Album Details

Electronic: A Former Member of Mexico's Nortec Collective Drawing Together Classical Orchestration and Electronic Minimalisation. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Seattle listener
Gorgeous tonalities and shapes which utilize silence as well as notes and textures. There are beats but their sounds are more purely electronic than most (they don't sound like a drum set).
The harmonies owe a lot to contemporary orchestral music--Arvo Part for example. Murcof has crafted a totally unique and rewarding listening experience. Highly recommended.

A Masterpiece Of Intelligence.
One Of The Most Intelligent Things I Have To Listen Since A Few Years. Minimalist ? Maybe This Style Of Music Is That. But Not Just Like Pan Sonic Release.

Personnally, This Album Is Inside My Head Since 6 Months, And I Listen It Very Often, With A Lot Of Respect, Because It is A REALLY Constructed Project. A Marriage Between Electronic Tonalities, Rythms, With Choirs Sounds And Piano, Violins...)
The Result Is Simply Beautiful, And An Electronic Composer Will Know How This Work Is Really Structured. Another Compliment For The Sound : It's Clear Like Cristal. You Can Listen To This Album In The Calm, For Thinking, Or Reading, Our You Can Pump Up The Volume, The Result Is Always The Same. It Is A Masterpiece, An Ancredible Moment. Can You Say "Maitrise" In English ?

I Hope To See Another Releases (Their Exist !) Here On Amazon.com From This Talentuous Mr Fernando "Murcof" Corona ... Read more

Album Description

Much has been written recently about Electroclash, THE catchphrase for 2002's hottest new musical genre and LARRY TEE IS THE FACE, VOICE AND SELF-APPOINTED MAGNATE OF ALL THINGS ELECTROCLASH.

ELECTROCLASH is actually trademarked by Larry Tee, and THE ELECTROCLASH MIX BY Larry Tee, a double CD Set, is the only CD collection that can even be released with this moniker. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Good Compilation, Poor Mix
While Larry Tee puts together an overall good track selection, he does put together a sub-par mix cd. I have seen the man on turntables twice and know he has great mixing ability. To me, it seems the threw this cd together over a weekend. I hate to be harsh, but its true. For newbies to the dj scene, this is a good pick with great tracks. But for seasoned veterans and fellow djs, it is clear that very little effort was put into this cd and the mistakes are glaring.

Fantastic album, but not without its shortcomings
What can I say? Larry Tee has put out a fabulous mix of electro on a near-perfect compilation. As is typical of most multi-disc sets, the first CD is definitely the strongest. With tracks like "Extreme Fashion," "Supermodel Inc." & "Boys Club," Larry Tee is off to a good start. CD1 will have you up and dancing like there's no tomorrow. Somewhere between Disc 1 & 2, however, the tracks begin to blur a bit. Whether this is a matter of personal attention span or a musical flaw is entirely at the discretion of the listener. I would advise those new to the scene to tackle each disc separately (perhaps on different days altogether). Nevertheless, this album is absolutely fantastic for fans of electro, synthpop and general electronica alike.

Great
"Plastique," "John Starlight," "Shout Out," and "Airplanes" by themselves are worth the price of this comp. Most of the other tracks are good too. "Confusion" is the only reason I give it 4 rather than 5 stars. The vocals on that one are just irritating.

A collection of my favorite tracks...
How did Tee read my mind? Any electro(clash/nu-wave) fans(or any dance music fans) who don't have this 2-cd mix are missing the funnest, freshest, and most awesome mix to come in some time. At first listen, I was a little hesitant on some of the "cheesy" songs(the "Supermodel" stuff,Hysterical Sculpture,),but later cherished their kitsch pop glee. Tee's pacing is perfect. There are so many stand-outs on these 2 discs, that I don't have time to describe them in detail. This mix does truly ROCK.

This cd is bangin'...
I got this on a whim, had to choose from a few Electro comps, went with my gut instinct and WOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!! This cd is hot and it rocks from begin to end...

It's a great value too, seeing as it's a double cd...

FYI, if you're a dj (like I am), pick this up and it will surely spice up your set...

...cheers - DJ Dakini-NYC ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Drum 'n' Bass takes a step closer to widespread acceptance..
Possibly realising that D'n'B has the potential to reach a far more wider ranging audience, 'DJ Marky' mixes a set that focuses squarely on the less abrasive side of D'n'B, and thus makes such a definingly brilliant set, that it's undoubtedly going to be copied over the coming years.....moving fluidly through downtempo vocal breakbeat "Un-Cut's - Midnight", "Krust's - Jazz Note", before the introduction of the utterly sublime Brazilian themed D'n'B tracks are introduced "Fernanda Porto's - Sambassim", and the wonderfully breezy DJ Marky produced "Só Tinha Que Ser Com Você", before rounding out things perfectly with "Shy Fx & T-Power's - Shake Ur Body" (Listed here as "Shake It"). You'll be hard pressed to find a more accessible D'n'B mix album that'll delight newcomers & Enthusiasts alike, and one of a growing list of D'n'B albums that has a chance of making a mainstream impact. and is unquestionably is a landmark D'n'B album of staggering brilliance...

one simple word to explain this mix.....WOW
this album is so amazing, everything about it from start to finish is perfect, the tune selection develops through out the mix, it really takes your through a journey, the tune selection is amazing, so many classics from 2000-2001, and many great brazilain flavas here also. Also the mixing on this albums is nice and tight and Marky leaves in the tunes the perfect length only to get you asking for more! the scratchin on this cd in not technically amazing but its sounds so well preformed when he scratchs over "the hook" or the tunes. its truly shows that in 2001 when drum and bass came back into full effect, how diverse the sound became with dark bizness, disco style, liquid funk, latin beats, techstep and dancefloor music. and it also shows why DJ Marky is a amazing DJ

its so wonderful!!! go buy this album now! you wont be disappointed at all

Very Tasty Latin infused mix
A very accesible Drum and Bass cd. Nice tracks mixed well. This is not the bone crunching dark sound that DnB can sometimes be, but neither is it the light & airy LTJ Bukem sound.

It will work just as well on the dancefloor as it will in your headphones.

Being the nitpicker that I am, I gave it 4 stars not 5. I took off half a star as in some places it tends to jump styles (ie lacks a flow through the mix) and another half a star off becuase some of the tracks lean too much on the commercial tip.

Having said that, a very good cd to get. Most drum and bass heads will like it. It will also serve very well as an intro to DnB for those who don't "get it" yet.

Rebirth of D&B!
Absolute Soulful and Amazing, a must have. Especially for those who think Drum and bass is just dark music, this is the light at the end of the tunnel!

remarkable caliber DJ. top mix CD of 2002
So I might be a crunchy music snob, but I know a good drum-n-bass tune when I hear one. And a better d-n-b mix CD has never crossed my path. Brazilian DJ Marky was able to whip up a pattering of all that's good and jungly about drum & bass that I would probably enjoy listening to in the background at Borders bookstore or in the chillout room in some Chicago club. Other punters take note -- the mix from the outstanding "lk (Carolina Bela Bela)" to more popular tunes by 4 Hero, John B, and Shy FX reminds us that d-n-b isn't all hard like Fusion & Fallacy or Aphex Twin, but more shaky with forms of Latin percussion and horn samples that Marky somehow mashes in all the right ways. In the larger picture, it's a much better dance CD than any of the trancy mixes out right now, and certainly better than anything from Louie Devito or Ministry of Sound. It's surprisingly more inspired than the Fatboy Slim/Midfield General mix CD as well. A dope package. Go get it. ... Read more

Reviews (23)

The best of drill-and-bass
Tom Jenkinson aka Squarepusher has been through a lot in his brief career. Starting with his Spymania drum&bass tinged releases through his fusionesque "Music is Rotted One-Note" and to his current uneasily categorized electronica, Squarepusher has kept listeners guessing, and rarely bored. This American release is a collection of 3 of his 'drill & bass' EPs from the late 1990s (for lack of better description): Port Rhombus, Vic Acid, and Big Loada. This CD contains what I think is the best of this era of Squarepusher, though Hard Normal Daddy is nearly as good.

Squarepusher, whether or not you enjoy his music, is an amazing programmer/sequencer. His drums, unlike typical drum & bass, rarely loop, and are constantly changing in sound, rhythm, and at times, speed. This is most evident on tracks like 'A Journey to Reedham,' which also features a strikingly pretty synth line, 'Tequila Fish,' and 'Come on My Selector,' the album's hit, if it has one (the CD also contains an excellent video for this song, directed by Chris Cunningham, director of superb Bjork and Aphex Twin clips). Squarepusher is known as something of a bedroom musician: All of these songs were created in his home, and one has to wonder how much time it took to make these incredibly intricate songs. The only real problem with this, and all of Squarepusher's releases, lies in his bass-playing. Squarepusher likes to add live bass to some of his songs, and unless you are a fan of his Jaco Pastorius-style funky bass-playing, which I cannot say that I am, it sometimes is a little too much. Luckily, on Big Loada, it rarely gets in the way.

