My Essential Electronic Albums... Ever!
More spring cleaning. Flipping through the racks of vinyls and mountains of CDs, I unearthed some really memorable moments that I'll be cherishing till my bones go brittle. Here are 5 album which personally are part of my roots and they still mean a hell lot to me musically... electronic music that makes sense. For those that have been asking me why I think Tiesto's "productions" (and his DJing) are utter rubbish, perhaps it's time you took a step back in time and listen to some blueprints that led to where dance music is today. There are more but that will have to wait when I get back after next week.
Sasha
Airdrawndagger
[Arista, 2002]
Sasha's debut full-length album is one of the most long-awaited records in the history of electronic music. After his "Xpander E.P.", fans waiting years to hear more of his prodigious production talents and it was worth the wait for many. He retains his trademark atmospheric sounds, bordering on the filmic edge with heavy ambient sensibilities, sprinkled with nu-skool breaks and progressive house elements. It's an armchair-friendly effort that boast cinematic grandeur, which eventually found it's way into the more musically-inclined clubs. Despite some writing it off as overly self-indulgence, it's still unquestionable an envelope-pushing beauty if you look at it's intrinsic quality and sophistication. To this date, nothing quite comes close to the artistry of "Wavy Gravy".
BT
Ima
[Perfecto, 1995]
Brian Transeau's debut is in retrospect a masterpiece, despite sounding dated in today's "standard". But don't let that detract from the fact that the production is quality beyond anything that has been done prior to this. It remains a text book definition of what uplifting, epic, melodic trance sounds like. Tunes like "Embracing The Sunshine", "Loving You More" effortlessly transport you to a different universe. Personally, I wish BT could pull off something like this again - blending ethnic, melody and electronic sound with depth. It warms and elevates my heart everytime I take this out for a listen... on a rainy day. The way it builds and fades is incredible in a subtle way, unlike the often overbearing transitions in the trance of today. Those who study music, can and will appreciate and understand the complex chord structures, beautiful notation and sequencing.
Hybrid
Wide Angle
[Distinctive, 1999]
When the astounding "Finished Symphony" (first heard on Sasha + Digweed's Northen Exposure II) was unleashed to the unsuspecting club circuit, no one could quite describe the hair-raising emotions that it was capable of. You can't help but smile and move. This is like a soundtrack to a movie that was never made. Their ability to be innovative sets them apart from their peers - well orchestrated fusion of classical, jazz and hip-hop with electronic music into a breath-taking aural soundscape. It's the most technically and aurally impressive blend of sounds and rhythms I've ever heard. Critics can say what they want. This is still remarkably cutting edge and barrier-breaking. Simply put, they're the finest breakbeat production team around and this album is a revolution in sound. Hybrid is undeniably avant-garde.
Way Out West
Way Out West
[Deconstruction, 1997]
Collectively, Bristol's Nick Warren and Jody Wisternoff have been really talented innovators with their distinctive sound using creative samples (i.e. film speech), lush synth chords and complex drum programming. The vocals on "Ajare" was truly angelic in a mindblowing sense and the edgy "Domination" is perhaps the duo's finest moment. An amazingly complex album from start to finish, packed to the gills with trancey melodies, body-bursting basslines and the sheer energy that's imbued into every one of the tunes. The mishmash of sounds from progressive to ambient, from downtempo to breakbeat... you name it, it's here, engineered for maximum listening pleasure.
Chicane
Far From The Maddening Crowd
[Edel, 2000]
What would Ibiza be without Nick Bracegirdle? He practically coined the term "sunrise trance". This debut album is one of the most extremely consistent offering I've heard, despite it's simplicity. The feel of optimism flows throughout. There's nothing too heavy or in your face... it just sympathizes, empathizes, soothes and consoles before setting about gently picking you up on it's wings and making you feel vaguely human again. "Offshore" has got to be the most repetative tune ever produced but no one gets sick of it despite the track running over 6 minutes with the same riff on a loop. When you have quality and finesse, you don't need anything else. The only negative to about this masterpiece, is that it ends. By the way, this addictive album is deleted and is now a sort-after collector's item in Ebay... not surprising, considering it's still hailed as the perfect album to unwind to after a shitty day.
