Instinct

Instinct

Track Listings

1. Cold Metal

2. High on You

3. Strong Girl

4. Tom Tom

5. Easy Rider

6. Power and Freedom

7. Lowdown

8. Instinct

9. Tuff Baby

10. Squarehead

Tracks:

Mambo De La Luna
In These Shoes?
Treachery
Here Comes That Man Again
Autumngirlsoup
Celestine
England 2 Colombia O
Nao Esperando
Alegria
Us Amazonians
Wrong Again
Designer Life
Head
Golden Heart
Things Happen
Good For Me

Amazon.com's Best of 2001

"I know an island where the people are kind / And the rest of the world seems far away / Maybe it's only in the back of my mind / But I know when I go that's where I'll stay." One could not wish a better end result for the late Kirsty MacColl, whose last album opens with this prediction. Tropical Brainstorm serves as a sunny and joyous bookend on a career cut tragically short. Musically, it is a bit of a departure, favoring vibrant Latin-flavored flourishes over the slightly darker jangle of earlier material. There is, however, no mistaking the album's creator from a lyrical perspective. "Treachery" giddily turns the star-fan scenario on its head, imagining MacColl stalking a fan who has abandoned her for the musical flavor of the month. "Here Comes That Man Again" is a decidedly naughty and wise survey of cyberculture's impact on modern romance. In "Us Amazonians," a hearty romp that's easily as good as anything off of Paul Simon's The Rhythm of the Saints, the narrator punches out her true love to show him what's truly important in life. These are not your ordinary pop songs, and that's a fitting way for things to end, if they had to. MacColl always held a singular place in Anglo-pop. She was equal parts Morrissey as a less self-obsessed heterosexual woman and Flannery O'Connor as pop star. In other words, unique, and an incredibly precious resource for music to lose. --Bob Michaels

Customer Reviews:

Fun CD!.......2007-05-18

Kristy's songs are funny, sometimes a bit raunchy, and entertaining. What a tragic loss that there will be no more.

Fabulous Fun.......2007-02-08

Witty lyrics, catchy tunes with a latin beat. I just love this CD. So many quotable lines, but I think my favorite is: "He said, 'Won't you walk up and down my spine?/It makes me feel strangely alive.'/I said, 'In these shoes?/I doubt you'd survive.'"

I do have to say the last 3 "bonus tracks" take away from, rather than add to the overall effect (I usually stop after "Designer Life"), but the rest of the CD is so good it still gets 5 stars.

Spectacular album in every way.......2007-01-11

If an album could express the complexity and essential qualities of a person, this is one. Sure, it's a great dance album with big chunky Cuban overtones. And sure, it would be hard to find someone who this album would not appeal to, its likeability is so complete. But the artist reaches the listener on so many levels simultaneously. It's a pure and pleasurable assault that renders the listener helpless with amazement. On the surface, a fun romp, but underneath, deeply profound. I could not get enough of it, and wore out my first CD. The joy and abandonment and humor and wit the album displays is masterful. If I could given it a hundred stars, it wouldn't be enough.

The good and the bad.......2006-08-23

I loved the beginning if this cd! Very rhythmic and the lyrics are brilliant. The middle of this cd is also very good, and again, brilliant lyrics. Almost all women can relate to her stories with a resounding "Me too!" I have listened to parts of this cd over and over and over again. The ending is, well...the ending is...?? It is like being served a wet fish after a fabulous meal. It ends with a flop and just doesn't sit well. Bottom line - I would purchase this cd again despite the ending because the rest of it is so good!

fun and honest songs.......2006-07-10

A friend made a copy of this CD for me, but I loved it so much I had to get my own shiny new copy. The songs on this CD are fun and funny; honest and sometimes sad. Kirsty MacColl manages to give you a glimpse into her world as an entertainer and as a woman. I have had a great time singing, dancing, and humming along to the whole CD.

Average customer rating:

More about this little known album
Good but lacking
Great stuff
Exquisite. Raw Funk at its best to lift up your spirit.

Raw Funk
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Instinct Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00004WJJS
Release Date: 2000-09-12

Tracks:

Fifty Yards Of Soul - Whitefield Bros
Practice What You Preach - Soul Sliders
O.R.F. (Pts.1 & 2) - Organized Raw Funk
More Mess On My Thing (Pt.II) - The New Process
Ooh Ooh..! - The Woo Woo's
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Bag Of Soul - Soul-Saints Orch.
Getting Down Into Somethin' - Bo Baral's Excursionists
Serengeti Stroke - The Pan-Atlantics

Customer Reviews:

More about this little known album.......2006-11-17

This is one of the best Funk compilations in the market today.Yet we ain't talkin' 'bout classic funk here...hell no! These tracks are all performed by a group called "The Poets Of Rhythm", a tight-old school style funk band from E Germany...you read that right.Their signature sound is to make modern sounds that make you feel like u listenin' to some 45 outta the 60's when infact these were composed in the late 90's
The bands appear under different names here as they had several performers in and out of the band during these recordings.
To get a more comprehensive feel of their music try looking for the titles "Original Raw Soul" and "More Original raw Soul" both available here.These have more tracks from the bands featured here as well as some history behind each recording for example Bag Of Soul was originally performed as Santa'a gotta Bag Of Soul and was origially written as a christmas gift. But if those 2 albums are outta stock then definately grab this album....after listenin' to the samples I ain't gotta tell you why...

Good but lacking.......2006-05-27

I enjoy the sound on this album, it definitely lives up to its name of raw funk, but I was disappointed with how short the cd was. 40 minutes of music barely fills up half a disc, and I'm sure there's other obscure b-side jams that could have been added. Plus the liner notes were virtually non-existent. It would've been cool to learn a little more about the album and the bands that are on it. But all things equal, it's still funky.

Great stuff.......2005-02-19

If you aren't moving to the first track, you aren't breathing. A great blast of pure funk.

Exquisite. Raw Funk at its best to lift up your spirit........2000-11-15

This is one of the best CDs on the Funk, Jazz Funk and Raw Funk market that I have ever heard. Total exquisite, spicy and groovy, a perfect blend for a depressed spirit. Buy this Cd and you will not be disappointed, it will be a passage to a funky and groovy Paradise.

Average customer rating:

No one seems to understand...
Not like the two previous ones, but ingenious none the less.
half and half
Another Awesome Raspy Album
I don't really like this one.

