... Leftism is based around the sounds of dub; Electro, ambience and a touch of tribal music all topped of with a hard but playful approach. The album kicks off with the stunning Release the Pressure, where a heavy dub bassline meets explosive beats and the smooth vocals of MC Cheshire Cat. The ... Read review
Ever since they were credited with inventing progressive house with their first single ... more
"Not Forgotten" in 1991, Leftfield have been earmarked as pioneers. Their debut album was a glorious fruition of their talents, delivering on all fronts and sealing ...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Ever since they were credited with inventing progressive house with their first single ... more
"Not Forgotten" in 1991, Leftfield have been earmarked as pioneers. Their debut album was a glorious fruition of their talents, delivering on all fronts and sealing ...
Postage & Packaging: Check Site. Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
Ever since they were credited with inventing progressive house with their first single ... more
"Not Forgotten" in 1991, Leftfield have been earmarked as pioneers. Their debut album was a glorious fruition of their talents, delivering on all fronts and sealing ...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Advantages: A truly visionary album Disadvantages: Why the remix of Song Of Life
...to do with that sound. Leftism is based around the sounds of dub; Electro, ambience and a touch of tribal music all topped of with a hard but playful approach. The album kicks off with the stunning Release the Pressure, where a heavy dub bassline meets explosive beats and the smooth vocals of MC Cheshire Cat. The whole track reminds you of the sheer power a good bass sound can create.
The album that splinters into a myriad of different ... ...uniquely Leftfield.
Leftism features many classic tracks, but the highlights for me are Original and Open Up. Both tracks feature unique vocalists with real talent. Original the more downtempo of the tracks features the angelic street vocals of Toni Halliday (Curve) who helps to create a track of dark beauty. Her vocals perfectly at place with the shuffling beats and turntable scratches the form the heart of the song.
Leftfield Debut album had been sitting in the dust alcove that is the tape section of my music collection for a few years now. However recently I found a CD copy of the album in a sale and decided to replace the old magnetic version with the shiny digital version. First thing I noticed (the massive increase in sound quality aside) was how much the album sounded fresh in today ‘s world of garage and trance.
The Leftfield sound although originally labelled Progressive House, has very little to do with that sound. Leftism is based around the sounds of dub; Electro, ambience and a touch of tribal music all topped of with a hard but playful approach. The album kicks off with the stunning Release the Pressure, where a heavy dub bassline meets explosive beats and the smooth vocals of MC Cheshire Cat. The whole track reminds you of the sheer power a good bass sound can create.
The album that splinters into a myriad of different directions, from the gorgeous tribalism of Afro- Left to the more relaxed ambient sounds of Melt and Storm 3000 and back again to the dubbed out sounds of songs like Space Shanty and Inspection (Check One). However diverse the influences behind these tracks are, they all managed to maintain a stylisation that is uniquely Leftfield.
Leftism features many classic tracks, but the highlights for me are Original and Open Up. Both tracks feature unique vocalists with real talent. Original the more downtempo of the tracks features the angelic street vocals of Toni Halliday (Curve) who helps to create a track of dark beauty. Her vocals perfectly at place with the shuffling beats and turntable scratches the form the heart of the song.
Open Up in my eyes still rates as one of the greatest dance tracks ever. Slamming beats and a nagging bassline and greeted by the wonderful snarling vocals of John Lydon (nee Rotten). The whole song melds the punky rant of Mr Lydon into the world of modern dance technology. A kick in the teeth for all the purists out there who believe that rock and dance based music are mutually exclusive. It also proves the influence that Lydon’s P.I.L has had on a lot of underground dance music.
The only letdown for me is the inclusion of a inferior version of Song of Life, the version included on Leftism is alright, but the original version is far superior, holding a better dynamic and having a stronger structure. The only problem being that it is now near impossible to find the original 12” version of Song of Life.
Leftism to sum up, is a classic piece of modern electronic dance music, and is a must have purchase for anyone interested in dance music that lies outside the mainstream. It is also an album, which has kept its relevance and originality. Leftfield still remain one of those bands that no one has come close or even tried to emulate. A band of true vision and integrity.
