Aphrodite

Aphrodite | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 26, 1999)
• Original Release Date: October 26, 1999
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Gee Street (Bmg)
• ASIN: B000020610
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #149,879 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Interlude

2. Cross Channel

3. Spice [Even Spicier][Mix]

4. B.M. Funkster

5. Interlude

6. Rinsing Quince [Slider Mix]

7. Style from the Dark Side ['99][Mix]

8. Interlude

9. Cool Flight

10. Stalker

11. King of the Beats

12. Listen to the Rhythm

13. Music's Hypnotizing [Re-Charged]

14. Woman That Rolls!

15. Summer Breeze

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

As a guy who puts out 12-inch jungle singles on a regular basis, Aphrodite has found himself in a rut in the three years leading up to this release. As the partycentric "jump-up" style he favors began settling into a formula, he cranked out three or four duff tracks for every dance-floor stormer he's come up with. By this point, his disdain for experimentation is beginning to seem less like a principle and more like a dodge. Nearly every track that emerges from his camp relies on the same tambourine loop and wobbly bass line--though with a different rap sample thrown in to distinguish them. So consider his stateside debut album something of a surprise. Jumbling together tracks old and new, Aphrodite has put together an absolutely convincing summary of what he does and why. From "B.M. Funkster," which blatantly samples the O'Jays's "Money," to "Summer Breeze," which roughs up the immortal Seals & Crofts pop tune, Aphrodite doesn't exactly court subtlety. This is unapologetic dance music, too committed to moving the crowd to advance the science of jungle technology. When it doesn't work it has nothing else going for it to keep your interest. But when it's on--and this record is on--the music doesn't need anything else. --Jeff Salamon

Product Description

Out-of-print in the US.! Aphrodite is Gavin King, a DJ/producer and trendsetter in the Drum 'N' Bass/Jungle field. This 1999 American debut album is a reworked version of his UK album Aphrodite Recordings, a singles collection released two year earlier. 15 tracks including 'Spice', 'Stalker', 'King Of The Beats' and more. V2.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Aphrodite blisters my soul., November 2, 1999

By 

Faustine McNamara-Guggenheim (Bilbao, Spain) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Aphrodite (Audio CD)

As a young girl growing up in suburban Rotterdam, the sounds of the street; New Beat, Gothcore, Death House, and Southern Rock, were permanently imprinted onto my developing and impressionable mind. As a teenager, I worked in a dance club in downtown Rotterdam called Das Boofenhaus, where I sold fresh waffles and vinyl clothing accessories to the clubgoers. It was at Das Boofenhaus where I first came into contact with Aphrodite one fateful night. I had ingested many substances that night and was about to lose consciousness behind the counter of my wafflestand when a hand reached over the cash register and ripped the wig off my head. I tried to blow my rave whistle in protest, but I couldn't catch my breath; the beat was too strong. As the strobe lights flickered, I saw a human form waving my wig in the air on the other side of the counter. Was it Aphrodite? I beseeched him to give me my wig back, and he obliged by tossing it over the counter and into a vat of waffle batter. I snatched it up quickly and put it back on; waffle batter was dripping down my already mascara-stained face. "APHRODITE!" I screamed. But he was gone... This CD rips my consciousness back to that moment and causes me much pain and ecstasy. My emotions remain unresolved. I will forever love Aphrodite. My husband Seb has forbidden me to play this CD in our home. I must listen to it in secret.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The King of the BASS, April 13, 2001

By 

Jason Robey "horakhti" (Silver Spring, MD USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Aphrodite (Audio CD)

For some odd reason I didn't really like Aphrodite's eponymous release when I first listened to it. I bought it because I loved Aphrodite's remix of the Jungle Brothers song "Jungle Brother" on "MTV's Amp 2" (a damn good disc; recommended.) To be honest, I'm not sure what the heck I was thinking. This one's a burner and it just gets better every time I hear it. I get that just-bought-a-new-CD-and-it's-slammin' feeling almost every time I spin this.

Now, as the electronic dance community is well aware, most big name DJ's aren't very prolific producers, if they produce at all. So when you say you're into DJ X, you're really saying that you like the way he mixes and you dig his track selections. The DJ (almost) never has anything to do with the production of the actual sounds that you're listening to. (We all know this, but I'm trying to make a point.) Which brings me to my point (see?): the tracks on "Aphrodite" are ALL original! Aphrodite produced every sound you hear on this amazing CD (except for the samples, but nice sample choices!)

Almost every track is a party. If I had to choose my favorite track, I'd say "Style From The Dark Side '99." But honestly, it's way too hard to choose favorites with such a superb collection of music. This will remind you of Fatboy Slim in that it's very funky and upbeat. Aphrodite wants you to get on the dancefloor and freak. If I heard this type of music at a club (which I never have), a team of oxen wouldn't be able to drag me from the dancefloor. (Well, maybe I'm wrong about the oxen - 'dey pretty strong.)

They call Aphrodite the "King of the Beats," which I have no objection to, but I think a more accurate title would be "King of the Bass." The bass on these tracks is like Jello pudding - real smooth, soopah tasty, and it even makes your stomach feel good.

Each track follows a basic formula. A given track will start off relatively spare - a drum sequence, a sample or two - then the pace starts to quicken as electronics are added with just a hint of that amazing bass that will surface later in the track. More sounds are mixed in, swirled together, joined, released... At times, depending on how involved I become, it can be almost maddening waiting for that bass to kick in. I mean that in a good AND bad way, because to me the track really hasn't started until the bass arrives - sometimes it takes too long (I can be impatient about these things.) But damn, when it does, the whole thing ignites and begins cooking and it's just bliss. My favorite, "Style From The Dark Side '99," is a good example of this.

Unfortunately, there are a couple of tracks that are majorly flawed. For instance, the samples on "Spice (Even Spicier)" are way too annoying. Too bad, because the bassline is one of the best on the whole album and the jazz is a nice addition. Another flaw: as I mentioned, sometimes it takes forever for the bass to kick in. It's entertaining to hear Aphrodite build a track, and this really shows off how talented he is, but sometimes it's a little much and breaks the flow. Also, I'm baffled that other reviewers of this album liked "Summer Breeze," even went so far as to call it their favorite track. In my opinion, it's the worst track on the album. It reminds me of some of the sellout trash that Roni Size has been dropping recently. And lastly, there's the occasional too-much-of-the-same factor that plagues every DJ mix I've ever heard; this isn't necessarily an indictment, just an observation.

Although I have some minor issues with some of the album, on the whole I think it's damn great. There really isn't anything out there that sounds quite like this (that I've heard.) Thus it receives my highest recommendation. All you drum 'n' bass heads: if you're open to, or searching for, d'n'b that's upbeat and funky then you NEED this! I'd also recommend this to fans of Fatboy Slim; although it's a different style, the overarching philosophies of these two artists are very similar (i.e., that's the move-the-crowd-and-have-fun philosophy.) Everyone else, I dunno, just listen to the samples: You like? You buy.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best, April 30, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Aphrodite (Audio CD)

Aphrodite's self titled release is arguably the best jungle CD that I have ever heard. For the first two weeks that I had this CD, I listened to nothing else. Aphrodite has explored nearly every element of jungle in this album. The Slider remix of Rising Quince has become my favorite jungle beat. I have been a huge fan of jungle for the past 4 years, and this CD is at the top of my list. If you haven't heard it, buy it now. It will be an investment you won't regret.