Cabin Fever
Rasputina
Manufacturer: Instinct Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Thanks for the Ether
Frustration Plantation
The Lost & Found
My Fever Broke
A Radical Recital

ASIN: B000063ITI
Release Date: 2002-04-09

Tracks:

Gingerbread Coffin
Thimble Island
State Fair
Sweet Water Kill (The Ocean Song)
Remnants Of Percy Bass
Rats
Clipped
PJ + Vincent & Matthew + Bjork
My Orphanage
CrossWalk
Hunter's Kiss
Our Lies
AntiqueHighHeelRedDollShoes
Cooped
A Quitter

Amazon.com

Rasputina dish up an Alice in Wonderland psychedelia mixed with a Kate Bush sensibility and Medieval-meets-Victorian vibe in both appearance and musicality. The end result on Cabin Fever, Rasputina's sixth overall release since 1993, is charming, if likely too idiosyncratic for mass acceptance. Since Melora Creager (who toured with Nirvana in 1992), formed the band in the early '90s, this New York-bred trio of female cellist-vocalists has opened for Marilyn Manson and Bob Mould, attesting to the diversity and quirkiness of this lineup. On Cabin Fever, from the quavering vocals of "Remnants of Percy Bass" to the revved-up pop-tech stylings of "AntiqueHighHeelRedDollShoes" to moments of music-box delicacy, Rasputina show a penchant for creating wonderful, odd, and old-fashioned vignette-style lyrics and songs. "Quaint" and "enchanting" are not likely words that lead to the cover of Rolling Stone, but that's no matter, as long as Rasputina's considerable and curious charms allow them to invoke more musical magic. --Katherine Turman

Customer Reviews:

No one seems to understand..........2006-01-10

No one knows this but Rasputina is the most simple yet intelligent band in the world. Perhaps I'm biased. However, I feel that Cabin Fever is their best album. In order of preference, I would say that my favorite songs are:

#1-Thimble Island
#2-Clipped
#3-My Orphanage
#4-Hunter's Kiss
#5-AntiqueHighHeelRedDollShoes

People think Thimble Island is about grabbing a man. It is, but if you listen to the lyrics, there is a hint of darkness that suggested to me, this Thimble Island is a place in the afterlife.
"You go there alone/To find someone for to call them your own/I've not heard of girls returning/it is a murky mystery place."

Also, there is definately a watery theme to the album.

It just seems that no one understands the album and the purpose of the musical distortions so well put together and artistic on the the album. THIS IS THEIR BEST ONE!!! I have and LOVE all of their albums. But I truly feel Cabin Fever is the most well-executed.

Not like the two previous ones, but ingenious none the less........2005-09-30

There are only three song on this one that I do not like: State Fair, Antique High Heeled Red Doll Shoes and Cooped, for some reason those songs just really grated on my nerves. Other than that however, I thought that the songs of this album were really great. Although a lot of the other veiwers did not care for Remnants of Percy Bass, I felt that it was a really beautiful. I do understand peoples' dislike for this song though, because the sound of the dulcimer is very unusual. The dulcimer is a very ancient musical instrument, most people aren't even familiar with it's sound unless they have heard Asian music which is why the dulcimer can really take some getting used to for the ears of many westerners.

half and half.......2005-07-24

I'm a Rasputina fan, albeit not a huge one. I don't feel the need to have everything they've ever recorded, but I do have all four LPs and their live album and consider them one of my favorite bands. The problem with Rasputina is that, to my ear, they have a tendency to occasionally, among the brilliance, create songs that are absolutely unbearable.

And so we have Cabin Fever!. This is what I would consider Rasputina's weakest album partially because of this tendency for polarization. It has songs I absolutely love. It has songs I absolutely loathe. More than half the album is very good. But it has more songs I can't stand to listen to than any of their other albums.

But this isn't the only reason I consider Cabin Fever! to be their weakest album. Song-writing aside, this album suffers from having been Rasputina's first independent effort. All the songs on the album would have benefited greatly from re-recording, better mixing, and an outside producer (or a second opinion). The album overall has an unpleasant stringent quality. All the sounds are a little too harsh and hard on the ears for comfortable listening, and I'm not sure that the sound-quality is quite where it should be. My overall impression of the album is that it is frequently nearly cacophonous, and it shouldn't be.

That being said, there are songs on this album that I wouldn't give up for the world, despite some tinniness. The following breakdown is completely biased by my listening preferences, but I think it is indicative of the uneven quality of the album.

Songs I love: SweetWater Kill (The Ocean Song), Hunter's Kiss, AntiqueHighHeelRedDollShoes
Songs I like: Gingerbread Coffin, Thimble Island, Rats, PJ + Vincent & Matthew + Bjork, Our Lies, A Quitter
In between: State Fair*, CrossWalk, Cooped
Songs I can't listen to: Remnants of Percy Bass, Clipped**, My Orphanage

* I've always been torn about State Fair, but especially now since I've fallen so far in love with the Tweaker Remix available on My Fever Broke (which is much less stringent and much catchier), I can't really stand the original.

** What kills about Clipped is that it's the harshness of the recording that could have been fixed that makes me unable to listen to it, not the song itself, which I think could have been really good if it had been recorded differently.

To the Rasputina fan, I would recommend that if you can pre-listen to this album, do so and pick off iTunes the songs you want if you don't care about having the cd packaging. Otherwise, go ahead and buy the album--there should only be a few tracks that disappoint you.

To those who are not already Rasputina fans but are wondering if they should be, don't start here. I would recommend How We Quit the Forest, but it is out of print although available at iTunes. Either download it there or pick up Frustration Plantation instead, provided you keep in mind that the southern influence is characteristic of the album, not the band as a whole. Another good idea would be to grab a couple of tracks from each album off iTunes, which would help you get a better sense of the band's phenomenal range.

Another Awesome Raspy Album.......2005-06-18

I loved every song on this album with the exception of the Bjork joke song. Rasputina doesn't ever dissappoint.

I don't really like this one........2004-11-01

I don't have much to say about it. I listened to it once, and it was too loud, raspy and it hurt my ears at times.

The date thing was hilarious though, and that gives the album 3 stars alone. I laughed my ASS off at that.

*grins*

Average customer rating:

One of Johnston's favorites of his own albums.