Advantages: Wonderfully created beats in an area Disadvantages: Not exactly well known.
Leftfield appear on Steve Lamacq's Evening Session on Radio 1 more times than I think about food, and this is for a good reason, they make what is fantastic music. It is dance music, but it isn't for the dancefloor, No SIR. Don't even think about it, it's not for that it's for the household, for that party. It doesn't stand out much, but has that depth that is justified in every way.
Leftfield have made an album which draws a lot on Hip-hop influences ... ...you start from the top with the track 'Release The Pressure'. From there it picks up in pace, but the best tracks are 'Original' and 'Black Flute' and they appear in that order. 'Original' doesn't have the pace, but it doesn't need that, it is well known due to its use in TV adverts, and it's a fantastic chill-out record in its own right.
"The film starts, the film ends, nothing is said in between. Just someone's moments from someone else's story. ...
Trancemasta 18.01.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Leftism - Leftfield
Advantages: the total package Disadvantages: they haven't quite been able to match the spendour
...and techno the producers of Leftism were on a simple rationale....make it kick, echo and kick some more. The amazing Melt is an ideal way to start a techno house DJ set with its melancholic swells, Song of Life is a classic on its own and is worthy of heaps of praise but tracks on their own don't make magnificent albums. Every track stands out, they just stand in different areas, and that is what makes this album essential. Forget what you have heard ...
baloo 04.09.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Leftism - Leftfield
...in on an inspirational level. Leftism has a very much worldwide appeal, without it being crap world dance music. African and other cultures have obviously influenced the album, most obvious with the vocalists hired for tracks. The tracks work and build up very well and are well structured, but admittedly less diverse than those found on Rhythm and Stealth. Now that this album has been knocked down in price, I would suggest any dance fan makes a purchase. ...
mattmorrison 12.07.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Leftism - Leftfield
Advantages: longer lasting album Disadvantages: has to end some time
...1995, mixmag says 'go buy leftism - its brilliant' and they were right.
i bought the cassette as i was only a poor student at the time as opposed to being a poor working person.
took it back to my cardboard box and stuck it on, i was having a pot noodle at the time but nevertheless it did exactly as it said on the tin.
possibly a life-defining moment in time for me - but if you havent got it go judge for yourself.
By the way, i did get the cd ... ...eh, those were the days... and it still sounds brill,
Also, I met up with Paul Daley at an afterparty one night where he had been djing - almost as good a dj as a producer.
1. Release the pressure - cracker of a opening track, sets the mood perfectly (10)
2. Afro-left - at the time well ahead of its time (10)
3. Melt - hmmm hang on, time has had its toll on my mind, i have to play this one again, the name doesnt ring a bell...
Right thats better, ...
skinbop72 16.09.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Leftism - Leftfield
Advantages: Just listen to it and you'll know Disadvantages: None
Buy this now! Dont stop to read this. Go to any website you want and buy this album, no matter what the price is. It is is simply the best album ever. NO other group comes close to this sort of perfection. It is amazing. I dont knw what else to write about it because I ma lost for words. It must be heard bu everybody whether they like dance and breakbeat or not. For once the hype around this is justified because it is an incredible album that must ...
sarg173 04.09.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Leftism - Leftfield
Originality
Lyrics
Quality and consistency...
How does it rate alongs...
Value for Money
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Advantages: Good mix of different styles Disadvantages: You might not love every single track
Electro Glide in Blue is an awesome and ecclectic mix of two styles -
hard-hitting dub/big beat tracks and really chilled ambient tracks. The album
cuts between the two styles all the way through, and whilst some may find this
difficult to listen to, I like the unpredictability.
Musical comparisons are always a little dodgy, but I will dare to compare this
album with the mighty Leftfield - Leftism album. It has the same style of
cutting between fast, hard-hitting dance tracks and mellow chill-out tunes.
