Customer Reviews

Hold Your Colour

5 star:		(43)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is NOT a review of the music, but of the actual CD's re-issue release itself.

Just so everyone knows this IS NOT Pendulum's "Eagerly anticipated 2007 sophomore album" as described by the Amazon editorial writer. If you're looking for their 2nd album check out "In Silico" released May 2008. This is mearly a re-issue (a lowsy one at that) of the original 2005 album "Hold Your Colour". Also the track listing is wrong on the description page here. So be aware

Let me start by saying I LOVE THE ORIGNAL VERSION OF THIS ALBUM Hold Your Colour!!! Screw 5 stars, it deserves 20 stars! Every single track is awesome & the album deserves to go down in history as an absolute must own for EVERYONE! My 3 star rating is for this re-issued version of this CD. A) the tracks are no longer seemless as they break where you can hear where they should be together. This isn't really an issue aside from where the intro leads into "Slam", there's like a 2 second pause between the 2 tracks & it really takes away from the energy of not only the song, but the album as a whole. B) they've replaced 2 of the tracks from the original ("Another Planet" & "Still Grey") with 2 new tracks "Blood Sugar" & "Axle Grinder". These new tracks aren't bad, but they just don't fit right at the end of the album, these should've been placed somewhere in the beginning or middle of the album. "Still Grey" on the other hand was/is an amazing track while at the same time closing the album nicely, it was a huge mistake replacing this track of all tracks. Bottom line, this reissue was rushed & therefore poorly produced & it shows.

This CD (like "Jungle Sound Gold") was released by the label "Breakbeat Kaos" as a last minute cash in since Pendulum left them. The group had nothing to do with the production or release of this paticular version of this CD (also like "Jungle Sound Gold"). My suggestion would be for all to skip this release & hunt down the original album Hold Your Colour. While it is a bit spendy now & somewhat hard to find, you'll be happy that you did.

P.S. If you must own this version of the album, get it at the Amazon.uk site for $10 (+shipping) versus the the $30+ dollars that they're charging here.

I've never been compelled to write a review on Amazon--until now. Lately, not much in the world of Drum & Bass stands out to me. Finally, this debut CD from Pendulum has pushed the plateau up to an incredible new peak. This is the next level. I haven't been moved like this since the first Dieselboy mix I heard.

Each track on Hold Your Colour is wildly different, spanning the spectrum of DnB styles. There are even a couple of breaks tracks that put the finest Finger Lickin' artists to shame. With unique elements that I've never heard before, it's difficult to categorize some of these tracks--just hang on for the ride. Like the title of track 4, you'll need to "Fasten Your Seatbelt!"

There is not one second of lazy production on this disc. Astonishingly creative and jaw-dropping! It's been a long time since I've bought a CD where I love every damn track!

The music is great.

There were a couple problems though.

My disk arrived open (no plastic wrap) which was strange.

Also to quote the B.G Brereton review over at the UK Amazon site:

"I'm writing the review to warn potential buyers of the amateur mastering of this release of the CD. Every single track has a 2 second gap before it - including the tracks that are clearly supposed to be joined with the previous track! It's exactly like the CD has been burnt with standard home CD burning software with all the options set to their defaults. I don't know why the original release of the CD is no longer available new or why this version has been issued but if you're thinking of buying this then my advice would be to try to get the original version second-hand (eg through Amazon Marketplace) and hope that the mastering was better the first time around. "

I got the disk (the import), and found out the exact same thing as noted above (someone at breakbeak koas messed up the cd master by not properly fading the songs). If you know anything about mastering software, it's a sloppy mistake. They didn't even listen to it before burning the master to disk.

Also please note the song list is incorrect as noted here. Last two songs for the "new" import are Blood Sugar and Axle Grinder, not Another Planet and Still Grey.

If you are new to Breakbeats or have experience, "Hold Your Colour" by Pendulum is a must for any collection, producing some great sounds with lyrics that takes early 90's jungle and adds some TNT to the mix. Reminds us of the drum and base venture that "New Forms" by Roni Size was. If you liked that you will love this. Like other reviewers have pointed out, this will make you legs start wobbling by themselves. "Sounds of Life", "Hold Your Coloue", "Tarantula" and "Still Grey" are all fly mixes.