1990
Daniel Johnston
Manufacturer: Instinct Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0002T2QQ0
Release Date: 2004-09-07

Tracks:

Devil Town
Spirit World Rising
Held the Hand
Lord Give Me Hope
Some Things Last a Long Time
Tears Stupid Tears [Live]
Don't Play Cards With Satan [Live]
True Love Will Find You in the End
Got to Get You into My Life
Careless Soul
Funeral Home
Softly and Tenderly

Customer Reviews:

One of Johnston's favorites of his own albums........2006-08-15

I'm a Daniel Johnston fan, but I know what I like by the guy and what I don't. I don't see him as a novelty or an oddball in the music-world; I take his musical offerings to heart and judge them according to my own tastes, filing them along with the rest of the history of music to which he belongs.

I found a quote by Daniel Johnston in which he recommends his album "1990" to fans because he says "it's one of the better of my albums." I found this tip irresistible and ordered this fairly obscure CD from the record store I frequent.

And I've listened to it a few times already, and, well, this is what I think of it:

1. "Devil Town": Excellent a capella (no music) song by Daniel. Simple and not too many words in it but it gets its message across and it's a message I can relate to... he found out he lives "in a devil town", that his friends "were vampires", and he himself "was a vampire too." A unique and endearable discovery communicated with his child-like voice. This is also a great introduction to the album.

2. "Spirit World Rising": I was disappointed with this one at first but it grew on me. It's rather simple, sparse, and rather minimalistic, musically. Lee Renaldo (guitarist) and Steve Shelley (drums) play the music on this track, and Johnston sings over it. Their playing is tighter than Johnston's is, but they don't over-do it and their contribution is excellent, modest, and effective. And Johnston's vocals are great of course.

3. "Held The Hand": Another great one. Rather short. Mentions getting on MTV that one time in the '80s and how it was holding hands with the devil. Glad to hear Johnston's on our side. :) (I HATE EmpTV, myself.)

4. "Lord Give Me Hope": A gospel-like number which appeals to me even though I don't share the Christian faith with Daniel. The plea for hope & redemption is universal and in Johnston's expression it is of course quite moving.

5. "Some Things Last A Long Time": THIS TRACK IS THE HIGHLIGHT OF THIS ALBUM, for me. Co-written with sometime musical-collaborator Jad Fair (and a songwriter in his own right and with his own acclaim although I personally haven't liked what I heard by Half-Japanese, his famous first band.) THIS SONG RANKS WITH JOHNSTON'S BEST. It is INCREDIBLY moving and although the sparse, experimental sound-effects added by producer Kramer initially put me off a bit I have come to appreciate them as excellent & eerie additions to this already excellent & eerie song. "Your picture is still on my wall, on my wall..." Excellent piano-work and lyrics and vocals by Daniel, excellent lonely & sad production and, again, sparse experimental sound-effects accompaniment by Kramer... Oh yeah, Kramer plays an awesome, simple bass-line too for the second verse.

6. "Tears Stupid Tears (live)": This is where the album goes downhill for me. This song isn't good to my ears. And mostly because I can't relate to its message (of "tears stupid tears" getting him down); as a young man having grown up in a family where we deny our feelings, I have come to appreciate the cleansing powers of a good cry and don't think I cry often enough.

7. "Don't Play Cards With Satan (live)": A bluesy song (which, like the previous song, is just Daniel singing and playing acoustic guitar live for an audience) which is all right at first but soon gets too extreme for my tastes (screaming the word "SATAN!" when he gets to it...) I'll have to come back to this one.

8. "True Love Will Find You In The End": Another highlight of this album, right up there with "Some Things Last A Long Time" but not QUITE there... I must confess I prefer sad songs to 'inspirational' songs such as this and Johnston's piano-playing to his guitar-playing. But this is STILL a GREAT song, right up there with the rest of Johnston's best. (This version is also better than both the original version from his "Retired Boxer" self-made cassette and the later live version from "Frankenstein Love, Live at the Houston Room 1992".)

9. "Got Get You Into My Life": A cover of the great McCartney-penned Beatles tune. Daniel's version is different though, being just vocals and a somewhat bad-sounding piano. It sounds like the piano may need a bit of tuning or adjustment, plus Daniel plays those low low notes on the keyboard and it makes it sound a bit awkward. It's a decent cover I guess, not nearly as good as the original Beatles song -- which is bombastic and well-orchestrated in a way that this version couldn't possibly be -- in my opinion, but interesting nonetheless to hear Daniel covering it.

10. "Careless Soul (live)": Another a capella number, this one live, and another cover of someone. Probably a gospel songwriter, seeing as this song is another gospel-like thing. As for its message, I don't like using the word "self-pitying" but I really don't know what else to describe it as. And it gets quite awkward listening to this because Daniel's choking singing voice finally breaks down into sobs at the end and one wonders who would have consented to have this revealing moment released on an album. (One might hear murmurs of "exploitation" but, remember, Johnston himself endorsed this album.)

11. "Funeral Home (live)": In one way, this original song of Johnston's is the opposite of the song that came before, in that it features a giggly sing-along from the fans in the audience, as they obey Johnston's request to sing along and they accompany his morbid lyrical message concerning the finality of death. Regretfully, I forget the exact lyrics of the chorus at the moment, suffice to say it sounded like Johnston was singing them quite seriously whereas most (if not all) of the audience seemed to think it was a sort of jokey song. Quite odd but a definite interest to serious D. Johnston fans (like myself) who delight in learning more about this songwriter/performer.

12. "Softly And Tenderly": The album's closer. This one a cover as well, and almost undoubtedly a true gospel song because it features a full choir singing it! It doesn't mention where this was recorded... Daniel's church maybe? Anyway it's not a bad song if you're open-minded and don't exclusively need the rock 'n' roll (I certainly don't) and yet I can't seem to pick out Daniel's own voice among the crowd! This should've been credited as a collaborative number -- "The Church of So-So, Daniel's local congregation", or something, I don't know.

So, anyway, that's it, the whole album. My conclusions:

(1) This is an essential album for serious fans and collectors of Daniel Johnston's music.

