definitely something you can keep in your electronic collection and play it all the time. ... Read more

Amazon.com's Best of 2000

Amon Tobin's off-kilter rhythms and jazzy samples create a beautiful mess on Supermodified. Feeding off Latin rhythms, downtempo beats, and wildly adventurous musical jumbles, Tobin's manic bliss never allows the songs to wander, working a sense of method into a sea of crazy atmospheres. The result is focused, enticing, and fascinating. --Matthew Cooke ... Read more

Reviews (59)

Four Ton Fun
Usually I review an album after listening to it two or three times. I've listened to "Supermodified" even more than that, and I'm still having trouble conveying the intricate brilliance of this CD.

This is definitely *not* traditional drum and bass music. In fact, the breakbeats are hidden under layer after layer of ambient sounds and "noise" (for lack of a better term). Some of the tracks feel like you're listening to them from under a swamp. You have to hear it to understand.

What I really like about the CD is that Tobin has a number of "ethnic" samples, and a funky lounge feel to it. But then, some of the tunes (e.g. "Golfer vrs Boxer") are simply dark as hell. That's the beauty -- there's so much variety, but it's pulled in so tightly and expertly that it doesn't sound hashed together.

If you're looking for something mind blowing, buy this album immediately.

Eclectica
Amon Tobin has been an artist to watch for quite some time now, but now he has completely outdone himself on SuperModified. When I first stuck this record on turntable, I think a few minutes into it I completely stopped doing whatever it was in the interim, awestruck by how well put together these sounds were. I tend to be a very critical first time listener of recordings, usually leaning to the "oh well" emotional let down, but wasn't left behind on this one. The textures are so dense, combining orchestral string and brass sounds with his signature jazzy bass and drum elements. It's all electronically interwoven like a fine quilt with no room for error (and there is none..). This album is a graduation effort beyond his Permutation or Bricolage, which both had great music on them. The brazilian percussion influences are well intact, heavy hitting, and so eloquently put together that you hardly notice how immense the syncopations are amidst the sometimes tender melodies that accompany them. A very "acoustic" sounding effort, Supermodified is highly recommended, very groovy, and a sometimes loungy, if you will, album.

MIGHT AS WELL REVIEW THIS ONE, TOO!!!
I am a fool for not getting hip to "Amon Tobin" sooner! Honestly, I thought the guy was one of those DJs whose music is monotonous and can be heard in video games and cheerleader competitions! I shamefully stand corrected! Tobin is much more complex than that! And "Supermodified" is a true testiment! This has been herald as Tobin's best CD and I must agree. "Supermodified" is a bit dark and obscure at times, but the production value is excellent! Tobin is the MASTER--I dare you to disagree. The acid-jazz opener, "Get Your Snack On" sets the stage for what's to come. The ominous "4 Ton Mantis" keeps the jazz-effect going with a killer beat to boot! "Slowly" is as haunting as a Portishead cut, while "Marine Machines" with its orchestral embellishments have you wondering if there's an army of cyborgs coming to take us over!! Next, is the equally apocolyptic, "Golfer Vrs Boxer" that still scares the $#!^ outta me when I listen to it!! "Deo" is what all down-tempo music should sound like! "Precursor" has a stong jazzy bass line with some weird-other-wordly-scatting from Quadraceptor (???)--although it leaves one to wonder if this is a sample, or an actual person that Tobin has manipulated to sound like that! INCREDIBLE!! "Saboteur" keeps with the dark tone of this album, as does the gorgeuosly ominous, "Chocolate Lovely." However, "Rhino Jockey" loses me and sounds like filler garbage (it could've been left off, really), but I'm sure rave-heads everywhere will dig it! Bringing it down a few notches is "Keepin' It Steel" and the beautiful closer, "Natureland." Very impressive CD from a man who defies all conventional rules of D&B, Techno, Jazz, Trip-hop and Ambient music. In fact, with "Supermodified"--and let's not forget the equally amazing debut, "Bricolage" and the current, "Out From Out Where"-- Tobin has--what's the saying?--reinvented the wheel all together!

Heavy and Decadent Electro-Jazz
There's not much to add to what's already been said about Amon Tobin. The man is a sort of creepy genius and his music truly pushes the limits of what we'd call "progressive" with his unique Latin-flavored mix of lush samples, larger-than-life cinematic orchestration, futuristic jazz-inspired melodic runs, intricate schizo breaks and evolving drum patterns.

After discovering Amon Tobin, I felt as though I had found THE sound I was looking for my entire life and immediately began touting his stuff to everyone I met. Much to my dismay, I soon realized that this really isn't everybody's cup of tea. It's not terribly danceable, the tracks are on the long-ish side and take their time to reach a full boil. I guess when you say "jazzy drum and bass", some people expect you to bust out a pair of glow sticks and start bouncing off walls like a fool.

One critique I heard a few times is "it's repetitive." This made my jaw drop; however, I have to concede that, rarely, a track may seem to dwell upon one melodic theme for a little too long. Of course, the people who said that have unfortunately short attention spans and openly refused to acknowledge the amazing--AMAZING--manipulation of drum patterns. He's no Aphex Twin in that category, of course--but his beats combined with the gorgeous "noirish" melodies make his music more instantly accessible.

This album can be summed up in one word: HEAVY. When the drums aren't hitting with tremendous force, the subsonic bass lines and swooping atmospheric textures Tobin weaves in create a dense blanket of sound that just smothers you.

I loathe to say it, but this can create a problem, and this is why I've deducted one star from my rating. When I first listened to Supermodified, it sounded very mildly over-driven on my desktop speakers, car stereo and CD player's headphones. Honestly, not much that you would notice unless you were playing at high volume; however, I did hear it cranked-up on an excellent car audio system and it just blew me away. It's remarkably tight, but it could have been brought down a tad for those of us with cheaper equipment and still not lost any of it's punch. But this is really a minor issue, and the album does sound quite good on all my gear--maybe it's my fault for want of turning it up!

But take note: if you're going to listen to this Amon Tobin album--and... YOU WILL want to listen to this album, oh yes--you should know that it will sound best on halfway decent stereo equipment if you don't already have it. To hear this music played the way it was intended is a real treat.