Admittedly, I have grown out of touch with Squarepusher; his most recent release, Selection Sixteen, has left me worried that his best work is past him, though I wouldn't put it past Mr. Jenkinson to pull a fast one on me. But this album was my introduction to electronic music, and easily my favorite of albums of this genre of eletronica. I think the first seven tracks (the Big Loada EP) stand best as a solitary EP. All three EPs are available separately as imports, but that can get expensive. This American release is something a serious electronica fan cannot ignore.

Brilliantly crafted Intelligent Dance Music
Tom Jenkinson, like many of his labelmates, makes music that show us that electronic music doesn't always mean a consistent thump of bass over slowly changing harmonics. Tom Jenkinson's music is truly engaging in every sense of the word. It makes the listener actively absorb every facet and subtle element of the dense complexity of the music. Although, it is not to be said that listening to his work is arduous or exhausting, it merely allows for a deeper and more complete appreciation. Squarepusher is not for everybody, as is common in progressive music. Jenkinson creates thickly layered beats, rhythms and harmonies.
When one listen's to Jenkinson's beats it can conjure up the image of a hundred-armed jazz drummer. Much of it's influence is derived from that genre. Squarepusher's drill-and-bass take on that style of drumming is, although occasionally confusing, nothing short of brilliant. His ear for rhythm and the tweaking and manipulation of it is amazing.
On "Big Loada" Squarepusher somewhat departs from his often jazz-heavy music. There is a much more synthetic, mathematical feel. "Journey to Reedham (7 AM Mix)", one of the album's best tracks, is also unlike much of his previous efforts. This is so in the sense that it is much more happy and up-beat than even the more optimistic tracks on previous albums. The song conjures up the exact image it's title implies, one of being half-awake, on a road-trip, driving into the rising sun as it leaves the horizon.
"Come on my Selecter", another amazing track on the album is break-neck to say the least. This track moves like an amphetamine-soaked hummingbird. Meant, I am supposing, for club-goers who enjoy contorting their bodies and flailing their limbs at a million miles per hour. This track is a prime example of, like Aphex Twin's "Come to Daddy", Jenkinson's devious and ironic tweaking of more mainstream musical genres. This one being the club-friendly electronica that warp artist are often the antithesis of.
"Big Loada" is a woderfully orchestated masterpiece of drill-and-bass. Squarepusher is one of those artists that goes largely unappreciated but is, although below the radar, reshaping electronic music as we know it.

This guy must have 2 brains.....
Squarepusher is genre-less. Sure, you can say drum and bass, but the jazz influence, the live bass playing, and the sheer chaotic perfection that is Squarepusher can only be described as that; Squarepusher. I love a whole lot of Squarepusher's work, but this one in particular. With songs such as Port Rhombus, so beautiful and groovy, Massif, Come On My Selector, and Journey to Reedham, I can't help but listen to these songs over and over and over again. And after I'm done, I pick up my jaw and walk back into the world of musical mediocracy.

squarepusher.........god or musician?
Tom's cd Big Loada is one of the best things I have heard in a long time. If you are an electronic fan then this cd is a must. If you aren't then this cd still is a must. He is one of the most creative musicians out there and deserves far more praise than he gets.

Squarepusher's finest
In my opinion, this record is definately Squarepusher's best work of art. Simple yet complex is the best way to describe this. He combines his knowledge of nice funk/jazzy influence sounds and mashes that up with his knowledge of oldskool jungle style but in such a way that no one can put back together quite like he can. "Come On my Selector" video is also featured on this enhanced disk. A great addition to the LP. The timing is done so well and its funny too. Great video.

Tracks to definately check out on the LP are Come On My Selector, Full Rinse, Tequila Fish (My favorite SP song), and of course Port Rhombus. Some may argue that "Hard Normal Daddy" comes first but This is the fine starter for SP fans. ... Read more

Amazon.com

On this first volume of a proposed "autobiography" of his listening career, producer King Britt updates the sound of the black radio of 1970s Philly with 1990s rap and production tricks. He makes sonic references to the smooth flow of Gamble and Huff as well as to the drawled proto-rap poetry of the Last Poets, and Britt honors mellow diva disco with a gorgeous, faithful-in-its-fashion cover of "Last Night a DJ Saved My Life." The loops he pulls out of his crates are from a time when black and white pop nourished each other; the album has the deceptively utopian glow of nostalgia, but it radiates with soul and warmth, too. --Douglas Wolk ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Funky beats take you back to HS
You'll remember chillin' on the stoop of your best friend's house in tenth grade, listening to a boombox straining some musical sounds through the air... even if you never did that.

The tracks Britt (aka Sylk, it's one in the same) creates here are infused with a deep soul. Male vocals and easy rapping stand tall on some tracks, but there are never any hos or bling-bling in this rap.

Female vocals take center stage, and they're a decidedly different feel than the masculine tracks. Very poetic, some deeply sung as if from a smoky jazz club.

This is music for people who grew up in the majority of the US, not a scrubbed-up suburb version or the down-and-dirty ghetto place. There are elements of both those here, with a track like Taggin' and Braggin' obviously talking about committing small crime, in this case graffiti.

However, most of the issues here are overtaken by the groove: buy this album for its flow. Standout tracks include the aforementioned Taggin', the wonderful, true-to-its-roots "DJ Saved My Life" cover, the super-groovy title track, and a wonderfully-sampled The Reason.

Some of the tracks are a little too serious in their poetry, but if you're into that, you'll love it (namely, "A Day in the Life," and "E.R.A"). Break out the beatnik berets and start a-snappin' your fingers.

Overall, however, this album is all about a great groove, and it keeps it going on lots of nicely-crafted tracks. A great discovery for those sick of modern rap and something closer to Tribe and De La Soul, but with not as much of a ghetto, street edge.

A Great Mix Of Urban Grooves
This CD was given to me by a person who read some of my CD reviews. I heard the track "When The Funk Hits The Fan" a couple of years ago but never knew who made it. This was a great trade because I'm always in to new underground music and this one is excellent. A touch of acid, funk, and soul cover CD and I'm my ears were blessed by it's sounds. A great CD for collection of good music.

oNe

What would you expect from philly, nut'n but the BEST!
For years now KIng & Britt have given us locals of phily something to listen to weteher it was back at the old weekly at Sylk (I wounder if thats were the name came from thought doubt it for britt and king had words with one of the owners) or at the monthly at fluid, Either way this is a great album. Also the more diverse the listing background of the producer/DJ the better the Music! and this is an example of that notion. Its amust Buy....

Funky
This CD is a gem, it's nothing like the usual stuff you hear. Get it, kick back, and let it take you where it takes you. I mention King Britt to people and they draw a blank. Let them here the CD and they immediatly want to borrow it. You know what I say, "Naw my brother you gotta go out and get your own."

Sylk 130 is a new type of genre that is absoulutely slamming
This CD is just too phat to describe. The lyrics get deep and it's hip-hop, jazz, bee-bop, funk, you name it, as the styles only get richer. I like it more and more as I enjoy the CD and it's been more than a year since I've had it. Nice! ... Read more

Album Description

Playfully and skillfully manipulating vocal samples and sound effects, Miss Kittin unleashes this 35-minute mix, showcasing some of the best re-worked versions of tracks from her acclaimed debut album "I Com", none of which have previously appeared on CD. Mirroring the inventiveness and power of her legendary DJ sets, "Mixing Me" is both a treat for her legions of fans and also an affordable entry point for the many thousands who will be introduced to her for the first time when she appears at the 2005 Coachella festival. Exclusive U.S. only release. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Pretty good!
First off, I love the way the mixes blend into each.Those alone are worth buying the CD for.You can't even tell the songs change, they just do, and you're not like."Oh, next song, blah blah."I just had to say that first.

Otherwise, the mixes themselves?The beginning kinda starts off rather....mild and bland.Lots of electronic beats, nothing really interesting happening.The second half of the CD gets good though, starting off with when she has the original "Soundtrack of Now" and then it goes into "My Violentine".

That's when the party starts.

The beats get heavier, the mixes get a lot better, and wow!It just really surprised me.

The best remix is probably of "Professional Distortion" the second time #6.Just...wow.The way it goes into "Happy Violentine" the second time around is just great!

Don't let the fact that she has a a lot of the songs on twice.You can't tell at all.The mixes make everything THAT much different.

A must for any Miss Kittin fan. ... Read more

Album Description

Moby is back with a brand new single, 'Lift Me Up', released on Mute. The enhanced CD single includes the digimpro software that allows you to remix the title track on your PC. Hours of Fun! Mute. 2005. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

D.R.S. Gives You 44 Ways To Buy This Album
A classic gem put together by my homies from L.A. This group could sing and rap which stood out on this CD, the best songs are songs 3-6, "Strip"(A true new jack swing cut), "Skoundrels Get Lonely"(A true playas groove), "Gangster Lean"(A top ten west jam of all-time), "44 Ways"(True gangster shiznit). I don't know what happened to this group but I wished they would have made a second CD, and of course they will go down as another forgotten west coast act. Good job fellas!!