(2) However, this might not be one of the best places to start if you're NEW to Daniel Johnston. And, really, I wouldn't know what to recommend as a good introduction to Daniel Johnston. "Songs Of Pain" might be a great starter -- the first song on that album, "Grievances", is probably THE classic Johnston song and the best way to get introduced to Johnston -- but it does have some elements that weren't repeated in later Daniel Johnston tapes/albums and might therefore be a misleading introduction... Maybe the forthcoming "Best of Daniel Johnston" collection entitled "Welcome To My World" might be the best place to start... or, you could always contact ME personally and I could make a great introductory tape to send your way :)

brandon_matuja@yahoo.com

Average customer rating:

Awesome Set!
Elmer Bernstein Film Music Collection
Overall a strong Goldsmith sampler
Jerry Goldsmith - 40 years of pleasure
Almost the perfect compilation

Jerry Goldsmith: 40 Years of Film Music
Jerry Goldsmith
Manufacturer: Silva America
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0009KIYDG
Release Date: 2005-08-09

Tracks:

Blue Max, The
Blue Max, The
Blue Max, The
Blue Max, The
Blue Max, The
The Man From U.N.C.L.E.: Doctor Kildare / Room 222 / Waltons, The / Barnaby Jones / Television Themes Medley
In Harm's Way
The Sandpebbles: Chinatown / Patch Of Blue, A / Poltergeist / Papillon / Wind And The Lion, The / Motion Pictures Medley
Generals, The
Tora! Tora! Tora!
Wild Rovers, The
Pursuit
Wind And The Lion, The

Tracks:

QB VII
QB VII
QB VII
QB VII
QB VII
Waltons, The
Papillon
Police Story
Omen, The
Capricorn One
Swarm, The
Boys From Brazil, The
, The (First) Great Train Robbery
Alien
Star Trek The Motion Picture

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Masada
Poltergeist
First Blood - Rambo II
Twilight Zone: The Movie
Under Fire
Under Fire
Under Fire
Under Fire
Gremlins
Baby - Secret Of The Lost Legend
Legend
Lionheart
Rambo III
Total Recall

Tracks:

Star Trek Voyager
Basic Instinct
Russia House, The
Gremlins II
Medicine Man
Shadow, The
Forever Young
First Knight
Powder
Airforce One
L.A. Confidential
Mummy, The
Haunting, The

Album Description

Jerry Goldsmith's death in 2004 marked the end of one of the greatest careers in film composing. This lavish 57 track 4 CD set traces the path of his astonishing achievements and includes recordings conducted by Goldsmith himself. Featuring The City Of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra, The Philharmonia Orchestra, The National Philharmonic Orchestra, and The Daniel Caine Orchestra. Includes over 280 minutes of music.

Customer Reviews:

Awesome Set!.......2007-07-01

I am a huge fan of Jerry Goldsmith. They did a great job preserving his vision. I can listen to this collection for hours. Great music!

Elmer Bernstein Film Music Collection.......2006-11-03

This is compilation of hit film music from one of the greatest composers in motion pictures. What is surprising though is the music not included like the Ghost And The Darkness, the 13th Warrior, Rudy and others. To be sure, 4 discs are not enough for a composure of this stature. THe recording, however, is an "engineering masterpiece" which makes the music even more enjoyable than when you first heard it at the movies. When are we ging to get the music that was omittd from this compilaton?

Overall a strong Goldsmith sampler.......2006-04-11

Okay, this is a CD review, so the focus is on music, but I've got to say this first: this has got to be a contender for the ugliest cover art ever. I mean, come on...instead of a tribute to the composer, the cover looks like someone spilled a glass of merlot over a NASA photo.

Fortunately, even an ugly cover will not ruin good music. And the good news is that I'd say about 75 percent of the music is good....and on a 4 cd set, that's a lot. Like other Silva compilations, the strength of this compilation is the variety. There are selections from the big releases (Star Trek, Omen, Rambo), but there is also a healthy dose of tracks from the smaller releases(Under Fire, Lionheart, The Swarm).

Two examples come to mind. Capricorn One and The Great Train Robbery are two movies that are not exactly household names today, but are dominated by two of Goldmith's finest main themes. The City of Prague Philharmonic come through with terrific renditions. And there are plenty of other strong performances...a few being concert versions conducted by Goldsmith himself. Suprisingly, "The Wind and the Lion" works, which is no small accomplishment given the ferentic original performance of "Raisuli Attacks".

It's not a complete success. A few of the performances fall flat, particularly some of the more inventive scores. Total Recall is just bad, mangling the performance with poor percussion and synthesizer choices to boot. Also a letdown is the Klingon Attack from the first Star Trek movie. The Prague Philhamonic attempt doesn't sound bad--it's just that once you've heard the original soundtrack's "blaster beam" with enough bass to rattle your teeth...well let's just say Silva's version is a little tinny in comparison.

But I shouldn't dwell on the negative. Overall, this is a strong sampler of Goldsmith's variety. There are plenty of quality performances here, and despite a few omissions (noticeably Planet of the Apes)this is a very good release from Silva.

Jerry Goldsmith - 40 years of pleasure.......2006-02-22

It was wonderful to hear Mr. Goldsmith's music that went all the way back to The Man from UNCLE, The Waltons, Dr Kildare, etc. And then to hear his music up to the present. The man was a genius!

Almost the perfect compilation.......2005-12-31

Age has its value.... This sweeping collection of compositions brings back so many great memories. This collection shows how significant Goldsmith was for both the movie screen and the small screen. With such a grand collection, every reader can be assured that at least one movie or TV program they like or remember had Goldsmith's contribution. It was an amazing life and the collection well worth having.

However, as sweepig as it is, there are a few holes in the selection. "First Contact", one of the sweetest and richest compositions from the Star Trek is absent. "The Ghost and the Darkness" is missing and the "Medicine Man" music should include the theme song. By dwelling on several selections from the Blue Max, these were squeezed out. Three full and important movie themes got the axe.

However, all but "The Ghost and the Darkness" are readily available and not overly expensive as is the "Ghost" CD. This is a must have for the TV and movie music fan.

Before there was Hans Solo there was Napolean Solo, before ER there was Dr. Kildare. Jerry Goldsmith IS Sci-Fi. "Resistance is futile.. you MUST assimilate this CD collection."

Average customer rating:

Good God!!!!!!!!!!
Sit back and be prepared...
Scorpions Rock
A REALLY GOOD ALBUM that deserved more AIRPLAY!
Pure Ballad Instinct!!!!

Pure Instinct
The Scorpions
Manufacturer: Atlantic / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000002JA5
Release Date: 1996-05-21

Tracks:

Wild Child
But The Best For You
Does Anyone Know
Stone In My Shoe
Soul Behind The Face
Oh Girl (I Wanna Be With You)
When You Came Into My Life
Where The River Flows
Time Will Call Your Name
You And I
Are You The One?

