Beneath the Surface

Amazon.com
While the Genius continues to slice through resistant mentals with his liquid sword rhyme schemes, his sophomore album is the first clear sign that Wu-Tang's pre-eminence may be waning. Without Bobby Digital working the track wizardry, Beneath the Surface is an odd amalgamation of RZA-wannabe tracks (courtesy of the Arabian Prince and Mathematics) that are starting to sound more and more like Swizz Beats every day. Gza's rhyme assaults still pack a wallop, but his album shows wear at the seams, bulging with impossibly high ambitions and uneven execution. Songs like "Breaker, Breaker," "Publicity," and "Hip Hop Fury" still burn hotter than Sahara summers, but it's not enough to help the entire LP catch fire. --Oliver Wang

Tracks:

Purify
Escape
Falling
Sweet Allure
Wild Butterfly
Beyond
Privelege
Heat
Lost
Marooned
Lust
Being (Ambient Escape)

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

Customer Reviews:

One of my favorites.......2007-06-14

I've got 100+ CD's of electronic music of different styles/genres, and Beneath the Surface is one of the short list I keep going back to. Stands out in the crowded field of music it's representing.

Quintessential Ethereal.......2006-11-14

Every song features synthesizer and female vocals (I believe there are seven different vocalists featured across the 11 tracks, including Kristy Thirsk of Delerium fame). That is not to say that the songs all sound the same - the varieties in vocalists and moods are quite sufficient to maintain the listener's interest. "Falling" and "Marooned" stand out as the highlights of the album.

Though the official press Beneath the Surface calls it "a lush soundscape of electronic, acoustic, orchestral and world beat textures," I feel that the acoustic and world beat components are rather lacking. Synthesizers are very dominant throughout, with a good bit of orchestral support. The one track that does break the mold is "Marooned," which features some nice acoustic guitar.

Beneath the Surface sounds very similar to Delerium's work, with more consistent verse-chorus song structure, and no instrumental tracks. This is unsurprising considering that Bill Leeb (half of Delerium's Leeb and Fulber) had a hand in Balligomingo's creation. Despite its somewhat formulaic composition, Beneath the Surface is quite engaging, and contains some very moving songs. I strongly recommend it if you are fond of electronica, or are looking for someting in the vein of Delerium's female-fronted pop songs like "Silence."

Worth Every Penny!.......2006-11-02

I am really happy about my purchase of Balligomingo's Beneath the Surface. I like everything about it. I don't skip a single track. Each track has something to offer. The female vocals are amazing. They accompany the synths and other electronic sounds in a silky smooth compatible way. Audiophiles will love this album too as the tracks can show off a good sound system or great headphones. Personally, I like to listen with headphones so I can hear all of the nuances and layering contained within Beneath the Surface. If you like this album you may also like Amethystium, Mythos, Blue Stone, Delerium, and Sleepthief. I recommend them highly.

Absolutely gorgeous.......2006-09-05

After four years since its release, "Beneath the Surface" has remained one of my favorite cds of all time. The cd is absolutely stunning with its blend of pop, new age,ambient, and trance music. The ethereal female vocals are equally gorgeous. The music reminds me of Enigma, Delerium, Conjure One, and Sleepthief. The music is totally soothing to listen to with its lush electronic beats. It is hard to pick a favorite song off the album. All of the songs on "Beneath the Surface" are wonderful. The last I have heard is that Balligomingo is currently working on a follow up album. I hope I don't have to wait until next year to hear the music.

Rankings.......2006-08-25

Here are the track listings as I see it.

Purify- 5 stars
escape- 3
falling - 3
Sweet Allure - 5
Butterfly - 4
Beyond - 3
Priviledge - 5
Heat - 4
Lost - 5
Marooned - 5
Lust - 3

Overall a solid album with good vocals.

