Album Description

German dance compilation featuring the finest in trance music featuring such artists as Talvin Singh, Afterlife, A New Funky Generation, dZian and Kamien, Mandalay and many more. 15 tracks in all. 1999 release. Standard jewel case. ... Read more

Reviews (32)

Another great downtempo cd to add to my collection
I can't really say that I am all that into the Cafe Del Mar series. My only other copy is volume 8 and that one it took me awhile for the music to grow on me. I found volume 6 (Jose Padilla's last contribution to the series) in the used cd bins today. I really liked what I saw as far as the track list goes. I love Mandalay's "Beautiful" and Talvin Singh's "Traveller". As I am listening to this cd, I am definitely more impressed with this series than I have been wtih Ultra Records' downtempo series "Ultra Chilled". I find the Cafe Del Mar series far less commercialized than some of the chill out compilations that I have come across in the past year. I truly enjoyed volume six of Cafe Del Mar a lot more than volume 8. Although I thought "The Messenger" by A Funky Generation was a totally useless track, I thought as a whole the album was a solid collection of contemporary downtempo music fitting for a night after hitting the nightclubs. I can almost see myself stretched out on the sands of Ibiza while listening to this cd. Just an incredible cd of today's best downtempo/chill out music.

really smooth and mellow
Definetly the best way to describe it, smooth and mellow. It's a real chill CD. I first bought Cafe Del Mar 7, and then 6. I found 6 to be so much more sensual, and truely some of the vocals, melodies and rhythms on this can twist into you and wrap you up for the nite. I can't take my ears away from the CD when I listen to it! Outstanding Tracks...dZihan and Kamien 'Homebase', Mandaly 'Beautiful', Paco Fernandez/Levitation feat. Cathy Battistessa 'Oh Home' (unreal vocals) and my most favourite track-Humate '3.2 Bedrock' (it's like a light mix of soulful dance...just gorgeous). It's one of those CD's that's able to adapt itself to different type's of tastes, just gorgeous, and really recommended to anyone who's in the chill scene. The final in the Cafe Del Mar series produced by Jose Padillaand a beautiful one at that. Let's hope there's more to come in the future, and Cafe Del Mar will continue in it's lush soothing tones. Cafe Del Mar Volumen Seis, a beautiful compilation.

The best of the 10 CD series
I absolutely love this CD. I own all 10 of the Café Del Mar series and I think this is by far the best one. Numbers five and seven are also quite good as well. Give it a try!

NOTHING LIKE THAT GROOVY AMBIENCE--GREAT FOR HIGH FINANCE
Wow I love that modern feeling where the ambience is created to initiate creative action all day long. It's the groovy heartbeat that puts me in the flow. I get ideas--it's great for making dough. It makes me happy--like all of life's a show. The world's my oyster--I got all my ducks in a row. Lucid sights and sounds--can I be any more alert? The past is below, I've transcended the foe. Out of my 60 new downtemp CD's I'd rate this in the first ten. I loved it so much I bought all of the cafe del mars. With this music on all day and night, my spirit shoots to the stars.

Doesn't Get Much Better Than This!
I don't own a lot of chillout related CDs and there's a reason for that: Most of them are predictable with the same song used over and over again on various compilations that pretty much copy each other's ideas. I enjoy trip-hop and lounge music but it's very hard to find a flawless album that you can pop into your stereo or discman (whichever one's handy) and let it play without skipping a single beat but this is a rare exception. Aside from 'Chill Out In Paris 2' [mixed by David Visan], this is SO FAR the best I've heard in this genre and it's my first Cafe Del Mar experience so I was pleasantly surprised. Jose Padilla did a great job at compiling and mixing all this together and I'm curious to scope out anything else he's done. It flows at a very nice pace (mostly mid-tempo speed) and has many different atmospheres to keep it fresh and inventive. There's not a dull moment on here and while the entirety of 'Vol. 6' is amazing, I find myself especially enjoying Mandalay's breathtaking remix of "Beautiful" (I never tire from listening to this particular piece) and the world grooves of Nitin Sawhney's "Homelands" (I've been meaning to check his work out for a long time now) and the gorgeous "Adios Ayer". And, of course, anything by Talvin Singh is worth hearing... The whole thing is, really.

I truly love this and am more than impressed. ... Read more

Reviews (47)

So this is what heaven sounds like
If heaven had a soundtrack, I would have to say that the music would be provided by the English trip hop duo Mandalay (Saul Freeman and Nicola Hitchcock). I was first exposed to Mandalay's music when I heard "This Life" on the soundtrack to Madonna's ill-fated box office bomb "The Next Best Thing". I loved the laid back trip hop beats, ethereal melodies, and Nicola's delicate vocals. I bought "Solace" a few years ago when I found a used copy of the cd. For a double cd, it was at a good price. Disc 1 consists of original songs compiled from the duo's two albums that were released over in Europe. Disc 2 consists of remixes. The remixes are alright but I personally prefer the songs in their original format. I did like the Calderone After Hour remix for "Beautiful" though and the Nitin Sawhney remix of "Deep Love". When I first listened to "Solace", I was completely moved by the music. At the time, I had never heard anything so beautiful (no pun intended). The lyrics fit perfectly with the ethereal melodies and Nicola's fragile vocals. My two personal favorite songs on the album definitely has to be "Beautiful" and "Deep Love". The songs just took my breath away and almost moved me to tears which is rare for me. The same can also be said about "Believe". What moved me about those songs were not only because of the sumptuous music and vocals but also the lyrics which I found to be quite inspiring and magical to listen to. I hope that I will be hearing more from Mandalay very soon, if not it is the music industry's loss that this English duo didn't get the proper exposure in this country. I wish pop music would sound as beautiful as what I heard on "Solace".

top road to mandalay
If you havent heard Mandalay already, you are missing quuite a bit here. From their UK debut Empathy in 1998 to their second release Instinct in 2000, this Manchester duo can do no wrong with ambient melodies and a hauntingly beautiful vocal.

This is the 2-CD set that captures the best of those 2 CDs into one regular CD and another remixed for the US market. Though unfortunately, they havent made much headway in the mainstream market, they have certainly gained a cult following. Songs like Not 17, Beautiful and Deep Love feature a dreamy and trip-hopp-ish setting matched by a irresistable vocal from Nicola. Her vocal is a heavy contrast to the unique vocals of Lou from Lamb, which I strongly recommend too.


The brilliance of this duo consistently shines through song after song with perfect seamlessness.

The excellent deal here must be the second CD of remixes culled from the CD single releases in the UK that were unavailable to the US. 11 smashing remixes, and seriously none of them were bad. Many of these remixes are given a new touch with finesse and kick, mostly within 4-6 minutes, and is easy on your ears without too much repetition. Even Victor Calderone shows better promise here than usual. The first 5-6 remixes are best.

Pretty good deal. You'll get the original wonder as well as the faster reworks.

Top road to Mandalay
If you havent heard Mandalay already, you are missing quite a bit here. From their UK debut Empathy in 1998 to their second release Instinct in 2000, this Manchester duo can do no wrong with ambient melodies and a hauntingly beautiful vocal.

This is the 2-CD set that captures the best of those 2 CDs into one regular CD and another remixed for the US market. Though unfortunately, they havent made much headway in the mainstream market, they have certainly gained a cult following. Songs like Not 17, Beautiful and Deep Love feature a dreamy and trip-hopp-ish setting matched by a irresistable vocal from Nicola. Her vocal is a heavy contrast to the unique vocals of Lou from Lamb, which I strongly recommend too.

The brilliance of this duo consistently shines through song after song with perfect seamlessness.

The excellent deal here must be the second CD of remixes culled from the CD single releases in the UK that were unavailable to the US. 11 smashing remixes, and seriously none of them were bad. Many of these remixes are given a new touch with finesse and kick, mostly within 4-6 minutes, and is easy on your ears without too much repetition. Even Victor Calderone shows better promise here than usual. The first 5-6 remixes are best.

Pretty good deal. You'll get the original wonder as well as the faster reworks.

simply stunning
this two CD set is simply put, stunning. there is a woman i have known for years, and i have always thought she was one of the most beautiful women i had ever laid eyes on....everything about her...her eyes, smile, voice, laugh, her delicate features...i once told here that if her beauty were ever to be captured by music, Mandalay is what she would sound like...it's that simple. i know she is out there, and i know she has this CD...and i also know that she and i will always think of each other when listening to this magical CD. miss you sweetness...

ONE OF MY FAVES
I get a kick out of people who say "this is a pale imitation of Cocteau Twins,' or "this is inferior to other chillout artists out there." Blah and Blah to both of those statements. While Cocteau Twins' vocalis Liz Fraser is in a class all her own, Mandalay's music is much more complex and classically structured than Cocteau Twins' music (which Liz and Robin have both acknowledged gets very improvisational at times). You can hear Saul Freeman's strong musical training in Mandalay's music. Although I appreciate Cocteau Twins for being innovative, Mandalay are a much more "solid" act. Their songs are just more listenable than the Twins'.
As far as other trip-hop/chill artists, I don't think many of them (besides Portishead, Goldfrapp, or Massie Attack) come even close. Nicola's voice is distinctively eerie and poignant. You'd be hard-pressed to find a better collection of songs on one disk. Ignore the naysayers--this is a perfect album. Just ask Madonna, who has been a huge fan of Mandalay's for some time. Sadly, Mandalay broke up in 2003. Nicola is now doing collaborations and working on a solo project (YEAH). ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Love this CD
This is my favorite from the Putumayo collection. It has a perfect blend of various styles, but yet they go together well. It is great background music for a party, and it is a joy to listen to while you are busy at the computer.

It is a great introduction to world music. Once you start listening, you won't want to stop.

Lounge it up with this CD
This CD offers a flawless mix of electronica, jazz, latin, and ethnic styles. I've listened through a lot of other similar compilations, such as Paris Under a Groove, Hotel Costes 5, and Bhudha Bar IV, but this one's the icing on the cake.

excellant sampler
I am addicted to Putumayo releases and this is one of my favorites so far. Honestly I didn't think I'd like it nearly as much as I do. It's difficult to describe it's overall appeal, since genre-namedropping doesn't do this music justice. To humor the prospective buyer, however, I'd say it's a nexus of world music, Euro trip-hop/club, and dub with a fun dash of retro-kitsch. Each track is distinctive enough to stand out on its own, which is one of this sampler's strengths. I give it 5 stars because while there's a couple of tracks that don't do it for me, the tracks I enjoy more than make up for the ones I can do without. Having said that, I'd rank Mo' Horizons, Mau Mau, Blue Asia, and Pink Martini as the winners on the bunch, both for the distinctive style and musical appeal of each track, with the Montefiori Cocktail track getting an honorable mention for its delightful kitschiness. I enjoyed some of these tracks so much it motivated me to go out albums by three of these artists, despite the premium import price I had to pay for them all. It's a wonderful album to kick back and chill with, without it getting dull or boring, as well as something to throw on the player at a party that'll definitely make heads turn and intrigue any inquiring minds.