Customer Reviews:

Good God!!!!!!!!!!.......2006-06-26

THIS ROCKS. whoever said only wild child and stone in my shoe are the heavy one should listen to oh girl (I wanna be with you). thats my favorite. Also listen to Since you came into my life. I swear you'll think of still loving you or wind of change. this is a ballad thats DEFINITLY up there with those two. Overal This is an awesome album that is for rockers and people who want to relax.

Sit back and be prepared..........2006-02-19

Wow! This collection of songs "Are you the one," "Soul behind the face," and "When you came into my life" will have you reflecting on past memories and posibilities of the future.
In my opinion these songs are classic. They have the ability to take you on an emotional roller ride... way better than any C/W song. More people should consider using "When you came into my life" as a wedding song choice. I love most everything the Scorpions have put out, but this is, by far, my favorite C/D!!!! If you have any sentimental strings this collection will touch your heart.

Scorpions Rock.......2005-09-29

This Album is sweet, great album, unbreakable is sweet too, dont listen to the person who says it really sucks, cause it doesnt, check out songs off unbreakable like love em or leave em and deep and dark then tell if it sucks or not cause it doesnt. And I hope the scorpions will be putting out albums for many years to come.

A REALLY GOOD ALBUM that deserved more AIRPLAY!.......2005-09-01

What a shame that most of you have never heard this album in its entirety. The Scorpions put a lot of their best efforts into making "Pure Instinct", and the world simply didn't know or understand how good the music was! I have listened to the Scorpions for over twenty years, and I have been able to see them play live three times. This band has tons of talent, but often, their music suffers from "less than spectacular song-writing"! If I were a member of the Scorpions, I would use some of the BIG MONEY that they have earned to hire some decent song-writers. If you like Hard-Rock music, then this album will make your ears and your brain very happy. Finally, I don't reccomend the newer Scorpions album entitled: "Unbreakable". It is not very good, and none of the songs on it will ever be played on the radio.This is what I referred to earlier when I mentioned the need for better lyrics. If the lead singer can't do it on his own, Then it is time for the band to reach into their BIG CITY status bank accounts and pay for some better song material. There is nothing wrong with recruiting some help in order to produce a better end result! Let us all hope that the Scorpions will be back in the future with some new songs that all of their fans new & old will be happy about. Hell, even if the Scorpions never return to their days of glory; we all know that Rock will never die!

Pure Ballad Instinct!!!! .......2005-04-03

In the other reviews they said this was an album with too much ballads. I agree, and if Herman Rarebell didn't left the band, this was never happened. But that much ballads doesn't make it boring, does it? 'Wild Child' is a nice rocker, but 'Stone In My Shoe' is wonderful, I love 'Tim Will Call Your Name', and 'But The Best For You' is the best for you. :D. 'Does Anyone know' is just boring and makes me sleep. 'Soul behind The Face' is very nice to hear, and 'Oh Girl (i wanna be with you)' is really nice as well. 'When You Came into My Life' is average, and 'Where the river flows' is worth the title of boring ballad. 'You And I' is not ugly, but it ain't super, it's average. And last and the absolute least: 'Are You the One?'. Where are the electric guitars on the last song? Klaus Meine better wrote this one on Acoustica!! But this is a pretty good POP album.
Keep On ROCKing, not Popping!

Average customer rating:

Still darn good
Challenging, but distinct.
great
Finally, finally.
here it is, folks

Frustration Plantation
Rasputina
Manufacturer: Instinct Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

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Thanks for the Ether
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The Lost & Found
My Fever Broke

ASIN: B0001EKGH2
Release Date: 2004-03-16

Tracks:

Doomsday Averted
Secret Message
Possum of the Grotto
If Your Kisses Can't Hold the Man You Love
The Mayor
When I Count...
High On Life
Wicked Dickie
My Captivity By Savages
Saline the Salt Lake Quenn
Oh Injury.
When I Was a Young Girl
Momma Was an Opium Spoker
Nov. 17dee
Girls' School

Customer Reviews:

Still darn good.......2007-01-11

This is the CD that originally got me interested in Rasputina and while it is not their best it is still darn good.

Challenging, but distinct........2006-09-09

Two women, two cellos, one man. Corsets and Indian Headdresses.

There is no other band like Rasputina.

Frustration Plantation, the fourth album from Melora Creager and various associates, is slightly tinged with influences from the American South. "Doomsday Averted" is a lovely, swampy track that would have made a better album opener had there been more lyrics. Their uniquely dark takes on folk tunes "When I Was a Young Girl" and "Wicked Dickie" further this conclusion.

The cello is a gigantic, growling instrument in Creager's hands, and there is no better example than the massively fuzzed-out "Possum of the Grotto." Her work is augmented by the percussive work of (now former) member Zoe Keating.

However, two things are conspicuously muted in Plantation - Melora's arresting vibrato, and electronic percussion. "Oh, Injury" finds her exploring the lower points of her vocal range with ... interesting results. Compare anything on "The Lost and Found" to Jonathon TeBeest's organic-sounding drumwork on "Saline The Salt Lake Queen."

The album's highlight is the dementedly danceable "Momma Was An Opium-Smoker," followed directly by "Nov. 17dee," which sounds as as if it was written and sung by a 4 year old (which it was). The track more or less goes to show how joyfully odd and slightly disturbing that the minds of children can be - in this case Melora's daughter Hollis Lane. An extended version of the song is on the bonus CD for the curious.

The album also returns to the Rasputina tradition of covering an old standard - this time it's an aggressive "If Your Kisses Can't Hold The Man You Love" (popularized by Sophie Tucker).

The more you deconstruct some of Creager's lyrics, the less sense they make, but the more they make you laugh. God only knows what the point of "When I Count" really is, but this would not be a Rasputina album without it. The spoken word "My Captivity By Savages" is, well, we hope it's not true, but it's still hilarious. "Girls School" switches viewpoints from schoolmaster to student, building to end the album in a minute and a half of lovely cacophony.