Fantastic...
This album is mindblowing. I liked Permutation but when I heard this, it took my breath away. One of my most favourite tracks is 'Deo'. This track is just delicious and immediately transports you to a new dimension. And of course, there is the '4 ton mantis'. Jazzy and yet something else...
And it only gets better with more listening - you start to relise just how many layers there are...
Beautifully crafted! I would most definitely recommend this. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Compared to the minimalist plonk typical of the genre, this is a Technicolor epic and perhaps the only ambient techno opus you'll ever need. --Jeff Bateman ... Read more

Reviews (64)

Get Lost
FSOL has put out some excellent work. I own all their albums, from "Accelerator" to "The Isness" and even "Tales of Ephidra" which they recorded under the moniker Amorphous Androgynous, before FSOL became FSOL. Even against the brilliance of "Dead Cities" and "ISDN" this stands as FSOL's best work. Highlights abound throughout the album, on both discs, such as "Cascade" "Flak" "Dead Skin Cells" "Lifeforms" and "Among Myselves" on the first, with "Vertical Pig" "Life Form Ends" "Room 208" and "Elaborate Burn" rounding out the second disc.

IF any of these hold true for you...

a. you simply MUST have fuzz-box distorted guitar in all the music you listen to...

b. television has left you completely without imagination...

c. you lack the necessary attention span for music that isn't prepackaged for you by MTV or Clear Channel...

d. you are incapable of taking time to relax and take a break from whatever hectic lifestyle you've fashioned for yourself...

...THEN I advise you to stay far, far away from this album. You'll hate it.

For the rest of us, an original, inventive, visceral, surreal, and otherworldly sonic experience awaits. Put this on surround sound, pour some wine, dim the lights, and enjoy.

Unbelievably overrated
I bought this a few years ago as this was a record that was a classic of it's genre and I was led to believe that if I liked Aphex Twin and The Orb then I would love this. And I have to say I'm not won over with this.

I've played this many times and each time I play it I'm left unimpressed by it all. Sure a lot of craft must've gone into this. But it all seems so nothing-y that I'm expecting a little more substance from it. The sounds have absolutely no form to it. You can talk about this album in almost an amoeba like context - it's practically invisible, it duplicates itself countless times but not a lot else can be said about it!

If you like things that aimlessly go astray then this is the CD for you. If however you want something with a little more substance than try almost anything else - it's bound to get you going.

!?!?!?! Actually I love it.
FSOL are really a musician's musician. It's not easy to grasp what is happening in this album (it took me around a month), but once understood it becomes a glory to listen to. Trying to discribe what an album sounds like can be impossible at times, and this one is no exeption. High points are mostly on disc 2 (tracks 2,3,6,7,8,9), and I feel that this one should be listened to for the first few listenings. I absolutely LOVE this one! It's my favorite out of all the albums they've put out (ISDN coming in close 2nd). Most Def. for personal listening, I wouldn't recomend putting it on when friends are over.

Genious
I bought this album 5 years ago and still enjoy it today. FSOL truly have a sound all their own. You owe it to yourself to take a listen, this album is truly unique and refreshing listen to all of the other artist you hear cloning each other on the radio.

One of the best I've ever heard
I'm writing this in a hurry because I noticed this doesn't have an average rating of 5 stars, and I need to boost it. This is an incredible album. Genre-defining, a classic and a pinnacle of its genre, if such a genre exists. The soundscapes, the synthetically organic backbeats, it's all so new and innovative, and 10 years after this came out, I can't say that too much out in the soundscape/ambient world has surpassed this, certainly not in terms of ingenuity. In short, get this disc. Thank you. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

More accessable than "One Word Extinguisher"
When I first purchased Prefuse's first offering on the Warp label (which turned out to be a very pleasant surprise, as I was anticipating a sound more Warp-ish, that is before they began to dabble in hip-hoppery), I was floored by that amazing concoction of heavily-processed hip-hop samples and analogue synths. I found this sort of sound the perfect marriage between the grooves of hip-hop and the complexity of IDM (or whatever you feel like calling it). I was extraordinarily happy when I found out that Prefuse was releasing a follow up album. I was even more happy when I found out that he was coming through Atlanta on his CD release tour. Though the show was the best I had ever been too, and though I actually listened to many of the tracks before they were released, I found that I was somewhat dissapointed. I was expecting another "Vocal Studies," or, in other words, an offering where the clicking and processing of samples deferred to the driving hip-hop groove. Though this, in my opinion, was reversed in "One Word," "Extinguished" appears to carry on the more focused direction that was found in "Vocal Studies." In this album, which proclaims itself to be "Alternate Takes and Beats from One Word Extinguisher," the songs progress in a gloriously rump-shaking manner. There are absolutely amazing tracks which, fortunately for us, capture the direction of "Vocal Studies," the mania of "One Word," and the analogue playfulness of both. And the album, or EP rather, is just plain fun to listen to throughout. Again, I find this EP to be much more accessable than "One Word," and I will almost certainly be listening to "Extinguished" much more than I will "One Word." Prefuse 73, please keep up the good work.

Check this out
this album is a little different, it reminds me of 92 vs 02. its pretty much just instrumental. But prefuse is insane, he has some of the most creative beats put together. This album is done beautifully, that is why i say check it out. very intelligent cd, i dig prefuse 73. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Weaving electroclash and Euro-sleaze through a strong set of tech-pop, Miss Kittin continues to evolve on I Com. Kittin is still known primarily for the campy, droll persona she perfected while collaborating with the Hacker (First Album), and especially Felix Da Housecat (Kittenz and Thee Glitz). But she brings more to the table than just a talent for irony; her 2003 mix record Radio Caroline 1 showed off an impressive authority in the studio. I Com shows the same ear for production, and makes an admirable effort to stretch, pushing songs forward with an aggressive futurism. The formula results in songs like "Dub About Me," which uses patient, Massive Attack-like development and a rude chunk of electric noise to induce a brooding hypnosis. It’s a cerebral record, but Kittin herself is such a natural tease you hardly care how much skill is involved: you’d rather grab a French-to-English dictionary to find out what salacious bits you can translate on songs like "3eme Sexe." Sophisticated and incorrigible, I Com's detached sensuality is tough to resist. --Matthew Cooke ... Read more

Reviews (12)

