Customer Reviews

Elysian Fields

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

 

 

I first heard the song "Elysian Fields" on Glücklich IV. Sometimes you like a song so much you go out and buy the CD and then it turns out that all of the other songs suck because the one song that was picked out for a "Compilation" was exceptional. That's not the case with this CD. Although "Elysian Fields" is the only song with Bogey talking, all of the songs share the same cool, ambient,jazzy, brasilian, "get-a-funky-riff-going and then shimmer a lot of Rhodes electronics and electric drumbeats all around it" type of tunes. If you like Om Lounge, Thievery Corporation, Glücklich I-IV, The New Latinaires, Bossa Mundo, Buscemi, Trüby Trio, etc. etc., you'll LOVE this.

I really can't agree with the review made by the another costumer. This new album was not a disappointment and i think it is very well made and the music is well balanced, featuring jazzy and drum and bass songs, similar to Thievery Corporation and Cinematic Orchestra. I really advise you to by this album and if you like it check other albums from other artists of COMPOST LABEL like for example Rainer Truby Trio and Jazzanova.

Haven't heard his first one yet, but I love this one. Lounge, electro, sampled, eurofunky, sometimes mellow and ethereal..one of my favorites in a long time. Apparently the first album was drum & bass, which I don't care for even though I listen to it anyway for the mellow tracks. So if he's changing his style, he'll lose some fans and gain others. Compost has yet to disappoint. This goes with K&D, ESL, Costes, etc.

This new album by DJ Cam protege Minus 8 was quite a disappointment for me. I loved his first two albums, "Beyond," on Inflammable records, and "Beyond Beyond," on Sony Music. These were great, solid hip-hop/jazz influenced drum and bass albums that really worked well- even though "Beyond Beyond" contained some of the better tracks from "Beyond" (about five). But "Elysian Fields" marks another new label and a change of style for Minus 8. Like many drum and bass artists of late (see the new Photek, "Solaris" and the atrocious new Mocean Worker, "Aural and Hearty"), Minus 8 have changed their style, moving away from drum and bass and "expanding thier horizons". Their new label is Compost records, a decent little label known for jazzy Drum and Bass acts. "Elysian Fields" is much in the style of many Compost acts- jazzy, laid back, beat-oriented. Very Early '90's to me. It's not bad, it's just nowhere near as good as his previous two albums. I don't feel like he has as strong a grasp of jazz as he does of beat oriented compositions- not yet anyway. If you're looking for great Drum and Bass, get his earlier efforts...

The blending of the jazzy beats and the bass is just ingenious. The trance isn't hard core per say, it's subtle and sweet. The bass is simply perfect. I love this CD.

ELYSIAN FIELDS sees Minus 8 leaving behind drum `n' bass for more lounge, future jazz downtempo-style tracks. The smoothness is evident immediately: "Neverland" weaves in some acoustic guitar some Spanish rhythms and a lonesome flute, while "Cold Fusion" kicks back with some sultry vocals. But even though the musical competency is beyond reproach, the album seems to lack a bite, something that really grabs hold of you and shakes you. The two more house-oriented track, however, are an exception: "Snowblind" peppers a scat-like vocal over some funky breaks, while "Badman & Throbin'" makes no bones about its need to get you grooving (and you've got to love that "fake ending"). The closing track, "Sellafield," tosses in clean guitar line that contrasts the various noises surrounding it. While a good album overall, I would have like a little more meat here.

Though this is a review of few words, do not let it make you think that this album isn't simply marvelous. This album was purchased probably 2 years ago and though I don't play it as much today, I still consider it one of the greatest albums I've ever gotten. Not including "Nonhuman", practically EVERY song on this album is also expertly produced as well.

In the end, this album is great for someone desiring a twist from the normal sound of electronica.