Frustration Plantation is a distinct entry into the Rasputina catalog, but perhaps not the best place to start - I still prefer the distorted, slightly gothic musings of "How We Quit the Forest." Still, it's more than worth a spin.

great.......2006-07-27

I try not to give 5 star ratings often, but I think this release merits one. This album is about as good as a cello-based rock album with quirky female vocals can be.
Some great songs here with some clever lyrics. It is a bit different from some of the earlier releases, but in a good way. Most notably, gone is that horrible vibrato. "Thanks for the Ether" is another great album but a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-l-l-l-l-l-l-l-l-l-l-l- the-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e tre-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-embling vo-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-cals are super distracting once you notice them. The songs here tend to be a little more "rocking" and less classical sounding. Whether you like that, or prefer the earlier style better really comes down to personal taste. Both are pretty original, and they pull off both very well. Personally, I like this style a little more.

Pick it up. You shouldn't be dissapointed. Unless you hate cellos. Then you'll probably hate it.

Finally, finally........2006-01-22

I've been a fan of Raputina for a long, long time. As a cellist -and music nerd- I have always held this band in high regard.

So why don't the rest of my fellow "old fans" like this new album?

Rasputina still maintains their quirky, over-the-top style but somehow this album does not seem as trite as their previous efforts. This album, unlike their others, actually has a cohesive sound.
As for the southern theme, it seems to work to Rasputina's advantage by not only lending a haunting setting for their equally haunting music, but also by giving Rasputina a music suited perfectly to cello (meaning their instruments do not seem to be at odds with this music style, as it sometimes may with their patented "cello rock" style).

I adore just about every track on this album. However, "Oh, Injury" keeps me from rating this album a perfect 5 stars. I can't stand Melora's deep falsetto in this track (she also uses the same voice in a couple other tracks, but somehow they seem less... bad... than "Oh, Injury").

Originally I thought newer fans may have a harder time liking this album (the quirk-factor is through the roof on this one). However, after reading the reviews, I am surprised Rasputina is not being applauded by older fans for their efforts at creating a cohesive album; it's Rasputina, the way they always should have been.

here it is, folks.......2005-09-04

if you have enjoyed rasputina's totally unique sound over the years, you have notcied that they have evolved - and quite beautifully i might add. a touch of synth, some electric guitar, hard drums... but they have kept thier vibe and are turning out more complex, more deep, and more substantial work with each album.

look, i like industrial, vintage 4AD stuff, non-commercial goth, whatever - and i always appreciate a band that is truly unique. here you have it. gay or straight, man or woman, goth, rivet-head, nerdy-highschool class orchestra member - Rasputina lets you enjoy being who you are. brava.

Average customer rating:

Okay, but not Melora's greatest
Victorian Rock & Roll?
Lost with time but found and reclaimed
fun collection of covers
A must buy if you "get" Rasputina...

The Lost & Found
Rasputina
Manufacturer: Instinct Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Cabin Fever
Thanks for the Ether
My Fever Broke
Frustration Plantation
A Radical Recital

ASIN: B00007JGP7
Release Date: 2003-01-21

Tracks:

Bad Moon Rising
Wish You Were Here
Tourniquet
Fire And Ice
This Little Piggy
All Tomorrow's Parties
Rock And Roll

Album Description

The natural result of your fave cello-rock trio meeting up in a dark alley with Page, Plant, Fogerty, Waters, Gilmour, Benatar, Manson, Reed and Cale! Instinct. 2003.

Customer Reviews:

Okay, but not Melora's greatest.......2007-05-21

The collection has some interesting gems, including This Little Piggy, but otherwise is "meh, just okay." I wish Rasputina would have included Heart's Barracuda in the collection.

Victorian Rock & Roll?.......2004-09-06

I don't know what the hell I was looking for at Borders Books this afternoon, probably some sort of earth physics tome, but luckily I wound up in the alternative CD section, where my eye fell on Rasputina for the first time. Truth told, my eye fell on a promo sticker reading "Rockin-Cello," and upon closer scrutiny it turned out to be Rasputina. Never having heard of them before, but being a person of good faith in music, I made the purchase anyway. I needn't describe the contents of "The Lost and Found"---those of you who know Rasputina don't need another analysis of the sound, and it's difficult to accurately describe it to a virgin who's never heard Rasputina before. These are covers, to be sure, of some old rock standards, but Rasputina poses no threat to the integrity of the originals. Rather, Rasputina manages to reinvent the songs in such a way that... well, imagine if you dropped the sheet music of Led Zeppelin's "Rock & Roll" into a time portal and it was recovered sometime in the mid-19th Century by a chamber music society. A chamber music society prone to imbibing absinthe, let's say, and completely uninhibited when it came to interpreting Led Zeppelin using classical instrumentation. That's the sound, or as near as I can describe it, of Rasputina. I found it charming, inventive, and sexy, and I became an instant Rasputina fan---so much so that I ordered all of their available music after a few listens to "The Lost & Found"... The only real drawback to this CD is that it's less than a half-hour in length. So much for the theory that this isn't a good introduction to Rasputina---it's a great introduction.

Lost with time but found and reclaimed.......2004-07-09

I've never been a very big fan of Rasputina's music (and I'm still not) but this 2nd Edition EP contains some great Gothic Rock tunes! I'm not familiar with most of the originals but these gals kick some major butt in their trademark corsets, covering songs from the legendary Pink Floyd ("Wish You Were Here") to CCR ("Bad Moon Rising") to Marilyn Manson ("Tourniquet") to Pat Benatar ("Fire & Ice") as they blend together dark, heavy guitar riffs with haunting/wailing cellos like you've never heard them before. And if you think that's absurd, wait until you hear their morbid take of a children's nursery rhyme on "This Little Piggy"...

Rasputina is definitely an acquired taste but if you never cared for them in the past you just might be surprised with this one. And if you've always liked them than rest assured; this will not disappoint. I do, however, wonder... Where can I find the 1st Edition?

fun collection of covers.......2004-06-14

I have first edition of this, not the second, but I have heard the new additions (Bad Moon Rising and Fire & Ice) several times live.

Any cover has the potential to go horribly wrong, particularly when done on classical instruments, but Rasputina usually manages to pull them off nicely.

They're particularly effective on the slower and more soulful songs, such as "Wish You Were Here" and "Bad Moon Rising", which Melora claims is her "favorite song about the weather", and is done in a slower, more melancholy fashion than the original. I think it's a very pleasant reworking, and I even prefer it to the original (but I am, admittedly, not a huge CCR fan). My favorite song on the EP is probably Tourniquet, which is a very effective reworking. It uses drum programming to capture some of the industrial flavor of the original, but without any sense of aggression.