2 Of Da Hottest Tracks
Gangsta Lean and Make It Rough are of da chain. Get this CD for those 2 songs and you will be lovin the CD.

Gangsta R&B!
Undoubtedly, D.R.S.(Dirty Rotten Scoundrels) released the most interesting urban album of 1993. Combining the waning r&b rhythm, new jack, with the hot rap lyrical content, gangsta, this l.a. quintet's fusion of both genres into one set was not only risky, but innovative as well.

Gangsta Lean maunfactured one big hit in its title track, a sentimental dedication to all the brothas lost in the war-torn streets. It moved the whole country, as it topped the r&b charts and was all the rage throughout the fall of '93. D.R.S. also managed an obscure hit in "Scoundrels Get Lonely". Both singles favor the smooth r&b flavor of the album, as they croon effortlessly and incorporate synchronized harmonies. Other highlights include the g-funk specialties "strip" and "44 ways", and new jack entries "trust me" and "bonnie & clyde".

Overall, new jack r&b and gangsta rap were two separate circles before this release. This album was the first to incorporate both genres successfully while gaining commerical attention and is the only one since. Unfortunately, D.R.S. never issued a follow-up, making this release a gem worth searching for. In other words, this groundbreaking release is for gangsta rap/g-funk fans as well as new jack fans.

BEFORE THERE TIME
THIS IS THE REAL R&B THUGS THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST ALBUMS THAT YOU WOULD EVER WANT TO HEAR THIS IS A HOT CD NO JOKE GO AND GET A COPY

D.R.S IS OFF THE HOOK
THIS ALBUM IS OFF THE HOOK, IF YOU LIKE HARDCORE GANGSTA RAP THIS ALBUM IS FOR YOU. BUY IT TODAY. ... Read more

Album Details

1988 Release from the First, 'Rock' Incarnation of Underworld. Produced by Rupert Hine. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

One of my favourites from the 80s
Judging from the other reviews, the fact that after this release the band chaged style to a more 90s upbeat style, seems to have done little good for this album. Personally, I dislike their later work. Now that means that if you like 80s music, then you will probably love this album like I do. And, if you like their more recent work, then this will be a great disappointment to you.

Two tracks from this album were mega-hits in this part of the world - "Glory! Glory!" and "Underneath the Radar". The other tracks are not as strong, but it is good stuff nevertheless, with tracks like "Pray" and "Call Me No.1" very much agreeing with me. This is a relatively dark album, possibly edging towards the "alternative" genre given the interesting usage of synth, but with a definite 80s pop flavour.

So, if you like 80s music, then get this and you won't be disappointed. Otherwise, perhaps stay away.

Rare
This piece of the 80's is hard to find. I should know I've been searching for 10 years (first I had to learn the artist name even though I was only fairly certain of the title). This is the piece every aerobics class (remember those?) teacher played from 1989 to 1990. The lyrics and the techno dance beat are unmatched, so we bopped til we dropped to the title track. Buy or steal it if you find it - and good luck with that.

Oh the shame!
The album Underworld wish would disapear.

This is a terrible 80s Depeche Mode meets Yaz rip off. Underworld realized this quickly after realeasing this horrible album. By the early 90s, many of the members quit, and the survivors went on to build one of the best electronica acts in the world. Buy any (and every) Underworld album EXCEPT this one!

You have been warned!

Keeps me coming back
I've had this album since it came out, and it is still one of the favorites in my collection - and while it in no way sounds like the "current" Underworld (whom I also very much like), it is still very good in its own right.

80 Dance flashback.
Looking for that 80's flashback dance album? The new wave 80's collection is not complete without this album, with great drum machine beats and strong mix of keyboards this will bring you right back to the late eighties dance clubs. ... Read more

Album Description

What is tech-pop? This is Tech-Pop - 21st Century Electroand New Wave is a seminal greatest hits collection for arevolutionary new sound! Featuring Fischerspooner, Soviet,Green Velvet, Felix Da Housecat, and many others - this isone essential collection!Tech-Pop, a hybrid of Techno,Rock , Electronica, House and Pop, is already creating acommotion big enough to have Indie shops buzzing about itand clubs around the world playing it exclusively. Incities like New York, Berlin, Detroit, LA and London,electronic music aficionados have adopted this new sound as their own! Ministry Of Sound / US release. Slipcase. 2002. ... Read more

Reviews (14)

Best Electro CD of 2002
This was my first taste of what's become known as the "Electroclash"TM scene...and what a taste it is! A non-stop barrage of near classic songs that sound like they should be huge hits...if we were still watching Dynasty and wondering what Ronnie was going to do about those pesky Russians. Brilliantly compiled by the innovator himself, Larry Tee, this is the best 21st Century electro compilation available (and there are plenty out there). Crossover harkens back to glory days of The Waitresses, Zoot Woman to Hall and Oates, Soviet to Naked Eyes and yet each manages to bring something fresh to what could be seen by some as cheesy synthpop. Even the Corey Hart remake suddenly revitalizes a tired "80s lunch" staple and makes it worthy once again. If you ever loved "new wave" or alternative dance music and want to get away from all the "modern rock" that rock radio is playing (ie Creed, Puddle of Mudd, Disturbed, etc), buy this CD. Felix da Housecat and Miss Kittin rule the world!!!

The Best Of
This compilation works perfect! I would say that 16 of the 20 songs are absolute masterpieces in the modern synth-pop and electroclash genre's. This mix compilation was the CD that started my obsession with this style of music. The compilation opens and closes with 2 very important songs...

Fischerspooner - "Emerge" - Probably the most well-known song on the compilation. Fischerspooner are from NYC and the guy/girl voices in this song are immaculate. (11/10)

Console - "14 Zero Zero" - A semi-interesting song by an interesting group from Europe. (6/10)

Zoot Woman - "Nobody Knows (Part One)" - Very soft sound.. almost like a synth-ballad. Believe it or not, but there is a Part 2 to this song, featured on their own album. Part 2 is very different but also much better! (8/10)

Tiga/Zyntherius - "Sunglasses At Night" - An awesome electro version for an awesome 80's hit. Tiga is hot stuff, and his new song "Hot In Herre" is a cover of a terrible song, but the dub mix proves what Tiga can do. Tiga is the greatest producer and DJ in the entire electroclash movement! Nobody beats Tiga!!! (10.5/10)

Soviet - "Candy Girl" - Goodness, an 80's vibration has overtaken myself with this song! The male singer is perfect. The beat is very comparable to that of 80's italo disco. I bought their entire album because of this one song, and it is one of the best synth-pop albums I ever owned! (11/10)

Circ - "Destroy She Said" - Female vocals with a dance beat.. Very cool mixture of beat, vocals, and effects. (9/10)

Green Velvet - "Genedefekt" - Green Velvet (AKA Cajmere) is a must for this compilation! Although "La La Land" is his best song, this one makes its obvious appearance. (8/10)

Waldorf - "You're My Disco" - Here we go with another awesome song that absolutely blew me away on the first listen. Sounds like a production out of the original synth-pop era in the 80's. It has a very un-appealing and absurd synthesizer noise at the beginning and mid-break of the song, but beyond that, this is a wild song to listen to! (10/10)

Tomcraft - "Overdose" - Hmm.. DJ Tomcraft has done some very experimental stuff lately in Europe and has actually had a top 5 hit with "Loneliness" from early 2003. I am beginning to consider this a possible favorite song on the compilation. Tomcraft is doing for the 00's what the founders of synth-pop did for the 80's. His new album features this song and all his other big electro hits! (11/10)

Swayzak - "State Of Grace" - More awesome synth-pop!!! This is another song that mistakes itself for an 80's dance club smash. I've heard this beautiful voice far too many times before. Top song on the compilation! Swayzak is sexy and needs no introduction here! This song is absolutely not their normal sound.. they are very experimental and dark.. this is a softer release by them and for their true clash sound, try "Ikea" which is a b-side and appears on Tiga's DJ Kicks mix. (11/10)

Yellow Note Vs. Pukka - "Naked, Drunk And Horny" - Definately the funnest song on the compilation. A very happy sound involved here. (9.5/10)

Golden Boy / Miss Kittin - "Rippin Kittin" - One of the best electroclash songs ever. You should already know this one! Anybody who Miss Kittin collaborates with becomes an instant star in the electroclash world! Very dark vocals! (11/10)

Felix Da Housecat - "Happy Hour" - Miss Kitty's good friend is here with an excellent song. Very 80's! One of FDH's best productions! (11/10)

Crossover - "Extensive Care" - A song that builds on you and then it takes over your mind. This song reminds me of a movable new wave hit from the 80's.. (10/10)

