Customer Reviews

Brazilian Job

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Somebody has to write a review for this album, so I guess I've volunteered myself. My initial reaction from hearing this CD was close to an "Oh my god!". It's rare that you hear Jungle/Drum & Bass music of this high caliber from a relatively unknown DJ.

The man I am talking about is the one and only DJ Marky of Brazil. In the past year, he has torn up the UK charts with his sensational hit 'LK (Carolina Carol Bela)', a Jungle track that uses samples from a Brazilian record by Jorge Ben & Toquinho. The song has a mean guitar lick that gets me jumping nearly every time. This new breed of Brazilian Jungle/Drum & Bass music has been blasting around the globe at an astounding rate, and DJ Marky is the forefront of the scene. Personally, 'LK' is one of the finest Jungle tracks I have yet heard, and I'm sure fans of DJ LTJ Bukem and his entire Good Looking Label will enjoy Marky's latest CD. Because of the success and wide critical acclaim that Marky has been receiving lately, it's no wonder he entered at #52 in DJ Magazine's prestigious Top 100 International DJs of 2002 poll.

The best tracks on here are, at least in my opinion, (#1) Jorge Ben & Toquinho - 'LK (DJ Marky & XRS Land Mix)', (#2) Carlito & DJ Addiction - 'Supergrass', (#3) Marcus Intalex & ST Files - 'Nightfall', and (#17) DJ Marky/DJ Patife/ESOM feat. Fernanda Porto - 'So Tinha Que Ser Com Voce (Cosmonautics Remix)'. If you are already a well-established Jungle music enthusiast, you would probably notice that there are all types of Jungle on here. The beginning half is primarily the Brazilian-influenced records, transitioning into UK-influenced 2-step and dark Drum & Bass by the end. Then there is a soothing and slow-paced last track (the Original Lounge Mix of 'So Tinha Que Ser Com Voce') to bring down the intensity of the album and give it a proper finale.

Overall, the CD does a good job in fluidly moving from one dominant style of Jungle to another. It happens at around tracks 9 to 10, and then back again at tracks 15 to 16. DJ Marky is an excellent mixer and not only knows how to key-match (an ability only top-notch DJs have), he also manages to show off his scratching/turntablism skills continuously throughout the mix.

>> 5 stars. This is one of the best Jungle CDs in my collection. Certainly knocks off anything Dieselboy has done. Although it's often true that Jungle music can get repetitive after about half an hour, Marky manages to keep the music consistent yet interesting. What a nice breath of fresh air =)

So I might be a crunchy music snob, but I know a good drum-n-bass tune when I hear one. And a better d-n-b mix CD has never crossed my path. Brazilian DJ Marky was able to whip up a pattering of all that's good and jungly about drum & bass that I would probably enjoy listening to in the background at Borders bookstore or in the chillout room in some Chicago club. Other punters take note -- the mix from the outstanding "lk (Carolina Bela Bela)" to more popular tunes by 4 Hero, John B, and Shy FX reminds us that d-n-b isn't all hard like Fusion & Fallacy or Aphex Twin, but more shaky with forms of Latin percussion and horn samples that Marky somehow mashes in all the right ways. In the larger picture, it's a much better dance CD than any of the trancy mixes out right now, and certainly better than anything from Louie Devito or Ministry of Sound. It's surprisingly more inspired than the Fatboy Slim/Midfield General mix CD as well. A dope package. Go get it.

There's not much to say that the other reviewers have not said in praising the greatness of this 2001 mix. I find that whenever I play this mix to friends they seemed almost stunned, not having heard a dnb mix of such high quality. For those interested in the search for other albums along these lines check out NU PERSPECTIVES from the Partisan Label in 1998 if you can find it, COOL STEPS from fellow brasillian DJ Patife, DJ SUV's 2003 drum n bass mix on DMC and his solo project on the Full Cycle label, called DESERT ROSE.

Possibly realising that D'n'B has the potential to reach a far more wider ranging audience, `DJ Marky' mixes a set that focuses squarely on the less abrasive side of D'n'B, and thus makes such a definingly brilliant set, that it's undoubtedly going to be copied over the coming years.....moving fluidly through downtempo vocal breakbeat "Un-Cut's - Midnight", "Krust's - Jazz Note", before the introduction of the utterly sublime Brazilian themed D'n'B tracks are introduced "Fernanda Porto's - Sambassim", and the wonderfully breezy DJ Marky produced "Só Tinha Que Ser Com Você", before rounding out things perfectly with "Shy Fx & T-Power's - Shake Ur Body" (Listed here as "Shake It"). You'll be hard pressed to find a more accessible D'n'B mix album that'll delight newcomers & Enthusiasts alike, and one of a growing list of D'n'B albums that has a chance of making a mainstream impact. and is unquestionably is a landmark D'n'B album of staggering brilliance...

Absolute Soulful and Amazing, a must have. Especially for those who think Drum and bass is just dark music, this is the light at the end of the tunnel!

As other reviewers have said, DnB does not need to be harsh like Aphex Twin, AK1200 etc. DJ Marky performs his mixes live and the Latin infusion is so beautiful. It makes a cold day in Wisconsin feel like Brazil.

This is a great jazzy jump-up drum'n'bass album. It's a good one for people to listen to if they are new to dnb and a CD that you can sit down and listen to straight thru. Stand out track is Só Tinha Que Ser Com Você which is a beatiful remix of a Fernando Porto track.

This is easily the greatest one but I have a small library so its a bias opinion. I do think most of the songs are repetitive but #1, #5, #6, #9, #13, #16, #17, and #20 have very good rhythm and bass. Great for driving fast.

this album is so amazing, everything about it from start to finish is perfect, the tune selection develops through out the mix, it really takes your through a journey, the tune selection is amazing, so many classics from 2000-2001, and many great brazilain flavas here also. Also the mixing on this albums is nice and tight and Marky leaves in the tunes the perfect length only to get you asking for more! the scratchin on this cd in not technically amazing but its sounds so well preformed when he scratchs over "the hook" or the tunes. its truly shows that in 2001 when drum and bass came back into full effect, how diverse the sound became with dark bizness, disco style, liquid funk, latin beats, techstep and dancefloor music. and it also shows why DJ Marky is a amazing DJ

its so wonderful!!! go buy this album now! you wont be disappointed at all

A very accesible Drum and Bass cd. Nice tracks mixed well. This is not the bone crunching dark sound that DnB can sometimes be, but neither is it the light & airy LTJ Bukem sound.

It will work just as well on the dancefloor as it will in your headphones.

Being the nitpicker that I am, I gave it 4 stars not 5. I took off half a star as in some places it tends to jump styles (ie lacks a flow through the mix) and another half a star off becuase some of the tracks lean too much on the commercial tip.

Having said that, a very good cd to get. Most drum and bass heads will like it. It will also serve very well as an intro to DnB for those who don't "get it" yet.