A Collection of Singles
Warning: If you are expecting this album to sound like "Miss Kittin & The Hacker, Volume 2," then prepare to be disappointed. "I Com" is much tougher and rocks much harder, with electric guitars and a more pop music sound. Unfortunately, with this album, the transition from "collaborator" to "solo artist" has proven to be a difficult one for Miss Kittin. Owing to a multitude of collaborators and producers, this album has a very choppy, confused sound, incorporating elements of pop music, electroclash, and hip-hop. On some of the more pop-oriented tracks (Professional Distortion, Happy Violentine, Meet Sue Be She), Miss Kittin sings (she has a fair though unremarkable singing voice). On other tracks (Allergic, Soundtrack of Now, I Come.com), she speaks in the icy cool electroclash persona she perfected with The Hacker. On one track (Requiem for a Hit) she attempts hip-hop in a collaboration with L.A. Williams. One track is not even performed by Miss Kittin. "3eme Sexe," one of the best songs on the album, is performed by the French band Indochine. Although a great song, one wonders what it is doing on an album by Miss Kittin. Taken individually, these songs are great on their own, but collectively they give the impression that Miss Kittin has not yet found her own voice as a solo artist. "I Com" is not a complete miss though, it is rather like an interesting experiment. Excluding "Requiem for a Hit," the remaining songs are very good. A must-have for any Miss Kittin fan, this album proves that Caroline Herve continues to evolve and mature as an artist.

Utter Nonsense?!?!!?
I don't know why people are saying her lyrics don't make sense. A lot of them seem to be about her life on the road and getting drained by all these strangers and there expectations of who and what she is supposed to be as both a musician and a person. Sure "requiem" is nonsensical but sometimes dance music has to be vacuous to be enjoyable. Take a break from yourself and listen to an artist evolving.

Dazzle me
Miss Kitten is a busybody from France. She is a DJ and singer. She did a record with The Hacker, which was one of the first Electroclash records. Everyone knows that song "Frank Sinatra." This her first solo record that also has a lot of people showing up here. Miss Kitten does a lot of talking over these songs in her deadpan style. She is not repeating the now clichés of Electroclash. "Requiem For A Hit" goes from fast rock to R&B. The changes in speed are very unique. She covers a lot of styles, like punk rock in "Meet Sue Be She," minimal techno in "Soundtrack Of Now," and more ambient sounds. This is a must have for electronic music in 2004. Miss Kitten is a cool French chick that wishes she was from Berlin.

Miss Kittin :: I-Com (2004) 3 and half stars
1.Professional Distortion - This is a great song, it's wicked, and would fit perfectly into the cd players of the guys with massive speakers in their cars. It's loud, funky, and the beat is one of the best i've ever heard. Cooly, funny lyrics, too. THey don't make sense. Gets boring quickly. 9/10
2.Requiem for a Hit - This song is sooo good! At first i hated it, but it really grew on me with its incredibly simple beat, and that synth that just pumps all the way through. It gets even better when Miss Kittin starts singing too. 7.5/10
3.Meet Sue Be She - Kind of annoying, an obvious filler track. Miss kittin's voice makes me laugh again, and the lyrics are woeful. But its a good song to jump around to. Pretty catchy though. 7/10
4.Happy Violentine - A bit of a long track, but well worth the time for the experience. When i first heard it i was taken aback by Miss Kittin's songwriting talent, almost flabbergasted. It gets even better when all the synths, pianos, and singing all manage to wind together nicely in the end. 9/10
5.Allergic - This song is cute and fun, it's quite wierd, it's very quiet and trance-like, but still has a fast beat. It's unusual to the ears, but its still an above average listen. 8/10
6.Kiss Factory - Easily, the worst track on the album, another filler. It doesnt make sense and its very annoying and generic. I guess one could call it catchy, but i could never stand it, even with 5+ listens. Turn it off please. 4/10
7.Clone Me - The best track on the album. It's got an awesome, synth paced throughout the entire song, like Requiem for a hit, and is very danceable. Catchy beat and tune, i love it. The lyrics, like the lyrics in most of the album, are nonsensical, but you forget about them quickly. Great chorus - "Hello Kittin you came to play, Hello Kittin you look strange today..." 9.5/10
8.I Come.com - Lyrics are utter nonsense. The whispering at the beginning is kind of annoying, but once the rhythmic singing comes in halfway through, it gets very, very good. And the way she distorts her voice is great, too. 8.5/10
9.Soundtrack of Now - The only song on the album featuring The Hacker, and thank god. This song is so annoying and is incredibly uncreative. It's a bit of a joke on this album, and its about time Kittin dropped The Hacker once and for all. Worse song on the album. 2.5/10
10.Neukolin - This is really just an experiment in music. It makes no sense, and the only lyrics are a few words in german. It's very synthy and not pleasant to listen to. It's an experience. 6.5/10
11.Dub About Me - Another slow, long song, but not as good as Happy Violentine. It's still very good and makes you think. It could do without the heavy, jarring synth that comes through every now and then. 7.5/10
12.3eme Sexe - BEST SONG EVER! This song sums up the album perfectly. It's a beautiful french ballad, with a hint of electronica. If there's one song you need to listen to, it's this one. Beautiful chorus, beautiful music. Leaves you with good impressions of the album. A perfect 10/10.

Basically the sum of its parts
When I heard Miss Kittin was going to be launching her solo album without the production help of the Hacker or Golden Boy (with whom she's released one album each, plus a few singles), I was skeptical to say the least. Considering the last time I heard a DJ set by her, she spent a lot of the time vocalizing like a bad haunted house effects box or ghost cat, I had little faith in how she would pull it together for a full length.

The album is scattered, with varied results. Some tracks are electroclash rockers like "Meet Sue Be She" and "Professional Distortion," although the lyrics are so awful that it really detracts from what is otherwise pretty decent music. It is refreshing that she isn't completely relying on her "I'm bored, I'm bored" schtick that brought her attention originally, with tracks on which she sings quite well as well as more aggressive vocals (a la T.Raumschmiere's "The Game Is Not Over").

All this considered, I suppose it's no great surprise that the best songs are produced by the Hacker and Smash TV. "Soundtrack of Now" is light on the vocals and heavy on the stiff, 4 to the floor sound that characterized the duo's album on Gigolo. "Dub About Me" is a dub reworking of Smash TV's "What About Me" (from their outstanding 2002 album "Electrified," on BPitch Control) with floating vocals by Miss Kittin as well as the original vocoded vocals from Smash TV.