F.C. Kahuna - "Machines Says Yes" - (8.5/10)

Selway - "Pozition" - A bit like Tomcraft's incorporated sounds with some synthesizers thrown in. John Selway AKA Memory Boy is a friend of mine and I must commend him with all of his music, but "There Is No Electricity" by Memory Boy is by far his best production and it competes with the best of Fischerspooner and Miss Kittin. (7/10)

Ladytron - "Playgirl" (Zombie Nation Mix) - This has grown on me. I originally despised any mix other than Felix Da Housecat's, but now I am beginning to think just as highly of the Zombie Nation mix of Playgirl. This is a very catchy mix, very different from the Felix mix or any Zombie Nation production. A quick plug to "Kernkraft 400" by Zombie Nation from 1999: one of the originators of modern synth-pop, and a #1 European hit! (10.5/10)

Toktok Vs. Soffy O - "Go!" - Nothing groundbreaking, just nice to listen to. Their entire album is fair at best in my opinion. Quite popular in UK. (8.5/10)

Mirwais - "Naive Song" (Dave Clarke Mix) - Hmmm, probably one of the 2 songs I didn't really jump for on this compilation. Dave Clarke is big in Germany and has done a production in partnership with none other than Chicks On Speed. (6/10)

F.P.U. - "Ocean Drive" - Damn right, finish this compilation with an awesome cover version. "Crockett's Theme" has been covered so many times, but this is the one! This is the best version I ever heard of this song! Jan Hammer has let someone outdo himself! F.P.U.'s album is fine, and so is the Tiga White Linen mix of this song (once again Tiga takes his own voice and implements it into this instrumental song). One of those songs with a title that fits quite well. Without a doubt! (11/10)

This is the best compilation to start from because it gives you a little bit of everything. And the songs are almost all awesome and innovative. Worth every penny!

21st century liquid sky?
I am not going to endlessly compare Electroclash to New Romantics, Europop, Synthpop and other bubblegum pop styles of of the early 80's. Some songs on this collection combined Techno, House, funk with New Wave. That sounds great to me.Waldorf's fun song is one of the better tracks but it is not a New Romantic "mix." He is probably not old enough to know what the movement was about. Visage was a NR. Vicious Pink Phenomenon was a NR. The first Duran Duran album is a New Romantic classic. Not even Cee Farroh could cut it as a NR. Waldorf is a 21st century disco. There is nothing subversive about "Your My Disco". The catchy and totally danceaable song did not take me back to the glory days of lipstick kisses. Back then, to be a New Romantic was to be unique, and it was for a fan to be more fabulous than the actual bands. A club was a giant fashion show for the elite. The music was second and the blitz kid's wardrobe was first on the list because it was perhaps the only way to pass the fashion police doorboy to get in a real New Romantic venue if you did not have any inside connections. "Emerge" by Fischerspooner is nice. I wish it was a short version. The only factor I did not like about this song is the phony annoying female. It sounded like a pitched up voice of the male singer. This song, on the other hand, is closer to New Wave than 90's Techno but more complex than most 80's hits as far as the rhythm goes."Naked, Drunk And Horny" is the most standout. Think of it as Laury Anderson with a 21st century youth appeal high on body fluids. Yellow Note Vs. Pukka captured most of the current clubgoers' hormonic "needs" throught the world. The electronic voice manipulations are tasty enough to prove my point. If the singer's cuteness matches her playful robotic voice, she will be a big star.You will also hear the totally awesome "14 Zero Zero". This song is probably the closest you will get to take you back in the 80's. The music is full of sythetic attitude to convert even the jaded Techno fans but I wouldn't hold my breath. It reminds me of Telex meets Information Society and Zapp. You will not be disappointed unless vocoders are not your swing.Overall, at a "used" price, this cd is worth buying. It would have been a classic if the compiler included the following songs: "Hot Room" by Lind Lamb, "Space Invaders Are Smoking Grass" by I-F, "I Don't Care" by Dexter, short versions of "Life On MTV" by Miss Kitten/Hacker and "Get Me Off" by Basement Jaxx and Peaches. The compilation as it stands does not have enough drama a la "Liquid Sky".

The More Radio-Friendly Side of Electro--
This is a very good compilation of the new sound of ElectroClash (or Tech-pop, or whatever it's known as this week).
Having said that, it is very much the softer side. There is Miss Kitten, but she's singing what equates to a rather pretty little melody (regardless of the murderous lyrics). There is Green Velvet doing 'Genedefekt', But it is the version without the trade-mark off-kilter vocals. Just about the only thing on here which is even a little more challenging is Fisherspooner's 'Emerge', but come on, it's on so many collections now that even my mom could sing along with it.
Now, I'm not saying that this isn't a great collection, because it is a lot of fun, packed end to end with catchy tunes that in all fairness would be getting a lot more radio play in a more fair universe. However, just know that it is called 'Tech-POP' for a reason on the cover.

One of the best CDs....
....I've bought in a while. I've always loved synthpop so it's great to have new stuff to listen to. This is a great compilation to get if you want to hear the different sounds that make up the Electro genre today. ... Read more

Amazon.com

So what's with the title here? Does Eric Clapton, lamely disguised as x-sample, seriously believe he can bolster retail with an album of bogus high-tech and Deep Forest-style instrumentals? Minus Simon Climie's synth orchestrations, Clapton's multi-faceted playing would be palatable at the least. But Climie's heavy-handed stabs at contemporary dance make this the funniest and/or saddest superstar bust since Paul McCartney's relatively innocuous Fireman project in '94. --Jeff Bateman ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Eric Clapton Undercover.
When Eric Clapton released the album "Retail Therapy" under the pseudonym of T.D.F. (Total Disfunctional Family), I remember playing a guessing game with a friend of mine. My friend thought it was David Gilmour or Steve Howe. When I told him who T.D.F. actually was, he was surprised. In all honesty "Retail Therapy" is a surprising and amazing album from Mr. Slowhand himself.
The music was written and produced by Clapton (who is listed as X-Sample in the album credits) and Simon Climie. Together with a group of unlisted session players, they explore a vast array of sounds which aren't usually associated with Mr. Clapton. Many of the tracks are in an ambient/techno style complete with samples and breakbeat drum rhythms.
Other tracks are in a smooth jazz style and showcase Clapton's brilliance on acoustic guitar. The track called "What She Wants" is similar to artists such as Babyface complete with soulful backing vocals.
"Retail Therapy" is definitely a unique album for Eric Clapton. It's a shame that this album went by almost unnoticed when it was released in 1997. Had it been released under his own name, it may have had more of an audience. Then again, it could have been a black mark on his long career. Either way, there is no denying that Clapton is at his usual best on this album. His signature guitar licks are as recognizable as a person's DNA. Since "Retail Therapy" is mostly an instrumental album (there is some background singing), there is plenty room for Eric to shine through with some of his finest guitar playing ever.
If you're looking for something different but very inspiring from Eric Clapton, check out T.D.F.'s "Retail Therapy". It lives up to its title. I give it two thumbs up!!

Eric Clapton...Unprecedented and Thoroughly Original
At first listen, it is readily obvious why many critics might denounce Eric Clapton's experimental work. While some critics may misunderstand this album as an attempt to capture mainstream listeners, there is no doubt that Mr. Clapton could sell records relying on proven formulas. Rather, Clapton experiments and stretches with a collection of entirely interesting tracks. If you are a purist unable to except Clapton for anyone other than the Unplugged King or Cream legend, you may reject this album. If on the other hand you are open-minded and curious to hear one of the most respected electric guitar players on earth tackle a new genre of music, this album is wonderful. This disc is infectiously palatable and experimental. ------------------------Nick Lukaszek

I had no idea that TDF was really Eric Clapton
I first heard "Retail Therapy" back in '97 when I checked out this cd from the local library in Milwaukee. I was curious to hear this cd when I saw the record cover. I enjoyed the cd so much that I eventually bought a copy of "Retail Therapy" by TDF through my record club for $0.99. The music was an interesting mix to say the very least. It was a blend of rock, techno, and elements of world music. Several years later, I dug up "Retail Therapy" and decided to listen to it. When I went to look up TDF's "Retail Therapy" here, I was suprised to say the very least to find out that this was an Eric Clapton project. Learn something new everyday. "Retail Therapy" was quite a stretch for Eric Clapton to say the very least. He rarely delves into more experimental music like this. I can certainly hear his indelible guitar talents through the gorgeous acoustic track "Angelica" which is just breathtaking to listen to. You can certainly hear his searing guitar work on "Sno-god". As far as Eric Clapton's music goes, I wouldn't consider "Retail Therapy" his best but it sure was interesting to listen to because the music was so different from his traditional blues-based music.

Poor, Eric
Somehow, I realize that Eric Clapton dosen't get any credits on this one, Bummer.....