Average customer rating:

I like it better than Grandmasters
Os(The) Homem(Man)
GZA - Beneath The Surface
the best of the best...
Long Live Liquid Swords

Beneath the Surface
GZA , and Genius
Manufacturer: Fontana Mca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

East Coast | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music

Gangsta & Hardcore | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music

General | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music

Pop Rap | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Legend Of The Liquid Sword
Only Built 4 Cuban Linx
Ironman
No Said Date
Supreme Clientele

ASIN: B00000JHD7
Release Date: 1999-06-29

Tracks:

Intro
Amplified Sample
Beneath The Surface
Skit #1
Skit #2
Crash Your Crew
Breaker, Breaker
High Price, Small Reward
Hip Hop Fury
Skit #3
1112
Skit #4
Victim
Publicity
Feel Like An Enemy
Stringplay (Like This, Like That)
Mic Trippin
Outro

Amazon.com

While the Genius continues to slice through resistant mentals with his liquid sword rhyme schemes, his sophomore album is the first clear sign that Wu-Tang's pre-eminence may be waning. Without Bobby Digital working the track wizardry, Beneath the Surface is an odd amalgamation of RZA-wannabe tracks (courtesy of the Arabian Prince and Mathematics) that are starting to sound more and more like Swizz Beats every day. Gza's rhyme assaults still pack a wallop, but his album shows wear at the seams, bulging with impossibly high ambitions and uneven execution. Songs like "Breaker, Breaker," "Publicity," and "Hip Hop Fury" still burn hotter than Sahara summers, but it's not enough to help the entire LP catch fire. --Oliver Wang

Customer Reviews:

I like it better than Grandmasters.......2006-08-24

I'll say that for it, and the one after this but no one likes that one. 3 1/2 stars

Os(The) Homem(Man).......2006-05-03

Peace

Yo the God Gza aka Genuis Zig zag Allah all I can say is superb scientist right here the sounds of his scientific flow can certainly open up the Brain cells of my Black Brothers who don't recgonize ill muzik when they hear it nah sayin

God-One who Posses Knowledge Wisdom understanding and Power which is Man!

Peace

GZA - Beneath The Surface.......2005-12-26

After taking a 4 year break, after releasing his by far classic album "Liquid Swords" he comes back in 1999 with this "Beneath The Surface" album. Now a lot of people had negative opinions aimed at this album. I know why. Because of the lack of "RZA" production. I totally agree, only one track "1112" was produced by RZA. He was busy with other sh** at the time and couldnt get in any more beats. But GZA released it and it was good. The production had other producers and they did a great job. Let me break down my opinions on this album.

Lyrics, GZA did definately not lose his touch. 2 years after "Liquid Swords" the album "Wu-Tang Forever" came out in 1997 and he dropped mad knowledge so he still had it cracken. Well this album has great lyrics. GZA still speaks on those real life topics. Every single verse GZA spits is knowledge, lyrically he didnt add up like he did on Liqiud Swords. He was better lyrically on that album, but he sort of matured and kept the lyrics more real. I did think that he could have replaced "TRACKS" instead of those stupid skits that werent needed at all.But GZA definately kept it real lyrically on this album so if you were wondering that, he did.

Production wise, people hate the fact that RZA didnt produce anything except one track on the whole album. Well it sucks, but didnt bother me much because every beat on the album was real. Definately not as grimey like the Liquid Swords album but they were still good. Still had Wu-Affiliated producers knockin off the beats for him. If you like the whole "Wu-Tang" sound of production then this album is for you there. One of the beats I love is "High Price, Small Reward", that beat was f*cken insane! So check it, no RZA production, but still good!

Overall, this album deserves 5/5 stars, just for the fact that GZA didnt weaken lyrically, and the production was still done by "Wu-Tang Affiliated" producers! Every song is good, hands down. Get this.

***SUPPORT GZA AND REAL HIPHOP AND BUY THIS***

My Top 5 Songs
1.High Price, Small Reward
2.Hip Hop Fury
3.Publicity
4.Feel Like An Enemy
5.Victim

the best of the best..........2005-11-10

I am a long time head and this album hits a spot few others can reach. Consistantly dark, atmospheric, and brilliant, Beneath the Surface is strong in the running for my favorite album of all time, all genres. Indispensable. Daily play for months and months has not diminished my respect for this one. Even the admittedly lame skits don't really hurt it. I played this one out like the first Bobby Digital, multiple listens daily for a looong time. Liquid Swords is incredible too, and a must but I like this one a little more. Legend of the Liquid Swords I could not feel at all, even after repeated listenings. It just doesn't have that same darkness... GZA reigns supreme and this is his crowning glory.

