Customer Reviews

Abductions & Reconstructions

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Let me first state that I am a Thievery Corporation fan, but this is an incredibly underwhelming CD. Most of the remixes do not really take the listener anywhere and do not significantly modify (or "reconstruct" or "abduct") the original recordings. If you want to enjoy Thievery Corporation, then purchase "Sounds of the Hi-Fi" or the "DJ Kicks Compilation". If you want to hear creative remixes of other artists, then buy Kruder & Dorfmeister.

I have all the Thievery Corporation CD's and this one is my least favorite. (Mirror Conspiracy being my favorite.) But that doesn't mean it is a bad CD. Just that, when compared to the others, it isn't as good. But I still enjoy the CD and listen to it often. My favorite track is #1, David Byrne- Dancing on Vaseline. I think, that if you enjoy the other Thievery Corporation Cd's, you'll like this. It's still a wonderful loungy groovy thing that you can put on and turn up.

This is very cool loungy music. Having been to the club (the 18th St. lounge) many times I can say that this disc is representative of some of the best stuff the djs there spin. Its a great relaxing compilation with some great mixes of already great songs. I wouldn't say really that you can dance and groove to them but if you are looking to set a loungy party atmoshpere or just have some friends over for a few martinis this is just the thing.

Thievery Corporation - "Abductions & Reconstructions" (Downtempo, Electronica, Trip-Hop) : The Thievery Corporation has long since mined the more instrumental end of Downtempo trip-Hop, and made a name for themselves, by usually delivering Solid albums, with their sublime "The Mirror Conspiracy" largely sonsidered their best work.

Here they tackle the prospect of 'Remixing' (or reinterpreting), a collection of 14 or so artists. That are not all necessarily associated with Electronic or Downtempo Music. And as well as tackling Artists that are familiar to most (stereolab, Gus Gus, David Byrne, Black Uhuru), they also re image less-known artists work with as much proficiency (Edson Cordeiro, Waldeck, Savior Faire, Slide Five).

"David Byrne's - Dance on Vaseline" gets a contemporary subtle Dance-beat reinterpretation, with slinky and a restrained Laid-back and stylish percussion beat layed underneath the David Byrne's vocal, and the effect is most impressive, like a supremely sophisticated Laid-back Alternative Pop tune.

"Rockers Hi-Fi's - Tranmission Central" is given a dub re-edit, and the Thievery Corporation trademark of Eastern-influenced instrumental Percussion and string arrangements & Samples makes this a beautifully hybrid of Trip-Hop composition with Dub/Reggae vocals overlayed

My Personal fave, (although its a close run thing) is the re imaging of "Stereolab's - Ticker-Tape of the Unconscious", with rather than stripping the track of Stereolab's trademark Kraut-rock electronics & Drone, soften the edges and turns it into a more sensual Electronica-derived track, that retains the original female vocal, but reshapes it to fit within the context of the new composition.

What works so well for the Thievery Corporation is the fact that, they realise that some tracks actually don't need to be completely reconstructed, to compete as being as good tracks. When carefully considered sampling or instrumention or a well chosen Elegant, Stylish or well chosen vocal track to underpin their Eastern-styled synth swooshes or sampling, will present a fresh spin on a track, but still maintaining the integrity of the original. And so "Thunderball's - Hijack" & "Edson Cordeiro's" sublime vocal "Ave Maria", aren't completely reinterpreted, but more given a tidy Lounge makeover, with the essence of the original still intact.

"Gus Gus's", style of quirky and Cerebral electronica find that their Polyesterday is completely taken apart and rebuilt with echoey keys, Continental flair & atmospheric percussion, with the vocals reedited...it feels a fair distance away from the original and is expertly produced, and although noticeably different does the original proud.

