Leftism

Leftfield | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 3, 1995)
• Original Release Date: October 10, 1995
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B000002B7I
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (77 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #26,569 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Meet Neil Barnes and Paul Daley, the two crafty Englishmen that comprise Leftfield. Their debut, Leftism, is amazingly diverse, ranging from chunky electro, complex textures of beats, to radio-friendly accessibility. The album's 1995 US release helped open up the states for techno-electronic music: The classic single "Open Up," which features ex-Sex Pistol/PIL ranter John Lydon, was one of the first dance singles to push popular radio barriers with its high energy beats and b-line hooks. "Original," with a guest vocal from Curve's moody crooner, Toni Halliday, delves deep into breakbeat territory with purging lyricism and rhythms. --Daniel Shumate

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Release The Pressure -, July 12, 2002

By 

Clarissa "MoonGoddess" (Ontario, California) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Leftism (Audio CD)

Next to Robert Mile's DREAMLAND, Leftfield's LEFTISM is one of the best dance albums to ever be created. You may not know it yet but when you listen to this album for the first time ever you are likely to have heard at least 3-4 of these songs before for most of these are national anthems when it comes to the dance and electronic field. To put this under one catagory, however, would be wrong, for this album is quite diversified. You've got your aggressive techno (Black Flute) as well as your dreamy trance beats (21st Century Poem, Melt) along with some african and reggae influences (Release The Pressure, Afro-Left) along with the occassional breakbeat (Storm 3000). The 3 most rememberable songs, however, would have to be "Original", which features the moody vocals of Toni Halliday from Curve, "Inspection (Check One)", which pulsates with the most addicting beatlines ever heard, along with their huge dance single, "Open Up", which features the ex-punk singer John Lydon from the Sex Pistols whom is electrifying here with the high-energy beatlines.

I don't know what else to say other than my prompt to persuade you to buy this, for this is the ultimate dance party all rolled up into a single CD.

This is HIGHLY recommended... ENJOY!

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Still Sounds Great 6 Years On!, May 3, 2001

By 

Ian Creamer (Dublin,Ireland) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Leftism (Audio CD)

This in my opinion would have to be ranked as the best dance album of the entire 90's.Recorded between the years 1993-95 this c.d. would have the major influence in the direction dance music would go by the end of the decade.It's variety and different styles could be heard in so many groups(Prodigy,Orbital,Underworld and of course The Chemical Brothers to name but a few) towards the end of the decade.

There are so many good tracks on this c.d. that it is impossible to single out just one or two.Unlike many dance albums it didn't require long,repetitive drawn out beats.This goes from a reggae influenced opening,to African rhythms fused with techno in the second.Then we have the ambient style of tracks like Space Shanty.You can hear the early beginnings of trance in tracks like Song Of Life complete with it's Eastern style vocals.The aggressive dance/punk of the John Lydon sung Open Up.In fact there are plenty of excellent guest vocalists on this c.d.,including Curve's Toni Halliday on the almost trip-hop track Original.Fast,fat-beat techno in track 6 Black Flute-indivdual tracks on this c.d. were to create entirely new dance genres!The ragga feel of Danny Red's vocals on the heavy rumbling bass of Inspection.Basically this c.d. in my opinion has no flaws,no dud tracks,no "weakest links".The production is also magnificent.

From start to finish this c.d. is an audio feast.It is the best c.d. from Leftfield and one that may prove almost impossible to surpass.If you have any interest in dance music,this is an essential purchase.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect, December 12, 2004

By 

Robert G. Serafini (Cambridge, MA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Leftism (Audio CD)

This album combines exceptional, interesting, stylistically disparate tunes, luscious electronic orchestration, unrelenting drive and an uncanny sense of artistic unity. It is a "dance album" pretty much in a class by itself. Leftfield, before disbanding, also created a formidable body of EP releases and remixes. Their second album, Rhythm and Stealth, is also full of shimmeringly beautiful cuts - though without the unifying "comet ride" impulse of this album and the easy acceptance that often greets the familiar - in the case of Leftism, it's comfortable place in the dance bin.

To repeat: if you like hard-driving dance music and glorious electronica, this is a truly distinguished disk.