Customer Reviews

Journeys By DJ: Special Release

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Buyers BEWARE, this is NOT your typical mixed compilation album because it a rare cd that has transcended its medium to become art. One warning, NOT everyone will enjoy this cd. The ideal connoisseur of 70 minutes of Madness will be DJ's, electronic dance music-philes, and open minded music listeners. It's not a happy go lucky trance or house cd with predictable baselines, melodic synths, cheesy vocals, and a grand finale mega-hit track. Rather this is a collection of old skool hiphop, DnB, house, electrofunk, techno, and ambient cuts. With clever and meaningful samples littered throughout, Coldcut (Matt Black and Jonathan More) seamlessly blend various EDM genres into a beautiful fluid listenable mix. The mixing, which sounds effortless, is an achievement in itself. Also, the re-release is no mistake because although made in 1995 the music still sounds incredibly fresh.

This is a must have cd.

I paid more for this CD than any other in my collection... and I still think I got the better end of the deal! I have well over 200 sets in my collection, and I still rank this one in my top 5. This set crosses many musical genres with relative ease. Who else would dare to cross Funki Porcini, Plastikman, Jello Biafra, and a Roberta Flack rework? Nothing "cold" about these cuts, just plain ol' brilliance.

For those wise enough to heed my advice... you're welcome.

More and Black (aka, Coldcut) were right. This really is "going to be the most astounding thing you've ever heard."

Even though this compilation is now 10 years old, the programming and mixing is still so unique and innovative, not to mention so thought-provoking. It's not just drum n bass, jazz, trip hop, and scratching; there are a lot of messages in this piece that will make you sit back and think (Bob Holroyd's "African Drug" is a great example).

Words really can't do this piece of art any justice. Do yourself a favor and buy this and judge for yourself. Whether you're a fan of "dance music" or not, this is 70 minutes you're never going to forget.

In summary, Coldcut's JDJ comp is magnificent. Buy it and be astounded.

a freind of mine brought this back with him from NYC in 1996... my jaw dropped when he put it into the cd player. it was the first time, in a long time, that I heard such an eclectic and ballsy mix. not since early 80's hip hop mix sets by Flash and Bambaataa. Coldcut have no reservations about cutting it up...mixing and blending many many different styles and genres...quite skillfully. now I must rant...

in my opinion, the most important thing about this mix when it originally came out, is that it practically stood alone in the modern 'electronica' scene. it's rather unfortunate, but, too many dj's stick to one style (sometimes out of choice and convenience, other times because of their audience's expectations). I think this is very lazy and cowardly on the part of the dj... and on the part of the audience as well. of course, club sets don't need to be as eclectic as this particular mix...but, nor do they need to be over 2 hours of the exact same genre. it's really kind of boring. the art of dj'ing is about MIXING. first and foremost. unadventerous dj's bring about unadventerous parties. to the person that took stars out of their review simply because this mix isn't 70 minutes of straight forward dance music...ulgh... it's time to realize that there's really much more to it than that. dj'ing has never been only for the dancefloor...that's just a part of it. and, this level of quality genre-hopping is not easy to do. when you look back to this mix, you can see that it actually goes somewhere... they are playing with tempo, chronology, genre, mood, etc....it has peaks and valleys, a place of beginning and a destination. when you finish listening, you feel like you went on a journey...probably the best example in this series of actual 'journeys by dj.' but, anyways...

right away with this mix, you know you are listening to something special. when they flip the dillinja remix of Ashabanapal on 33 into 'noddy holder' into plastikman into jb mashup.... you know it's about to go down. talk about bridging several different 'scenes' in the span of a few minutes. and it's still funky as hell! brilliant. if you ever get a chance to see these guys live, it's amazing. their video/audio mix sets are truly memorable.

