Customer Reviews

Hello Friends

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Months ago, I purchased Liam Howlett's 'Dirtchamber Sessions vol.1', and have since been searching for continuous DJ mixes of equal or greater caliber. Aside from a few pearls here and there(i.e. the Chemical Brothers 'Brothers Gonna Work it Out'), the search has not had much luck. My luck changed, though, when I came across this album the other day, and knew immediatly that I must have it. This album, once I began listening to it, completely shattered any expectations I had previously held for a techno album. This is one of the few CDs I've purchased lately that I am TRULY happy with. 'Hello Friends' is by far my favorite work from Dangers yet, and (in my humble opinion) should be what other dj mixes are compared to in the future.

This is a must-have! Jack Dangers applies his perfect ear and sense of rhythm to a combination of meat beat-ey sounds and latin sounds, presumably from his "Tino" alliance. The result is a white-hot blend of textures and beats that tickle your ear and start your toes tapping. From the Mambo to Dub and beyond, diverse genres are tackled with the same proficiency. . .

A side Project from "Meat Beat Manifesto" frontman `Jack Dangers'....differs slightly from his Meat Beat Manifesto work, as it has a more Trip-Hop / Dub feel to it....the usual trademarks of Complex Breaks & Beats, with snippets of Dialogue still remain, but here it's direction takes a slightly less hurried approach here, with a more hypnotic sound. Case in point track 8 ("D.U.B. Dub") weaves wonderful Dub instrumentation with arranged breakbeats to joyous effect...and the move into track 9 "Elegant Dub", is virtually seamless...the mixing also deserves a mention, with its rough & ready approach, contrasting wonderfully with each track, and thus creating something that feels like a superior mix tape mish-mash, and although this is a solo album, it compares extremely favourably with the best of his `Meat Beat Manifesto' work. But be warned....this is not 'Meat Beat Manifesto' insofar as this is ideally suited to home consumption, and if the idea of a Predominately dub influenced album with the usual smatter of vocal dialogue appeals, then this will ultimately appeal that those looking for a smoke-fuelled variation on the IDM (Intelligent Dance Music) genre.

Jack Dangers, aka Meat Beat Manifesto, serves up 15 mixed tracks on this release. In a way, one could argue that MBM, more than just about anyone, paved the way for a generation of electro-breakbeat with the single song "Helter Skelter." That said, this disc lacks much of the trademark noisy bluster of some MBM releases - not entirely a bad thing - but still leaves the foot tapping. Parts of the non-stop mix tend to drag a bit, but on the whole I found the combination of crisp breakbeats, bongos and weird vocal samples to be quite engaging. More importantly, one can hear Dangers' signature on the work. In a genre of music that is often cookie-cutter and/or anonymous in its presentation, 'Hello Friends' reminds you that, at its best, electronic music has a detectable heartbeat underneath the cold machinery, particularly in the hands of a mixmaster like Jack Dangers.

It never ceases to amaze how some electronic artists who produce breaks fall so short of the heavy loud drum sound the genre necessitates. Jack Dangers is a breaks master who delivers the loud, crusty beats that I need time and again. People like Hybrid need to go to Tino's Breaks school. Two thumbs up for this record. It never gets boring especially if one possesses a hefty loudspeaker rig.

Must have been living under a rock. Never heard of "Tino Corp." until recently (the Tino Dub series dates back to '98.) Regardless, this is excellent (albeit different) stuff, and I can't recommend it enough for anyone who enjoys MBM. As someone noted in the reviews below, this is a mix CD picking up bits n' pieces from the other Tino Corp releases (Tino Dub series, Bo Square & DHS.)

Once you see that Jack Dangers was in control of this, you knew you were in for a sonic ride. And what a ride it is. Jack started a record label named Tino Corp. and this CD is basically him doing a continuous mix of the label's offerings. If you're familiar with MBM's latest offerings you know that this is not your run of the mill techno music. Instead you definately hear a Latin and Carribean influence in the beats. It makes for a somewhat mellow sound without becoming ambient. If you liked MBM's last two CD's, you'll probably like this as well. If you've never heard anything by Jack Dangers or MBM, I would recommend you start with _99%_, probably MBM's most accessible music. Either way you won't go wrong.

A few years ago the man could do no wrong. Everything he touched was great. MBM material and his remixes were so inventive and engaging. But this stuff is boring and pointless. It meanders without a direction. Some of the really dubby stuff has that old spark (and some of these aren't even done by Dangers) but nothing leaves an impression. I know this is a mix CD but nothing on this would get me dancing-maybe head nodding. Maybe if I was in a club and this was on I'd be really happy but at home it's kinda annoying. Maybe Jack should have a steak.