... Leftism carried this technique off to a treat and Rhythm and Stealth offers more of the same, if not in a slightly different guise.
I suppose that I'm writing this in a way that would suggest that people know a bit about Leftfield and I apologise for this, it's the kind of music that needs ... Read review
A review by craiggy_boy on Rhythm And Stealth - Leftfield January 3rd, 2002
Author's product rating:
Originality
Groundbreaking
Lyrics
Standard
Quality and consistency of tracks
A couple of weak links
How does it rate alongside the competition
Good
Value for Money
Advantages:
Original, energising and "Different"
Disadvantages:
Can sound harsh and monotonous if you don't like that kind of thing
Recommend to potential buyers:
yes
Full review
Today, I sat down and tried to recollect how long it had been since I last wrote something for Ciao. After a quick look at my neglected account page, I realised that it's been nearly 2 months or more since I put finger to keyboard for our consumer site. There have been many trials and tribulations in the life of Craiggy_Boy which meant that I either couldn't be bothered or didn't have the time to produce anything for Ciao, and it's also worth noting that the new payment system did little to form a good enough incentive to boost my flagging enthusiasm for op writing. You see, I was pretty annoyed when our good friends at Ciao decided to stop payments on virtually all areas of the entertainment section; it would appear that CDs and videos don't really qualify as consumer products worthy of payment for writing about and as this is what I tend to concentrate on dedicating my time to, I was a little miffed to say the least.
Now I'll admit that I'm a man of the world, or I like to think I am anyway ;) and despite being only of the tender age of 21, my student years have taught me well enough how to handle a microwave, toaster and also how to brew a decent curry (me being a Midlander student after all hehe). Surprisingly enough though, the appeal wasn't really there, it seems like I'm in a limbo land as of this point; having enough experience of life to write about various kitchen appliances but not wanting to, but not quite ready to delve into the world of baby wipes, domestic cleaners and ironing equipment - or at least not for a good few years yet ;). Hence I decided to swallow my pride, bite the bullet and get back to writing music reviews, even though I don't get paid for them any more…
Anyway with my half hearted attempt at a sulk/rant at an end, I'll get back to business…
Over the recent months, I found that although my CD collection was still expanding, I was coming to a point where I felt that a change of direction was needed. For the few months prior to September/Octoberish, I had been concentrating on collecting some of the classics and now having come to a point where I have all the ones that I want or could afford, I decided that I would revive my interest in the alternative dance scene. I decided this for a number of reasons: firstly, because although I have lots of various mix compilations in my racks, they obviously are designed for a wider audience and everything on them isn't gonna be to everyone's taste; and secondly, because I fancied something totally different and was interested to see what standard of album a dance act could produce when placed on their own stage.
Now I love Leftfield and always have done ever since hearing "Song of life" way back in 1994 - it's graced many a compilation and has been championed by famous DJs in clubs world wide, thus making Leftfield a household name in the progressive dance scene. The release of the debut album Leftism came some years after the release of some of it's singles but it did very well nonetheless, revolutionising the way that dance music was performed and recorded. Leftfield had moved away from the more conventional way of making a dance album - producing a number of catchy chart toppers and filling up on shoddy B-sides; they were more interested in making an album as an entire product, to be listened to from start to finish which although contained singles, did not place to much emphasis on them or their position in the track listing.
A lot of people would argue that particularly over the last few years, Leftfield's influence over the electronica genre has slackened and that they are nothing special or original any more, here I would beg to differ. I've listened to acts from all over the genre, from the stunningly melodic Masters at Work to the progressive house/trip-hop hybrid Bent and have to say there are few productions, if any, that can move from skull splitting banging beats to laid back trippy soothers in such a smooth and understated way. You realise that it's happening but the way that it's done means that you are taken from low to high, from rhythmic paranoia to blissed out contentment in a blink of an eye leaving you feeling totally fulfilled by the time the last track is playing out. Leftism carried this technique off to a treat and Rhythm and Stealth offers more of the same, if not in a slightly different guise.
I suppose that I'm writing this in a way that would suggest that people know a bit about Leftfield and I apologise for this, it's the kind of music that needs to be heard to be understood. I'll start by saying that Rhythm and Stealth is not an album for the faint hearted or a new comer to the genre. If you fancy something experimental and haven't really bought anything of this sort before, then I'd advise against it; Leftfield's approach is definitely fantastic but I wouldn't be surprised if a listen to this album would leave many people cold; you should maybe try an album like Vertigo by Groove Armada which preaches some of the same principles but with a much less clinical angle on production.