While the album is a bit uneven, honestly it's better than I had expected. Miss Kittin is more of an artist than her image tends to let on, and she has proven capable of assembling a reasonable set of tracks. The genre-hopping doesn't always work, but it's never dull. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Despite his dedication to free speech, Frank Zappa once dismissed music criticism by likening it to dancing about architecture. No surprise, then, that the British duo Autechre draws critical approbation by making music, seemingly, about architecture. With its pulsing, pneumatic beats, its favor for geometric rhythms, and its utterly mechanical sound sources, Autechre revels in the brittle, the desolate, and the mundane. Tri Repetae++ ranges from the Doppler effects of "C/pach;" to the elastic irritants of "Rsdio." Characteristic of its mission, the CD's scant liner notes admonish listeners: "Incomplete without surface noise." Not quite true, since the album provides much of its own noise, even in the relatively pure realm of digital playback. The U.S. edition includes two earlier EPs, "Anvil Vapre" and "Garbage." --Marc Weidenbaum ... Read more

Reviews (83)

Absolutely Astounding: One of the Best Albums of the 1990's.
"Electronika" had never sounded like this before its release in late 1996. Tri-Repetae++ came as somewhat of a shock, dividing critics left and right. There was never an album quite like it before. Many dismissed it as being repetitive, while others saw the complexity of the album, acknowledging its sheer beauty and architecture. Even six years after its release, the album still sounds fresh. This album changed the course of ambient music, if not ALL of electronic music, after 1996 and even now, it is universally accepted as the definitive IDM album. And for two discs, not once do Autechre step wrong. Tri-Repetae++ was easily the best album of 1996, and is also one of the greatest albums of the past decade.

A song-by-song review of this album is pointless. The album must be taken in as a whole. It is incredible and is guaranteed to change the way you perceive music. Tri-Repetae++ is truly a masterpiece.

Grade: A++

Lethal Anatomical Efficiency!
TRI REPETAE was originally released as a single disc in the U.K. in November 1995. Disc 2 contains two previously released EPs: ANVIL VAPRE and GARBAGE. Autechre: Sean Booth, Rob Brown. With TRI REPETAE, Sean Booth and Rob Brown's music undergoes a quantum evolutionary leap from the relatively muted modular mathematics of INCUNABULA and AMBER into a tortuous, insectoid cybernetic funk. Menacing robotic mandibles and steel-plated wings now render the electro tics and hiphop scratches, as though Booth and Brown have decided to work exclusively in the medium of rusty Erector-kit mechanics. For many Ae-heads, this third album and the EPs that preceded it (GARBAGE and ANVIL VAPRE) represent Autechre's pinnacle achievements. TRI REPETAE++ combines all three desirable items in one generous double-disc package. Such album tracks as "Clipper," "Rotar," "Leterel," and "Gnit" are like oversized cricket automatons--hulking scrap-heap assemblages of melody and shearing wrought-iron armature too ungainly to do more than flex a leg joint or twitch an antenna. In comparison, ANVIL VAPRE's "Second Bad Vilbel" and "Second Scout" are models of lethal anatomical efficiency. These are hydraulic super-ants, built for speed, purpose, and determination using the scant workshop remains of nosebleed-techno tracks and dismantled monster trucks. The melodically exquisite GARBAGE dovetails neatly with the album's less flattening moments ("Dael," "Eutow," "C/pach," "Overand," "Rsdio"), the circuit-board tweakings mimicking dub ("Piobmx19") or disclosing the human ghosts in Autechre's machine.

the best autechre album hands down
definitely the best autechre album i have heard - their best work yet. beautifully and intricately mixed - the electronic complexity of it all makes for one of the best experimental cd's i've heard.
and not without variety either - tracks such as 'leterel' and 'stud' compare to leftfield's 'rhythm and stealth' album while 'rsdio' sounds like a bass test track with middle eastern influenced percussion.
the general feel of the cd however is very experimental, with a distorted, noisy sound, very sweet drum beats to ride to (perfect for cruising or chilling) and still a unique, unexpectedly french flavor all to its own.
if your looking for that new, underground, experimental sound this is it.

Gripping electronic music
The first notes of the opening number recalled very early Human League to me, but then the track settles into a mechanical beat, like a conversation between machines. Clipper has a fuller sound, with bubbling beats and a slow, mournful melody, whilst Leterel is an impressive symphony of whooshes and Rotar is an edgy number, again with a melancholy tune over the jerky beats.

The next one, Stud, has moody synth loops and a slowly building ambient structure. My favorite is the hypnotic Eutow with its rousing synth lines, droning undertow and gripping arrangement, a challenging but compelling piece of music. Gnit, a charming sound collage of funky whirrs and burblings, follows the percussive industrial sound of C/pach. Overand is a soft gentle ambient piece and the album concludes with Rsdio, a mid tempo track with an impressive sonic and rhythmic mix.

The second disc provides further successful experimentation although no one track really leaps out at the listener the way that Eutow, Rsdio or Clipper does. Although complex, Autechre's evocative techno is surprisingly accessible. Tri Repetae is a feast of atmospheric sounds and varied rhythms, a most intelligently structured album of electronic textures.

Perfect IDM. . .
Autechre is the epitimy of IDM music. Tri Repetae ++ is a great way to start getting into IDM. For one, it has a full-length on the first disc and 2 EPs on the second disc. This way you are getting essentially 3 Autechre cds for the price of one. This was actually my first IDM music and I have now moved on a little bit and I think that Peel Seesions 2 is even better than TR++.

I have to say that IDM is a little bit of an aquired taste (my parents normally turn it off if I have it on in the car) but once you give it a real chance, it is really worthwhile. I was listening to this cd earlier today and I thought, wow. These guys have put so much effort into making this cd as good as they can make it and I think that there isn't much more room for improvement.