Very nice stuff...
To put it this way, I knew who Eric Clapton was but I've never heard his work before. So, I was very amazed when I listened to the music as it was really great. It was a pleasant mixture of very trippy music and nice guitarwork.

Actually, this cd was something I won off a contest a long time ago and never really got the time to listen to it. Well, when I finally opened the cd, I could say I regretted not doing it earlier. ... Read more

Amazon.com

It's hard to imagine Aphex Twin having a more appropriately named label (Warp); fitting also that 26 Mixes for Cash should have such an honest title. Having passed off a random gabba track as a Lemonheads remix and not bothering to hear the Nine Inch Nails originals before handing over his mixes, Aphex Twin has historically proved a little wayward in his methods. Not so much remixing as recycling, Richard D James's method is not unlike flinging tracks into a garbage crusher just long enough so only the bare bones of melody and structure survive. Covering a decade's work, this stunning eclectic mix effortlessly flicks from cinematic ambience (Nine Inch Nails--"At the Heart of It All") and industrial pandemonium (Mescalinum United's "We Have Arrived") to squelching acid trance (his own previously unreleased acid edit of "Windowlicker").The disparate range of artists remixed is as remarkable as the music, with Mike Flowers Pops and Wagon Christ making unlikely bedfellows. Improbable yet inspired highlights come in the form of his haunting interpretation of David Bowie's "Heroes" symphony conducted by Philip Glass and the breathtakingly ethereal transformation of Curve's "Falling Free." --Christopher Barrett ... Read more

Reviews (40)

An instant classic 13 years in the making
Like house demigod (and fellow curmudgeon) Armand Van Helden, no examination of Aphex Twin's body of work is complete without considering his extensive remix work. This double CD compiles not all, but most of the best of that work. Obsessive Aphex completists like myself will lament the absence of this elusive jewel or that (or perhaps sigh with relief that the extravagant price they paid for it wasn't for naught), but I give this compilation a perfect 5 stars anyway because the album itself makes up such a stunning single piece.

You simply won't find a better testimonial to Richard James' musical genius, or the dizzying pace of its evolution, wrapped up in one package. It flows with inner logic and authority, taking the listener on a voyage of imagination from ambient to acid-tech to industrial to drill 'n' bass and back again. Not since Selected Ambient Works Volume II has Richard realized such a musical journey so completely, which is an even greater feat since it's a compilation of material dating back to 1990.

If you're not an Aphex fan, this album could well make one out of you. If you are an Aphex fan, meet your next desert island album.

varied, innovative and unique
This album is a catalogue of experiments in electronic sound, remixing WIDELY various artists and sonic textures to make a completely origional sound. This fine double disc (his most ambitious to date) showcases Aphex Twin's penchant for absurdity (Mescalinum United - We Have Arrived), drama (David Bowie & Philip Glass - Heroes), and sublime beauty (Seefeel - Time to Find Me, and The Gentle People - Journey). The music is at once scary, funny, numbing, exhiliritang, relaxing, irritating, beautiful, ugly, simple and utterly complex.
Interestingly, Aphex Twin has been known to pass off unrelated music as a remix, and critics have often pointed to this as a symptom of the inaccessable and intractable nature of electronic music. After all, if a 'remix' doesn't have to be made in co-operation with the origional artist, and it doesnt have to sound as much like the origional recording as a cover of a pop song would, then where can you draw the line at where one piece of music ends and another begins? And who gets credited for this music? How much do you have to change to call it a remix? How much can you change and still call it a remix?
26 Mixes for Cash is Aphex Twin's response to these questions; for no matter the source material, from pop songwriters like Jesus Jones and David Bowie, to electronic noodlers like Meat Beat Manifesto and Wagon Christ, ALL these remixes sound unmistakably like APHEX TWIN.
favorite track: (Gentle People - Journey)
*****
5/5

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

26 mixes for cash
The latest aphex twin release "26 mixes for cash" demonstrates that Richard James fans will pick up anything he releases regardless of the quality of the work.

Having already cemented his financial future, James questions the intergrity of any artist whom releases music for profit. It would appear that he believes that music, like art, should be created in hopes of the evolution the genre. James seems conflicted over his ascencion to near deity of electronic music. Being the reclusive genius that he is I feel that the title of this album is a joke that he finds very funny. Furthermore, I can't help but wonder what songs James has created and will never release to his frothing public as they may be much more dear to him than anything he recieved financial consideration for.

Aphex has not really pushed the boundaries since the Richard D. James album, and this album is no different. After finding out that NIN was going to be involved with this project my excitement quickly reached fever pitched as I immediatly purchased it. My excitement was quickly subdued as I began listening. While I was able to find a couple of tracks that I really liked, they did nothing to justify the price of a double album.

Different than his other stuff, but equally good
It took me quite a while to get used to this album, and for a long time it was my least favorite aphex twin album - but no longer. The reason I say its different than his others is that the tracks tend to be fairly long and relativley repetitive - also, some of them are just weird and/or obnoxious (Heroes, We Have Arrived). Lastly, since they are all remixes, they abound with melodies, voices, and sounds that didint come from Aphex Twin, giving the album a really unique flavor.

In my opinion, the best aphex twin album is selected ambient works 85 - 92 ... but now that i've lisened to 26 mixes for cash enough, i say its just as good or better than any of his other albums besides SAW 85-92, and it contains some of the most beautiful electronic music i've ever heard (Seefel - Time to Find Me, The Gentle People - Journey, Nav Katze - Ziggy, and The Beatnicks - Une Femme N'Est Pas un Homme all stand out to me as utterly gorgeous peices of music). ... Read more

Amazon.com

Snivilisation is one of Orbital's most accomplished works. Partially consisting of experimental loop-oriented progressions and clamorous noise fills, other dominant tracks also purvey elements of drifting "technotic" bliss. The appearance of guest vocalist Allison Goldfrapp, who sang on Tricky's Maxinquaye album, adds to the appeal of two tracks. As audiences succumbed to the electronic symbiosis generated by Orbital's mystique, the group's political outlook became realized on bold tracks like "Are We Here." The track rallied rave culture as it scorned austere governmental policies which descended upon England's electronic masses. Combined with traces of Eastern-oriented influence, the album further heralds Orbital's outward affiliations applied within their technology-driven platforms. --Lucas Hilbert ... Read more

Reviews (41)

Slow starter that ends with a bang
Snivilisation relies more on dissonance and vocal samples (both spoken and sung) than other Orbital albums. As such it would have to be classified as a more challenging album. Opinions, as always, vary, but I feel it is the most experimental and far-reaching of Orbital's efforts to date (May 2000). It is, for the most part, successful, and sometimes spectacularly so.

I find it mildly aggravating when an album starts off with one or two tracks that don't really engage me, especially when the album is obviously constructed for end-to-end listening. "Forever" and "I Wish I Had Duck Feet" fit that bill. Maybe there are too many voices and odd sounds. Maybe I'm just missing something.

The first two tunes pass by in the background nicely enough though, and it just gets better from there. "Science Friction" is a playfully percussive piece constructed in the classic Orbital overlapping/shifting/modulating manner. Effects come and go, sounds come forward and recede, patterns repeat but not quite, and a cheesy synthesized organ sings an aimlessly mournful melody atop it all. "Classic Orbital." That's followed by "Philosophy by Numbers," which I think is a more successful use of vocal samples.

But the highlight of the album, and a highlight of Orbital itself, is the clever and deftly executed "Are We Here?" A marching band cadence drives the piece along. Muddled female vocals add an "unintelligible distant choir" effect. 15-1/2 minutes of intricately patterned sonic cloth unrolls before you. Great stuff.

The greatest music in the world
I bought this album just a few days ago to fill that empty gap I have between "Orbital 2" and "In Sides"... needless to say, it fits very well. I'll admit, when I first heard this, I was a little dissapointed. Then, out of the blue, something amazing happened... I GOT it (If you own this album, then you know what i'm talking about). It hit me About half way through "Forever", and form there, it's been an amazing experience. Once this album opens itself up to you, theres no turning back! This is by far Orbital's most experimental album, with ALOT more voice sampling then "Orbital 2". This album also seems to stray from looping songs (ala "in Sides"). The edge of the songs is harder, and has more of an industrial feel, but still has that moody aura we've come to expect from the Brothers Hartnoll. Amazingly, I don't have a favorite song on this album... every song seems to stick out in a different way which makes it impossible to pick ONE favorite. Right now though, i'd have to say "Forever" is the best tune... the again, that will likely change. This is truly one of the most important techno albums to ever be released... simply because of what it's done to the entire genre. This sole experimental album has produced a completely new sound for techno, and it's amazing to see how it carried over into Orbital's later works. It's easliy Orbital's most important album, but it's not my favorite. "In Sides" remains my undisputed fav, especially since it was the first album to turn me on to them. A defenite recommendation, but I suggest "In Sides" first.

MIND BLOWING
This is a materpiece! Orbital are so great! FOREVER is so out of this world. Sound futuristic to me. One of the best things Orbital has ever done. BUY IT NOW!

