Electronic > Trip Hop / Big Beat Electronic > Island > D

Advantages: Seminal, stirring and seductive
Disadvantages: Has DJ Shadow set the bar too high too early?!

I have found that ususally to get anywhere in Ciao with music reviews you need to produce lengthy summaries of individual tracks. However, it is my intention right from that start to impress upon the readers of this 'piece' that to do so in this particular case would be an exercise in pointlessness! A lengthy preamble, perhaps, but I would say a crucial one. Integral to one's enjoyment of this masterpiece by DJ Shadow is the understanding the album's ...
...of the tracks in isolation. There are no stand out tracks: the whole album IS one stand out track! This seminal work is famously notable for its complete lack of originalioty! Paradoxical? Well, I am being slighty abstruse. For the whole album is a collection of samples cunningly weaved together. It operates like a modern day classical album with a vast array of sound sources producing a myriad of tones, textures and mood. Almost maddening beats ... Read review

Advantages: Well produced and distinctive
Disadvantages: Not as striking as Endtroducing

...of his work. The Private Press is a great album but its got a lot to live up to - Endtroducing is a genre defining album that sounded so far ahead of its time when it was released that it was always going to be hard to better it. But thats not was this album is about. It certainly sounds different from his previous work, but its so well produced that this really is a great album if you want to test out your speakers. Not a floor-filler, but definitely ...
...still getting my head round it, and I can tell this is an album thats going to be played regularly. If you were expecting more of the same stuff then this will be a suprise, albeit a worthwhile one. This is an album that I can recommend without hesitation, but don't make this the first DJ Shadow CD you buy. ... Read review

Advantages: Amazing beats and now featuring a dvd extra
Disadvantages: Old fans will already have this album

The first time i listened to this album it sent shivers down my spine and now it comes with the additional extra cd. Dj Shadow is by far one of the biggest names in Hip Hop and Big Beat. This album is some of his finest work, including the tune 'Midnight in a perfect world'. However the downside of this album is the short interludes unless the buyer is a huge fan. If you want to get into DJ Shadow and haven't bought any of his stuff before this ... Read review

Advantages: Very different, some nice songs on there
Disadvantages: Might be a bit too wierd for some, last two tracks were a bit weak

This album is quite unique in its style. The music is mainly electronic with some weird singing and some unusual angles to approach music to. It might sound bizarre, but it is a good album. It's an eleven track album and many of the songs have a strange feel about them. For example, "The Captain" starts off with a feedback type noise that makes a slow, varying tune for a couple of minutes before anything else really comes in. Some tracks really ...
...is no drum beat. They are very fond of unusual singing and unusual lyrics and really seem to like their use of the multi-tap delay effect which can sound really bad, but these are masters of the effect. Highlights of the album include Neverland (on of my favourites), We Share Our Mother's Health and Marble House. All amazing songs. I wasn't so keen on the end of the album, the last two tracks were a bit of a let-down for me, but perhaps thats just ... Read review

Advantages: -
Disadvantages: -

...from his UK debut album Now YOu're Gone and is extremely popular with the younger generation and those like myself that wanted to listen to something that took them back to their younger clubbing days. I was curious to listen to this album, although I am probably a little too old now for this kind of music, years ago I quite liked the tracks from Ultrabeat, although they do become extremely annoying and the lyrics are rather dire, in comparison ...
...Track Listing - Now YOu're Gone - All I Ever Wanted - Please Don't Go - I Miss You - Angel in the Night - In Her Eyes - Love You More - Camilla - Dream Girl - I Can Walk on Water - I'm Your BassCreator - Russia Privjet - Boten Anna - Dota - Now YOu're Gone - All I Ever Wanted - Welcome to the Rainbow - Hardstyle Drops On a similar style as Scooter, who also come from Europe I found this album likeable when it comes to the beats ... Read review