Tri Repetae (as with all of Autechre's music) is mechanical, it sounds as if robots are chattering and meeting (I know that I haven't made that up myself, but it is a perfect description of what it is). If you think that you want to get into IDM but only want to buy one album to start with, then this is the one to get! ... Read more

Album Description

2000 single release from Scottish electronica duo. Highly recommended for fans of Air, Kruder & Dorfmeister, etc.. B.O.C. and Broadcast are probably the only two melodic electronic bands signed to Warp Records. Tracks, 'Kid For Today', 'Amo Bishop Roden', 'In A Beautiful Place Out In The Country' & 'Zoetrope'. Standard jewel case. ... Read more

Reviews (50)

Beautiful and mysterious
I bought this CD on a whim in a used CD shop up in Berkeley, California, because I was am avid BOC fan. I have not regretted this purchase at all.

The complexity of their music along with the mysterious aura that they create is mindblowing. How can someone synthesize something so beautiful? I found it remarkable.

This music is very soothing after having a long, bad day, and you just need a rest. It is calming, and makes you think about past things. The beat is just enough to keep your pulse up, and it's quiet enough not to interrupt you while you think back. I found it great for driving at night, although I would not advise it if it's really late because my friend almost fell asleep listening to "Music Has the Right to Children" while driving home once.

Wonderfully done and fully worth the cost. It runs about 30 minutes and has very good tracks. I liked this better than "Geogaddi".

Boards of Canada has done it again
As a huge fan of thier first record, I was in the store buying this the day it came out, obviously without having read anything on it good or bad. These 2 guys are true genius on many levels. I have to say that this EP is more 'minimalistic' in it's approach then Music has the Right to Children was, and the songs build slower and are generally more subtle. The standout tracks are Kid for Today and In a Beautiful Place... My only criticism is the last song, Zoetrope, actually annoys me too much to even listen to unfortunately, and is comprised of one lonely keyboard track of a bells/string type with no percussion whatsoever - but it's obvious that this track was a tack on at the end to warrant the 8 bucks you will pay for this. Gone also from this entire release are the warped-in-the-sun fat analog synth leads that made the first record such an original and MOLDY sounding and cohesive listen. I hope the forthcoming album will have some of that same feel to it, and that this EP is just a taste of what is to come, with only one throwaway track... Well, OK, that just leaves 3 songs left. But Boards of Canada are allowed to do that kind thing because, frankly, they are Boards of Canada, and the rest of us are not. I knocked a star off for it though.

Kid For Today
Kid For Today is my favourite piece of music of all time, honestly. This track is not music, it is poetry, but without any lyrics(a voice sample appears, but nothing I could grasp of it). It is based on a simple pattern that alters three riffs on a synth and an ep, while the beat builds up(it is lead by a typing on a keyboard sample, I think). Subtle details and a constant background noise(it reminds me of a destant highway at night) make it pure magic.
The rest on this EP is not as good as Kid For Today - In A Beautiful Place Out In The Country stands out, and Amo Bishop Roden is also a good, although not very engaging track. Zoetrope is probably based on a mathematical pattern, because it repeats different arpeggios without developing at all.

One of the best
This is simply one of the best albums ever made...I am not employing hyperbole, folks. I bought this album somewhat on a whim, and it is one of the best eight bucks any music lover can spend. "Amo Bishop Roden" is one of the most beautiful songs ever. It is one of those classic electronica ballads that barely, I mean BARELY, climaxes and drifts away into oblivion...perfect. This album isn't very similar to "Children" or "Geogaddi", or even "Twoism". Much more ambient. Buy this before the world ends.

This Is Good, But It's Not IDM So Quit it.
Especially you Xltronic nerds. This isn't IDM, they just happens to be Warp-signees. Now onto my review of this album: I'll keep it short. This ep is excellent in every way; great ambience and perfect sound samples. A beautiful release. If you like this and want more, sucks for you cuz these guys haven't made anything else worth hearing other than a few cuts off that Geogaddi lp. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Never predictable, Washington, D.C., duo Deep Dish mix tunes in that resolutely Chocolate City way--just a little short of menacing. Their Ibiza mix debut follows their city's warped but fun tradition to the letter, bending the rules of the club compilation along the way. Despite being recorded for the progressive house heads at Renaissance, this is not Sasha & Digweed breakdown music or chill-out for the hyperactive. Instead, Deep Dish serve up old fashioned trance--cinematic, euphoric, and definitely not soul-soothing. When they drop Everything but the Girl's "Temperamental" and twist it into a tech-house monster groove, we have our first truly Balearic moment. From this point, the double-disc set kicks into overdrive, working up the music into hard-core sci-fi funk. This doesn't mean that the Yoshi Toshi boys are averse to genre trashing. Dubfire and partner's sweeping elegiac mix mashes up thumping floor fillers, twisted Latino bass, "I Testify" garage music, Radiohead wannabes Muse ("Sunburn"), and Kinetic's "Golden Girls" with tongue firmly in cheek. On the second disc the emphasis switches from melody to rhythmic intensity and rushes of sound. Flutes, drums, and dubbed-out vocals carry tunes such as "Ubik" (Timo Maas), "Dreaming" (BT), and "Circuit Breaker" (ECVM) before edging toward the madness of Green Velvet's freak show, "Flash." --Maxine Kabuubi ... Read more

Reviews (15)

Deep Dish Do Prog House Fresh to your Ears!!!
Deep Dish are one of my favorite DJs. They really have a sense for the classic tracks and mix these in liberally. When I first bought this disc I was somewhat disappointed. But as usual, good things happen to those who wait. After checking it out again recently, I now realize how deep these cuts are and how enjoyable they are to listen to. The first disc starts slowly and builds to EBTG Tempermental which is followed by the awesome Barbarella by Sven Vath. The disc continues to build nicely and with the beginning of Disc 2 with Timo Mass' Ubik (album version) I am now spinning out of control with my glow stick in hand waiting for the next track. Later Deep Dish take it to a trippy level with Green Velvet's "Flash" and the real kicker comes with BT's "Dreaming" which is truly splendid. Another disc using this same track is Renaissance Awakening with Dave Seaman (which is slightly better). Overall, Deep Dish delivers yet another solid progressive house set that borders on trance at times. Smoooth work Guys! Enjoy!!

Flawless mixing, but tracklisting comes across as wayward
RENAISSANCE IBIZA, mixed by Deep Dish, showcases the duo's pioneering deep house style but features some surprisingly trance-y moments. As usual, Deep Dish proves themselves master mixologists, but on this two-disc set the tracklisting is something of a let down.

