Customer Reviews

Fully Automatic: Drum & Bass Mixed By Ak1200

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

With most Drum n' Bass tracks, or virtually any electronic music, there is a sort of artificial, technical aspect to the tracks which hold back the genre as a whole. Each sound is added on top with the same amount of passion as adding a coat of paint. Not AK1200's "Fully Automatic", where the tracks and drums within are molded together as artfully as a sculptor with a lump of clay.

Many thanks have to be given to the astounding track selection of this album. "Inner Light" by Element kicks the CD off with a smooth balance of airy drums and window-blasting bass, the way any true D & B album should. The delicate sound of the drums continues with Brass Wolf's "One", where one can just imagine a car chase or martial arts fight taking place in the background. Dave Minner (AK1200) seems to prefer these more esoteric tracks as shown through the relatively tame track choices of "Mojo Woman", "Mastiff", and Cleveland Lounge's wildly popular "Drowning". Parts of the CD could easily be playing in the background of a bookstore or a library. But for those who desire the more disturbing, darker drum n' bass, not to worry. "Free" by Cold Fusion, and "Nyquest" feature the disturbance in full force, with static distorted sounds permeating both the tracks in full.

The mixing is truly superb. Revolutionary? No. But excellent enough to create one of the smoothest assaults from drum n' bass in history, each track dropping into the next without a hiccup. Only the extraordinarily trained ear could pick out any imperfections. No wonder the assault weapon ban has been lifted. Someone must have heard AK's epic strike.

Highs: Finer selection than a well-stocked winery, smooth mixing from track to track, hard to believe it is techno.
Lows: Not as satisfying to the expert DJ
The Score: A-, The only symphony in drum n' bass history.

I lve this cd. I love ak. I love it! This cd always makes me happy, especially "drowning". I've see ak1200 so many times and he always ends his set with that song. It just makes my day.

Wow. Of all of AK's mixes I have heard, this is by far my favorite, and the only one I still play regularly. The track selection is the big one here. That's not to say the mixing is not solid; for the most part it is, albeit not perfect. But the tracks are HUGE. Even by today's standards, these tracks still sound at once raw, fresh, intellegent, and aggressive, without getting bogged down in excessive processing and fluff. A good album for both the new listener to the genre and the longtime fan, AK successfully bridges the gap between "accessible" and "overly simplistic," and does it here with style that will pull its' weight twenty or so years from now. Own.

This cd was probably my first drum n bass experience and I'm ecstatic that it was. It has extreme chill factor as well as the ability to get the crowd going. This cd is an essential to hardcore dnb fans as well as lovers of any techno genre. I'll add also that Ak1200 live is not to be missed...

this cd is my favorite cd of all time. this was my first drum n bass cd, and right now i have about a dozen more, but his i always go back to. my girlfriend bought it too, just because of 'drowning'. from the first captivating technic bass-inducing BOOM to the very last dr0p, he's the main reason my favorite music is drum n bass. thanks ak.

Yes readers, "I bought into it." Sorry to disapoint you all but I guess that I "Simply" have no account for taste, just a very distinct/minor hint to a certain one star review that you may unfortunately arrive upon further down this page. However, since I am a music fan from the USA, all in all, all that I have to say is that the release, "Fully Automatic," is a must have for all come-one-come-all jungle lovers, which I personally am. So what da ya think about them apples! However, in order for me to touch up on my title even a little bit more, I would have to say that if floating in your boat is currently the idea of "The transformers," then what you Thrillseek is to actually transform yourself into the tune "Where's Jack the Ripper" by Grooverider, no intention to demean "Fully Automatic" in the least. In my opinion this track all but rips through the seems of the entire space/time continuum. ~You can locate it on Digital Empire's latest release, Digital Empire 3 "Phuturism," where I recomend checking out Hooveerphonics, "Battersea," and also on Grooveriders, "Mysteries of Funk."~ Some other "So choice" slices that I highly recomend picking up on if you have the means are, virtually all tracks by Aphrodite and DJ Dara, "funk-da-fried-two" by simply jeff, where track number 9 pays for the entire release by itself, and last but not least on my list comes "Molten Beats," by Ram Trilogy. You have just got to listen to this one. Trust me, "Keep Hope Alive" and pick up AK1200's 1998 release, "Fully Automatic."

(P.S. By the way, I only recomend releases that I have listened to at least more than once in entirety, and consider to be in this case five star CDs or in other words in the highest form of musical quality. If I have a single shred of doubt on any area within the release I do not review it.

This is a good cd, but you can get it brabd new for $14.99, so don't pay 40+ for it.

I personally love/live by this cd. It is by far the best cd out of ak's mind. He is the man who rules all of drum and bass and by far my favorite artist. Buy it and enjoy. If you enjoy drum and bass and old style jungle beats then you will love this cd.

Once again AK shows how to mix some great technical DnB. This CD has everything from Chill beats to vocal stuff like "Drowning" to hard fast adrenaline pumping stuff like the "Keep Hope Alive" remix that will get you going. If your into fast hard DnB this is the stuff for you.

this is the finest work of drum & bass i have bought in a while. i love the dark atmosphere it presents and the mixing is unbelievable. ak definately went off on this one and i hope he keeps doing it for a while. try out this album and i guarantee that you will love it. peace.