Great. Gets better the more I listen.
This one really grew on me but at first I was a little disappointed because I was comparing it to 'In Sides' which I just love, so based on other reviews this was my second Orbital album. 'Forever' and 'Are We Here', among others, are great tracks, you can listen to them over and over. Overall I give it 4 out of 5. It is definitely a good CD to have in your collection.

first Orbital album
awesome cd. the best techno music you'll ever hear, period. Sad but True and Are we Here? are my favorite. I also like Crash and Carry alot, but not quite as much as the other two. Anyways, if you're a fan of music, and I mean any style, not just electronica, this is a must-have. Oh, and by the way, for argument's sake, this is a techno/ambient techno album, not a trance album. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Back to basics
This is the stuff we used to be made of. These songs are just your very basic old school house instrumentations. But done to perfection. About 75% of this record will make you smile or just dance. I ride to it in my car and nothing can touch me. I am just cruisin'. You know? Its all good.
I gave this record a four because not every single song on this CD is excellent, but there is nothing on here that isn't listenable.
Check this CD out.
If you like any old school music - you will love this.

Funky stuff
It's the funkiest thing I've ever hear. Sounds very old skool and kinda like mega man video game music. Never thought I would buy music that was made either on the keyboard or computer. Sounds good though. They have one song on my nude dimensions cd. Thats's how I knew who they were. I never expected that they would sound like this though. The cd gets better every time I listen to it. Every track is bumpin and can be mixed with anything. I could even imagine a dude rapping on those funky trax.

ALL THE WAY DOWN...OOH, YOU MAKE MY LOOOVE...COME DOWN!!!
I'm a 70s/80s child...Growing up in the days of roller skates, break dancin', parachute pants and jerry curls. Metro Area's CD brought back a lot of fund memories of yesteryear with a whole new flava. This baby is "JAMMIN'"--to use an old 80s vernacular. I wasn't impressed at first sample, but after reading the reviews online, I decided to give it a try. The boys of Metro Area mixed the old with the new in a very stylistic way! And although they haven't reinvented the wheel so to speak, they have flawlessly mastered this style of music by making it sound fresh and reminiscent of days gone by via the use of hand claps/finger snaps, drum machines, disco gurgles and synthesizers. This is clearly a CD meant for the dance floor, but this baby can really be played anytime--Just try not to bop your head, shake that thang, or tap your feet to this one! Every song is a stand out track and a DJ's fantasy! "FUNKY FRESH!"

Morgan Geist, genius
The sort of music that needs to be felt, more than heard. The clear influence of disco makes Morgan Geist just more than the electronic musician he was on his early Environ releases. Transcending the limits of a bedroom studio, Geist has created what is one of the best dance-floor records. Let Miura take the pain away.

Throw-back update better than original
Metro Area is a rolling beat beast which seems to get its material from the 80s dance scene, minus the cheese. It is catchy, head-bobbing, and will stick in your brain for a while, much to your joy. Its the soundtrack to a life lived on martinis, gambling, and lights on the strip. If you like to go out and have a good time and you have even the slightest tolerance for 80s music, then you have to have this. It changes things. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

fireplace-warmth on a cool night-out
Apart from being overly electronic and techno, the french 80s' aficionado DJ remains WITHIN traditional rock esthetics. Imaginative, tentative and Pink-Floy-ish (reference: "Careful with That Axe Eugene") - warm as opposite to acid, cool or dissonant, that is. Sparce too, probably. The idiom about "finger in the pie" or something rolls on the tip of my tongue (you know what I mean) in this regard. This feel is so rare, alien to the genre of "serious" electronic stuff that no further argument is needed to let the disk enrich any rock-biased collection... and to procure that 40 Hz vibe you long despaired of with your hi-fi. Check out track 7 please.

On the otherside of "dance" music is art
I can understand how someone looking for a banging techno record could be dissapointed, but this doesn't even look like a banging techno record.Also anyone who is a LG fan will know that he is much deeper than your run of the mill EDM artist.This album is a masterpiece, my favorit part of some of the tracks is that they bring in 1 drum, like the begining of a build and then pull back completely.Plastikman fans, IDM fans, Jazz fans and people who enjoy really interesting use of sounds will LOVE this album.(I say this because the previous descrition describes me).Bottom line, not a DANCE record not even a CHILL record, this is beatnick breaks, IDM and spoken word nu jazz (fusion, not lounge) at its absolute FINEST

Not your typical Garnier album but great for chilling!
This is a good album.It is electronica (despite what the previous reviewer said).It's just not the usual fast thumping techno beats we have come to expect from Laurent Garnier.It's more jazzy/blues.Call it chill out sounds - perfect for relaxing after a night out clubbing.My personal favourite tracks are 9.01 - 9:06, Barbiturik Blues, Huis Clos.All beautiful, mournful sounds.The pace quickens a bit (but not much) with the tracks Control the House and Waiting for my plane.To sum up- if it's techno your after do not buy this album (try Bible of Dreams by Juno Reactor - 5 stars).If you're looking for something different albeit experimental then I highly recommend this album.Great for late night listening.

3 Thumbs Down!
This album is a real snoozer.Just when you think it is going to pick up the pace, it doesn't.I was really dissapointed that this CD is classified as Dance/Electronica.If your looking for a CD to help put you to sleep or if your looking to hear Electronic music that doesn't have any high points, then this CD may be just what your looking for.My copy is going up for sale on Amazon Marketplace right after I get through writting this review, which is NOW!!!! ... Read more

Album Description

Following up the hugely successful 01, Ultra Dance 02 willno doubt be the soundtrack to your summer clubbingexperience. Featuring a collection of the biggestdance-radio tracks around. Featuring Dido 'Thank You',Chemical Brothers 'Star Guitar', ATB 'You're Not Alone',Moby 'We Are All Made Of Stars' (DJ Tiesto vocal), Omnibus'Laut Sprecher' (extended mix) and many more! Slipcase.2002. ... Read more

Reviews (16)

Nice Follow Up To Ultra Dance 01!
This volume two of the Ultra Dance series is more great dance music for those who enjoy mixed cd's. The mixing is good, but there are a few rough transitions between songs (track 7 to 8 as an example). The songs on disc one are a mix of house and trance focusing more on the trance side. You've got big hits such as DJ Encore's own "I See Right Thru To You" (special Pulsar remix which I've never heard until now),Moby's "We Are All Made Of Stars", "Heaven" by DJ Sammy & Yanou,etc. Disc two is also nice with the songs more trance with more house songs towards the end of the disc. Again there are some big hits here as well such as "Take Me Away" by 4 Strings, "Like A Prayer" by Mad' House, and Barthezz's "Infected". This compilation is one of the better two cd collections released here in the U.S., but it isn't quite as good as The Ministry 2-cd compilations from England. Great stuff! Highly recommended!

Awesome remixes!
I have to say it is probably the best ultra dance out there. The remixes for "I See Right Through To You" by DJ Encore, and "They Say Vision" by Res were very impressive. Sunglasses at Night wasn't quite going along with the hard dance genre...though. Perpetuous Dreamer's "Sound of Goodbye" Robbie Rivera Remix was a very great track, along with Jam & Spoon's "Be.Angled" Paul Van Dyk Club Mix. DJs@Work's "Someday..." was a more "trancy" track, but it went perfectly into the CD.

Lots of 'Average' Songs/Mixes. May Find One/Two 'Good'
This is a very average 'Dance' CD with very laid back mixes for the most part... Average is not necessarily bad and surely some will grow on you, but nothing will likely give you that 'feeling' you are looking for... maybe 1 or two songs after repeated listenings will grow to become good/very good. While tagging these 2 CD's I did not give any 5/5, a couple received 4/5, several 3/3, and many were not worth ripping at all (I use lossless APE compression and J Rivers Media Center)... I found the least amount of likeable songs on Ultradance 02 as compared to others on the Ultradance series. Ultradance 01 has a lot more classic dance songs, but also very average and not the best Johnny Viscous can do (probably because he was limited to material available for the label). None of these songs are as good as the better Louis Devito and Johnny Vicious's material, although they have their share of duds also. I reccomend this CD, but put it much further down the list than others such as the vastly superior NYC Underground Party series.

The best brings together the best
At this very time, I'm listening to this CD. It hasn't left my CD in 2 weeks and love every minute of it. It's a great CD set jam packed with the best songs from around the world. I've always been a fan of DJ Encore and he shows that he has great taste in music. Since I have the first CD in, I'll give you a song by song review (first CD only).

1) Thank You (Deep Dish Vocal Remix) - Dido
Rating: 4/5 - A good intro to the CD, not much variation in the song but still offers a good remix. There's one part that has this wierd effect and it hurts my ears.

2) They Say Vision (DJ Encore Remix) - Res
Rating: 5/5 - Not until today did I give this song a full listening to and I'm happy I did. The vocals match great with the beat making it one of the best on the CD.