Although disc one begins softly with Brooks' "Pink Cigarettes" and builds up to the climactic action of a club mix of EBTG's "Tempermental," the rest of the first disc is flat and lifeless. Deep Dish has not risen to the level of truly great DJs like Sasha in being able to make each set a journey through perfectly placed peaks and valleys within the mix.

Disc two is better, featuring more high-end sounds, but suffers from much the same problem. Although Lustral's "Everytime" through Halogen's "Red Horizon" seems to show the building of a groove, Moby's "Porcelain (Futureshock remix)" dashes one's hopes.

Deep Dish can mix ingeniously, but this set is rather flat. I'm happier with Sasha and Sander Kleinenberg.

Wow
Just discovered this CD and had to go see them spin. Im amazed well worth your time. They do not let you down at all...totally chill!

Wow......
This album defined my musical listening taste for local groups. I originally bought this album as an import, sadly, my ex swiped it when we broke up. I am now purchasing this album for a second time, a strong testiment for my love of this album. this is well worth the money, anyone who loves Tiesto or Oakey, but likes a bit of a darker edge, try this album on for size and I guaruntee you will love it.

One of their best!!
This has got to be the best cd they ever put out. Some may argue that the yoshiesque cd's are better, but I beg to differ. This is flawless stuff. It's hard edged, yet soothing. It's borderline trance, house, and progressive. It's funky, deep, and soulful. It caters to everyone. This is what Deep Dish USED to sound like. This cd should definetly be the first Deep Dish cd you buy. This is the MOST concise definition of Deep Dish. ENJOY!! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Vocal Studies + Uprock Narratives's 16 tracks can be listened toas one 50-minute piece of experimental ambient hip-hop. Even the album's moredisruptive elements are somehow seamlessly integrated into the overall sense ofgroovy calm and funky forward motion. Atlanta-based producer Scott Herren uses arichly varied palette to create Vocal Studies' warm, subtle sound collages.Sliced-and-diced rap and vocal performances play a key role on a number of thesesonic constructions. "Blacklist," featuring MF Doom and Aesop Rock, is an exception. Herren doesn't mess withthe MCs' raps and the relatively straight-up track nicely contrasts with theCD's hip-hop abstractions. The producer does subtly manipulate the mellow vocalsof Sam Prekop (Sea and Cake) on the lovely"Last Light." Listening to this flute-and-strings-laced R&B piece, it's easy toimagine sunbeams gently slicing through cloud formations. Vocal Studiescan make you feel like you're dreaming and dancing at the same time. --FredCisterna ... Read more

Reviews (17)

Don't be afraid to buy Notorious BIG while you're at it.
A weird thing about this album is how hard it is to catch the nuances. There's a lot of extra stuff. This album isn't concise or minimal the way much of the Warp roster tends to be. The whole hip hop cut-up is really incredible though.

There's a few minor disappointments, more to do with my own sensibility. For instance, I wish that sad ponce from the Sea & Cake weren't on it; he's got about as much flavour as a Triscuit.

This album is detailed. It's serious abstract hip hop that will appeal to people who are afraid to listen to mainstream rap because they don't like people talking about how rich they're getting because you keep buying their albums.

There's something a bit sad about how easily electronic music lovers embrace this kind of hiphop (safely renamed clickhop) but don't listen to any other hiphop. Sure, some people pick up old Magnetic MC vinyl and Slick Rick and whoever, but that's more for show, really, isn't it? The vintage rap makes it okay, because Autechre sampls it.

But what about Mos Def? What about the Ol' Dirty Bastard? Or Kardinall Offishall? or Cannibal Ox, even, to get indie. There's a lot of great hiphop out there, experimental or not.
Prefuse 73 is a collage of great rap noises more than it is a new step in rap music. It's a strong work, but let's not pretend it's a proper hiphop record.

hip-hop+IDM+ADHD=Prefuse 73
As my title indicates, this album is what you get when a musical genius with attention deficit disorder and a liking for both electronica and hip-hop decides it's time for an album that sounds like the noise in his brain.

I have to say that I would not have given this four stars after my first few listens, but it definitely grows on you. The songs shift so quickly in mood and tone that keeping up can be too much like work. After a while, though, it starts to sink in.

The best thing about this album is the texture, if that word makes any sense. The sound manages to be intricate in the brain-massaging way of Autechre or Aphex twin, but also groovy in a head-nodding way that reminds you of contemporary hip-hop from Anticon or maybe MF Doom (who rhymes on one track). This is as close as you can get to satisfying your IDM needs and your hip-hop needs in one sitting.

The melodic bits on this album are the real weak point. They are very present a lot of the time but are too bland to make decent hooks. This keeps many tracks from having an element of musicality that is present in both IDM and hip-hop, and I hope it's something that gets more attention on the next Prefuse album.

Meanwhile, we have a bravely experimental album that rewards repeated listening, though not with a five-star payoff.

knocked out and put in the van
it all started while taking my son to the local record exchange to look at used gamecube games and I heard a curious beat with a groove that I couldn't place?

I kept listening as we looked and it sounded like the radio was in between stations (radio, television, and shortwave?)!

I couldn't help but keep listening..... it was hip hop... rap.. samples..... commercials..metal guitar.....D&B... groove .... dub w/ a twist of dance hall?

on the way out I was so worked up I had to ask the counter guy
"WHo is That!!!???

Prefuse 73 vocal studies and uprock.

...... "what???"

he said it again.

Now.... I'm 40 yr old black REPUBLICAN that remembers the begining of hip hop and knew it wasn't a fad in 1977.

Prefuse 73 is Glitch Hop and has to be the one night stand of Kraftwerk ,Art of Noise, yellow magic orchastra, publicand some of blackest most militant straight out of brooklyn public enemy with a pinch of KRS1 hip hop

Those homeless guys you see argueing and apologizing to themselves?.......... this is want their listening to!

I love it!!!! IT MAKES ME DRIVE FAST

the best prefuse73 album to date.
this is the most coherent and overall solid album by prefuse73. every track is good to outstanding. if you are prefer the hip-hop-based production side of prefuse73, as opposed to the more recent experimental side, this is the album to get.