Offbeat and Awesome!
Putumayo Music has done it again! This has to be one of my most different, and favorite, CDs I own. World Lounge is an exploration in lounge music, its downtempo beats spreading across the globe. The music on this CD comes from everywhere: France, Italy, India, Japan, Argentina . . .

Without a doubt Blue Asia's "Abyssinean Dub" is the best track. It fuses middle eastern rhythms, asian instruments, and modern beats in one terrific song. I can never play it just once. Another favorite of mine is "Santa Maria", which puts a modern, urban spin on the Argentinian tango. (you may have heard this song in some commercials) Then there's always the quirky "Sympathique" by Pink Martini, which is a throwback to the days of French cabaret.

This is truly an eclectic CD, and it is definitely not for everyone. This is the type of CD where, to be honest, you either love it or you hate it. Listen to the sample tracks; trust me, you'll love it.

Great cocktail music
This is a great soundtrack for a swanky cocktail party.

Whenever I play it at my parties, my friends always ask where the wonderfully different music is from. I tell them its from all over the world.

Its also a great "springboard" CD. If you like one cut better than another, investigate the artist (Pink Martini has become a new favorite of mine).

If you like this CD, you should also look for the Style series by Electric Lounge. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The unique collaboration between Groove Armada's Andy Cato and left-field jazz/dance singer Rachel Foster that first premiered in the summer of 2001 gets an extended airing on the Pursuit of Happiness. The album is a decidedly laid-back affair, which never breaks above the "at rest" pulse of "Into the Sun." It's clear to see why so many have compared the Foster/Catto collaboration with Ben Watt and Tracey Thorn, as most of the tracks are strongly reminiscent of Everything But the Girl. "Best Days of Our Lives" and "Angel" also follow the pleasurable "spaced" style developed on Sade's Lovers Rock. Echoes of Groove Armada's infamous "At the River" feature heavily on "Jericho" and on the windswept album closer "Higher Ground." While all the stereotypical chill-out clichés can be used to describe the album ("lazy summer afternoon music," "4am post-clubbing soundtrack"), Pursuit of Happiness is perhaps three years too late, and although pleasant enough, serves as a quaint reminder of the summer of ‘99. --John Galilee ... Read more

Reviews (37)

Awesome debut!
The pursuit of happiness by Weekend players is a pursuit well worth your time. As an Everything but the girl fan, I was really pleased to hear a similar type of feel. If you like Tracy Thorn's vocals, you'll love Rachel Foster's! She sounds like Sade in a couple of songs, which is not a bad thing at all. "Higher ground" is a track that will no doubt be this CD's best even though it's repetitive nature might initially turn off some, but you can't deny this track's sensual and chill nature. I've been told by a couple of married friends of mine that they love to listen to it because of reasons that you will discover once you listen to it. There are other standouts on this CD such as "I'll be there", "21st century" and "Best days of our lives" which sounds as if Sade sung it herself. I really loved this CD when I initially got it sometime ago as an import and this version includes 2 remixes. I definitely would recommend this CD as it definitely gets you going in all sorts of ways. They really have an excellent mix of chill and dance music that I really liked. I can't wait to hear from more of this duo!

Pursuing Happiness - a good thing!
A great soundtrack for your drive to work, and a nice wind down for the ride home - sunny days only - windows down of course. This is definitely a cd that was meant to be played in the car, a soundtrack for warm sunny evenings driving home from the office - longing to be driving home from somewhere more exotic. I was expecting to be overwhelmed and blown away by an eclectic production (ala my first Everything but the Girl disc), but this was not the case. Instead I was presented with a solid, melodic, and inspirational journey with lots of vocals, smooth grooves, and an occasional easy beat to keep the ride interesting. And, I know I've heard some of these tracks before, but I dont know where...that kind of mystery always makes a disc enjoyable for me. If you like Zero 7, EBTG, Jose Padilla and the usual cast of downtempo, eclectic chillout artists, you'll want to go out and pick this up. Enjoy...and don't forget to roll the windows down. The warm breeze is nice this time of night, on the highway of your own pursuit of happiness.

Falling in Love
OK, I was falling in love when I had the pleasure of receiving this as a birthday gift. It was really a wonderful soundtrack to have at the time. The music is simply hauntingly beautiful and can make your haeart ache (in a good way) It stays with you and has made very nostalgic wehnever I listen to it. This CD holds a special place in my heart and brings me to a place that I will always cherish. It was that powerful for me. I know it had a lot to do with timing but I think you'll understand when you hear it. I would say 8-9 songs are absolutely stellar which is rare. Buy and listen to it a lot.

not dissappointed
I kept hearing the song, Jericho, on the jazz station I listen to at work. I thought it sound like Julia Fordham.. kept missing the title/ artist. Finally got it today. Never heard of the artists, but now a fan!

Incredible
This powerful album instantly converted me from a heavy "drum n bass" fan to smooth electro listener. The emotional tracks of this CD are all around flawless. Jazzy vocalist Rachel Foster is currently a daily addition to my life! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Less experimentally brash than his more recent release, Tricky's debut CD Maxinquaye is actually a better introduction to the British hip-hopper turned international trip-hopper than his later work. The dozen smoldering, moonlit tracks are less concerned with loopy aural exaggeration than they are with showcasing Tricky's slow-mo rap and singer Martine's sexy soprano. With the exception of the stellar "Pumpkin," (featuring vox from Alison Goldfrapp), the duo mix a colorful palate of rhythmic vocals, throbbing backbeats and gravelly electronic textures. Toss in large doses of sexual innuendo and Maxinquaye becomes a libidinous foray into languor and lust. --Nick Heil ... Read more

Reviews (85)

Trip-hop masterpiece
Coming out of collaboration with Massive Attack, Tricky was clearly bursting with ideas of his own. On Maxinquaye he sticks to a trip-hop bluieprint, ironically nicking Karma Coma's lyrics for the brooding 'Overcomes' and even sampling Portishead's 'Glory Box' - one of the classic triphop songs - on 'Hell Is Round The Corner'. Yet he infuses the sound with a dark, understated urban menace and with singer Martina Topley-Bird he creates sweltering, sexy grooves that sometimes, as on 'Abbaon Fat Tracks', descend into pure erotica. She has a sultry, alternative voice which complements his laidback rapping style very well, both of them sounding very British. Its an intriguing combination though its a shame that he doesnt take the mic and go solo more often. His only real freestyle rap comes on the almost old-skool hip-hop of 'Brand New You're Retro'.

Occasionally as on 'Strugglin' they wander astray without a tune and it makes for a somewhat routine track, acceptable as a 2-minute filler but unbearable stretched into 6 and 1/2 minutes. Yet there's more than enough to make up for it: the masterpiece of paraonoia that is an inspired cover of 'Black Steel', Topley-Bird's voice awash in aggressive guitars and gritty production. Her voice is an acquired taste, especially on tracks like 'Ponderosa' where her sound is totally Estuary, but its nicely broken up by the lush 'Pumpkin' which takes the ingenious tactic of marrying a Massive Attack-style backing track to Orbital (and, after this album, Goldfrapp) vocalist Alison Goldfrapp and a brooding Smashing Pumpkins sample. Also, when the tracks are as good as 'You Don't' which is reggae-tinged and almost like the Horace Andy tracks on 'Blue Lines' its churlish to complain.

Ultimately, Maxinquaye is not only a trip-hop masterpiece but an urban classic. Highly reccomended to fans of not just triphop but those new to the genre or mainstream hip-hop fans.

Trip-hop masterpiece (4.5 stars)
Coming out of the critically acclaimed Massive Attack, Tricky (having dropped Kid from his name) released his debut in 1995. Strange thing is, he's nowhere to be seen for the first three track, dropping by on the fourth slo-mo song. He uses the services of singer Martina Topley-Bird to chilling effect over sexy and dark songs.

Overcome: highly percussive opener, sexy singing. rowr. A
Ponderosa: another slow, sexy song with a strange carnival interlude. A
Black Steel: the worst song, a metal cover of Public Enemy; pointless, I always skip over it. drags the album quality down. D
Hell is Round the Corner: a stunning turnaround, slow-mo trip-hop based on an Isaac Hayes sample. brilliant. A+
Pumpkin: shimmering production, the quality continues. A
Aftermath: the longest song, just ride the groove. A-
Abbaon Fat Tracks: blatantly sexual lyrics, but so sexy you'll sweat. A-
Brand New You're Retro: furious tirade against hip-hop haters, blazing track. B+
Suffocated Love: the best track; great melody, sexy lyrics and singing, a must-hear for any trip-hop fan. A+
You Don't: ragga flavored track, not too shabby. B+
Strugglin': dense song, Tricky sounds like he's struggling to breathe. but he's more normal than some. A-
Feed Me: hypnotic closer, leaves you stunned. A

Fans of trip-hop will no doubt appreciate this dense and sexy album from an artist who has not been able to reach the heights he climbed with this album. Play it loud and float away.

TRICKY IS TRICKY!!!!
I stayed away from this CD for the longest, scared of what I might hear--I mean Tricky does look slightly demonic. But all that aside, "Maxinquaye" turned out to be just the opposite of what my initial perception was. It is in fact a masterpiece that can only be tantamount to the works of Massive Attack, Portishead and even DJ Shadow. With sexy vocals from Martina and Tricky himself, "Maxinquaye" keeps it appeal in 2004 with material that doesn't at all sound dated or forced, but instead sounds fresh and innovative as the day it was released. Tricky is truly a "trip-hop pioneer." "Maxinquaye" is haunting, sexy, profound, intense and down right funky! Highly Recommended!

Number 1
After owning this album since 1996, I can safely say...This is the best album I own. Hands down.

Being Haunted Has Never Been This Much Fun
This debut album, like Tricky's work with Massive Attack, signified an innovation in contemporary pop production and arrangement, like Eno's best work was to the 1970s or My Bloody Valentine's was to the early 1990s, and is probably the best trip-hop album ever. Tricky's bleak and cynical vision finds form through bizarrely juxtaposed collages of samples and loops that sound like he put his memories of music through a blender, as if he were both reveling in and taking revenge on our cut-and-paste society. Who'd ever have thought to assemble together the strange samples one hears on down-tempo tracks such as "Overcome" or "Ponderosa"? But it's not without humor (starting with his spliff-ravaged speak-sing) and a thorough sense of irony, exemplified most strongly on the piece "Strugglin'" with its dislocated rhythm track of a gun being cocked. Then there's Martina's sleepy voice chiding and hiding through the mix. This is a sexy, smoky, disorienting and beautiful album by a madman. ... Read more

Reviews (30)

Somber beauty for the center of a soulful night
There are times when you can tell a book by it's cover . . . Enter the world of Baxter and you will see how perfectly and seemlessly these three musicians have created this haunted brooding corner of the world. Former Salt vocalist Nina Ramsby has joined forces with Ricky Tillblad and Carl-Michael Herlofsson to take the listener on a journey through the hearts midnight meanderings. Searching,yearning, questioning, such lines as "Just tell me once again if you have dreams of me becoming you" will leave you wondering just what your lovers dreams might be, as well as your own. And yet Baxter is full of enough instrumental and rhythmic adventure to keep things very interesting on a musical level. This is not a CD that will leave you bored or depressed. As if to drive this point home, Nina sings on the last track "Oh my love, don't take it too seriously . . .". Is she speaking to her lover, or to the action of love itself. You'll be awake all night wondering . . . listening.