SashaAirdrawndagger
[Arista, 2002]
Sasha's debut full-length album is one of the most long-awaited records in the history of electronic music. After his "Xpander E.P.", fans waiting years to hear more of his prodigious production talents and it was worth the wait for many. He retains his trademark atmospheric sounds, bordering on the filmic edge with heavy ambient sensibilities, sprinkled with nu-skool breaks and progressive house elements. It's an armchair-friendly effort that boast cinematic grandeur, which eventually found it's way into the more musically-inclined clubs. Despite some writing it off as overly self-indulgence, it's still unquestionable an envelope-pushing beauty if you look at it's intrinsic quality and sophistication. To this date, nothing quite comes close to the artistry of "Wavy Gravy".
BTIma
[Perfecto, 1995]
Brian Transeau's debut is in retrospect a masterpiece, despite sounding dated in today's "standard". But don't let that detract from the fact that the production is quality beyond anything that has been done prior to this. It remains a text book definition of what uplifting, epic, melodic trance sounds like. Tunes like "Embracing The Sunshine", "Loving You More" effortlessly transport you to a different universe. Personally, I wish BT could pull off something like this again - blending ethnic, melody and electronic sound with depth. It warms and elevates my heart everytime I take this out for a listen... on a rainy day. The way it builds and fades is incredible in a subtle way, unlike the often overbearing transitions in the trance of today. Those who study music, can and will appreciate and understand the complex chord structures, beautiful notation and sequencing.
HybridWide Angle
[Distinctive, 1999]
When the astounding "Finished Symphony" (first heard on Sasha + Digweed's Northen Exposure II) was unleashed to the unsuspecting club circuit, no one could quite describe the hair-raising emotions that it was capable of. You can't help but smile and move. This is like a soundtrack to a movie that was never made. Their ability to be innovative sets them apart from their peers - well orchestrated fusion of classical, jazz and hip-hop with electronic music into a breath-taking aural soundscape. It's the most technically and aurally impressive blend of sounds and rhythms I've ever heard. Critics can say what they want. This is still remarkably cutting edge and barrier-breaking. Simply put, they're the finest breakbeat production team around and this album is a revolution in sound. Hybrid is undeniably avant-garde.
Way Out WestWay Out West
[Deconstruction, 1997]
Collectively, Bristol's Nick Warren and Jody Wisternoff have been really talented innovators with their distinctive sound using creative samples (i.e. film speech), lush synth chords and complex drum programming. The vocals on "Ajare" was truly angelic in a mindblowing sense and the edgy "Domination" is perhaps the duo's finest moment. An amazingly complex album from start to finish, packed to the gills with trancey melodies, body-bursting basslines and the sheer energy that's imbued into every one of the tunes. The mishmash of sounds from progressive to ambient, from downtempo to breakbeat... you name it, it's here, engineered for maximum listening pleasure.
ChicaneFar From The Maddening Crowd
[Edel, 2000]
What would Ibiza be without Nick Bracegirdle? He practically coined the term "sunrise trance". This debut album is one of the most extremely consistent offering I've heard, despite it's simplicity. The feel of optimism flows throughout. There's nothing too heavy or in your face... it just sympathizes, empathizes, soothes and consoles before setting about gently picking you up on it's wings and making you feel vaguely human again. "Offshore" has got to be the most repetative tune ever produced but no one gets sick of it despite the track running over 6 minutes with the same riff on a loop. When you have quality and finesse, you don't need anything else. The only negative to about this masterpiece, is that it ends. By the way, this addictive album is deleted and is now a sort-after collector's item in Ebay... not surprising, considering it's still hailed as the perfect album to unwind to after a shitty day.
posted by Adminstrator @ 6:17 AM
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2 Comments:
yea Embracing the Sunshine/Deeper Sunshine's pure bliss.... amazing stuff. still play it every now and then. Ima's one of my all-time fave too. :)
Domination and Ajare are both mind-blowing anthems, and The Gift's a classic mellow one. Excellent.
yea Hybrid's undoubtedly one of the best breakbeat acts around, whose releases continuously interest me.
Offshore's probably one of Chicane's best releases after the Soothe remixes. Simple yet so uplifting. Still remembered it getting played almost everywhere from the major CD stores to the big parties.
and Airdrawndagger's definitely amongst the best releases this decade.... i suppose we can't expect anything less with Charlie May in the studio can we... :)
when all fails... these albums (plus a few more i'll be posting some time soon) never fail to uplift. :)
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