If you want to samples the joys of Prefuse 73, start here...
Anyone listening to Prefuse's First album for the first time, will invariably after 1 minute...walk over to the Cd player to make sure to the Cd isn't skipping whilst playing, such is the Scratch/Glitch construction of his track. User's unfamiliar with his work will almost certainly wondered if the Cd itself isn't faulty as Prefuse's use of cutting & Splicing samples along with liberal use of Glitch editing, will seem Avant-garde to people not familiar with artists such as "Aphex Twin / Autechre", but where as their music is based generally around techno/Breakbeat.....Prefuse tackles the Hip-Hop Genre with the same work ethic (but arguably more inventive ideas), that could never be accused of being 'Tried & Unoriginal', which does mean that this probably requires more attention than most (especially in the Hip-Hop genre), but subsequent listens allow the true depths of his ideas/music to really come into their own.....admittedly maybe a bit too leftfield for mass market consumption, but at the same time pushing the boundaries of music, in many, many exciting areas, and equalling offering up hundreds of possibilities with which to pursue. ... Read more

Amazon.com

With this delicious double-disc investigating deep trance to the earthiest degree, Dutchman Sander Kleinenberg proves himself a rare and true gem in the ever-expanding world of DJs and producers. Every track he touches becomes imbued with an expert's sense of love and levity. But the real excitement here is supplied by Kleinenberg's ear for music. Subsequently, his track selection is never anything less than genuinely enthralling: Mike Vandenberg's "Spooky," a scintillating update on Harold Faltermayer; Virtuoso's almost tantric blast of energy, "Stay With Me;" and his own eerie Moroder-esque twister, "Hidden Agenda." Kleinenberg's enthusiastic energy on this seamless mix of trance, techno, and funky house also subtly complements the mood of the music. Witness the way Audiomontage's "Fly Baby" cruises before slipping into the fast lane with East West Connection's punchy dance-floor motions on "Once I've Been There," or even the gleefully assaultive partnership of Marc O'Tools's "Stauffenberg" and Pariah's "Keep the Peace." Everyone knows names like Nick Warren and John Digweed, but this guy is only just scratching the surface of mainstream fame. Buy this set, give him a year, and know that Sander Kleinenberg will be one of the world's top DJs. --Steffan Chirazi ... Read more

Reviews (49)

Polished, with suprises, another Nu Breed must-have
There's something exhilarating about a Nu Breed release. It's not just the quality or breaking vinyl-exclusives, standards for all the Global Underground releases. It's the feeling that these Nu Breed spinners are trying a bit harder to carve out their niche, exploring the boundaries of house music with their judicious selections. Previously, Anthony Pappa peered into a cloud of driving, tripped-out trance, Steve Lawler delved the tribal rhythms, and here Sander Kleinenberg effortlessly shifts through the house beat in all its conventions.

Asian inflections fused to bass flow smoothly and slowly for openers, a luxury of having over two hours to work with. He proudly defies pigeonholes, from the crisp tech crackle of Purple 'Money Shot,' to the needle-grinding Banco De Gaia standout 'Obsidian' (think 'That Zipper Track' with soaring vocal). Plenty of buffed-clean house and inventive percussion (Gintare's 'Trancenavigation') prepare listeners for a plunge into heavier progressive numbers that close both discs. And of course the feat wouldn't be complete without one of Kleinenberg's own pieces, 'Hidden Agenda,' showcasing the production skills that brought his name to attention in 1999.

The set never really peaks (to be expected of Global releases these days), but balances the pacing quite well throughout; no disc one warm-up plate here. Polished and hiding surprises, Kleinenberg produces a must-have for this series' followers, and another welcome discovery to the new crop of DJs.

Timeless Mix!!!
Hands down this is the best mix I have gotten in the last 3 years. I listen to all of 'em from Deep Dish to D Howells to Tiesto to Nick Warren. Kleinenberg and especially this CD blows them all away. If I could give it 10 stars I would.

CD 1 is dark and hard and the Banco De Gaia sond Obsidian is still on of the best tracks I've heard on ANY compilation. CD 2 is just as amazing. It very housey in the beginning and is the essense of progressive bangin' house.

YOu will not find a better timeless mix out there. Get this and the rest of Sander's mixes. He is the climbing on DJ Mags top 100 DJs at 13 and deserves to be in the top 5. You won't be disappointed w/ any of his work.

Best NuBreed
In my opinion, these two CD's are the pinnacle of the NuBreed series. The mixing is near flawless, the tracklisting is unreproachable, and the overall feel of the album is magnificent. I own all 6 NuBreeds, and if I had to sell 5 of them, I know which one I would keep. Sander Kleinenberg has done a spectacular job on this compilation, and he held nothing back. From trancy stormers like Scorchio to dark, moody hits like Onix-1, Sander has created a feel on this CD that few have ever been able to capture on plastic. Steve Lawler is probably a close second to this, followed by Anthony Pappa, with Tomiie nipping (no pun intended) at his heels.

Welcome to prog house.
Welcome to the world of progressive house.
Your host, Sander Kleinenberg will take you on a journey you have not been before. He will take you places. He will make your body hurt of dancing so much.
This set has it all. Progressive house at its best.
In my opinion, at first I wasn't really impressed with Kleinenberg. I thought about him as the new "kid on the block."
Well, guess what. He is still, in my opinion, the new kid on the block to progressive house.
But he does a VERY good job at it. Sander Kleinenberg has a VERY well thought of, carefully selected & mixed track selection.
Busy hi-hats & bass lines from the beginning to the end. Continuous beats which keep you going are the heart of this cd.
At first, I wont lie, I was a bit skeptical about this cd. I said, "new kid? sucky music."
Still I decided to give it a try.
I'm glad I did. This set proved me wrong.
It delivers. It pumps bass & beats.
Isn't that what we're looking for?
Get this cd if you want to have a good time. If you want to party & dance, don't forget to have it spinning in your player.