The big rock songs are a lot of fun and come off fairly well, I think. They have a certain wry sense of humor and if you can appreciate that, then you're sure to like them.

Three Little Piggies is cute at first, but can wear a little thin on repeat listens.

As with any covers, if you hold the originals in near sacred regard, then you probably won't enjoy this little album very much. But if you like quirky reworkings and enjoy a good cello rock song, then give it a shot. It's not the best starting point, if you're a new fan, but if you're an established fan of Rasputina, then it is definitely worth picking up.

Now, if only they'd record their cover of the Pretenders' "I Go To Sleep"...

A must buy if you "get" Rasputina..........2004-06-10

This is an EP of nothing but covers. Rasputina has done many covers (and done them well) on previous albums, but this collection, while wonderful, wears thin at times. I mean, a cover of Fire and Ice by Pat Benatar? Gak...

To the Rasputina neophyte: DO NOT START HERE! Listen to the albums first, then if you decide you're a fan, then and only then, buy this.

To be fair, I don't regret buying this one bit. I giggled non-stop throughout it the first time through, and you haven't lived 'till you've heard Rasputina cover a Floyd or Zeppelin tune. There's just something deliciously subversive about it.

Tracks:

Hunter's Kiss - Rasputina
O! What A Dream It Was - Future Bible Heroes
Lick - The Flir
Flute Song - Cranes
Impossible Gardens - Bistream Dream
Slipping Away - The Creatures
Purr La Perla - Violet Indiana
Ardera Sempre - Miranda Sex Garden
Room Of Sixteen Shimmers - Russell Mills
Flying - Livid Kittens
You Could Walk Forever - The Devics
The War Of Silence - The Legendary Pink Dots

Customer Reviews:

Mesmerizing Compilation.......2006-01-11

For fans of the spell-like quality of medieval rock and shoegazing/dreampop, 12 Tales is a rare little must-own. It's probably my favorite compilation CD ever made. It initially attracted me by the cover art (I'm a huge Amy Brown fan) and then pulled me in by the track list--Rasputina, Cranes, Violet Indiana, and Miranda Sex Garden all on the same album? Sweet! I was immediately made a fan of the lesser-known artists on 12 Tales, such as The Flir, Bitstream Dream, Future Bible Heroes, and Livid Kittens. A booklet insert is a neat little feature, as mini-story and a piece of Amy Brown's fairy art accompany every track listing.

Don't except anything too heavy here--rather, the CD consists of 12 atmospheric tunes that will take you straight to Dreamland. Highlights are the Crane's "Flute Song," which has melodic aching quality set to a soft baseline; Bitstream Dream's "Impossible Gardens," which carries trace-like vocals set to a mid-eastern vibe; Violet Indiana's "Purr la Perla," which has this faraway, wistful texture; and David Sylvian's "Room of Sixteen Shimmers," a darkwave, fantasy gem.

Don't buy this album.......2005-12-27

One word, terrible. I asked for Nosferatu's Rise (awesome) for christmas and my mom saw this album under the "users who bought this album also bought" category. Save yourself the agravation and pass this one. I feel like Ive been robbed because I put the time into listening to it. There are only two good songs on the album and one of them is all but ruined due to shabby recording quality. The rest either are ruined due to the recording quality, or have terrible lyrics and crappy music, or usualy both. Hunter's kiss is sung in the first person from the perspective of a deer that has just been shot. Stupid stupid stupid. If you want an album like this except better in every way buy the soundtrack to the Witchblade comics. You won't miss out on anything if you dont read them as I dont and still thought it was awesome. Common, Peter Steele is on it.

ugh! too many filler songs from goth bands I don't know.......2005-10-31

Eeew! Where's bands like Bauhaus, Collide, or Hungry Lucy? Almost every band on this compliation I've never heard of, and 87% of them suck terribly. The only songs that did anything for my gothy side were the tracks from Bitstream Dream, The Creatures, and Russel Mills & Undark. All the rest are absoluty horrid and just aren't good songs at all. I'd pay the 7 dollars for just Bitstream Dream's trace-inducing 'Impossible Gardens' song. At least the packaging and artwork is interesting.

Add it to get Super Saver Shipping Now!.......2005-07-06

For any fan of Amy Brown, Rasputina, MSG, this is the set for you. Not a bad song on the list, and many great exclusives, including some of the most attractive packaging I've ever seen on a CD. The storybook is gorgeous, and the disc itself is like a random shuffle of my playlist. I love it!

uniquely brilliant.......2005-05-18

i love listening to this cd because its so relaxing. And strangely enough alot of the songs make me feel like im in a movie. Anyway i especially love rasputina's "hunter's kiss", its different than any other songs ive heard yet i can't stop listening to it!

Average customer rating:

Jazziz Magazine is right on the money (scroll up)
great album for relaxation with quality music
Mostly Good Stuff
One of the most Consistent fusions of Jazz/Trip-Hop.....(Miles Davis would be Proud!!!)
Jazz for blade runners

Ki-Oku
Toshinori Kondo & DJ Krush
Manufacturer: Instinct Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Ambient | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

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Stepping Stones: The Self-Remixed Best
Kakusei

ASIN: B00000I9DE
Release Date: 1999-03-23

Tracks:

Toh-Sui
Tobira-1
Mu-Getsu
Ha-Doh
Sun Is Shining
Mu-Chu
Tobira-2
Fu-Yu
Ki-Gen
Ko-Ku
Shoh-Ka
Bu-Seki
Tobira-3

Amazon.com

Pairing DJ Krush, known throughout the beat underground for his subdued, trippy soundscapes, with Japanese avant trumpeter Toshinori Kondo may seem an odd pairing. This record, however, is instantly knowable and intuitively easy to grasp. Krush's beats, while certainly up-front, don't come at the price of the composition, nor do they blast Kondo's trumpet out of the tune. DJ Krush is not only able to drive the direction and tempo, but he's also quite adept at creating mood--often mixing up somber, downtempo collages that glide with an underwater grace. His uptempo work is direct, solidly propelled by someone who knows how to handle bass and breaks. Thankfully, the canvasses Krush mixes up are large enough to include Kondo's color work. The trumpeter (who's worked with the likes of Herbie Hancock and John Zorn) takes full advantage of the opportunity. Kondo is a breathy, richly toned player, and his meshings add to the dreamy, psychedelic feel of the recording. He's effective whether he's drifting beside Krush's swirling dub coiled in a haze of effects or punctuating beats with pure blasts of horn fire. A hip-bop classic. --S. Duda