Perfect - except....
This CD is fantastic trip-hop, and I think any trip-hop fan will agree. Track one is just beyond beautiful, and track two is one of my all-time favorite songs, but soon after, around track 5 or 6, the effect wears off, and all the tracks seem to blend together, until the last track, which is wonderful. It's a shame, really. All the beats begin to mix and, unless you're very attentive, you can't tell when one song started and teh next one began. To keep this album fresh all the way through, the blokes from Baxter shouldv'e divided up the boring tracks with a few great ones inbetween. Oh well, this CD is still quite great, you just won't be able to listen to it all at once. My advice: Buy it, but don't listen to it constantly, that way, when you come back to it, it'll still seem fresh. That's what I do.

Nina Ramsby
Nina Ramsby (the singer for Baxter) was also the singer for Salt. Salt made one album "Auscultate". Both albums are very good.

Lovely
To a Trip-hop fan....I highly recommend this CD. Comparable to sneakerpimps. Dark feeling with groovey hip-hop beats behind it all. 4 stars on this one.

Beautiful Trip Hop.
Remember when trip hop was all the rage? Unfortunately, the musical style seemed to flicker and die, but Baxter will always be in my cd collection.

This cd is perfect. Nina's voice is lovely, the songwriting excellent, the musicianship pristine.

This cd reminds me of when I lived in Portland and would roam the city streets in the rain, completely alone, yet surrounded by the hustle and bustle of the city streets. That is when I first heard of Baxter, and the mood of the music just seemed to evoke a particular essence. Sort of gloomy, lost, yet beautiful, and powerful in its own quiet way. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Maybe it was that downtime at Creedmoor Mental Hospital, but after he tuned out following the breakup of the hardheaded seminal hip-hop group the Ultramagnetic MCs, something must have flipped Kool Keith's wig like a mescaline pizza. I can think of no other way to explain the mutant birth of Dr. Octagonecologyst. Literally assuming another personality on this record, Dr. Octagon--Kool Keith on the mike, with Dan "The Automater" Nakamura producing--transmits unearthly rhymes like tractor beams to your cranium. Then he squirms around in there, grabs some Vaseline from your medicine cabinet, and does a little dance. The first time you listen to cuts like "Earth People" and "Blue Flowers," you might have to change the way you listen to hip-hop. The standards are the same--verse, chorus, verse, with plenty of nasty skits in the middle--and there are electro-beat shades of his predecessors, such as Afrika Baambaata, but the wordplay and beat compositions are truly light years from most hip-hop. Listening to this album is like trying to read the glyphs from Stargate. --Todd Levin ... Read more

Reviews (92)

Clockin' Doc Oc
Let me start by saying that I am a big fan of Kool Keith's late 90's work. But Dr.Octagon isn't Kool Keith, Dr.Octagon isn't even human, he's from a galaxy far, far away. I normally don't go for the "tormented geniuses" of Hiphop, they are usually all hype and headtrips, but this album is different. It is still a great album 6 years later, but I think it is also a distinct product of it's time. Dr.Octagon is speaking in a funky tongue about the state of 90's Hiphop, even if Kool Keith doesn't intend to, and thats the strength of Octagynecologyst as I percieve it.
Also, the production from the Automator is ILL, that bears repeating, The production is ILL! Some Hiphop producers use strings, but no other producers really allow them to influence the music. And all the skits and vocal samples are too damn funny("Because they were smelly" gets me every time) and really speak from the same place as Doc Oc. I don't give this album five stars only because Keith is not saying enough, not because he doesn't say plenty. Dr. Octagon speaks volumes, all in character. I believe this rapper is a madman.

Kool Keith's seminal mainstream-underground opus
Dr. Octagon - the album and the Kool Keith alter-ego - set the stage for what was to become the new wave of rap in the late nineties: genuine innovation and drawer-dropping collaborations. One of the early albums that fused specialty DJs and a specialty rap-act, Dr. Octagon throbs with intriguing, complex and texturous production and titillating staccato rhymes from Kool Keith. Kool Keith has been prone to dissing this seminal album as of late, however, he cannot deny the impact it had on his career and on expanding his fanbase - as he raps on the Black Elvis album "my two million new fans are white people". Even if you have heard Keith's other collaborations with Kutmaster Kurt and didn't like them, you owe it to yourself as a hip-hop fan to experience this delicious, smooth, eerie and hilarious album.

Kool Keith's best
(In my opinion), since his early days with the Ultramagnetic MCs.

In this album (produced by Dan the Automator), Kool Keith plays the deranged Dr. Octagon.

This album is full of bizarre lyrics and is filled with electronic and unusual beats.
A crazy album from a crazy MC (who has spent time in a mental asylum) -- makes sense

There are several great tracks to listen to on this album such as:"3000", "Blue Flowers", "Bear Witness" 1 (1st of several by Dan the Automator and Prince Paul), and "I'm Destructive".
And there are entertaining and perverse skits throughout the album.

There are also musical contributions by: Prince Paul, DJ Shadow, and DJ Qbert.

If you like Kool Keith or unusual and innovative hiphop this is a good album.

Considered a classic.

kool keith is a little off
First of all I'll talk about kool keith. he repeats his one line refrains in unpredictable rhythms, and, for that matter, does almost everything in unpredictable rhythms. rhythmic variation is one of his best qualities as a rapper, while saying anything important is one of his worst. most of the cd revolves around the fact that he is a doctor with an enthusiasm for the ladies, and there is much talk of random disgusting made up ailments and several references to shooting excement onto faces. songs like halfsharkalligator are completely random and bizarre but keith somehow makes them addictive and irresistible. he never gets boring, sometimes leaving a ton of silence at the end of unfinished verses before going back to the chorus. you could call him a rap genius, in any case he is one of the most consistently creative guys out there for real. but enough about him...
dan the automator is a great producer; all his beats are good except earth people, but I think his other work on handsome boy and deltron is much better. I think this album lets him show his style but it feels less adapted than the deltron stuff. Blue Flowers is especially artful in its use of strings, and it is revisited and given a different treatment later on in the album. the well crafted dark atmospheric quality of his work needs little explanation if you have heard it at all, and there is little from him that you would not expect. one of the best things about the album is how keith and dan's senses of rhythm go together so well to create something so that it doesn't matter that the words don't make any sense.
dj q-bert is really good and he shows off sometimes when there is no rapping, and gets the whole song to himself on bear witness. he is really good, one of the best out there.
So this cd is a great OBVIOUSLY UNDERGROUND piece of work if you think random grossness and twisted sexual humor is funny. The spooky beats provide an excellent backdrop for keith's inspired ramblings.

It Changed My Life.
This album is so good that, upon it's release, the sea of mediocre rappers in which the world yet swims convulsed in collective jealosy. It's so good that it sits next to my Black Sabbath and Dimitri Shostakovich CD's. Here is a man who stands above--far above--the rest of hip-hop. This is original source material for those who revere music and creativity. This album will make you bob your head with it's sick beats, and keel over laughing at the inane, incomparable stream of absurdities from the mouth of the Most High Master, Kool Keith. Totally abstruse and esoteric, yet completely accessible, isn't that what great art is all about? A Dali painting on CD. People will have this in their collection 100 years from now. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

ok
Like I said I only vaguely heard one person talk about the involvement with porn. Even though the fact that someone has a religious preference does deal with intelligence, the fact that someone tries to express messages or "various stuff" including "I'm a God-darned Satanist, and, if I wanted, I'd be in [t]his business too" (Alpha Omega). Save your comments for the forums.

Inspired Analog Soundings
BOC use analog or analog mimicry to make interesting music that at times sound like old 70's/80's soundtrack's to corporate video promotional videos or old Moog type music for b-movie sci-fi and it works very well. The themes seem to center around the dreamlike wonderland state of children as their voices are featured in some samples. Interesting chill out trip hop that I found myself listening to again and again. I must investigate them further.

the breakthrough album
I cannot but laugh at the review of the "music fan from USA" - it has nothing serious as an arguement against the music, in fact:
- BoC's "involvement with porn" is actually the sample on Sixtyniner on Twoism - a man talking about his first time, in fact the text is rather romantic; they have sampled porn movies for some songs, but it is wrongly suggested that this is what they did on Gyroscope on Geogaddi. So, basically, this is their "involvement with porn" - not making porn movies with the famous Super 8 camera, and DEFINITELY NOT on the CD cover, which is a classic;

- BoC use various stuff to make their music more interesting, they implement mathematical formulas, the golden ratio and other things that take a while to be done - so their songs are carefully and precisely produced, with subtle details that add MEANING to the music;

- references to "the birth of the satanic church, hypnotism, brainwashing, and cult movements" can only be taken seriously by a person whose intelligence is... ok, you get the point. Giving one star to this album is ridiculous - this is one of the best records ever made, and its double nature - the child-like innocence and the paranoia of adulthood is in the core of its brilliance.

Good Music at first...
Well I thought the CD rocked at first. Extremely interesting music. I liked most of the songs on there. But the legal note in the song "One very important thought" talks about censorship and protecting our constitutional rights. It got me curious why someone would censor music like this. I searched on the internet and didn't find much except somebody saying something about their involvement with porn (Maybe on the CD cover ???). But What I Did Find was that almost all of their CD's are riddled with references to the birth of the satanic church, hypnotism, brainwashing, and the cult movements. Most are completely invisible to the human ear. Don't believe me? Look it up for yourself. The devil is in the details.

A blend of enjoyable organic-sounding chillout music
Softer, subtler and more organic-sounding than Autechre and Squarepusher, this production by Boards of Canada provides the perfect blend for some nice background music to chill out to. Staying away from anything remotely similar to an ambient sound, the Scottish duo elaborates around some minimal loops without ever becoming too noisy or industrial, ocasionally adding some voice loops on top, to craft a piece of music that is fairly unique in nature. With longer songs (in the 5-to-6-minute bracket) intertwined around short ones (no more than 2 minutes at a time), the album gradually melts in your mouth, while you enjoy some good company and let the lights of your day be slowly dimmed. ... Read more

Album Description

DJ Spooky That Subliminal Kid has teamed up with Dave Lombardo (drummer for Slayer) to see what one of the world's best DJs could do with beats supplied by the best thrash metal drummer of all time. Added to the mix are the talents of Chuck D from Public Enemy and legendary Living Colour guitarist Vernon Reid. To bring it all together, Meat Beat Manifesto co-produced "Drums of Death" along with DJ Spooky. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Jack Of All Trades Master Of NONE
DJ, Producer, Musician, Writer, artist, and Filmmaker(ha) is often called a Renaissance man.Well Mr. Spooky just because you own final cut pro doesn't make you a filmmaker and just because you own protools does not make you a musician.This is the worst of Spooky's many failures!Time to pick a career and devout your life to it instead of all this haphazard look I do everything just not very well nonsense.If you want to be a musician, be a musician. You can still do those other things, They're called hobbies.