3) We Are All Made of Stars (DJ Tiesto Vocal) - Moby
Rating: 3/5 - I've never been a fan of Tiesto and I can't say this song changed my opinion. I liked the song to begin with, but this version seems bland.

4) Heaven (Extended Mix) - DJ Sammy & Yanou feat. Do
Rating: 3/5 - This is a good song but it was played so often when it was popular that it seems old now.

5) I See Right Through to You (Pulser Remix) - Dj Encore
Rating: 4/5 - The beginning seems to last forever but gets into a good mix. I think it could be improved a little but still worth a listen from time to time.

6) Who Will Love Me (Radio Edit) - Riva feat. Dannii Minogue
Rating: 5/5 - Great song! Fast paced with great beat and vocals. I listen to it every time. The song seems so forceful that you can't stop listening to it!

7) Wanna Be With Me - Da Buzz
Rating: 2/5 - Granted it has a good chorus, the rest seems pop-ish. A little disappointing. I listen to it every once and a while.

8) Omnibus - Laut Sprecher feat. Katie Skate
Rating: 5/5 - My favorite overall. The chorus is amazing and the beat keeps you dancing. The voice does get annoying but is tolerable. I loved German music and this gives me more reason to do so.

9) Fire (Orange Factory Vocal) - Dolce
Rating: 2/5 - One word...."DISCO". I felt like I was in the 70's again. It's decent but nothing more.

10) The Sound of Goodbye (Robbie Rivera Vocal) - Perpetuous Dancer
Rating: 2/5 - I had heard the regular mix of this song and this version does not do it justice. I recommend the original.

11) Safe from Harm - Narcotic Thrust feat. Yvonne John Lewis
Rating: 3/5 - Decent song. Seems almost Caribbean at the beginning. It's a good song but doesn't fit my taste.

12) Sunglasses at Night (Extended) - Tiga & Zyntherius
Rating: 2/5 - Repetitive and bland. The first time I listened to it, I kept wondering when it was going to end.

Well that's it for CD #1! The first CD is alone worth the price so go for it! You'll love it!

This cd is great
The best mix of trance music i have ever heard amazing. ... Read more

Reviews (58)

Of All Places To Find Richard's Smiling Face
All three tracks have their merit for their own reasons. The title track is a bit of smarmy fun, best heard on quality audio equipment. It even reached top 20 in the UK! The accompanying video, protected with "HyperCD" is a subversive parody of exploitative rap videos, but the HyperCD element might ruin the experience for some (Why must we connect to an internet web site that may no longer be there, just so we can watch a locally-stored video?). Track two, "equation", is an experimental assault on the ears. What most people don't know is that if you run an audio spectrum scan on this track, you will see the devilish smiling face of Richard D. James himself right near the end. There are other images that are debateable. This EP finishes off with a nice melody, "Nannou", which is excellent on technique, but I would have liked to hear an alternate instrumentation for this; A music-box's tinny, un-tuned tines apparently degrades beautiful tunes.

5 stars for the title track alone
First of all, although this is a three-track single, I've never heard the last two songs. (I downloaded "Windowlicker" on Napster). They could be fantastic songs, or they could be the worst things ever pressed onto CD. I don't know.

However, the single still gets a 5-star rating simply based on "Windowlicker". The song manages to combine glitch-style IDM production, 70's funk, modern R&B, and distortion into something that sounds like nothing else ever made. It sounds like a sleazy slow-jam mutilated by a Powerbook. It's in a genre all by itself and is far ahead of any other music I've heard, but is still very listenable and even catchy (I've found myself humming bits of it often). I've listened to a lot of Aphex Twin's work (SAW 1, "Digeridoo", "On", "Ventolin", "Girl/Boy Song") and this is my favorite work of his. Blindingly innovative and yet very fun at the same time, "Windowlicker" is a must-have.

what explicit lyrics?
i'm at a loss to find the explicit content which the parental advisory sticker on the cover warns. perhaps aphex twin's devilishy grinning face super imposed on a buxom beauty's bod is what the warning is about or maybe the link to chris cunningham's video which would have been naughty if it wasn't so downright disturbingly funny.

windowlicker is by far aphex twin's best and most commercial release without compromising any of his skills that makes him such a talented musical genius. sounding like a warped soundtrack to a porno movie, windowlicker writhes and contorts its way to the fuzzy electric guitar climax. the only track worth the cost of the EP! (formula) or (equation) or a bunch of unpronounceable scribble starts of strong but falls short at the end and we hear more nannou style musicbox twinkling to last us a lifetime on drukqs.

five stars for windowlicker alone.

As the saying goes: "Two out of three ain't bad."
Windowlicker is Richard D. James' sexiest work. As you've read over and over beforehand, it's comprised of oohs and aahs set to a porno-esque track. What they fail to mention is Aphex Twin's trademark polyrhythms, everchanging song structure and engrossing melodies are present, making this song much more than just unique - it really is one of the greatest electronica songs ever made. AFX certainly sets a very pornographic atmosphere in Windowlicker, right up to the climax of the song, indeed, a musical orgasm. It's one of those rare tracks you can pinpoint and say "This - this right here, this is proof that this Richard D. James is a genius."

The next track, which I will be calling [Complex Mathmatical Equation], is the thematical flip side of Aphex Twin, but musically not very far off. The song pumps and jumps from section to section with ease, but instead of luring you in with lusty moans and sighs, it sharpens its teeth with its abrasive noises, sinks them into your skin, and drags you in, reminicent of Ventolin. This is a cool listen initially, as its harsh qualities are intriguing. Unfortunately, this song doesn't age well, and once the novelty has worn off, it becomes a chore to listen to. This is the only mediocre track on the single.

Nannou is a gentle, yet energetic closer that makes you feel at home with its usage of a music box. Not just for melodies mind you, but the cranking of the box is incorporated as well, most effectively. This really lulls you to the realization that a single - a 15 minute single - indeed CAN have the impact of an album. I'd say this is very close to upstaging the title track, had Windowlicker not been so bizarre. A very pleasing closer to a single with a sultry headliner and a rotten core.

mediocre in comparison but deserves a little credit
A decent Aphex Twin release, some of his more mediocre (but not migraine-inducing)work but I must be a little lenient considering this is only a single. The title track, though no "Come To Daddy," has some clever rythmic effects that do the trick without completely dissolving into nonsense ; though the droning and intentionally out-of-tune vocals can become monotonous by the later half of the song. The second track is not well structured but has some interestingly dark noises, while the last track is definitely the best. Nannou, the final track, is worth buying this whole CD for if you're already an Aphex Twin fan and have some extra cash to blow. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Unlike the Chemical Brothers--their longstanding U.K. brothers in electronica--Underworld have been allowed to grow (relatively) old without being accused of stagnating. A Hundred Days Off, Underworld's first studio release since the departure of member Darren Emerson, demonstrates why. An ecstatic headrush of percolating beats, swirling synth, and shape-shifting melodies, A Hundred Days Off drags everything from Delta blues to space-age pop onto the dance floor. Because the pair takes their cues in part from the real world, filtering each idea through the prism of a rave record, we get wonky faux church bells chiming in one especially frenzied passage of the nine-minute epic "Two Months Off." Elsewhere, as on the curiously named "Trim," straightforward vocal phrasings are set against (what might be) twangy, scotch-soaked guitar while a static drum beat clicks in the distance. On the towering centerpiece track, "Dinosaur Adventure 3D," a vicious cymbal guts an otherwise unassuming house track, albeit one built on an increasingly complex (and speedy) palette of sounds, before a tribal vocal goosesteps over top. Clubby, dubby, and positively smokin'. --Kim Hughes ... Read more

Reviews (82)

Slick, impassioned, pointed, & poised... incredible!
I don't know how they do it!

Underworld has now released four five-star albums in a row (not including the Live "Everything, Everything", which is of a different sort). Despite losing a participant in the creative process, the band continues to grow within their artistic identity. In contrast to the obvious charms of experimental-crazy "Beacoup Fish" and the dance-storming debut "Dubnobasswithmyheadman", the vibe of "A Hundred Days Off" is more subtle at first impression. Yet soon, its aural complexion is rapidly differentiated upon repeat listens; so, in this sense it is more like "Second Toughest In the Infants" in terms of experiential structure for the beholder. It does not disappoint.

"A Hundred Days Off" is a gorgeous freeway driving soundtrack, for starters (in the city, at night). Again, Underworld tenders songs with sparkle, power, seething with class. And again again, unlike most techno bands I've encountered, most tracks've been sufficiently pocketed by the band so that one may match and also pour oodles of your own intimacy and emotion into them ... resulting in some rather classy ruminations, with the occasional sonic explosions.