The album opens with a pumping average tempoed morsel "Dusted ", with a monotonous and deep baseline accompanied by some aggressive rapped vocals. The intentions are made clear right from the beginning, for me, this album is definitely uplifting, but much better to play if you want taking out of a mood or are thoroughly annoyed with life. The somewhat clean and empty sounding production work continues into Phat Planet, arguably the track that is going to have everyone tapping feet in recognition. This track featured somewhat anonymously on a Guinness advert a few years ago and it wasn't till recently that I discovered who it was by.
If you're after something rich in melodies and vocal work then I'd stop right here, Rhythm and Stealth just isn't about that. Most tracks, even the chilled numbers such as El-Cid are cold sounding and don't have that quality of warmth and richness that earlier releases such as Release the Pressure possess. The variation in the album doesn't lie so much in the melodies but more in the production work and structuring. Percussion and LFOs fade in and out of being from track to track and the years that the duo spent producing remixes in the early 90s have meant that a track can remain long with only subtle changes being implemented without making a track appear dull or monotonous.
The album is continuously giving the listener something new to think about with abrupt changes in mood taking you on a psychological trip. The most notable of these is between the super chilledEl-Cid and the glorious Afrika Shox. L-Sid boasts some of the richest undulating bass work that you are likely to hear, so it's worth noting that if you really want to get the entire experience of this album you might want to play it on a stereo whose speakers can handle the job, or at least turn off the bass on the lower models. We're then brought onto what is for me the highlight of the album, Afrika Shox. It just can't fail to get you going; combining the kind of banging break beat backings that would make your granny's ears bleed and the class of treble rich techno synths that any German underground club would be proud of. add this to the vocoda and rapping that overlay it and you have the centre pin of a superbly rounded production.
Beyond this point, the album takes on a more laid back vibe, whilst tending towards a more industrial sound. 6/8 War in particular is verging on the Nine Inch Nails industrial sound whilst " " is verging on the analogue end of trip-hop. In some ways the critics of this album may have a point, it isn't a masterpiece of melodies and rich ideas, but what it does is stretch the fabric of "Dance" to its very limits making even the most cynical dance "4 on the floor" hater think again.
There's a certain arrogance about Rhythm and Stealth that I love, it's as though Barnes and dailly are going out of their way to produce something different and controversial, the last time I remember an album of this sort coming out was Mezzanine by Massive Attack and there are definitely similarities between the 2. Strip it down and Rhythm and Stealth could easily be described as a collection of white noise, harsh enveloping effects and cold volumeless synths, but listen deeper and learn more about the genre and you'll see what it's really about. Music Is made for everyone to enjoy, but primarily it is made so that the composer can channel any aggression, fears, pain, or whatever into something productive - if you can take the time out to empathise with this, then you're halfway there. If you can take further time to just turn up your stereo and listen to what the music is making you feel as opposed to what it is making you think, then you'll be well on the way to appreciating Rhythm and Stealth as much as I do.
A happy new year to you all Take care
Craig
More Reviews
Stealth taxing Review ofRhythm And Stealth - Leftfieldby
SidneyJames
Advantages: Afrixa Shox, Dusted, Phat Planet Disadvantages: Not enough variation amongst the other tracks
...weight of history and with Rhythm and Stealth they joined so many others in failing the difficult second album trial by fire. The thing is Rhythm and Stealth isn’t a bad album. If it had been released by any other band it may have been hailed as something special. However it’s not Leftism 2 as so many people wanted. In fact if anything it’s a step forward as well as a step backwards for Leftfield. Rhythm and Stealth is sometimes ... ...on cheap sherry. Rhythm and Stealth begins in fine style with the track ‘Dusted‘. All dubbed out space fxs and keyboards, sleek techno beats and a planet devouring bass line. Add the icy cool vocals of Roots Manuva to the mix and simmer until your brain is slowly crushed by the slow gravitational pull of the track. ‘Dusted’ is as equally strong as the majority of tracks on Leftism and clearly shows the production skills of ...
Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
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 ... ...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 never really heard any other grinding experimental electronic music.
Rhythm&Stealth still has all the classic ...
Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Advantages: unusual, interesting sounds Disadvantages: not all astounding 'songs'
I bought this album purely on the strength of 'phat planet' and 'afrika shox', two astoundingly brilliant songs that are still by far my favourites on the album. Initially I have to admit that I found the album a little disappointing. I think this was just because it wasn't anything like what I was expecting. Normally into groups like the Prodigy, I was expecting an album full of tracks in the standard format. Yet what 'Rhythm and Stealth' presents ... ...of Leftfield's music, rather than Leftfield's songs. '4/6 War', 'Rino's Prayer' and 'Dub Gusset' are more collections of sound ambiences, odd electronic beats and sound stabs than a song in the traditional sense.
My problem was that I tried to listen to all the tracks as songs within themselves. This is not where 'Rhythm and Stealth' excels. If you want to enjoy this album, you need to put it on in the background, while you are playing on your computer ...
Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Originality
Lyrics
Quality and consistency...
How does it rate alongs...
Value for Money
very helpful
12.12.2000
LEFT WHAT??????? Review ofRhythm And Stealth - Leftfieldby
mowat
Advantages: it's leftfield Disadvantages: none
Before reviewing this album, anyone will automatically look towards the first album, Leftism, before listening. This has mixed blessings. First, Leftism is a classic. It's slow building poularity, to current multi-platinum status, was due to a mix of basslines, songs and a real progression across the album from chilled to big, bouncy stormers. So Rythm and Stealth was always going to be compared. Should it be Leftism part 2? With about 5 years between ... ...quite dark, dub heavy, big beating bruiser. It has songs, yes, but other than Swords, it's mainly the sheer weight and "size" of the tunes which impacts. But taking this as an album of multiple Phat Planets is wrong too. Rythm... varies from MCing on Africa Shox, to gorgeous female vocals on the aforementioned Swords. So possibly another classic? We'll see, but some hell of an album. ...
Read review
Advantages: some good stuff Disadvantages: a bit of a mixed bag
this cd was slated by some people for not being as good as leftism but that is a bit unfair, this is not bad at all. it is hard to describe the style, most of the tracks have a hard techno beat and baseline but are much slower than real techno. you will know the start of 'phat planet' from that guinness advert with the waves and the horses and the single 'afrika shox' is an interesting track (feat. afrika bambaataa). but for me the bast tracks are ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Advantages: Wonderfully created beats in an area Disadvantages: Not exactly well known.
...'s a reputation that Leftfield have found hard to drop.
Just in case if you are wondering, that Guinness advertisement with the Surfers, and the big wave, that is a Leftfield production. That track is called Phat Planet and is on their second album, 'Rhythm and Stealth'. Go get that along with Leftism, if you have a brain....
Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Advantages: Relaxing and always makes me feel better Disadvantages: Goes down hill a bit towards the end
...and Mary belted out a fair few of Gaye's classic ballads and dance tracks. I was hooked, but it wasn't until a few months ago that I finally bought the Best of Marvin Gaye CD - there I was in HMV, taking advantage of the 2 for £20 offer, Marvin Gaye's Greatest Hits in one hand and Leftfield's Rhythm and Stealth in the other - what an odd chap the sales assistant must have thought, but when I got the CD home - I realised what a great move I'd made in buying it.
In my opinion, the lurv masters don't come much finer than Marvin Gaye - although Barry White was indeed a great talent, he pales into insignificance alongside Marvin Gaye in my opinion. Marvin had an illustrious group and solo career spanning over 20 years: in his time he'd seen close friends die, numerous marriages crumble and a cocaine habit that was eventually to lead to the ruin...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Advantages: An astonishingly diverse album, expanding their genre in fascinating new ways. Disadvantages: Releasing "One More Time" as the first single has made their audience a little cynical.
...In 1997 Daft Punk (Frenchmen Thomas Bangalter and Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo) released their debut album “Homework”, which has since been recognised as one of the finest dance music albums ever written. It ranks alongside Leftfield’s “Leftism” (1995) and Massive Attack’s “Blue Lines” (1991) as one of the very greatest albums focused on electronic sounds. As the two artists above have shown, writing a follow-up to a highly successful album is extremely difficult. Leftfield waited until 1999 before releasing “Rhythm And Stealth” and it has taken a similar length of time for Daft Punk to write their second album “Discovery”.
“Discovery” doesn’t just have to contend with matching the extremely high expectations generated after ‘Homework’...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
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18.01.2001