"Black Uhuru" (another act that have had their material remixed by Trip-Hop artists), find their "Boof N' Baff N'' Biff" not so much 'Dubbed', but given a lazy smoked out groove with the reggae vocal still largely intact. And seeing how most remixers would baulk at the prospect of turning a reggae tune into something digestable for the Downtempo/Trip-Hop Crowd. Here the Thievery Corporation rise to the challenge, and breathe life into the mix by introducing a head-bobber of a drum loop, layered with loads of reverb and echo, and tweaked bass and drums to impressive effect.

If your a Thievery Corporation fan....then as mentioned in a previous review, there's a lot here that'll appeal. the musical trademarks to brought them their audience is stamped over a lot of the material here, and proves them to be not only excellent remixers in their own right, but seemingly have impeccable track/artist selection for who to remix.

If want criticisms to give this a balanced review, then it could be argued that some of the beats or instrumentation used feels familiar to their previous work, and irrespective of how well incorporated it is here, isn't as innovative as some of the other artists in this genre. But what they lack in cutting-edge sounds, then make up with 'Mood, Atmosphere, Production & unexpected choices' (Stereolab??...Black Uhuru??...David Byrne??). Sure, this album will take you nowhere fast, but isn't that the point of Chill-out???

Until one day ago, I had never heard of the Thievery Corporation, nor their lounge in DC -- which is where I work. The store I was in just happened to have all three of their CDs on display for listening. I walked out of the store with all three (after paying of course. grin). Of the three, this is my favorite. It's a little more upbeat than the others and the mixes just take me away. The sounds are funky, slick and creative all at the same time. I very highly recommend this CD. The others are great as well, but this one just kicks it! Like another reviewer said, you may not be able to dance to all of it, but your head and neck will get some exercise from all the head-bobbin' you'll be doing.

A nice 1999 entry for the D.C. acid jazz/trance duo. On this album we have some unique beats and soulful melodies to groove to! The David Byrne one launches it nicely into the mellow funk arena, and the rest of the album provides the listener with a nice taste of what Thievery can do in the studio. The Ursula 1000 tune is a prime example of what this dynamic duo is capable of... Listen for the drums and contrasting melodies; shades of DC go-go spice up the background, coupled with ice-cold lounge sounds surrounding your head. If you like Thievery's stuff -- buy this one now!

What can you say about a compilation that includes streaks from a cross section of bands as psychedelic as Baaba Maal, Black Uhuru, Avatars of Dub and Gus Gus? That it's ambitious.

The music here is neat, as almost anything from Thievery usually is, just that the title seems to promise some sort of remixing ("Reconstruction"?). In that sense the album fails miserably, I'd still pick K&D anyday for spiffy remixes of tracks of all genres.

Having said that though, this straightforward album gets my top marks for a decent selection of trip-hop grooves. Noteworthy: Hooverphonic, Gus Gus, Slide 5, Urbz 'n Chaos.

Nothing to shout from rooftops about, but a worthy addition to your downtempo collection nonetheless...

i agree with the other reviewers. this is the worst "thievery corporation" cd i've heard. buy "the richest man" by the same group and listen to the tracks "facing east", "the outernationalist" and "omid". or try the cut "originality" on thievery corporation's "versions" cd. much better than this collection of meandering drivel (abductions and reconstructions) where there is no real atmosphere, no groove, and only bad vocals.

or better yet, try the band "crystal method" (takes more chances and is very cool as background electronic groove music). crystal method is more for listening to inside, however the best of thievery corporation is also great music for firedancers (like by the ocean in big sur).

One of my best records to date. Eric Hilton and Rob Garza, more popularly known as Thivery Corporation, displays their magic of making cool, dub and down-temp beats that makes them one of the top pics of people who enjoys laying back, to escape from the busy urban life of the city. If you have records of Fila Brazilla (Luck be a Weirdo...Maim that Tune...Mess) and Baby Mammoth (Swimming...), you will definitely like this one.

I own all three Thievery Corporation records and i think they're all incredibly good music. Nonetheless this one stands out a bit. The choice of songs is great and T.C. do a very good job in remixing them. Favorite song: "defenceless"