True Colours - High Contrast

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Groundbreaking
Lyrics	Not applicable
Quality and consistency of tracks	Flawless
How does it rate alongside the competition	Outstanding
Value for Money	Excellent

Advantages:	Atmospheric d'n'b classics
Disadvantages:	Not much of these .  .  .

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

Yes, this one here is a true classics of the genre. A grounbreaking debut that earned the author a reputation of one of the scene's greatest. Almost all of the tracks have hit the mixes, dancefloors, radio and are really well-known to all those d'n'b heads. This was the first time such a sweet, soft and soulful samples were brought together with a solid drum'n'bass platform, creating a completely new sound - a task so many failed to achieve before.

Genres and styles he mixed together with a drum'n'bass basis is really impressive. Here you will find electro, house, trance, latin samples, that give the tracks a good piece of flavor of these genres. But the d'n'b platform makes it sound in a whole new way and there is no doubt that everything here is a 100 drum'n'bass. These borrowings have brought the whole genre at a whole knew level, giving a broader range of opportunities of expression as ever before. Perhaps this is the main reason of such kind of succes.

The opener track "Return of Forever" is the most popular here. It's combination of true anthemic build, synth bass and rich but not heavy beats make it a really hypnotic tune. The most emotional one in months. This one has it's well-deserved place among the genre's best ever.
The second one, "Music is Everything" is great example of sweet female vocals, piano samples and pretty fast but soft beat in a jungle style altogether creating one fluent rhytm. It is not so bright and emotional as the previous, but it creates a long-lasting, soft and nice to hear atmosphere.
The following one is called in the same way as the album itself - "True Colors". Here, a nice and soft male vocal is used, which is pretty a rare thing. Track has a very deep sound with house style samples softened, but playing a major role in the composition. Another example of pretty unusual but succesful borrowing from another style.
The next one, "Global Love", is another soulful track. It might not have such an anthemic and epic sound as the opener, but it is nevertheless just as much emotional as it. Deep house sounds are also used here.
A track called "Expose" is the softest here. It contains a latin-style female vocals, pretty jazzy piano samples and overall is built in a pretty "brasilia" style. It is much more funky than groovy.
"Passion" is well-deserved name for the next track, that's for sure. Combination of pretty odd violin samples, a female vocals of a very high tone and pretty solid bass sound is done in such a skillful manner, that it is one of the album's most emotional ones. Very beautiful tune.
Another massive hit "Can You Make It Tonight" is done is a pretty similar style, but the beat is much more dynamic and dancefloor orientated. This is the main reason of its popularity. But of course, very melodic sounds are also included along with the most emotional female vocals on the album. Another soulful track, one of my favorites.
The next one "Remember When" begins with some ethnic samples and keeps them till the end. With pretty soft and fluent beat, whispering vocals and chillout samples, it is a relaxation track done in ambient style. Another unusual, but high quality piece of sound.
"Savoir Faire" brings in some summer beach party style flavor. Pretty groovy and positive track, definetly generating a good spirit around. Pretty unusual samples for a common drum'n'bass basis.
"Fool's Gold" has completely different mood. Some deep ethnic samples and male vocals create a relaxing, but some kind of philosophical atmosphere. Big up.
The last one, "Mermaid Scar" contains electro samples of a very high tone and pretty agressive (comparing to the other tracks of the album) beat. The atmosphere is pretty beautiful, but the major part of the track is a simple bassline. Perhaps the weakest one here.

Overall, this one is an absolute must have for all those drum'n'bass heads. One of the most important albums in genre's history, and one of the best in it's classic fond. Also, it is a excellent piece of sound to get if you want to get to know what the atmospheric drum'n'bass is all about.