I have always found Coldcut to be one of the more interesting producers, their mixes are original and perhaps a little hectic. There are always signs along the way however and the beats hold this journey together.You think these songs don't belong together but Coldcut is too gifted forthis to be an obstacle. There are segways and interludes that connect the tunes and a few surprises(the wicki wicki song and Jello Biafra)so that this is not a complilation. I wouldn't think anyone would be bored by this mix, but if your looking for the usuall "DJ" complilation of one song after the next your going to be dissappointed.

Probably the best DJ set in the world. Made 8 years ago, it's still as fresh today. Tracks mould into a continues blend, creating one continues masterpiece. Tracks from completely different genres find a place together without being out-of-place, and it's all done with the skills of a warm heart. It's amazing that they are called *Coldcut* since they're sets are worm and human, and you can't help leaving with a smile on your face (-:«

In some circles, this mix has been labeled "one of the greatest mixes of all time." That's a tough accolade to live with, but this cd certainly manages the burden with ease, so much so that I was drawn to buy a original copy on "an auction website" last year...!

A journey by dj this truly is. A fan of electronic music for many a year, having cut my teeth on the rave scene of Scotland, and later led through a transition to techno and house by Slam, I found this cd surprising on the first listen. But even now, each time I play it, I find something new to keep my focus. The variety of sounds and styles is what makes this cd great: hip-hop, drum n' bass, techno and even Doctor Who! The mish mash of sound, coupled with probably the most samples used on a mix cd ever, are pulled together by expert mixing skills. This journey just keeps you coming back for more...

There are defining moments in music. The timing of the originl release was perfect, and in years to come, aging ravers and clubbers everywhere will play this cd to their grandkids and say: "This mix pulls together all things that are great about the electronic music scene."

Enough said. Save yourself [money] and buy this cd while you can...!!

To avoid the disappointment felt by Mr. One-Star below, realise that this CD is a far cry from 'Havin it Large in Ibiza Vol. 9'.
'70 Minutes of Madness' is often quoted by the dance music press as being one of the most influential mix CDs, which it indeed is, but falls more on the side of DJ Shadow and Cut Chemist's Product Placement mix, only more eclectic.
The blending of styles rather than the individual tracks are what have made this mix stay fresh since it's release, with 'side 2's' Luke Slater/Joanna Law/Photek/Boogie Down Productions splice forming what should be released as a song in it's own right.
Throw into this melting pot a hundred and one different sound snippets and samples, like the Dr.Who theme, old (hilarious) karate movie dialogue and B-movie introductions and the thing comes alive.
If you're interested but unsure of the content, check the artists. Red Snapper, Tim 'Love' Lee, Dead Kennedy's Jello Biafra and Photek in a couple of guises.

Coldcut's "Journeys By DJ: 70 Minutes of Madness" was such a great and influential album when it came out in 1996 because it dared to mix an incredibly wide-range of genres into one coherent DJ set (hip-hop, avant garde, trip-hop, reggae, dub, etc...). Every single track here is good, and some are even great - most people will like them a lot. DJs Jonathan More and Matt Black do an excellent job mishmashing all of these genres into one coherent and extremely satisfying DJ set. They even make room for some pretty funny/slightly scary samples that appear during the latter half of the album (see "Message From Our Sponsor" for a weird, but potentially possible, PSA sample). Not all of the material is theirs, yes, but you won't mind in the end - it remains a very eclectic and interesting mix of genres and artists. There's something here that everyone will like, and with seventy minutes of great turntablism it's hard not love this album. DJs and turntablists will no doubt love this album, but I also think it has some great mass appeal otherwise! Absolutely recommended!

Highlights include:
the entire album!

A great and original mix from one of the best alternative DJs in the business. Originally produced quite a few years ago it won't sound dated even in many years to come. A mishmash of soul, funk, ambient, breakbeat and hiphop amongst other genres, expertly mixed, scratched and fooled about with. This CD comes straight from of the style of Coldcut's Solid Steel shows produced every week that can be accessed on BBC Radio London Live and online at Ninjatune.net. If you liked this then check out 'Solid Steel Now Listen' and "Coldkrushcuts' both on Ninjatune label.