Enter the 37th Chamber

El Michels Affair | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 21, 2009)
• Original Release Date: 2009
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Fat Beats
• ASIN: B001SGFVFY
• Also Available in: Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #83,769 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is Not a Gimmick, October 29, 2009

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TC in DC (Washington DC) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Enter the 37th Chamber (Audio CD)

If your first thought when hearing of this is that this is something along the lines of Dynamite Hack, (see Take a Bite Outta Rhyme: A Rock Tribute to Rap), forget that these are "covers" of the beats from a seminal rap album--this work stands on its own as an excellent down-tempo bit of acid jazz and chill. It's atmospheric, relaxed, and organic, and yet never schmaltzy; always delivering a groove that's sophisticated. It has a fantastic retro feel to it, but one that comes across as fully genuine. There is no forced-sounding attempt to be "nerdy old skool," even with the Kingston-like horns punching it up between the scratchy guitars and plinking acoustic piano. It seems clear that no one involved in the making of this felt they had anything to prove to anyone--it's confident, without being arrogant. They sound happy to be playing whether anyone gets what they're saying or not.

It works very well as a soundtrack to anything you want to add a level of urbanity to--cruising is a good activity, for example--but it's involved enough to also command your full attention. I'm very energized and excited by this album, and very few albums do that for me consistently or for more than the first few listens. Several months on of hearing this effort and I feel very confident that I cannot recommend it enough to anyone who wants some sophisticated chillout added to the mix of their life's soundtrack.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars So nice..., May 28, 2009

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cactus grooves "Joe" (Maricopa, AZ) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Enter the 37th Chamber (Audio CD)

Before listening to this album it was hard to imagine a soul/jazz/funk cover of Wu Tang's masterful '36 Chambers'...but this album takes a classic in exciting instrumental directions. The first two tracks are standouts which establishes the vibe for the album: a nice mix of strings, keys, horns, guitar, slick drums, and a few choice samples of martial arts movies to create a gritty but groovy atmosphere. I'm sure it helps to be a fun of Wu Tang's original album, but I don't think you'd have to be a fan of that album (or hip hop) to really dig this album. Head-noddin' goodness from start to finish. RIYL: anything from DJ Shadow to Medeski Martin Wood, any artists on the Stones Throw label.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Just awesome, June 11, 2009

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Track 5 - See all my reviews

This review is from: Enter the 37th Chamber (Audio CD)

I'm not really a fan of Wutang or any hip hop, and that doesn't matter at all to enjoy this album. I've been listening to it all week, and I still can't get enough. It's funky and jazzy. If you enjoy good music, you should get this.