I've been getting more and more into dnb recently thanks to groups like Concord Dawn pushing it more into the mainstream but never before have I heard something like this. Hold Your Colour isn't just the best DnB album I've ever heard, its one of the top electronic albums ever. Believe the hype on this album, because it literally does break down genres for an absolute headrush of sound. The tracks are so damn good that the 80 minute long album flies by leaving you dazed and stunned wondering what the hell just happened to your ears. Luckily a freind of mine who lives in England told me about these guys because they definitly aren't known in the states yet. I'm itching for the club scene here to get ahold of this album though.

anyway, on to the music. I'll start with the title track. I can't get enough of it. This track more than the other is bigger than its genre. I had a few of my friends who normally can't stand electronic music listen to it and they loved it. There aren't many tracks out there that are alone worth $22 but this is definitly one of them.

the album starts out with a bang as well with the prelude fading into Slam. I'm not sure what the voice sample is from, but I love it.

Through the loop samples the original willy wonka movie and uses the clip from when they are on the boat. It works perfectly and is very cool I might add.

another highlight has to be Jasmaine Lee on Sounds Of Life. her voice and those beats...wow.

if you think you've heard top of the line dnb before hearing this, think again. This is the paramount dnb album and is worth every penny for the import.

throughout the album you'll run into some hardcore beats, some hip-hop, even a little reggae.

This is a fantastic album and a joyride of sound. It's possibly a sleeper hit---time will tell, but it is doubtless deserved. Pendulum is pushing the genre of drum 'n bass the way that Fatboy Slim pushed breakbeats in the 90's. If you're a fan of electronica, and you're annoyed that you haven't seen anything good in the last few years, here is the answer to your prayers!


Although every song is great, some standout tracks include:

Slam - Simply massive. The epic prelude still can't prepare you for the twisting size of the lead synth, augmented by growling bass, all of which is well-managed by an actual song structure (unusual for d'n'b, or most electronica at all for that matter). Listen to this, and you won't be able to keep still. You also can't seem to turn it up loud enough. I dare you to pull it out of your ears anytime soon.

Plastic World - Seemingly influenced by pop, but it's cool. Several sounds you hear in this song are a meloncholy sax, the creaking of a ship at sea, a man with a Jamacian accent dropping tones, and airy male vocal chords bending throughout. Again, not run-of-the-mill drum 'n bass.

Fasten Your Seatbelt - Wicked. There's a lot of personality in the mischevious rhythm stops and reggae effects, plus a a glut of other percussion, like record scratches, crashes, electro-bells, cymbals and tambourines. But basically, offbeat disco-swing drums throb as the bass pulses like city lights gleaming over a speeding hotrod.

Sounds of Life - Snappy beat. Incredible, lyrical female vocal track by Jasmine Yee. (I mean, it's actually a song. Someone sings. With words.) Thick synths and whirling arpeggios add depth to Jasmine's ethereal voice.

Girl in the Fire - Whoa, what's that? An acoustic guitar? Is that a bossa beat? An electric guitar solo, now? Yes. The heavy, humm-able melody sticks with you, bursts of bright effects popping overhead.

Hold Your Colour - Sounds mystical, alien, inspiring, sad, but simple, like a fleeting piece of advice offered over the phone late at night. Flies straight into an aerial view of....definitely some slammin' drums, definitely bass, but not like anything you've yet heard.

Out Here - It pops! It's fat and dancy, like Slam, but the clean guitar track between sections adds both intelligence and emotion. Builds into the *hottest*, biggest bass chorus that will swallow you whole....five stars!


Thank you, Pendulum. Now go on tour.

I've never really been a fan of D&B (I listen to more Classic Rock and Symphonic music), but once I heard "Slam" -online, with its video- I knew I had to have this album. The funniest thing is that now that I have the album, I realize that "Slam" isn't even close to being the best track. My personal favorite is track 7.

Pendulum did quite well to craft a soundscape with good feeling and energy, without making it feel campy or frenetic.

This could easily make history as one of my all-time favorite CDs. This music is good for work, dancin, chillin, cruzin...you name it. You can bet I didn't pay 26 bucks for it either. I got it on Aye Aye Toons for less than half that (whole cd won't fit on one 80min disc). I love almost every track, especially b/c no 2 tracks sound alike (thanks to a few awesome guests). Doesn't suffer from sounding like everybody else either. I really don't think you can go wrong with this.

I purchased this release blindly on other reviews and was not disappointed.
HOLD YOUR COLOUR is a killer CD with a fresh approach to the typical d@b sound. This fresh sound actually tripped me back to the days of early dara, aphrodite and the like. . . upbeat w/a little dance-hall mixed in. Yet this album did not come across as retro as it was very complex, well mixed and composed with a healthy dose of that good stuff. . . some hard, dark, Uh, STUFF!!! Playing back and forth between the two sounds made for a great dialectic and long listening quality. PENDULUM has a winner here. . . AURAL PLEASURE!!

If you like to take any sort of "journeys into the mind" dont leave without this cd!!

its awesome, diverse, and a total crowd pleaser.

BUY IT!