Spooky is off the chain !
Oh my God ! Spooky with the god father of political rap (Chuck D) is almost too much to listen to on a workday !

Spooky and Dave's beats are sick and Chuck D is the perfect addition to this CD. B Side wins again is so sick I almost lost my mind listening to it at work ! :-)

Much ups to Chuck, Dave, and Spooky...real "rebels without a pause"!

Even an incredible all-star line up can't help this album...
Man! Jack Dangers, Chuck D, Vernon Reid, Dave Lombardo...An incredible group of talent.However, the majority of the album loses steam with the contrasting energies of the individual parts creating a fractured and meandering whole.Credit must definitely be given to Dave Lombardo for excellent drum work, Chuck D for being Chuck D, and to Jack Dangers for the Bass and Guitar(!?) work on several of the songs.This album is a great gesture, but seems to be more of a novelty album than a repeat player.I like DJ Spooky's older illbient material, but I still feel that he is an excellent DJ, but a hit or miss producer.

Ultimately, it's the kind of amazing lineup album that I'm dying to get a hold of, but now am a bit disappointed now that I've got it in my hands...

Similar or related (and much better than this album):
Praxis
Material
Fantomas
Meat Beat Manifesto
Public Enemy

Bad
Just as simple as that.I own just about everything that Spooky has put out and I own many things that Thirsty Ear has released and this has got to be the worse release to date.Not that the idea or the combination between these musicians was a bad idea but the idea just didn't get realized with this recording.Songs seem like a bunch of pieces just slapped together and not well thought out constructions.

I just hope no one buys this album as their first experience to DJ Spooky.

Brother's Gonna Work it Out
Long anticipated and well worth the wait, Drums of Death is a supergroup recording if ever there was one. DJ Spooky and Slayer drummer Dave Lombardo initially conceived the project as a duo which eventually morphed into a full band project. Multi-instrumentalist / producer Jack Dangers (aka: Meat Beat Manifesto) signed on as did Living Colour guitarist Vernon Reid along with a few vocal appearances by Public Enemy Number 1.

Chuck D unleashes his trademarked delivery on three cuts which evokes Public Enemy's salad days, when the Bomb Squad had Rick Rubin's support to sample and pillage until pure waves of sound were at their disposal. Now those sound waves come courtesy of DJ Spooky and Jack Dangers' limitless arsenal of sound, with additional shredding support courtesy of Vernon Reid. Considering "Brother's Gonna Work it Out," "B-Side Wins Again" and "Public Enemy # 1" are all old Public Enemy tunes, it's interesting to hear how well these re-imagined hip-hop classics fit into a more modern program and how, by their inclusion, a historical continuum is created. Dalek even shows up to rap on "Assisted Suicide" backed by a surprisingly effective vocal sample of avant garde composer Meredith Monk.

The album is primarily instrumental with the main players reveling in their respective genres to magnificent effect. As expected, there are moments of churning speed metal but relentlessly funky bass, shuffling break beats and spacey dub reggae appear as well. The turntable mixing and sampling is old school cool crossed with sci-fi ambience. DJ Spooky and Dave Lombardo even break it down to a show stopping duo in "Incipit Zarathustra." "Drums of Death" is an impressive assemblage and a cogent study in rhythmic texture with the boys showing off some improvisational chops on "The Art of War." There have been numerous hip-hop, rock and jazz collaborations before but none have been as intriguingly cohesive as this. Tentatively part of Thirsty Ears' new "metallic blue" series... one can only imagine what will come next. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Fans of the celestial sounds of Enya and the lush trip-hop beats of Delerium and Enigma will love Balligomingo. Contrary to its Eastern-sounding name, Balligomingo is the baby of one Garrett Schwartz, a keyboardist-programmer who collaborated with a variety of musicians for Beneath The Surface. Though purely a U.S. and Canadian affair, the music does create an ethereal air of mystery and tension not unlike that of Asian underground pioneer Nitin Sawhney's recent Prophesy (though Balligomingo is far less profound). The buoyant, atmospheric tracks of Surface include various female vocalists who extend the songs' allure, a live band treated to sound like sweet computer rhythms, and a 15-piece orchestra. Most of the songs flow together, sustaining the album's dream sequence mood like a long summer rain. Occasionally, the vocals border on teen-pop, but mostly they blend into the foreground, helping to advance Balligomingo's lush world-beat-and-tone poetry muse. --Ken Micallef ... Read more

Reviews (51)

A very impressive debut
When you look at the debut albums of some of the great Trance bands, you find music that really seems to be looking for a direction. Enigma's MCMXC A.D. is a good example of this. Unlike later albums, like The Screen Behind The Mirror that have a very definate theme throughout, MCMXC A.D. jumps around a lot and contains few of the things that have become Enigma trademarks. Balligomingo's Beneath The Surface has a very definate feel to it. It's the kind of audible hallucinagen that put Delerium, Enigma, and Enya on the map, and has, fittingly, found a place in the 'Pure Moods' archive. ('Purify' is on Pure Moods IV.) But Balligomingo's electronic feel sends the CD off-course from the long-walk-in-the-woods sound of its Pure Moods bretheren. Actually, several of the songs are far more reminiscent of Sasha, Chicane, or Zero7. But comparing Balligomingo, as an artist, to any of these people would first of all be incorrect and secondly premature. Beneath The Surface is an incredible CD, but the songs do really blend together. Wether this is created by illusion through gentle song transitions or wether the songs are really just variations on a theme. The CD ultimately is what albums like Ultra Chilled and Chillout 2002 claim to be. Balligomingo's Beneath The Surface, while lacking the kind of musical diversity that makes singles, is the best chillout album I've heard all year.

The most hidden gem in music history
I do not understand how an album of this magnitude can go so entirely unnoticed in the music world. But then again, Delerium's Poem would have fallen throught the cracks as well if not for the publicity Sarah maclachlan brought with it. it is a sad world we live in knowing ... artists like britney spears, eminem, and creed make millions and absorb all the spotlight, while envelope pushing, sonically in touch artists like balligomingo, delerium, and massive attack have no business on the radiowaves. This album is so tight, you will have a very hard time going a day without listening to at least one song. The lyrics and vocals are deeper than deep and the bass rich rythms drive each song right into your soul. The only act to hold a candle to the rich sounds of balligomingo would be any of the many associated with Bill Leeb, who by the way, had a little to do with this CD. Listen, enjoy, and prepare to leave the planet. Peace.

"Take too much, but don't take too long".
Wow!! That is what you will say after listening to this for the first time. Balligomingo is the brainchild of basically one man, named Garrett Schwarz. The music acts like a tornado as it pulls the listener into its funnel of sound. This is one hell of a great debut. The singers are a little pop sounding at times, but the music is the star, and the singing is just the background. Let me tell you my five favorites of this magnificant album. 1)"Beyond". Incredible. Be prepared to be blown over by this one. 2)"Sweet Allure". Another spellbounder. The beats and rhythms come from all areas, and is just awesome. 3)"Heat". Garrett needs to release this one, this is a hit begging to be a smash. 4)"Marooned". The music shimmers on this one, and is reminescent of Enigma's sound with its own uniqueness. And the singing on this is perfect. 5)"Lust". The title of this one says it all about what you will feel after listening to it. After reading this please go buy it, we all need to do what we can to keep the talented Garrett Schwarz making more of this great music. And hurry up, Garrett, I am wearing this CD out.

Finally - Balligomingo is here!
I've been following Balligomingo for over a year now but it's been well worth the wait. This sonic soundscape of lush, female singing with ambient-pop and smooth electronic beats is enough to send anyone soaring, and we have Garrett Schwartz to thank for that. He is the master genious behind Balligomingo for most of this is surprisingly done on mixing sounds with a computer or programmer. The atmosphere is all so dreamy with downtempo chill-out amidst swirls of worldbeat and feminine lounge, but that's only part of the reason why Balligomingo is so effective in seducing the listener. The lyrics are steamy and hot while the singing is breathy and mysterious with artists such as Kristy Thirsk of Delerium and the Rose Chronicles getting us all sweaty and bothered on songs like the scorching "Heat". Even Bill Leeb & Chris Peterson of Delerium and Frontline Assembly co-produce to add their own ethereal touches. Jazz vocalist Beverley Staunton casts her spellbinding vocals on songs like "Falling" and "Lust" (which resonates deeper in bass than the others) while Camille Miller provide her vocals on the more familiar single "Lost" (which is featured on the Elevation 3 compilation) and Jennifer Hershman on my favorite track, "Sweet Allure". "Privelege" is another personal favorite with its wonderful string arrangments. I only wish that the song "Waiting" was on here which featured the vocals of kaRIN who sings with the electronic-goth group Collide. That song was featured on their sampler CD a while back, which I never received because of supplies running out. Overall, though, Balligomingo's BENEATH THE SURFACE is a worthy debut that will appeal to fans of Enigma, Enya, Zero 7, Delerium and Massive Attack.

Hope my review was somehow helpful.