Most sublime are "Twist" "Sola Sistim", "Trim", "Ballet Lane" & "Dinosaur Adventure." "Twist" & "Ballet Lane" are stylish instrumentals. In "Sola Sistim", his lyrical rueing of his pesky shadowside ... "my devious nature" ... glows in the dark. That glacial-glidin`, cowboycoolcat "Trim" funks a sexy riff. His new explorations with some outrageous middle-eastern howlgurgling on "Dinosaur Adventure" is just plain mad. WOW, I love it!

The entire disc smolders beneath the vivid urbane sheen. Cossets the ticklish netherregions of your psyche into a temporal state of aural bliss. Awe-inspiring.

Slick, impassioned, pointed, & poised... incredible!
I don't know how they do it. !!!

Underworld has now released four five-star albums in a row (not including the Live "Everything, Everything", which is of a different sort). Despite losing a participant in the creative process, the band continues to grow within their artistic identity. In contrast to the obvious charms of experimental-crazy "Beacoup Fish" and the dance-storming debut "Dubnobasswithmyheadman", the vibe of "A Hundred Days Off" is more subtle at first impression. Yet soon, its aural complexion is rapidly differentiated upon repeat listens; so, in this sense it is more like "Second Toughest In the Infants" in terms of experiential structure for the beholder. It does not disappoint.

"A Hundred Days Off" is a gorgeous freeway driving soundtrack, for starters (in the city, at night). Again, Underworld tenders songs with sparkle, power, seething with class. And again again, unlike most techno bands I've encountered, most tracks've been sufficiently pocketed by the band so that one may match and also pour oodles of your own intimacy and emotion into them ... resulting in some rather classy ruminations, with the occasional sonic explosions.

Most sublime are "Twist" "Sola Sistim", "Trim", "Ballet Lane" & "Dinosaur Adventure." "Twist" & "Ballet Lane" are stylish instrumentals. His lyrical rueing of his pesky shadowside ... "my devious nature" ... in "Sola Sistim" just plain glows in the dark. That glacial-glidin`, cowboycoolcat "Trim" funks an oh-so sexy riff. And his new explorations with some outrageous middle-easternesque howlgurgling on "Dinosaur Adventure" is just mad. WOW.

The entire disc smolders beneath the vivid urbane sheen. Cossets the ticklish netherregions of your psyche into a temporal state of aural bliss. Beyond impressive, this one is luminous.

funky smooth
you gotta be kidding!! what a really great cd! once you start, you know that your in for a really great musicial ride. well balance between voices and beats. smooth to the ears!! funka funka wonderful. enjoy!

first underworld experience, definately not last
I never thought i would appreciate these guys even though i knew they were good. when Dinosaur 3d was released I admitted i didn't understand it although i was fascinated at least by their amazing video. I even complained to a friend about the long video for their single and how it was played hogging . Then one day i was home alone and again the song played. i was pretty bored and lay down staring at the ceiling...and closed my eyes listening. Next thing i knew and was up dancing to it feeling the beat finally understanding it. Over the next weeks i did a 180 and became an avid underworld and began to completely appreciate their music.
Getting an album as un-mainstream as Underworld was a task esp. where i live but my mum surprised me with this disc a few months after i fell hoplessly in love with underworld. It's an amazing disc and my favourite track is Little Speaker probably bc i've neva heard anything like it.
One of the best things about underworld is it is so good yet it seems from other fans is it is nowhere near their best.
This album is one of my complete fave's. I definately will be purchasing their other albums or at least their '92-'02.

A fresh start for Underworld since Beaucoup Fish
Underworld has come a long way after starting off simple (Underneath The Radar and others) and coming on strong with albums like Everything, Everything; LIVE, Dubnobasswithmyheadman, Second Toughest in the Infants. My take on A Hundred Days Off would be this --> Underworld sort of fell apart in this album for two reasons. They lost one of their great members (Emmerson) and the beats were more ambient and easy-going. Don't get me wrong though, I thought of Underworld A Hundred Days Off was a fresh start cause they did things a little different in the songs on it. Number 7 sounds like something Aphex Twin would do in his ambient works and Dinosaur Adventure 3D reminds me of some music I would hear in The Matrix. When I first purchased this album, I was RELAXED when I listened to it. I thought Two Months Off was a bit strange in the beginning but it DEFINATELY gets better throughout, Mo Move was a very nice introduction for the album, and Sola Sistim put me in a dream world. Ballet Lane is a great song you could listen to while it is raining outside. That's my take on A Hundred Days Off...I hope my review has made sense ... Read more

Amazon.com

With more big-time backing than any junglist save toothy Goldie, the Roni Size all-stars return with a punchy suite of material that sounds so crossed over it could snap. The big-beat drums continue to push drum & bass toward soulful house; the vocals by MC Dynamite as well as guests Method Man and Zach de la Rocha continue to demand hip-hop respect; and the form is repeated, again and again, over and over, at 180 beats per minute. A funky key lick that might bob and weave in an able DJ's hands goes stale quickly over the duration of a long-form CD, but still Size soldiers onward with barely a tempo change. It's mystifying, as he holds so many live wires in his hands. Though the complaint department is firing full force over this seemingly unfinished release, make no mistake that crisp organic jungle standards such as "Ghetto Superstar" will continue to define the name brand, setting dance floors into a kinetic frenzy for many seasons past the shelf date. --Ian Christe ... Read more

Reviews (38)

Not your Daddy's Roni Size
First, this is not New Forms. That was a landmark album that came along when it looked like the town of Bristol could do no less. No, this is a dark agressive collection of sparse DnB beats, anchored by deep industrial bass and bewitching soundscapes hovering above with evil intent. Paraniod vocals provided by both MC Dynamite and Onallee only further this omnious mood set by Size and Co. Method Man's guest apparence I think is a great balance of tradtional Hip-Hop hitting up against the more futuristic tone set by the junglist movement. Rahzel livens up things a bit with some ol' skool fun, but the track really doesn't add much. Why Zack De LaRocha's track made the final cut is anyone's guess (and know you anti coperate music types already have yours.) Like Krust's solo album, In The Mode grows on you with repeated spins. Check out Railing pt.2 System Check and Dirty Beats(my favorite). No, this album is not the artistic masterpiece of New Forms. Its something different, and trust me, there is room for it.

Why compare? Just enjoy another modern masterpiece.
Once again Size and Reprazent produce a masterpiece by departing from the traditional forms of dnb and music in general. And that's why this album may not sound like traditional drum and bass... surely it doesn't sound like anything that I've heard before. In this album, Size and Reprazent reinvent themselves and at the same time go back to their roots bringing us more of their truly fresh "Bristol-original dnb" but now with touches of hip-hop\reggae lyrics, breaks and beats, and even disco. The ordered sequence of these songs and sounds make "In the Mode" so special. Listen to this one from start to finsih. Its a flavored mixture of all types of sounds done in the way that only Roni Size and this group of people know how to do: with real musical style. Why compare this album with "New forms"? "New forms" was released in 1997 and "In the Mode" in 2000 and music has to change and develop. "In the Mode" marks yet another landmark in music history with supreme musical style and a set of strong and innovative sounds.

Roni does it again
This guy can't write one bad song. We find this album digging deeper and going darker than New Forms. Roni is evolutionizing drum n' bass as we speak. The guess artists come on strong as well. Method Man lays down some smooth rhymes. I've always been a fan of Method Man. I was very pleased to see Rahzel on here too, the Roots have always been a favorite of mine. Zak makes a strong lyrical addition as well. Roni has a song called Zak Attack on Touching Down thats dedicated to Zak. I recommend this album before getting Touching Down. Touching Down is such a great album that if you get it first, you won't really like this one. If you get this one first you will appreciate it better.

A TRUE PIECE OF ART!
This is a great album!
For anyone who enjoys
breakbeats of all sorts.
Very minimal but effective!
I recommend this to anyone
who has not explored the
drum and bass world or
is a newbie to the scene.
A great starting album!

Dirty beats
I am not what I consider to be a fan of drum and bass music. That is one of the few sub-genres of dance music that I could not get into. For me, I like my dance music melodic and the beats easy to dance to. I bought a used copy of Roni Size/Reprazent's "In the Mode" a few years ago because I was curious about drum and bass music, let alone Roni Size's work with Reprazent. I'm glad that I bought this cd used because I just could not get into the music. I'm not saying that there weren't any good songs on the cd but it is just not my cup of tea. Just as a cd, "In the Mode" I did like a lot of the songs except for the Zack De La Rocha track "Centre of the Storm". I can't say I am a fan of Zack's screaming vocals. Frankly they get on my nerves. I did like "System Check", "Dirty Beats", "Ghetto Celebrity" and "In Tune With the Sound". Considering that I don't care for hip hop music, I was suprised I really liked the Method Man and Rahzel's tracks on the cd. "In the Mode" would have been the perfect soundtrack for the Matrix films. The music is both beautiful and chaotic simultaneously. Although I am not dnb music fan, "In the Mode" is a good cd. The genre itself is an acquired taste in my opinion. ... Read more