Take good string/piano dominated classical music, make it moody & dramatic. Now sprinkle with just a hint of the more contemporary elements of the likes of Massive attack and drift off in to outerspace. In fact forget what I've just said, it's not doing the man enough justice! He is pure genius.
>>More Details
It's not often that i can embrace an album of such diversity as this so whole-heartedly as i have come to do with this,M.I.A's second album,Kala.
I did enjoy her first album,Arular,but felt it sounded a little forced and slightly over-worked (i do still enjoy most of the tracks on it though and would rate that as a four star album).
'Kala' however is a real step up to a completely different level of quality,not better,just more precise,fresher and less laboured,like the whole thing came together as a singular,solid and perfect explosion which was recorded within a week of it's mental conception.
It's a furious and volatile album,thumping beats and crackling distortion with chanting,surreal vocals and a smart,savvy and sparkling ... Read More:
>>More Details
Morcheeba albums are like little nuggets of gold amongst a sea of silver and iron. This particular collection contains so many rousing and moving tracks and is an excellent introduction to a band who sounds as if they write from the soul. An energetic mix of good, clever and songs that can make you smile and cry!
>>More Details
As with a good wine ageing well so this album from 1999 is tasting just great to me having stumbled across it in a sale only 9 years later! The Thievery Corporation excel in blending together so many 'world music' sounds so seamlessly over laid back trippy beats and this offering is just perfect. Its packed with so many good vibes you could confidently leave the whole 60 minutes worth on for the chillout phase of any cool party. Its perfect for any time of day really!
>>More Details
The concept of travelling the world and creating an album based on various cultures is always going to be a tough thing to complete. All I can say is that Nitin Sawhney has pulled off this mountain of a project with breathtaking results.
The 15 tracks of 'Prophesy' display a highly interesting and diverse body of work, from a man with a real passion to produce something amazing. From the uplifting opening 'sunset' Sawhney creates a wonderful soundscape through chilled out beats, guitar, Tabla drums and moving orchestral touches, it's an atmosphere followed equally by 'Nothing' string melodies conjure up amazing sci-fi vista's and rousing vocals create an ethereal world. Acquired dreams is an early highlight and takes the tone to a deeper emotional ... Read More:
>>More Details
One of the first "real" hip hop albums I listened to and it continues to sound fresh after all these years. They took everything great about their debut and maximised it; throwing in experimental touches and a subtle use of live instrumentation into the mix, creating what is, in my humble opinion, the greatest jazz-rap album we'll ever hear. Q-Tip and Phife aren't the greatest rappers, but they sound so suitably relaxed and eloquent over the beats that it's easy to understand their lofty status in the world of hip hop. Everything works on The Low End Theory and there's never been a more perfectly suitable closer than "Scenario", the greatest posse cut of all time. Has Busta ever sounded more crazy than when he's roooaaaarrring like a dungeon dragon? This record is way more ... Read More:
>>More Details
If there is one album in hip-hop history that should be heard by every music fan then it is Nasir Jones' Illmatic, released in 1994. Although this album is over a decade old, it still stands head and shoulders above anything that is being released today. Why? It has the two key components of a great rap album, fantastic production and incredible lyricism.
Some people may be put off by the short track listing, only 10 tracks (1 of which is an intro) but don't be. Although the album is only about 40 minutes long, it is 40 unforgettable minutes that you will want to hear over and over again.
From a lyrical perspective, this album has probably never been equaled. Whether it is multi's, wordplay, internal rhyming, story-telling, whatever you are after, it is on here, ... Read More:
>>More Details
I put this CD on at work recently, and was embarrassed when I found myself struggling to choke back tears. When you bear in mind that this is a collection of songs by someone who has lost someone close to them, and is trying to tell herself that they have just gone on a long fishing trip, it is so poignant and moving. Gets me every time. Such a lovely lady too. Saw her at a very intimate gig a few years ago, she was incredibly cute and funny.
>>More Details
if you though that jay z just made popcorn rap, and never really thought he was worth your time, or just thought he was an overrated commercialized rapper, listen to it, because it proves how talented he actually is, this album is a classic in every sense of the word, it has something most rap albums nowadays lack, subject matter, lyrics, beats, meaning and originality, this album is basically chronicling the ups and downs, regrets and joys of being a hustler, the beats to start off with are great, this album was mostly produced by dj premiere, and he did a fantastic job, the production is clean, crisp, and fit jay zs flow and lyrics, my next point, the lyrics, the lyrics are some of the best rap lyrics ever, jay z has a great mutli-syllable rhyming scheme, it is amazing how he can ... Read More:
>>More Details