Long Live Liquid Swords.......2005-10-19

To be blunt, this album is no "Liquid Swords". The production credit takes a nosedive by comparison, although there are a few decent cuts spread over the album. Most of the tracks sound like "filler" tracks to me. It becomes difficult to maintain interest all the way through. GZA is, and has always been, a great lyricist with great delivery. That doesn't change. The production was the missing ingredient on this album.

Decent tracks include:
Amplified Sample
Breaker Breaker
Stringplay
Publicity

I doubt we will ever see another Liquid Swords from the Genius.

Average customer rating:

Bass, bass and more bass ....................
Beware
THIS ONE BOWLS ME OVER!!!!
Electrifyingly Awsome!
No longer Incognito

Beneath the Surface
Incognito
Manufacturer: Polygram Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

General | Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

Acid Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | R&B | Styles | Music

Neo-Soul | R&B | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

100° and Rising
No Time Like the Future
Tribes Vibes + Scribes
Positivity
Who Needs Love

ASIN: B0000047DV
Release Date: 1997-01-28

Tracks:

Solar Fire
Labour Of Love
Beneath The Surface
Shade Of Blue
Without You
Misunderstood
Hold On To Me
Living Against The River
She Wears Black
Fountain Of Life
Out Of The Storm
Dark Side Of The Cog
All That You Want Me To Be
Sunchild

Customer Reviews:

Bass, bass and more bass ...........................2007-07-08

I bought this on the strength of the reviews, but I'm not happy. The bass is dominant throughout the entire cd, sometimes even pushing vocals to the background. I know some people really like a strong bass mix, but if you like more balance, you won't like this.

Beware.......2007-05-30

This is an Ok album in Incognito discography though not their best. Why do I rate it at 2-stars if it is an Ok music? Because I tend to beleive that we should not only listen to music but also try to understand it. Poor sound engineering can hardly allow to enjoy the spectrum of small bits of sound that add greatly to overall impression and invlovment. And the sound quality of this CD is awfull not to say more. It is flat, with no details and lacking life. It is not first time I noticed that Incognito releases are not mastered very well while their great music is all about soul and detail.
So, good music, bad sound...

THIS ONE BOWLS ME OVER!!!!.......2004-11-24

Do you know what makes most songs? For me, it's the horn section, but I'm a sax player. I'm supposed to lean toward horns. In reality, what really drives the song is the drummer. Any song is defined by what the drummer does. And every drummer that Bluey gets for Incognito is masterful at 1) keeping the time and 2) maintaining the flow of the song. It's not about solos but about delivery. And the drummer on this wonderful CD (I'm writing this without the CD in front of me) is fabulous.

And in the context of this CD, the whole package is fabulous. From the opening to the closer, this CD will keep you in a particularly happy groove. Favorites: Chris Ballin singing on "Labour of Love" and "Living Against The River". The guy has such range and emotion; why haven't we heard more from him?? Of course, my favorite Maysa song would be "Misunderstood" with a very poignant sax solo in the middle. And I would be remiss to not mention the incredibly performed "She Wears Black" with a stunning drum solo at the end behind all the horns. Outstanding!!!

Get this CD and drive a few hundred miles on the groove. This is one of Bluey's funkiest offerings and one of my favorite CDs.

Electrifyingly Awsome!.......2004-02-22

This is definitely one of Incognito's strongst offerings.For those not fortunate enough to have checked out this band,a must have!From the rousing "Solar Fire" opening to "Sunchild", a smoker!
I had the pleasure of seeing them live in Cleveland about 5 years ago and have been waiting for thier return ever since!A must have for Incognito purists!!!.