An Amazing Talent; A Wonderful Masterpiece... more plz
I have a wide array of musical tastes, but of all of the music I own and listen to, Beneath the Surface is my favorite album. Every vocalist provides a unique and enjoyable talent to the album, and the music is just plain beautiful. I don't know how he does it, but Garrett Schwarz has an amazing ability to make music have this classical yet ethereal and otherworldly feel and when you are done it does nothing more than to leave you begging for more. I have had this album on my turn-table for quite sometime. If you are into soothing, relaxing, enjoyable, and, for lack of a better term, magical music... you'll love this. ... Read more

Amazon.com

What's most surprising about the Pure Moods series is not that it is so popular, but that the music on it actually represents some of the best New Age and modern instrumental music, rather than scraping the barrel. For every piece of Enya pop froth--like her "Only If," which opens the album--there is a deep and impassioned exploration like Sheila Chandra's virtually a cappella "Ever So Lonely/Eyes/Ocean." Yanni's bombastic "On Sacred Ground" is balanced by Moby's soulful trance groove, "Porcelain." Sometimes those juxtapositions don't work out well. The overwrought romanticism of pianist David Lanz's "Cristofori's Dream" can only suffer being sandwiched between the soul-searing vocals of Peter Gabriel's "Games Without Frontiers (Massive/DB Mix)" and the Geoffrey Oryema/Brian Eno hymn, "Land of Anaka." With more than a quarter of the album drawn from the 1980s, there are some influential early gems here for new listeners, including Kitaro's wistful "Silk Road" and Ryuichi Sakamoto's "Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence." --John Diliberto ... Read more

Reviews (32)

Probably the best of the Pure Moods
I have to admit that at first I was a little critical of this CD, but after listening to the first two, I became more positive of Pure Moods. The Pure Moods I was erally good, Pure Moods II was okay, but Pure Moods III is the best in presenting some of the best music of the best New Age stars. Most of the music is from the newest releases of New Age performers, most being in the past 5 years, but even so, they still have old classics like "Cristifori's Dream", "Merry, Christmas Mr. Lawrence", and "The Velocity of Love". What I found to be especially amusing about this compilation is it begins with Enya, the New Age "goddess", and Sarah Brightman, "The Angel of Music". Sarah Brightman has done very well lately in the New Age genre, her beautiful voice never lets her down. Enya has been around for more than 10 years, and "Only If", reminds us that she will not go away soon. I might as well give a special compliment to each song. Moby's "Porcelain", which I've heard in commercails, has very amusing electric sounds. Mono sings sweetly in "Life With Mono". Peter Gabriel has been an important figure in New Age and Pop with Real World Records(good thing the makers of this CD included several Real World artsits). David Lanz's "Cristifori's Dream", not only is my favorite on this album, but brings great honor to the beautiful piano and its inventor. Another song by Geoffrey Oryema, "Land of Anaka", is included. Like "Makambo", its from his most well known album, "Exile". Sacred Spirit made a second album and Pure Moods III includes another one of their Native American interpretations. "Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence", carries the same oriental moods of "The Last Emperor". "The Velocity of Love", is one of the best examples of the great keyboardist Suzanne Ciani. "Ever So Lonely" by Shiela Chandra is an example of the unique sounds of New Age. "Virtue" by Jesse Cook, is so reflective, lovely, and fun, just like Ottmar Liebert. The beautiful "Silk Road" by Kitaro, who recently won a grammy, is very peaceful and serene. Even though I've heard and seen much of Blue Man Group and commercials, I enjoyed the sophisticated sounds of "Synaesthetic". Yanni's "Sacred Ground", comes from his more recent "If I Could Tell You", and has many layered sounds and vocals, along with some electric sounds, making it a little different from his previous works. Once again, Pure Mods includes the great band, Enigma, with "Gravity of Love", from "Screen Door Behind The Mirror". I love the classical, opera background of the music. Finally, there is "Deliver Me", from Sarah Brightman's well known, "Eden". This song combines pop, new age, and gospel influence. I can safely say this album is worth listening too, and it shows the best of New Age today. If they make a Pure Moods IV, I hope it well include some older New Age wonders, like Mannhiem Steamroller and George Winston. For now, we have the music of today for our ears.

Another great addition to the Pure Moods family!
What can I say? The Pure Moods series has always had a knack for blending the best music pieces from around the world, and bringing them all together on one awesome disc.

This album features an impressive array of world encompassing songs, such as Enya's "Only if," as well as Native American music such as Sacred Spirit's "Dela Dela." Some songs like Kitaro's "Silk Road" even blend in a sound of the orient into this wonderous album.

One of the best features of this album is that it gives you such a wide range of musical items to chose from, and if you like a certain artist or song, the booklet included gives you all of the information you need to find out what original album/movie the song came from!

If you love New Age music, and if you love to listen to a broad variety of world music, you have to get this cd!

Good Album, Not Best If Series Though
This collection of Pure Moods CDs started with this CD and was definitely good enough to justify the rest of the entries in the series. These CDs start by taking pop songs, remaking them into semi-new age songs and then collecting them with other new age songs. They're nice and relaxing and just edgy enough to keep mainstream folks interested. Out of the series I would have to say that this is my thrid favorite. If you're heard the others then you should be satisfied with this album, if you're new to the series I would recommend picking up Pure Moods II.

New-Age Mello Yello....
This is the kind of utter garbage they use to subdue wild boars in Papua New Guinea. An utterly wasteful collection of schlocky new-age pipey music, all under the guise of the "PURE MOODS" label.

Pure Moods is pure enjoyment
A friend gave me the original Pure Moods collection several years ago. I played it all the time!
When II was released I hesitated to buy it because I felt it would have to be a disappointment after Vol. I. But it wasn't. II was another delightful surprise.
Then III was released and I did not hesitate to buy it - and it did not disappoint. I see that IV has now been released and I can't wait to hear it! ... Read more

Amazon.com

For listeners with a sincere interest in the broad variety of music loosely aligned under the New Age banner, Pure Moods II will strike your ears as something less than a high-concept showcase for the genre and more as a mulligan stew of easy-listening favorites. This is not necessarily a bad thing; yet a recording marketed to the general public as a comprehensive, current, state-of-the-art overview of atmospheric music shouldn't include such ill-fitting oddities as George Benson's "Breezin'," a lite-funk relic from 1976, or "Emily" from jazz saxophonist Dave Koz. Happily, the 77-minute, 16-track sampler offers far more items of interest than irritation. It reaches back to 1983 to remind us of an ahead-of-its-time display of Celtic mysticism from Clannad ("Theme from Harry's Game"), and it both opens and closes with superb selections from one of the genre's most admired artists, Loreena McKennitt--very appropriate since, one could argue, discussions on the future of New Age should both begin and end with McKennitt's name. Despite its few warts, Pure Moods II is a good listen overall. --Terry Wood ... Read more

Reviews (53)

Good, but not as great as the first
Most of the songs follow the pattern and diversity of the 1st CD. Nothing compares to Pure Moods. Those songs are powerful classics. Friends still inquire about that legendary CD. Although the sequel is good overall, it doesn't quite have the mystique that I hoped for in the Pure Moods tradition. Only some of the songs take me away to another world--remember how they advertised? If you bought Instrumental Moods and Celtic Moods, then three of the songs on Pure Moods II will sound redundant, which was the greatest disappointment with me. One is a remix, but the other two are exactly the same. "Life In A Northern Town" was a great addition along with two songs by Loreena McKennitt and one by Yanni. Adiemus is always great, so "Zarabanda" hits pretty well. I felt that Virgin Records could have done better with the Enigma selection. But, I'm still hoping for a Pure Moods III after I enjoy hearing Pure Moods II.

Vive le "Pure Moods" series!
One of the main reasons why I wanted to get this CD is because it has Yanni's "Nightingale" and the theme to "Chariots of Fire". Both those songs are not really New Age, but they are absolutely beautiful. I was expecting them to be just as beautiful as they were the first time I'd heard them. And believe me, I was not surprised!

On the other hand, I was indeed surprised--no, shocked--to find Massive Attack's "Teardrop" in this CD. Massive Attack did songs for the soundtrack of the movie "Pi", which is all paranoid techno and definitely not "purely mooded." It turned out to be quite a pleasant surprise. Although "Teardrop" isn't much in the way of New Age, I could listen to it all day. It's got an awesome harmony and an eerie melody. Maybe it doesn't belong on this collection, but it's definitely worth listening to.

However, this CD isn't without a few flaws. "Breezin'" and "Emily" are so out of place that they should be in a "Jazzy Moods" CD. "Life in a Northern Town" is also a little out of place, as it isn't nearly as atmospheric as most of the other songs in the "Pure Moods" series are. Finally, this isn't really a flaw, but it seems necessary to warn fans of the first "Pure Moods" that there's no Enya on this CD.

But those are just a few minor complaints, and ultimately, "Pure Moods II" is worthy of your time and money. Other very good songs: "Beyond the Invisible", "The Cradlesong", "The Mummer's Dance", "Theme from Harry's Game", and "Monteczuma".

In a nutshell: I pretty much agree with Amazon.com's editiorial review on this CD. See ya 'til I get "Pure Moods III".

Thanks For The Introduction To Mehdi
I've always enjoyed Pure Moods and this album is no exception, but while reading some of the customer recommendations posted on this page I discovered an artist by the name of Mehdi (pronounced meddie). After some investigation I found his site (SoothingMusic.Com) and listened to the samples...I also downloaded some of the free MP3 downloads that are available on Amazon.com.
I was instantly blown away by the quality of this music and so I gave it a try and now that I have listened to his CDs several times I really must say that although I'm still a Pure Moods fan I find Mehdi to be a tad more interesting. I have them both in my multi-disc CD player and love the way they compliment each other. I highly recommend that you give this artist a try or atleast just go listen to the samples, I have a feeling you'll be glad you did.

Emotionally involved!
Yet another hit in a great series of albums! Music featured on these cd's are full of emotion, every emotion, all over the scale emotions and the beats are never ending! I am a big fan of the Pure Moods series.

Never disappointed with Pure Moods cd's..
We own nearly all of the Pure Moods cd's and haven't been disappointed yet. Song choices soothe the mind and soul and bring a peaceful environment to our home when played.. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Get ready for your jazz education. These virgin, unremixed tracks taken from the 1960s Verve vaults were a major influence on Thievery Corporation's Rob Garza and Eric Hilton years before they spun epic documents like TheMirror Conspiracy. Their time capsule is a bubbling, Brazilian soul-jazz blast, starting with the sensuous "Menina Flor" by Stan Getz and Luis Bonfa. Jimmy Smith's "Road Song" is a classic of '60s hard bop, while Kenyon Hopkins's "Hard Latin" shows the kind of groovy organ jazz that was popular in bars from Philly to hot 'Lanta. Things go left with Cal Tjader's "The Fakir," a day-glo Middle Eastern track influenced by Coltrane's "My Favorite Things," while Astrud Gilberto pulls a Nancy Sinatra on another freaky standout, "Light My Fire." Walter Wanderley, Wynton Kelly, Chico Hamilton, and Elis Regina also light up the night, along with your hi-fi. --Ken Micallef ... Read more

Reviews (32)

Oh, you poor hipsters!!!
When Mad Professor remixed Massive Attack's "Protection," there was a rush to grab up the Professor's solo material. You could hear the shouts of horrified hipsters everywhere as REGGAE wafted out of the speakers! Something tells me that something similar might occur with this CD.

"Sounds from the Verve Hi Fi" is a collection of semi-obscure easy listening/bossa-nova/jazz from the record collection (are all of their records on Verve? Hmmm...) of Eric Hilton and Roberto Garza, Thievery Corporation to you. NO, it's not set to BEATS, and there is NOTHING SAMPLED. The music here is original and occasionally raw...this is the real thing! Standouts include "Ogd" (anything by Jimmy Smith is a worthy purchase), "Light My Fire" as interpreted by Astrud Gilberto and Wynton Kelly puts in an appearance with "Escapade."

The verdict? Everything on here is great, but it's no place to start your jazz collection. This is not the complex or spiritual stuff like Miles or Mingus. However, it goes down quite nicely with a decadent Polynesian cocktail and that lil' special someone...