Sanders Beginning
no doubt, sander is one of the most talented djs out there and if you listen to his sets or see him perform (at least once in your life), know that this CD is without a doubt one of the best in the nubreed series. from spacey vocals to deep bass, from highs to lows, from light to dark, this compilation touches it all. i bought this cd a year and a half ago and i listen to it at least 3 times a month. masterpiece! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Unlike some players in the electro scene, Tiga traffics in tunes that encourage dancing, not copping an attitude. His installment of DJ Kicks marries new tracks with a couple of older gems with astonishing panache; who knew 1990's "Dirty Cash" by Stevie V. could still sound fresh? Ditto for his protracted segue between DFA's stripped-down remix of "Deceptacon," from Le Tigre's eponymous debut, and a bubbly 1982 Soft Cell b-side. This Montreal DJ-producer's selection of more recent fare, including rarities from Swayzak and Adult's Carl Finlow, is equally impressive, and blessed with a sense of humor. 2Raumwohnung's breathy "Ich Und Elaine" revitalizes German new wave; "You" by Tutto Matto simmers with menace; and Martini Bros.' "The Biggest Fan" is a hilarious outburst of egomania. Long before the program peaks with his own rendition of Felix Da Housecat's "Madame Hollywood," you'll be convinced: Tiga is a huge star. --Kurt B. Reighley ... Read more

Reviews (12)

if you've waited years for new new wave, we may not need you
Tiga creates the most engaging mix thus far in the kicks series, along with the campiest cover. What is there to say except that this installment of 'kicks' seems to be all out rather than chill out. Tiga's image and selections definitely borrows from "new wave" however, it is something the same yet different in that it also borrows from the current music scene (and hopefully for the masses it finds a spot in there of its own). Anyone who has bemoaned the death of electroclashorinsertyourownnameforithere will certainly have to rethink their opinions with this release.(Oh by the way take out the time for the Man Hrdrinas liner notes,they are hilarious!!!)

A Classic.
This release by Tiga practically drips electro-house funk grooves from the moment the first track begins, and it stands its own ground for that reason. It's excellent to see that this release is completely solid with elements that just make the listener want to move, move, move. Awesome job on the mixer; I'm definitely hoping to see more releases like this in the future.

Excellent compilation!
This is an amazingly wonderful album. There are so many songs on it that are worth listening to just on their own (Ich Und Elaine, Time Has Changed, and of course Radio Jolly), but the piece as a whole is a wonderful way to get yourself moving for over an hour.

Hats off to Tiga, and to K7
It's time to recognize the DJ Kicks line by K7 for what it is: one of the most consistently outstanding mix series around. When other compilations trip and fall over schlock -- or become too enamored with one particular genre -- DJ Kicks dares to bring you sounds you just don't hear elsewhere. For quite a few years now, the series has set its own course: diverse enough to encompass DnB, rock, house, and dub, but still coherent enough to maintain its appeal to longtime followers. Well done.

As for this particular album, the prior reviews say it best: electro-funky, without the overdose of playground kitsch. It's all real fun and inspiring. Good times.

My god!
This is an amazing mix i will never forget, Ive been listening to it for like two months now. I highly recommend it. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Anyone conscious during the early '90s is probably already familiar with anti-anthems like "Rough Sex," "Let's Get High," and "I Must Increase My Bust," Lords of Acid singles that combined the rough sounds of '80s Belgian new beat with England's emerging rave scene and added enough nasty thoughts to make Larry Flynt blush scarlet. But for those who were left out, here's a synopsis: Lust is sleaze techno at its best. The lyrics and music extol the virtues of decadence and excess to the apocalyptic soundtrack of pop rave music. This album is best experienced if you forget about the intellectual pretensions of proper techno and the field-of-daisies optimism of garage, since there's nothing but pure, unadulterated, unabashedly adolescent id in this house. --Matthew Corwine ... Read more

Reviews (33)

The Lords are here...
To all you angst-driven adolescents out there, this is thealbum 4 U. If you like techno with a good, hard edge, forget NIN, gowith the LoA. The song "I Sit on Acid" is practically a club staple, and there is enough energy in this album to fuel anyone's fire. You can dance to it, have sex to it, beat someone's head in to it, etc. it's basically an all-purpose album. If you get the newest version with all the extra songs, boy is that a treat too!!! I like the Lords so much that I have a "Voodoo-U" visage tattooed on my right shoulder- but "Lust" is still the best cd that the Lords ever put out...

LOA THE BEGINING
I love the lords of acid, but this is not my favorite lord cd. If you like old style techno dance this is the cd for you. great songs include "I sit on acid" and "lets get high". I myself like the second cd Voodo You. The tracks are harder and more raw. If you are into just great dance I recommend Our Little Secret. I love this Band and every peice of music they have is ground breraking. I recommend that you don't buy the newer cds such as Expand your Head. Heaven is an Orgasm isn't as good as their older cd's such as this one.

All Time Greatest Couples CD
without a doubt this is the HOTTEST couples CD EVER. Hands down, no question.

Fairly good techno; lyrics are too sleazy.
Being a cognoscenti of techno and rave music I only recently heard this album for the first time just over a year ago. The techno is atypical of a lot of other techno which came out in the early '90s. It's very upbeat and danceable and very repetitive like most techno, but the Lords Of Acid's lyrics are slightly too sleazy for my tastes. Somehow, listening to techno music has the exact opposite effect than it obviously has on a lot of people, especially those who make the music. When I jam to techno -much more than any other genre of music- sex and sleaziness are the farthest things from my mind, which is obvious in direct contrast to many producers of techno who envision their music as a sleaze-fest. The only way that I can comprehend one relating sex to music which is totally electronic, fast, metallic and hard (namely, "Techno") is if they're perverted in some way. If any music should seem to induce thoughts of sex (none does for me) it would have to be Classical or some other genre of soft music.

Not only is Lords Of Acid's lyrics sleazy but they're also really stupid and cheesy as well, though I like the sounds employed in this album a lot. Still, I probably would never plan on purchasing this album.

over a decade old, and still edgy
I hate the feeling that what was once gloriously outlaw to me, in my wilder stomping days, is now rather old hat to the kids. Still, the LoA (and especially this CD) manage to remain powerfully risque' to me.


The dance beats are insidious and compelling. The sense of humor surrounding the sexuality keeps it HUGE - I have yet to find a dance floor that doesn't erupt into Caligula whenever "I Sit on Acid" comes on.


Be careful who you play it for, as it's VERY explicit - but not offensively so. It's surprisingly fair, gender-wise (which is generally my problem with explicit music - it's for the boys. This speaks to anyone with genitals, and then some). It's good, dirty fun, and remains my favorite of all I've heard from them so far. ... Read more