No longer Incognito.......2002-11-08

I became familiar with Incognito in 1996. I saw the video for where did we go wrong and thought, this is a cool cut. I told my father about it, and he made it a point to pick up the album 100 and rising. My father must have purchased the album a half dozen times, because he is always letting people borrow his music only to never have it returned. My father and I have purchased every Incognito album since initially hearing them. Collectively our favorite is "Beneath the Surface" I enjoyed the whole album, but my old man's cut is "Labour of Love". I would love to see them live either in my hometown of Charlotte or with my dad in Boston. I only wish that this style of music get its just due. Bluey and his band are incredible

Average customer rating:

Beneath the Surface

Manufacturer: Phantom Sound & Vision
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Compilations | Rock | Styles | Music

Rock | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B000646MIO
Release Date: 2004-11-16

Album Description

12-track Bella Union sampler features one track each from The Autumns, The Dears, Laura Veirs, The Czars, Dustin O'Halloran, Trespassers William, Mandarin, Violet Indiana, Bikini Atoll, Explosions In The Sky, Josh Martinez & Midlake. 2004.

Average customer rating:

beats non-stop
Undergrounds Fynest
STRAIGHT UP ILL SHITE YO
Awesome CD.. Mad Props
Must buy for true hip-hop heads!

Beneath the Surface
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Celestial Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

General | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music

West Coast | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music

General | Compilations | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music

Pop Rap | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music

General | Dance & DJ | Indie Music | Stores | Music

General | Rap & Hip-Hop | Indie Music | Stores | Music
ASIN: B00000J5XC
Release Date: 1999-06-29

Tracks:

Beneath the Surface - Alien Nation
When the Sun Took a Day off and the Moon Stood Still - Freestyle Fellowshi
Who's Keeping Time?
Hazardouscurves
Night and Day - Of Mexican Descent
Sunny Side Up - Hip Hop Klan
Line Postin' in Pedro - Brothers Manifesto
Farmers Market of the Beast - Of Mexican Descent
Bustmustjustus - Hip Hop Klan
Subterranean Service - Global Phlowtations
For Her Souly, Slowly, Solely - Darkleaf
(In) Sense - Onomatapoeia
You Are in My Clutches
To the Turn of the Earth - Global Phlowtations
Little Piece of Heaven

Amazon.com

The independent hip-hop renaissance of the late 1990s is coming to a close in places like New York, where the sound of the independent scene and that of the mainstream are converging rapidly. Out in LA, though, independence has always been more of an aesthetic choice, not a financial one. In the grand tradition of Freestyle Fellowship and the Good Life Café comes renegade producer OD and his Beneath the Surface collection. The beats are pure abstract LA beat science, spacey and frenetic at once. The gems, though, are to be found in the lyrics--members of the aforementioned Fellowship, Of Mexican Descent, Dilated Peoples, and Global Phlowtations lace the album with otherworldly poetry; for a twist, peep "Farmers Market of the Beast," an aural bacchanal that takes a page from Orwell's Animal Farm and explores the thoughts behind a panoply of clucks, oinks, and nyaaas. --Jon Caramanica

Album Description

Various Artists: "Beneath the Surface" [Beneath Records]

Wow! In an era of predominantly weak compilation records, this release stands out like a burning supernova. 14 tracks and 70 minutes of music from Southern California's finest MCs and crews such as Aceyalone & Self-Jupiter, Dilated Peoples, Ellay Khule, Global Phlowtations, Kali-9, C.V.E., AWOL-One, Jizzm, Circus, Visionaries, J. Smoov and many more! If everyone followed the lead of Beneath the Surface Records, we would all live in a much better sounding world.

Customer Reviews:

beats non-stop.......2006-07-06

one bangn comp,atmostpheric beats, untouchable mcs like Aceyalone,xololanxinxo,2mex make this one of the best hip hop comps ever,crucial!!!!Grab it,obtrude it for listening pleasure,damn its good!!!Junior

Undergrounds Fynest.......2003-10-27

Khynk Rhead of Kali 9 is one of the tightest mcs that I know and have heard spit...he consistantly shines, and the Brothers Manifesto are proving themselves fully on the nice duo they got on this joint....Very Nicely Done...Thank you Good Life!

STRAIGHT UP ILL SHITE YO.......2000-06-07

This is an incredible cd. It blends classic hiphop elements with a new school flavor. GOOD STUFF!

Awesome CD.. Mad Props.......2000-02-03

Lyrically gifted is the 2 words to describe this treat to the ear. Farmers Market and The Sun took the day off, are both ill tracks. Then again anything with Aceyalone gots to be a goodie.