What's Old Is New Again...
Bossa Nova, Jazz, Reggae and Lounge-Pop are what the Thievery Corporation is all about. The resurrection of the downtempo-lounge movement of recent years is a reflection of the original musical craze of 30-35 years ago. It is nice to see that artists such as Willie Bobo, the Gilbertos, Stan Getz, Sergio Mendes, and other artists that my parents grooved to, have now come full circle for a new generation. Although this music may sound a bit dated to those born after 1985, those who can appreciate music before the MTV age can chill out with a cool drink and some headphones, stereo lounge chair optional. This CD is a nice tribute compilation of various artists and gives us an idea of TC's inspirational roots.

Can't get enough!
I first heard this compilation in the Pacific Restaurant in Dublin. I asked the server for the name of the CD and ordered it right away. I'm a boomer and was heavily into the "Top 10". Finally, I've matured beyond that. Thievery has done a great job of placing the music so that it flows along. The instrumentals are catchy enough to linger in your head and complex enough to engage you in multiple listenings. First rate. I'm ordering this for my daughter!

Swiging Soundtrack for Futuristic Lounge Lizards...
Theivery Corp. digs in the past and gives you a taste of the future too. Excellent for making pitchers of martinis!

Smooth...
Smoooth... The most delicate tunes for true romance. Must have music. On your shelf proves that you are sophisticated person with TASTE. ... Read more

Amazon.com

This ambitious effort shows Mo' Wax label guru James Lavelle taking on the role of director, orchestrating a grand design, and translating it musically with the talents of studio muse DJ Shadow. Most accustomed to working solo, Shadow demonstrates here his adaptable talents in collaborating with others, whether it's on the powerful "Rabbit in Your Headlights," a track recorded in 1996 in which Radiohead lead singer Thom Yorke eerily foreshadows his later success, or in "Guns Blazing (Drums of Death Pt. 1)," the album's only traditional hip-hop track, which pairs annihilating beats to Kool G Rap's equally lethal vocal delivery. Psyence Fiction, which also features contributions from Beastie Boy Mike D and the Verve's Richard Ashcroft, is certainly one of the most epic and eclectic records to emerge from the electronic world this year, one that should not only further the efforts to bridge the musical segregation that exists among the hip-hop, alternative, and electronic camps but also introduce these cultures to a few new surprises of its own. --Tamara Palmer ... Read more

Reviews (92)

A Perfect Mark for a Completely Dark and Hearthrobbing Album
This album gets you a surristic feeling of the greatest experience and also the worst, it is a mix bag (A line from track 14 listed above.) The first song starts on most album copies with "Guns Blazing (Drums of Death pt.1)" Which I think is the rap album I ever heard even though I don't hear rap albums that often. Kool G Rap vocals along with rapid drum rhythm makes this song unbelevably addicting to listen to. Richard Ashcrofts "Lonely Souls" (A song about the question that affects most of us in our everyday lives "where do our isolated souls go when we die")I think it's DJ shadow and James Lavelle best accomplishment on this album which is over 8minutes long. The second ranked album would be the popular single "Rabbit in Your Headlights" by Radiohead's Thom Yorke singing vocals on this song. He is my favourite singer ever, his lyrics on this song gives me a feeling of hearthrobbing pain on the inside and emotional sadness on the outside. Overall the tracks on this song are excellent and for a CD that has only 100,000 copies in the world it must be excellent.

Worthy
Although U.N.K.L.E. is indeed James Lavelle and DJ Shadow, this album is, in essence, the product of an artists' collective. As a result, it's a fairly mixed bag. There is a running theme about aliens that attempts to lend some cohesion to the proceedings with in-between bits and spacey sounding music, although the boys don't entirely pull it off.

The rap songs (the opener "Guns Blazing" and "The Knock") rock hard with heavy drums. But I often skip these along with the rocking "Nursery Rhyme" because I'm in the mood for (and I prefer) the lower key stuff like "Unkle Main Theme" and "Blood Stain," the latter being a great song & beat with really downer lyrics I can relate to. Also, "Unreal" is a pretty trippy instrumental. "Celestial Annialation" is another vocal-less track that's a bit more ominous sounding.

"Chaos" is primarily a female vocal and guitar that I don't care for and always skip. And track 6 is a mock commercial intended to be a comment on the music industry that need not be heard more than once.

The album's themes are decidedly negative. That's certainly true of the standout tracks "Lonely Soul" and "Rabbit In Your Headlights."

"Lonely Soul" is sung by Richard Ashcroft of Verve fame and it's powerful. The String section sounds fantastic. DJ Shadow wrote the music (or constructed it?) on this song as on most of the album. I must say, this is perhaps the most musical music he's done.

"Rabbit In Your Headlights" alone makes this CD worth getting. Amazing that Tom Yorke kept this, one of his best songs, from his Radiohead mates. Those opening piano chords just kill me, and then comes Tom's angelic voice with those poisonous words," . . . fat bloody fingers/ sucking your soul away." Whew! This guy really sounds like he's been to some harrowing place! And that beat . . . this track is just incredible.

Despite some real shortcomings, I feel "Rabbit" and the other great songs hear elevate the album to 4 1/2 stars (or in this case 5). The rating is meant to reflect its worthiness for purchase. Even the lesser material is at least interesting and the album stands as something pretty unique.

Some beautiful moments...
As a die hard Radiohead fan I bought this album after hearing the track "Rabbit in Your Headlights", sung by their front man Thom Yorke. However, I was not sure what to expect from the rest of the album, and I must say, I was not disappointed... well, not completely. The album contains some truly amazing highpoints, such as the track "Lonely Soul" and "Blood Stain", which alone make the price of this album (used) more then worth it (you should be able to acquire this CD [...] used on this site).

Some of the reviews claim the album lacks a flow of togetherness, but this is simply false. All the tracks flow one from the other beautifully, and I felt there was no detachment or inconsistency between the songs... albeit the various genre influences. But its on this regard, genres, that you will either think this is a masterpiece or just so so. Not being a rap fan, I found the albums rap/hip hop tracks to be rather dull and seemed much less thoughtful then the high standard set by "Lonely Soul" and "Rabbit in Your Headlights". I think the hip hop elements could have worked well in this, but they were just presented poorly here. For example, the lyrics too "Knock" seemed to be painfully old tired cliché lines.

However, despite some less then inspired moments, "Psyence Fiction" is an impressive work overall, and well worth the beautiful moments it presents, which are many considering the best songs are easily over 5 minutes each. And if you do have a higher tolerance of rap/hip hop then I, you will most likely find even more to love in this album.

Brilliant integration of stylez
What happens when alt-rock and Joe Satriani ("Unkle Main Title Theme") meet Massive Attack ("Blood Stain", "Unreal"), Craig Armstrong ("Celestial Annihilation"), and you pour a little straight-up Public Enemy-like hip-hop into the mix? Sounds like science fiction? Fatboy Slim, you say? Not really. How about Psyence Fiction, U.N.K.L.E.'s ultimate definition of the future of music in 1998, and one that certainly goes beyond 2004?

Granted that this work as a whole is a masterpiece (haven't taken it off my jukebox in over two weeks now), the pinnacles of the album (it has two) come when the voice of The Verve's Richard Ashcroft breaks the silence in track #5, singing "God knows your Lonely Soul..." and when the unmistakable voice of Thom Yorke embraces you in "Rabbit in Your Headlights" close to the end.

What more can you ask for? This album is as close as it comes to perfection in blending musical styles. Listening to it six years after its original release sounds every bit as fresh as it did back then. Indeed, I dare to say it sounds better today, because a lot of these sounds have sunk in, to become a part of mainstream culture, something that says a lot about how far ahead of their time these guys were back then.

SAY "U.N.K.L.E."!
DJ Shadow never ceases to amaze me! After getting Psyence Fiction (several years late, of course) I can see why folks give him his props for "saving Hip-Hop". The man can make music sound melancholic while at the same time nerve racking to the point where you have to love it! This impressive effort with James Lavelle, shows that Shadow is just as good with a partner as he is doing it solo. In fact, Shadow contributes more to Psyence Fiction than Lavelle does (being that Lavelle can't write music). With the proper mix of vocals from males and females on Psyence Fiction, this has got to be one of the most eclectic bunch of songs produced by Shadow. Hypnotically groovey songs like "Bloodstains", "Unreal," "Lonely Soul" and "Celestial Annihilation" are why this CD makes it to the top of my list. ... Read more

Amazon.com's Best of 1999

There's no way to offer a shortcut description of what Beth Orton sounds like. There are so many musical styles pulsing through Central Reservation--jazz, folk, pop, rock, and dance--that the album could easily have ended up an empty exercise in genre-hopping.Instead, it's a bracing example of mongrel music at its best as Orton carves out a new musical vocabulary with deep roots in familiar sounds. --Keith Moerer ... Read more

Reviews (150)

Haunting, revealing, compelling
I bought this CD having heard "Stars All Seem To Weep" on the "Back to Mine" release from Everything But The Girl. Ben Watt, an accomplished jazz guitarist, arranged and produced that track for Beth, hence its inclusion on the "Back to Mine" compilation.

I was entranced, to say the least. And knew I had to have "Central Reservation".

There's something about Orton's writing that is very compelling: visual, honest, visceral. The oft-quoted lyric from the title track "And I can still smell you on my fingers/and taste you on my breath" is gripping, graphic. But the soft understatement of "Sweetest Decline" ("She weaves secrets in her hair/her wispers are not hers to share/she's deep as a well") left me reeling. The swell of orchestration is an unexpected - and perfect - counterpoint to the bare bones structure of the tune. It's no exaggeration to say I was left with my head spinning.

There is much about the album that renders it a very personal experience for the listener, as much as it is obviously personal for Orton. No manufactured "Bye Bye Bye" schmaltz here. One gets a true sense of the songwriter here, which is very rare with today's typical overproduction.

This is one of those albums I keep for myself, for late nights, long drives, headphones. You may very well feel the same after connecting with "Central Reservation".

Haunting, beautiful, mesmerizing
I was coming back from England and this CD was being previewed on the plane. Not wanting to leave England and come back to real life, her songs were a perfect accompaniment to my sorrow, especially "Central Reservation." I got back and I looked everywhere. All the on-line services took too long to wait for this melodic genius. Now that I have the whole CD.... WOW!!!!! This album is a great mix of vocals and lyrics. Her "Sweetest Decline" and "Stars All Seem to Weep" are exceptional. She is poetry, her music a versatile mix of blues, pop, folk. Her voice ranges from sultress to forlorn and love lost. Her voice is rich and deep-- a definite change from the high whine becoming popular among female musicians today. Not a diva-- something extraordinarily more beautiful. Her lyrics ask you to think as you follow their poetic journey. It is a pensive journey, but I find that I can fall asleep to the CD as well. I look forward to listening to Trailer Park. Beth Orton provides us with a beautiful musical opportunity. Since I just checked out the guidelines... I would say that the closest artist I can think of would be Tracy Chapman as far as artist voice quality.

Stunning followup; worthy of full price purchase
Amazing. The first time I heard this album, it was like a cliche you might see in a movie. An incredibly long, lonely drive down a deserted two lane highway from Albuquerque, NM to Durango, CO. Moonless night, clear sky, hundreds of miles from any major light source, I was listening to this album, looking at the night sky. This album sunk its teeth in, a haunting, bittersweet group of songs perfect for reflection, comptemplation. This album succeedes on so many different levels to become, in this humble reviewer's opinion, an instant, timeless classic.
Listen to the emotional/thematic changes between 'Stolen Car' and 'Sweetest Decline'. The stunning, shimmering, phenomenal 'Pass in Time'. The duo between her and Terry Callier has made it into the ist of my favorite songs - people hear this one and ask me 'Who IS this? WHAT album is this?' Any album that elicits such an emotional, immediate response from so many different people MUST be doing something right.
Buy this album, you will NOT be disappointed.

great CD
Wonder why more people don't know about her.

Brilliant relaxing music
I love this CD. My musical taste ranges from classical through the keyboards of Jean-Michel Jarre to the techno of The Chemical Brothers. When I put this album on, I relax.

It has shades of other works, for example "Pass in Time" reminds me of Carole King's "Tapestry" album when she duets with James Taylor.

Beth's voice has a vulnerable edge to it. She sounds as if she is singing from the heart and she is hurting from something. It adds an edge that makes me pay attention. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Koop combines a wealth of summery melodies and floating vocals with the acid jazz of Gilles Peterson and the laid-back trip-hop aesthetic of Jazzanova and Peter Kruder.The result is a sweet, effortless sound on Waltz For Koop. Starting off with a Brazilian feel, Koop enlists Astrud Gilberto-like chanteuses Cecilia Stalin and Yukimi Nagano to augment the mood, while later, electronic trickster-legend Earl Zinger shows up for a decadent "Modal Mile." The record takes an otherworldly turn with the presence of Chicago folk-jazz artist Terry Callier, as his wistful, spiritual pipes give "In a Heartbeat" a depth that eludes most DJs, who go for electronic lounge and end up with elevator music. Good-natured and accessible without being trendy, Waltz puts a lot of other "chill" collections to shame.--Matthew Cooke ... Read more

Reviews (51)

Cool!
A lot of chillout or lounge people of recent years go for the atmosphere of "jazz" or bossa nova and end up producing something that is, at least, inoffensive to the ears. When I heard this Koop CD, I could tell that they had the same goal, but they do it so well. They don't sound like Thievery or St. Germain, even though St. Germain is all right...but they approach their music with the paced and sophisticated sensibility of the generation of jazz musicians that were killed by fusion. The live musicians on this album are very solid and interesting. As a jazz musician myself, I can tell when producers or second rate musicians are faking it. Even though some of the sampled material is completely ripped of from old jazz songs, the end result is a swinging and utterly ethereal set.
The 4 songs on the beginning of the album are mostly traditionally arranged vocal bits that sandwich an instrumental solo between a sung melody. The singers have a light and delicate touch to match the instrumentation behind them. The melodies and overall compositions are good enough to use in a big band or other traditional jazz setting. The rest of the songs seem more like hipster pieces. They mostly hang out on one chord and feature deep voiced men, but the key in these is the consistently deep and stylish atmosphere.
This album is delicate and retro without the shallow elevator music style of other "jazzy" electronic producers, and it also avoids the overly assertive recycled splash of Japanese acts like Pizzicato Five and Fantastic Plastic Machine. It occupies a space that a lot of artists reach for, but hits such a delicate balance that I doubt even they can try to do it again. That makes it essential; that makes it a classic

Koop is for keeps
I picked this CD up in the dance music section of our local music store and took a listen. I'm glad I did, because this would count as some of the best music I've ever heard. Reminiscent of lazy Sunday evenings, late-night lounges and sultry blondes, Koop blends elements of dance music, jazz, trip-hop, swing and downtempo into one delicious, happy blend. The music tempts this listener, like a beautiful, alluring and mysterious woman. Track no 1, waltz for Koop, has gorgeous Bjork-like vocals (Cecilia Stalin). Track no. 4, Summer Sun, features sultry vocals by the 15-year old Yukimi Nagano. Track no. 8 is another favorite, with an upbeat, yet distinctive house flavor, and great vocals. To those with a loved one, this would make an excellent companion to romantic evenings. To those without, you'd wish you did. The one complaint I have about this CD is that it is too short! Like all good music, Koop is for keeps.

make it dark, make it light, make it KOOP tonight
Who knew? I certainly didn't. When listening to my copy of, "Waltz for Koop", I am transported to the world of a sleek grey Mercedes whirling down the Autoban. Song's like, "Tonight", and "Baby" are the reasons for this. The whirling music of the two masterful Swedes tells of some kind of "experience". I wish that I could go "Relaxin' at club f***in'" with these two, for it would be full of joy and Thelonius Monk-esque brilliance. Horray for Koop!

very soothing music
"Waltz For Koop" is a breath of fresh air out of a boundles sea of boring, cliche, and unoriginal music. Combining Jazz music with some electronic elements is a beautiful combination which is executed so perfectly by Koop. Every song on the album is amazing.

Like finding gold
I found Koop on epitonic.com while I was just searching through for something new to listen to. I downloaded "Summer Sun" and "Baby" and loved them. I played them over and over and finally had to go top the record store to get it!!!

I love this cd. I play it every day. Its relaxing, inspiring, light, uplifting, chilled, and exciting all at the same time. I don't know how they do it all at once! The lyricists are wonderful, and the instrumentals and so smooth. I don't typically like jazz, but I can't help but love this!!! Get it! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Continuing the highly popular Mushroom Jazz series, Mark Farina goes for late-night purple velvet and downtempo 2 a.m. atmospheres on this third installment, resulting in an electronic release for lounge lizards the world over. A basic hip-hop loop is the canvas throughout this 19-track mix, and on it Farina paints a series of smooth, sometimes shady but always sassy portraits that result in a thoroughly credible, electronically glazed slow-jam record. Opening with the wholly seductive cruise control of "California Sauce" byKing Kooba, Farina goes on to introduce the silky-smooth, French lounge of Raw Instinct's "De la Bass," the late-night Manhattan flavors of Herb Alpert's "Flirtation," and the warm Philadelphia evening breeze of Slide Five's "Streamline." In deftly fusing jazz and hip-hop with downtempo beats, Farina has produced a mix that works for thoughtful driving, romantic evenings, and hip soirées. --Steffan Chirazi ... Read more

Reviews (20)

Packed with variety and groovy to no end
This is one to get your foot tapping, your head nodding, and your body moving. Right off the bat, Mark Farina dips into jazzy house of his particular flavor. I have never really been much for house music, but this album really does it for me. The groove is in full swing, and the funky beats are jazzed up the gills. Prehaps something that belongs at a lively jazz restraunt, this album keys you into downtempo groove and keeps you there throughout the compilation.

Vocal samples from a recurring track are sprinkled throughout the mix. You dont catch it at first, but when youre halfway through the disc and it hits you again you can only do a double take at how much it does to pull the album into a unified work.

To say the track selection is varried is not enough. This mix pulls a huge number of songs together, and to have it still do justice to the individual track while adding to the full album is a feat in an of itself. When you have finished listening, you have the feeling of having completed a two disc set, and yet Mark gets it into one jamming CD. From housey groove beats to jazzed up downtempo funk to hip-hop MCing, this disc brings house together in a very unique way.

This is a staple album in that it might grab someone who is not into the genre and pull them in headfirst. It sure did for me. House wasnt ever my first choice, but this album had me doing double takes at just how well it can be executed. It sets the mood down superbly and guides you through Mark's world of jazzed house. If you are looking for a quality sample of house music's best, or if you are a house junky looking for a fix, Mark Farina has you hooked up. A very solid four, if not reaching five for some. It works for me in every sense, therefore getting a five.

Can it be done better than this?
I got into Mark Farina as a house connoisseur. I consider him to be one of the very best house DJs out there, and I try to catch his act live whenever possible.

I've only heard him play his signature "Mushroom Jazz" a couple of times. I picked up Volume 3 to get an idea of what he could do with a whole different genre of tunes.

It's flat out stunning. I'm a DJ myself, and I couldn't even *notice* many of the mixes. With a few others I could notice that they had happened, but couldn't pinpoint the beginning or the end. And with a very small few I could tell exactly what was happening; in these few cases, it occurred to me that it's amazing he was able to fit those two songs together at all, much less make it sound good (which he did). He's in a whole different realm of smooth, one most DJs can only dream of reaching.

Not only have I never heard these downtempo, jazzy tracks mixed better than this before; I have trouble believing that they *could*be mixed any better.

Buy it. Period.

The best of the MJ collection
This one says it best - a triptifying blend of jazz, soul, and R&B elements. I am amazed this is being mixed - it sounds studio-edited - but it really doesn't matter either way. Stick in the player and chill, man.

So Lovely.
DJ Mark Farina did a wonderful job with this third compilation of jazzy hip-hop tracks. It's such a delight to listen to and it easily floats from one song to the next, and all the tracks are good. I find myself playing it over and over, it's impossible for me to get tired of this album. It offers a wide variety of tempos but it's mainly an album one would play for any type of activity, such as: Cruising in your car at night, cleaning the kitchen, just kicking back in your recliner chair and meditating, or simply providing chilled out background music for a party. You can't go wrong with buying this volume, there is something for everybody on this, trust me.

oh my god!!!
best in the series yet, if you've heard the others. this mix just goes to show that mark will never fail to make [heineys] shake no matter what his bpm counter reads. if you are into anything mark does - buy this!

p.s. mushroom jazz four is coming... - i nearly wet myself when i heard it has a strong chicago influence. ... Read more

Album Description

Debut album for singer/songwriter who follows in thefootsteps of Francoise Hardy but with a new trip hopsensibility that makes her sound like Paris in the autumn.13 tracks including, 'Dimanche En Hiver', 'Aeroplane' &'Les Mercenaires'. 2001 release. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

If only the world would listen!
It's a crying shame that the rest of the world tends to ignore French-language music, as there's a great deal of superb releases just demanding to be heard. Case in point is Keren Ann Zeidel's debut album 'La biographie de Luka Philipsen'. Here we find 13 gorgeous songs of wistful thoughts mainly over crystalline acoustic guitars and skittering electronica, topped off with the warm vocals of mademoiselle Zeidel. Opener 'Dimanche en Hiver' sets the tone, sparse guitar and mellotron adorning the vocal before strings guide the song into a lush autumnal chorus. And it has to be said the record barely lets up from there. 'Seule' seems harmless until a huge rock chorus kicks in; 'On Est Loin' is clear and caressing, a wonderful lullaby. The big draw for many, however, will be the single 'Sur Le Fil', a huge cinematic effort which brings all these elements together along with a hook which will follow you round all day after hearing it. That is, if you're not humming along to 'Peut-Etre', the utterly charming guitar and piano lovesong which follows it! Keren Ann's partner in crime, Benjamin Biolay (France's best contemporary songwriter? It's hard to argue) pops up for a duet on 'Decrocher Les Etoiles', and the album also contains Keren Ann's own version of 'Jardin d'Hiver', a big comeback hit she wrote for jazz crooner Henri Salvador. She deserves to be at least as big as Francoise Hardy - it's unlikely, which is a shame. And don't get me started on her jazzier second album 'La Disparition', which might even surpass this one! If you can find her CDs, buy them!

Great Album!
i've been wanted to buy this CD for quite a while and have
finally managed to get it just this week. it is a beautiful
piece of work, keren ann herself is pretty and so is her music.
acutally at first i didn't really like the CD very much, but
if you keep listening to it, it only gets better and better.
a 5 stars french album, would recommend it to anyone who has
a mellow side.

<< Vintage >>
I heard "Seule" at some late night radio show and it stayed in my head for a week or so, until I made the move and got myself the CD.
It was a splendid surprise, I never heard French music before (I don't count Air as French as they sing in English and their music is more universal). And it got me big time.
It's the kind of music that keep you warm, like hot coffee in the winter, you fall addicted to the calm soft voice of Keren along with the floating easy tunes and the unique sound.
It definitely becomes one of the best CDs I bought this year.

No one Realizes the Genius
Keren Ann doesn't have a huge overpowering, and overbearing voice like pop fake sensation Christina Aguilera nor three time re-breasted Mariah Carey. Keren Ann sounds like NOTHING ever recorded before. She doesn't mix sloppy new age alterna chordal structures together like Kate Bush nor Tori Amos - both sloppy musicians who have no foundation for music. Keren Ann has not only a powerful emotional outlet, but also has talent in her ability to record a wonderfully magnicifient and beautiful song. "Dimanche en Hiver" has a superb chorus, that gives two scales in voices, not the usual sultry one that many groups are repetive in. Keren Ann mixes both a traditional French sound alongside new power sounds that this veteran musician has never heard of before. But it's not a stink sloppy sound like a Kate Bush chorus ... Keren Ann cleans up the music and makes it standard, resmebling a corrected music background and a strong understanding of song structures. Recommended tracks include: "Les Mercenaire," "Dimanche en Hiver," "Aeroplane," "Decrochere Toiles," and "sur le Fill."

Sounds better in French
After the French electronic revolution you could expect French pop would soon follow. And it does. There is a new string of great talent coming from Paris, one of the brightest is Keren Ann. Born in Israel to a Dutch mother and an Israeli father Keren Ann follows the footsteps of Francoise Hardy with a new trip hop sensibility that makes her sound like Paris in the autumn. If you understand the lyrics you get an extra treat. Dimanche en hiver is one of the best winter songs ever. P.s. please notice Keren Ann wrote the songs on the Henri Salvador comeback record. ... Read more

Amazon.com's Best of 2000

Inspired by the film Dancer in the Dark's Broadwayesque emotional sweep, Bj&ouml;rk stretches herself with orchestral mood swings and a darker, more experimental palette. The result is the most difficult record she's made since her Sugarcubes days, but a few listens reveal the thrilling heart of a truly multifaceted and immensely brave composer. --Matthew Cooke ... Read more

Reviews (148)

Almost as good as the movie
First off, if you haven't seen the movie yet don't get this cd. The soundtrack has to be listened and understood within the context of "Dancer in the Dark". It's possible for the cd to stand on its own, but it gains in emotional power if you know what happens in the movie.

With that being said I was highly disappointed that it wasn't fully faithful to the movie version of the songs. While I enjoyed hearing Catherine Denueve on 'Cvalde' I would rather have had Peter Stormare's vocals for 'I've Seen It All' and the original version of 'Scatterheart' You'll find some lyric switching between Yorke and Bjork in 'I've Seen It All' and the lyrics for 'Scatterheart' barely resemble that which was sung in the movie.

The greatest tragedy of all with this cd is the omission of 'The Next to Last Song'. A powerful moment in the movie is completely lost on this cd, rendering '107 Steps' and 'A New World' not as powerful as they were in the theater. Don't get me wrong though, you'll still find yourself moved by these tracks, but the moment is not complete without 'The Next to Last Song'.

I can only hope that somewhere down the line a more complete soundtrack will be released or the DVD will offer a music only track. While this is a terrific soundtrack and one that any movie music lover should own, it's not complete.

an original musical
Bjork's new cd Selmasongs, while only 32 minutes, is as eclectic as you would expect from the singer. A companion cd for Lars Von Trier's film Dancer In The Dark, Bjork's award-winning acting debut, Selmasongs features the songs she sings as her character Selma (well, that's sort of obvious). The movie is about Czech immigrant Selma's struggle to save her son from a disease that causes blindness while keeping her spirits up dreaming about her beloved Hollywood musicals during her work in an American factory. 'Cvalda' is an energetic mix of industrial sounds and big band flourishes, perfectly illustrating Selma's fantasy world in the factory environment, adding a John Cage quality to Bjork's already highly original songwriting, and if it weren't kooky enough, there are vocal contributions by Catherine Deneuve. 'Scatterheart''s electronic cadences sound like the closest thing to a true follow-up to Bjork's Homogenic, while 'In The Musicals' seamlessly blends stuttering rhythms (you can just picture her tapdancing) and lilting string arrangements while Bjork sings her typical wide-eyed, whimsical lyrics. Selmasongs will be most remembered, however, for the sensational duet between Bjork and Radiohead's Thom Yorke. Yorke & Bjork (now there's a catchy name for a duo!) exchange a dialogue while an orchestral score and the rhythm of a train swirl around them. The lyrics are Bjork at her usual sublime self: "You've never been to Niagara Falls?/I have seen water, its water, that's all.../The Eiffel Tower, the Empire State?/My pulse was as high on my very first date!" Dancer In The Dark is a film that has film critics split down the middle: either you love it or you hate it. However confounding or wondrous you find the film, I'm sure everyone will agree this wacky little number of a cd is excellent.

I Wept
I think the song "I've Seen It All" is one of the great classics in music. I struggle with the urge to weep every time I hear it because it is so moving.

A great album that keeps with what makes Björk herself.
I love this movie, and I was really impressed by the music. If you love Björk's sound, this will be what you know of her and a few new aspects. The way she used simple sounds to create the beats of "Cvalda" and "I've Seen It All" is amazing! "Cvalda"'s beat starts off with the sounds of noisy machinery in a factory and spirals into a beautiful song. "I've Seen It All" rests on the sounds of a train passing by. The beat you hear is the pattern of the wheels on the tracks, fixed up a little bit of course.

This album is an astonishing thing to listen to, even though there aren't many songs. It also lets you relive the movie, even the heartbreaking scene where Björk's character Selma dies. Buy it!

Amazing Soundtrack From A Mad Musical Genius
I think it's now safe to say that Bjork ranks alongside Kurt Cobain and Madonna as the artist whom I have most respect for in the music industry. Her ability to consistently produce groundbreaking, fresh and atmospheric music is a natural wonder to me. The way she proves people wrong by not making music in a sense, but making something completely different. An art form. Undiscovered. Until she creates it. That's why she's a genius, and that's why she will always succeed in making a fantastic record. In 1997 Bjork released "Homogenic," her third solo studio album to date. After listening to this masterpiece, you begin to think Bjork can't do much else in terms of creativity, yet she proved us all wrong in 2000 when she starred in the musical masterpiece "Dancer In The Dark."

Not content with having a leading role in a high-production musical, she also wrote and produced the entire soundtrack, "Selmasongs." The soundtrack is simply one of the best soundtracks that money can buy and ranks alongside Homogenic and Vespertine as Bjork's greatest work to date. Lush sweeping arrangements of orchestral bliss infuse the album with a wonderfully atmospheric and aesthetically-pleasing back drop of sounds, layered on top of each other. The production and composition is first-class and Bjork is, as ever, 100% original in her approach.

"Overture" opens the album. A deep flow of subdued and slightly anticipated instruments introduces the song, and it gradually builds up to a point of almost heart-aching passion at 2:29, and the song gains momentum and flows especially into the first proper song. It's a wonderful instrumental, incredibly dramatic and sets the tone for the soundtrack. "Cvalda" is one of my favourite songs from the album and one of Bjork's best in my opinion. The song starts off with a very interesting beat from an industrial factory. The machines clattering away at work, creating the beat. This then builds up into a gleeful and joyous musical number as Bjork sings so sweetly, "Clatter, crash, clack! Racket, bang, thump!" By the second minute it's an all-out schizophrenia of musical madness. Overall it's a marvellous song that starts off with an expected sense of disappointment but winds up being a mad musical masterpiece.

"I've Seen It All" is up next and a fantastic duet between Bjork and the genius Thom Yorke of Radiohead. The song starts off with a train on a track as its beat, before starting off slowly and in a swaying mood. The song gradually builds into a typical Bjork-esque masterpiece (Yeah, most of her songs are masterpieces!) where she sonically opens up the landscapes of the song by adding depth. It's just a pleasure to listen to such wonderful music, and the verbal-fencing style banter between the two is most humorous. "Scatterheart" is said to be the best song on the album by many who have reviewed this soundtrack. For me this is definitely not the case. There is much better on offer here, yet this is still a good song of somewhat lengthy proportions.

"In The Musicals" makes hardly any sense at all, but then again, it pays homage to musicals, so it's not really meant to! Here Bjork just appears to have picked up any objects she finds and makes a beat out of them, from a basketball at the start to many other various things towards the end. A superb string section works in complete harmony with a percussion section. Superb, as usual. "107 Steps" starts off incredibly close to the ear with a woman whispering "Five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten..." and so on, with footsteps in time with the counting. This builds up perfectly to an awesome entrance from Bjork as she sings random numbers. The beat is incredibly catchy and the lush string section that builds up after around 45 seconds is just awe-inspiring. "New World" is the seventh and final song on this brief soundtrack. It starts off subdued and quiet with the sweeping orchestral beat that opened the record. A trippy electronica beat is added in the background, dancing around to Bjork's soaring vocals. She sings with such passion, such amazement and exploration to the things around her, and a general appreciation for life and love.

OVERALL GRADE: 10/10

All in all, I cannot recommend this soundtrack enough. I haven't actually seen Dancer In The Dark yet, but I do plan on doing so. I have, admittedly, been trying to pick this album for any possible flaws. I can, as always with masterpieces by Bjork, find none at all, except one - it's a little bit too short. At just over thirty minutes, it's a short and brief soundtrack, but it really is worth paying top money for it because you're sure to get years of musical enjoyment out of this. Selmasongs was the fourth album by Bjork that I bought (around a month ago), and I haven't looked back. Rumour has it she's got a new album out this year, and I am so buying it! But whilst I wait, I know I can revel in the madness and musical beauty that is Selmasongs. Buy it now and treasure it forever. ... Read more