Customer Reviews:

Jazziz Magazine is right on the money (scroll up).......2007-01-09

The trumpet throughout most of this album is unhelpful enough to make me wish it wasn't there at all on some songs. There are brief moments when Kondo's playing illuminates and enhances Krush's moody, earthy beats, but throughout much of the album the horn playing is uninspired and unfocused enough to become distracting and actually diminish the effect of the beats. In places, it kind of sounds as if Kenny G. wandered into a Tokyo ghetto and couldn't find his way out. Those familiar with Krush's other collaborations with edgier, more bombastic Jazz horns (e.g. Edge of Blue) will recall how well they worked out. The album isn't all bad, though. Krush's signature soundscapes make Ki-Oku a satisfying listen when they're being complimented by Kondo, and still listenable when they're not. Recommended for background music more so than for attentive listening.

great album for relaxation with quality music.......2006-01-29

As a trumpet player, I was looking for an album featuring a trumpet with a jazz/free form style and interesting production and beats. This album is exactly what I was looking for, and I'm hoping to do something in this style myself.

Mostly Good Stuff.......2005-07-21

dj krush rarely does much for me as a solo act, but when i noticed he had teamed up with a trumpeter, toshinori kondo, my interest peaked. the collaborators turn out a simple album. dj krush lays down the beats and toshinori kondo plays the trumpet over them. krush and kondo switch between upbeat and slower numbers, most of which don't deviate much from what you would probably expect from krush. on a personal level, i find that the more ambient tracks work better. the beats tend to be more spatial, thus allowing kondo the drivers seat and giving him more room to explore. kondo plays mostly muted melodic notes in a cool jazz fashion, and occasionally he'll play the electronic trumpet - which usually sounds like multiple trumpet parts. the more upbeat tracks have a monotonous beat underneath that just grind my nerves after a while, although they may be a nice spin for you dj folk. for comparison sake, focus somewhere between miles davis 'doo-bop' release and graham haynes 'music for the 21st century.'

One of the most Consistent fusions of Jazz/Trip-Hop.....(Miles Davis would be Proud!!!).......2005-07-05

Dj Krush has been a premier figure in the art of stylished, beat arrangements, for some 12 years now, and he's produced a level of albums that have remained remarkably consistent. veering from hard-edged, hypnotic beats, to Slow cerebral laid-back grooves, as well as ominous and brooding soundscapes, and defining nocturnal and slightly detached tempos. Dj Krush has relatively explored the vast majority of avenues that a DJ/Producer can reasonably expect, encompassing: 'Trip-Hop, Breakbeat, Electronica, Acid-Jazz, Hip-Hop, Ambient'. And he is also remarkable for not only having collaborated with a great many artists, but seemingly able to generally always get the best, out of whomever he decides to collaborate with. Probably one of the more unexpected collaborations, was with celebrated Japanese trumpeter "Toshinori Kondo", who is able to manipulate the trumpet to perform in a sort of lyrical, introspective, and melodic style, that at times is refined, confident and mannered, but then also able to remain inventive with his performances and change the dynamic with a reflective, detached and atmospheric arrangement. Dj's taking Jazz instrumentation and implementing it within the confines of Trip-Hop/Hip-Hop isn't anything new, but instead of making a fairly uptempo Jazz/Hip-Hop record, Krush scales back on the BPM, and produces something far more cerebral and in tune with the relaxed feel, or something like 'Miles Davis'' seminal "Kind of Blue".

What DJ Krush actually contributes himself, is a level of slow burning production, that pays full respect to the trumpeter, providing the programming and beats and more importantly in giving the music a subtly shifting quality, and beautifully coupling the laid-back grooves and low-slung beats with the lushly passionate arrangements, that work perfectly with the tonal and structurally harmonic orchestrated trumpet. Toshinori Kondo himself centres himself perfectly around the widely sensual, atmospheric textures, and languid, mid-tempo break-beats that Krush is able to provide, and rather than remain completely reliant on one form of trumpet, the various tracks across this remarkable album feature him using acoustic and electric trumpet. With some of the tracks that feature electric trumpet owing a sizable influence and debt to Miles Davis's late-period electric albums.

If you've become accustomed to the more uptempo, and breakbeat/Trip-Hop albums, that DJ Krush has become famous for, so long as your aware that no Vocal collaborations with Rappers or singers exists on this record, or that there is nothing here, that largely resembles the blunted, smoked-out beats of other albums, most will find this to be a supremely well-produced and surprisingly soothing album. Think more like an album that has more in common with steamy, soundtrack-type music, with the emphasis on slow beats, scratching, and mellow horns, and intimate grooves layered on top of other grooves. It has the sort of introspective and reminiscing quality of 'Miles Davis's' electric trumpet, fusion of jazz/electronic masterpiece: "In a silent way", but with a heavy emphasis towards beats fused with cool trumpet. Krush fans shouldn't hold back in any hesitation in purchasing this, as it really does fit within the brilliantly consistant run of albums that Krush has produced, and is arguably some of his most melodic and breathtakingly gorgeous work. And such is the elegantly stylish nature of this album, that places a firm emphasis on cerebral intimate harmony, that it has the accessibility & sheer brilliance to grab DJ Krush a whole new set of fans......unquestionably reccommended.

Jazz for blade runners.......2005-06-18

I'm forever in search of the perfect jazz/electronica hybrid, but 99.99% of the albums that are classified that way are just jive dance music with badly-played trumpets or tablas or some damn thing thrown into the mix. Some of Nils Petter Molvaer's music, particularly an obscure remix CD called "Recoloured," comes close; Erik Truffaz's "The Mask" tried to come close, but was too simple and pallid; but Ki-Oku is THE stuff -- the music that Miles Davis would be playing now if he was still alive and awake. Using trumpets and turntables only, two Japanese guys invent vast, brooding sonic landscapes that sound like what Deckerd of "Blade Runner" would be listening to if he had really good taste in jazz. The first track, "Toh Sui," was obviously at attempt to make a "dance-friendly" opener, but after that, the album dives deep into echoey, lonely spaces that are perfect for 3am stoned listening. I gave a copy to one of the guys who helped create "The Matrix" and he said, "This album makes me hallucinate."

Music Info:

Music Info

music info

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