Must buy for true hip-hop heads!.......1999-10-13

True b-boys must buy this album. When it comes to OD's (Omid Walizadeh) off the hook production and the lyrics of OMD (such as 2MEX) and Freestyle Fellowship (such as Aceyalone), you know you are in for a treat. Numerous styles flourish this album in both lyrical and production content........trust me.......MUST BUY! FO SHEEZEEEEE!

Tracks:

Hallelujah I Just Love Her So
King Jelly's Good Morning Irene Song
It'll Be Me
Blues Beneath the Surface
Don't Want To Know
Up Here with the Moon
Praying Mantis
Bozos on the Road
Nadine
First Ride
On the Run Too Long
Bullfrogs on Your Mind
Back in Your Arms Again
Light On the Earth
Who Should Know
The Language of Stones
Tell It Like It Is

Album Description

A timeless collection of classic songs from an eclectic variety of sources interpreted in Geoff Bartley's skilled and talented styling. Geoff's personality is stamped on each track in this recording. Artists as diverse as Ray Charles, Bill Morrissey, Chuck Berry and Geoff's own compositions are covered here.

Customer Reviews:

this is what music should be like.......2001-08-26

One of my all time favorite songs is Up Here With the Moon and, in my opinion, it perfectly represents what music should be like. The lyrics are beautiful, poetry far surpassing the needless frivolity of shakespeare and making robert frost seem the hack which he truly is. The guitar geoff plays is a simple accoustic, but the way he picks it it could be a full symphony. It is a piece of high quality composing and the execution is phenonminal and most importantly, in my opinion, this music is pure, unfiltered, un-computer generated beauty. buy this cd, it is a marvolous piece of work by an astonishing artist.

Average customer rating:

Beneath The Surface

Manufacturer: Moods And Grooves
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

Dance Pop | Compilations | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

General | Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

General | Dance & DJ | Indie Music | Stores | Music
ASIN: B00026YO4A
Release Date: 2003-06-15

Tracks:

Straight Ahead (Alton M)
Forever Night (Rick Wade)
The Message (Boo Williams)
Needless (Demarkus Lewis)
A Beautiful Thing (vocal edit) (Mike Grant)
Swing Crewz II (G Flame & Mr. G)
Throwback (John Tejada/Arian Leviste)
Chunky (Theo Parrish)
Just A Player (Andr
Nomadic Jazz (Brian Harden)
Late Night (Mike Grant)
Summer Love (Boo Williams)

Tracks:

The Horn (Brian Harden)
Fashion Avenue (rmx) (John Tejada/Arian Leviste)
The Struggle Of My People (Mike Grant)
Watching You (Demarkus Lewis)
Untitled 1 (KDJ)
Chasing Dreams (Alton Miller)
Life Changing Experience (Mike Grant)
City Of War (Boo Williams)
The Rider (Da Sampla)
The Sixth Trumpet (Brian Harden)
Thought Process (Rick Wade)
Sunlight (vocal edit) (Mike Grant)
Is It Cool (Andr

Album Description

Double CD compilation from the most consistent label out of Detroit. Features a who's who of Detroit, Chicago and others in house music.

Average customer rating:

Awsome!!!

Beneath the Surface

Manufacturer: Broken Yoke
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000B8ARYU
Release Date: 2005-02-22

Product Description

Broken Yoke is a band that strives for excellence in everything they do. They put on a high-energy performance incorporating an intense light show and a massive sound system. However, they are more than just a band. The ultimate goal of Broken Yoke is to bring people closer to Jesus Christ through their music and testimonies. Although the band's musical style has changed from when they began, what hasn't changed is the love these three men have for Jesus Christ. They endeavor to share this love with others so that they, too, may come to know the Savior in an intimate and personal way.--- 1. Ends With You 2. Vapor 3. Caught In The Moment 4. Wake Me Up 5. Direction 6. Goodbye 7. Killing Me 8. Run Forever 9. Steal From You 10. Capture Me

Customer Reviews:

Awsome!!!.......2006-07-21

This album is totally awsome alternative rock!Check out the sweet guitar and meaningful lyrics in their songs!!!

Average customer rating:

Beneath the Surface

Manufacturer: JCI
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
ASIN: B00078RW60

Product Description

10 Tracks - 1988 JCI/ Killerwatt Records

Dance Music: