Customer Reviews

Journey Inwards

5 star:		(33)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

LTj Bukem's Journey Inwards is a rare gem in the world of music. It's not so much an album but a work of art, lovingly crafted, flawlessly mastered, and polished to a perfect shine. Hardcore jungle fans are best warned to stay away; this isn't a dance album, really. Bukem, who made his name with his own melodic style of jungle (drum & bass), abandons the furious pace of the rave dance floor in favor of a jazz-like sensibility. Upbeat, but not hard. Complex layering, yet remarkably accessible melodies that you just can't help but tap your foot to. Nimble, but not really fast. Slick, but remarkably natural and acoustic sounding. Instead, it's an endlessly listenable odyssey, a seamless blend of jazz, big band, a dash of swing, and a whole lot of electronic flourishes. The Bukem's home turf of drum & bass slithers throughout the album, subtly moving in and out and keeping the sound fresh. It's an incredibly classy act; the music seems the perfect fit for a prestigious penthouse party, a gloriously lit urban skyrise of Manhatten or Chicago at night in the background, lights low, fine drinks all around. Journey Inwards is a dreamy, sensuous collection of grooves, beats, and saxophone tones that grow richer and more tasteful with each listening. Few artists break into this kind of ground, and Bukem does it masterfully in this work, undeniably his most original and finest hour.

Belt yourself in...turn the key....head out on the highway...Pop this in and tune to "Undress Your Mind" or "Feel What You Feel"...and you'll find the fit is downright...perfect. This is about motion and it moves at a rate of rightgeous....Buy it and listen...and you will move.

Few could argue, that there aren't many people, that have done more than LTJ Bukem, to push the genre of Drum 'n' Bass, into a more widely accepted audience. An active pivotal figure from the scene's early days, he has been on a increasingly successful quest to push traditional atmospheric drum'n'bass tracks, with a strong undercurrent of 70's Rhodes Jazz-funk fusion, into the concessions of the general public for a while now. Although actively disliking the term 'Intelligent Drum N Bass', (which is odd....seeing as 'Intelligent Drum N Bass', largely sidesteps, tough hardhitting bass & Hyper-speed beats, for a more melodic & rhythmically midtempo fusion of stylish, smooth & sublimely textured breakbeats. Which is largely what Bukem's music is favourably likened to???).

His influences musically, have always been referenced in his music, so the elegant ambience of 70's Jazz-fusion, were detectable in early hits such as "Horizons". And although his "Logical Progression" & "Progression Sessions" albums, veer more towards hypnotic Jungle/Breakbeat. This particular album largely forgoes club-friendly breaks, in favour of a Jazz inflicted sound, that is in partial reference to heroes & Jazz pioneers, 'Roy Ayers' to 'Pharoah Sanders'. Those looking for anything along the lines of the phenomenal "Logical Progression" series, would be we advised to take note of the fact that, this is cerebral, organic 'mood' music, that is resolutely of a strictly downtempo nature, and the intimate mood for vast majority of the music here, would struggle to find a place inside a traditional Drum N Bass club, as there are no Vocal/MC gymnastics to latch onto, with all tracks being instrumental (apart from 1 vocal track, and a couple of snippets of dialogue, on 1-2 other tracks), here the focus is pushed squarely towards the sort of music that Bukem most likely listens to, outside his profession...tracks that in some way or form are retrospective collections of natural ambience, similarly inclined towards melodicism or epic expanses of sound.

So what can you expect from this 2-Disk CD??

The music created over the 2-Cd's is one that'll disappoint those looking for an album of traditional Drum N Bass material, instead, Bukem has created an exceptionally crafted collection of tracks that incorporate: Jazz-Fusion, 70's Funk, Intelligent Breakbeat, organic breaks, Soul-Jazz, Ambient atmospheres, Mellow, Jungle, Jazz-Funk, Downtempo, funky jazz.....in fact anything of a decidedly midtempo, cerebral nature has been included here. The tracks themselves are stunning in their composition, all moody soundtracks (which is an idea that features prominently throughout the album), soothing melodies, Elegant bass sounds, Cerebral arrangements, beautiful Fender Rhodes playing, sensual tones, and an ambitious approach to song creation that continues to explore the possibilities of integrating jazz improvisation with drum'n'bass production. More impressively, it manages to meld structural elements more in common with downtempo R&B, with an ideas that are quite indebted to the organic jazz sounds that Bukem is so clearly in love with. It's an astonishing varied bunch of tracks, not so far as there is massive diversions in tempo and genre.....more to do with the fact that it takes manages to move confidently from smooth Jazz-Funk ("Journey Inwards"), through to the shimmeringly atmospheric sounds and waves of Rhodes keyboards ("Rhodes to Freedom"), to tracks that are more in tone with the proficiently superb liquid ambience, of the sort of Nocturnal intelligent Drum N Bass that, Bukem made his name by ("Watercolours"), or having the sole vocal track on the 2 disks, that manages to reference that sort of elaborate and dramatic 70's spy thriller sound, that marked out the tremendous instrumental side of somebody like 'Curtis Mayfields' work ("Sunrain"), or indeed exhibiting the frequent synthesized bass and pulsating hi-hat flourishes of smoky jazz-noir, that are sleek and expansive in their arrangement ("Deserted Vaults). So although everything here isn't of a high BPM, Bukem is skillfully able to take relatively simple ideas, and make highly polished instrumental tracks that with the use of restrained beats and an orchestral tug, are arguably some of the most organically refined work he's done.

Those that like the sound of this album and are considering making the purchase, of what I consider to be up there with his seminal "Logical Progression" & "Progression Sessions" series, must be warned that, there really is very little in the way of the sort of Drum N Bass, that features on those albums, and instead is preoccupied with smooth grooves, Jazzy arrangements and complex mannered, intricate drum programming that features on the majority of Bukem's more relaxed productions. The mood here is very laid-back and unrushed, and if your waiting for some energetic, quick-tempo dancefloor rhythms in the realm of breakbeat headspace, and driving bass and deft pacing, then I'm afraid that it never truly arrives. As there is far too much considered and sophisticated grooves here, that work far better as late night Chill-out music, or reflective mood music (this works especially well, on late night car drives), then they do as dance-orientated music. Anyone familiar with Bukems "Earth" series. (A compilation of tracks from Various artists that cover everything from: Soul-Jazz, Jazz-fusion, ambient breakbeat, funk-fusion, Latin soul-jazz, instrumental Hip-Hop), will absolutely adore this, is it's very much in the same vein. Anyone just looking for some exceptionally produced, impressively eloquent music, will find this could well rank as some of Bukem's finest work.....Exceptional!!!

Recently my uncle has been praising the work of "Good Looking Records" and most significantly, LTJ Bukem. I decided to take his advice and buy progression sessions 4 so I could get a taste of this so called "intelligent" music. This was the beginning. Since then I have jumped into everything to do with Bukem and his label. Then the news came, LTJ Bukem's Solo Album. I was psyched to say the least. This album is NOT a let down. The previous reviewers are correct, the most perfect fusion of d&b/jazz. Even if you dont like D&B. Get this Album. And then get Progression Sessions. This music will program you into liking it, you'll see.

What some people appear to have not noticed is that although LTJ Bukem has been around for a while and has mixed and produced many records, Journey Inwards is in fact his first solo album. It mixes great Drum & Bass with a Jazz influence and is well worth the money. It is a great step away from the dark, and in my opinion boring, turn that most Drun & bass has taken. It has soul and feeling this is definately the way forward for Drum & Bass.

Ok, previous reviewer, perhaps you're not familliar with the sound of Good Looking Records? This is not Optical and Ed Rush.

For the rest...the biggest give away here is the picture of LTJ Bukem with Juan Atkins, on the inside cover. Juan is an obvious influence on this album, which accounts for it's jazzy-funky-techno sound, in addition to Good Looking's trade-mark "intelligent" sound.

What I find is a good mix of tunes, some boardering on Maxwell meets Roni Size, with the trippy sweeping keyboard sounds and amen choruses we've come to expect from this label. This is a great album. It's not likely to disappoint. It's well thought out, well produced, and well arranged.

I've got most of this stuff on vinyl already, but had no hesitation buying this cd. Well worth the cost of admission.

Also, check out the Big Bud CD on the same label.

These guys are the future of drum n' bass.

If this CD were an automobile, it would be an sleek, supercharged luxury car that would be invisible if not for the streetlights reflecting in its glossy, glossy paint.

I had to move and leave almost all of my 1,000+ CDs in storage, and having this CD 2,500 miles away is driving me crazy. I don't want to buy it again... In the samples provided here, "Sunrain" and "Journey Inwards" are transposed, as are "Our World" and "Close To The Source," I believe. Watercolours is the only track I skip.

I have been a fan of LTJ Bukem ever since a friend of mine let me borrow one of LTJ's Logical Progressions cd's. I have since then purchased every LTJ release I can find. I have all the Progression Sessions as well as Earth and Mixmag Live Vol. 3. I hate to say I have a favorite amongst all these but I would have to say that his latest release "Journey Inwards" just might be it for now. This cd combines smooth jazz with groovin beats which just sets a relaxing mood. This cd is the ultimate "chillin" cd. Favorite tracks include CD1 tracks 2 and 5 and CD2 tracks 1, 4, 5, and 6. If you are a fan of LTJ or enjoy smooth jazz then Journey Inwards is for you. Don't get me wrong, LTJ still does his DnB thing but the Jazz influences are much more evident then in his previous work. In my opinion this is LTJ's best work to date. Check it out, it's smooth.

I really liked his music in "logical progression"series,but this album is more similar to "earth"albums.Maybe Bukem was thinking of selling the album worldwide(to earn better money),he made the album less Drum'N'Bass influenced to get a acceptence from dance music(or mutlti-core) listeners. And another reason is he likes 70's soul or soul-jazz sound better than the previous days.I've seen him playing Curtis Mayfield all night at one of the club in London!

It a sad thing for persons who expected this album like to be Logical Progression,but the Fusion of jazz/soul/drum'n'bass(which is this album)may show the direction how the after-the jungle-sound should go.

...unless you are a hard-core dnb head, and have not matured at least a little.

This is desert island/living/bedroom bliss.

Disc 1 is worth the total price alone, and Disc 2 is almost.

This is not "Drum and Bass" or "Jungle" per se. It is, as the title so clearly states, a 'journey inwards' by one of the founding fathers of the aforementioned genre/s.