If you like Leftfield, or maybe even Fatboy Slim, buy this album. If
you're a fan of Apollo's later, more mainstream 'pop' music, I'm not so sure
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Advantages: Great To Dance To Disadvantages: Some Weird Tracks
Rhythm and stealth is the follow up to leftfield excellent album leftism, the album comprises of 10 tracks each more weird and cool than its predecessor. The track Phat Planet, is great and has been widely used on television adverts such as the Benson and Hedges adverts, the second best track on the album has to be swords, this was leftfield last ever released song and vocals performed by Nicole Willis, the track hit the charts back at the end of 1999 and managed to reach number one in the charts. Rhythm And Stealth is a great album and to me will always be great and I?m sure many other leftfield fans will agree with me, but I suppose we all have to be honest and say nothing, including Rhythm And Stealth will ever compare to the beauty of leftism. ...
Advantages: fairly good album if you know nothing about electronic music Disadvantages: gets dull, lacking innovation, heard it all before
I can't help thinking that Leftfield could have just released 74 minutes of white noise as their second album and it would still have been hailed as genius after the techno/dub monster that was 'Leftism'.
The main problem with this album is that it's just not original enough anymore. Unfortunatly for Leftfield, they waited so long between albums and their first album was so influential, that there are now plenty of other people doing this kind of music who do it a lot better. Taken in isolation this album is pretty good but even tunes like 'Phat Planet' (that one from the guiness advert with the surfers) just sound like an over produced Aphex Twin B-side. Don't get me wrong, i think it's a good tune but i can't help thinking that the only reason that people go on about it all the time is because 90% of those who bought Leftism have ...
Hard Hands/Higherground / Sony Music/Arvato Services
Producer
Leftfield
Pieces in Set
1
Studio / Live
Studio
Stereo
Stereo
Format
Performer
EAN
5099747814228
Additional notes
Album Notes
Leftfield: Neil Barnes, Paul Daley. Additional personnel: Earl Sixteen, Papa Dee, Djum Djum, Toni Halliday, Danny Red, John Lydon, Lemn Sissay (vocals); Kevin Haynes (berimbau). Engineers: Joe Gibb, Adam Wren, Ollie J., Simon Duffy. Recorded at Rollover Studios, London, England. With Leftism, Leftfield made the crossover of techno into the pop mainstream two years before the likes of the Chemical Brothers. Embarking on a series of high-profile collaborations, they introduced to the charts a musical manifesto that had been popular in the clubs for years - including ambient ('Song Of Life'), pure techno, ragga, African tribal chants ('Afro-Left') and the all-important remix. The pumping, snarling 'Open Up', featuring John Lydon, predated the Prodigy in its blend of punk and dance, and 'Original', with Curve's Toni Halliday, ironically inspired a multitude of imitators. Most of these tracks have become ubiquitous through mainstream television and film, and it is easy to forget that, before Leftfield, techno music had only rarely stepped outside clubland.
Album Reviews
Q (6/00, p.75) - Ranked #34 in Q's "100 Greatest British Albums" Q (12/99, p.84) - Included in Q Magazine's "90 Best Albums Of The 1990s." Q (2/96, p.65) - Included in Q's 50 Best Albums of 1995 - "...Britain's most comfortably at-home dance record yet..." Melody Maker (12/23-30/95, pp.66-67) - Ranked #13 on Melody Maker's list of 1995's 'Albums Of The Year' - "A clean, modernist classic....Future dance at its most visionary and accessible..." NME (12/23-30/95, pp.22-23) - Ranked #28 in NME's 'Top 50 Albums Of The Year' for 1995 - "...encompasses South American percussion, dub, the icy techno-goth tonsils of Toni Halliday and Lydon's fearsome apocalyptic warbling." Alternative Press (5/00, p.120) - Included in AP's "10 Essential Dance Albums That Rock" - "...The mood varies throughout, but the apocalyptic message still burns through." Musician (11/95, p.93) - "...Leftfield takes a decidedly eclectic approach to dance music, drawing from a variety of influences instead of relying on a single style. Not only does that keep the groove from becoming predictable, but it allows the band to indulge a wide range of musical moods..."
Titles on disc 1
1.
Release The Pressure
2.
Afro Left
3.
Melt
4.
Song Of Life
5.
Original
6.
Black Flute
7.
Space Shanty
8.
Inspection (Check One)
9.
Storm 3000
10.
Open Up
11.
21st Century Poem
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