She: A Female Trip-Hop Experience

Amazon.com
Something about ambient trip-hop music lends itself to a female lead vocal. Perhaps it's how an airy feminine melody contrasts so well with the tickle of the deep bass line. Or maybe bands like Massive Attack and Portishead have set up a template that other artists lack the imagination to significantly alter. Regardless, the combination has spurred a subgenre of sorts, and, as the music on this compilation record makes clear, there are gems to be found among the knock-offs and half-baked tunes. This is after-dark music, and none of these bands makes dreamier use of tempo and repetition than Laika, who kick off the disc with "Uneasy," off 2000's Good Looking Blues release. Another band doing this better than most is Lamb, and the track used here, "Lusty" (off their amazing self-titled debut), is a study in bold creativity and assertive rhythms. The disc sags towards the middle, getting mired in pseudo-mystical lyrics and by-the-numbers execution, but recovers nicely with the blissful epic "Parallel Life" from the Starseeds. With compelling work from import-only bands like Crustation, Kiwiwest, and Mandalay included as well, the record is an ideal primer in female trip-hop ("chick-hop" perhaps?) music. --Matthew Cooke

Tracks:

Uneasy - Laika
Purple - Crustation
Creeper - Kikiwest
Lusty - Lamb
Insensible - MandaLay
Down, Down - Crustation
My Soul Speaks - Lore
I Know - Hybrid
Cosmic Rain - Zia
Buddha's Patio - Bitstream Dream
Demunication - Swandive
Thank You - The Dreaming
Parallel Life - The Starseeds

Amazon.com

Something about ambient trip-hop music lends itself to a female lead vocal. Perhaps it's how an airy feminine melody contrasts so well with the tickle of the deep bass line. Or maybe bands like Massive Attack and Portishead have set up a template that other artists lack the imagination to significantly alter. Regardless, the combination has spurred a subgenre of sorts, and, as the music on this compilation record makes clear, there are gems to be found among the knock-offs and half-baked tunes. This is after-dark music, and none of these bands makes dreamier use of tempo and repetition than Laika, who kick off the disc with "Uneasy," off 2000's Good Looking Blues release. Another band doing this better than most is Lamb, and the track used here, "Lusty" (off their amazing self-titled debut), is a study in bold creativity and assertive rhythms. The disc sags towards the middle, getting mired in pseudo-mystical lyrics and by-the-numbers execution, but recovers nicely with the blissful epic "Parallel Life" from the Starseeds. With compelling work from import-only bands like Crustation, Kiwiwest, and Mandalay included as well, the record is an ideal primer in female trip-hop ("chick-hop" perhaps?) music. --Matthew Cooke

Customer Reviews:

A daydream.......2007-02-28

This is a pretty good album, usually when you buy compilation albums you get a few really bad songs, but on this cd, there's not one song I don't like..

this whole cd has the most perfect downbeat, trip hop flow to it,added with the luscious smokey female voices, your in for a true treat.

awesome cd, worth every penny...

my favorite trip hop cd ever.......2004-09-22

this is the greatest trip hop cd i own. If you like portishead, then i think you will like this cd. It's really mellow and unique. I bought it at a used cd store 4 years ago. I listened to it so much that it wouldn't play my favorite song "purple" anymore. So i bought another one.

THE MORE I LISTEN TO IT, THE BETTER IT SOUNDS..........2004-08-31

being a devoted fan of trip-hop, i could not hesitate to get this album and i must say it didn't disappoint me at all! it does get slower on the second half but that doesn't interfere with its quality... it's great, even my mom likes it!

Good Trip Hop Album.......2003-08-12

Due to the amount of gems on this album, I could only give it four stars. From the first song to fifth song you will be entranced with that wonderful trip-hop flow. After that the songs become bland and boring fillers. However, the first five songs are so great, it makes the album worth buying. The most beautiful song is Insensible by Mandalay, which combines beautiful instrumentals, intricate bass and beats and a lusty voice to make a for a pleasurable song. A perfect accompaniment of Hooverphonic. The sensuality and deep beats of the song Purple, and a vocalist that sounds like Fiona Apple is the perfect song for a rainy night. And the array of instruments and sounds of Creeper are just lovely. The deep trip-hop sound of Lusty reminds one of Massive Attack, also the sound of Uneasy, all shine with brilliance. These songs are defiantly worth the price of the CD. If you love trip-hop and electronic music, buy this. It has some of the best songs ever made.

Dim the lights and let the beats take you away.......2003-07-18

If you appreciate perfect use of beat and music, get this cd. It is a must have.

Album Review: