Mysteries of Funk

Grooverider, Grooverider | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 20, 1998)
• Original Release Date: October 20, 1998
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B00000DFTJ
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #107,769 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #51 in Music > Rap & Hip-Hop > Bass

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Cyberntic Jazz

2. Rainbows of Colour

3. On the Double

4. Time & Space

5. Where's Jack the Ripper

6. Fly With Me

7. C Funk

Disc: 2

1. Starbase

2. Time & Space [Mix]

3. Rivers of Congo

4. Imagination, Pts. 1 - 2

5. 560°

6. Imagination, Pt. 3

7. Stay With Me

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Grooverider isn't hailed as the "don of drum & bass" for nothing. It's an honorable title that he has earned and held since the genre's very foundation in the early 1990s. Mysteries of Funk, surprisingly Groove's first full-length, is a sample of jazzier and more tech-step-oriented strains of drum & bass. Taking slightly forced, Björk-esque vocal arrangements and beautiful guitar licks and arranging them around soft, café-style breakbeats, "Rainbow of Color" emphasizes the jazz-funk solution to Groove's great mystery. "On the Double" takes the fusion of sound even more literally and exercises a more soundtrackish approach with a film chase-scene sound. The mighty Grooverider later flees the café scene with a handful of strictly main-floor tracks like "Where's Jack the Ripper?" and "560." The former takes crunchy bass quacks and pounds against them with a metallic snare drum; the latter takes quirky sub-bass pulses that are quickly recycled into heavy reverb while a simple conga rhythm accents each beat. Groovy. --Daniel Shumate

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Good or bad? Your choice, really..., June 24, 2000

By 

somebody (NYC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mysteries of Funk (Audio CD)

Being an avid enthusiast of the drum n' bass "scene," as pretentious as it occasionally sometimes is, in listening to this Cd I feel this is not a strong representation of the genre. This could very well be personal, (so you headz chill) but this type of jazzy, tech-step like, a cappella jam seems occasionally cheesy and filled with..well..."filler." I realize that during 1998 this was where it was at for Grooverider. He was hardly setting off bombs in the d n b fabric with other producers overshadowing his less-than-fresh efforts. This album has a few choice cuts, and his production skills are commendable, but combining so-called jazz harmonies with this type of genre is definately an abuse of power. The loungy progressions are worn thick, and lacking any true creativity deep down. This album comes nowhere near stuff on the "Prototype Years" ep which was showcasing the fine talents of heavy hitters Dillinja, Ed Rush, Fierce, Lemon D, Optical, and Boymerang, to name a few. It goes without saying that Grooverider has been one of the most respected and talented DJ's, probably getting all of these afforementioned producers their starts. A big name gets alot of support and can get away unscathed by negativity due to that stardom. No one would dare defy that Grooverider's attempt at making d n b is off key, but let's not give in to someone's production skills because they are graciously empowered in the scene like a king. Purveyor's of fine drum n' bass can find sanctuary elsewhere. Stick with your records for the best.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Drum + Bass pioneer does well..., September 21, 2004

By 

D. WILBORN "EXPRECDJ" (Dallas, TX) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mysteries of Funk (Audio CD)

I'm not a huge fan of drum and bass, but I am an obsessed music lover, and no matter what the genre a song is in, if its good, I'll listen. I've always heard of Grooverider and seen him on countless U.K. festival flyers, and decided to see what the fuss was all about. On Mysteries of Funk, Grooverider takes a very jazzy and lounge-inspired approach. Dancefloor destroyers "Rivers of Congo" and "Where's Jack the Ripper" roll along next to smoother, jazzier cuts such as "Imagination" the beautiful "Rainbows of Color". Emotive chords and clangy guitars phase in and out along extremely tight drum programming and crisp effects. The mastering is excellent, and the album comes through the speaker very clear and effortlessly. The whole album gives the listener a decent listen, and is essential for any newcomer to the drum and bass / jungle genre, as the excellent price and quality factor keep this album stocked in any decent music shop.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An extreemly well done album, September 24, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Mysteries of Funk (Audio CD)

This album is a very good example of jazzier drum 'n' bass. It isnt quite as "hardcore" as some other albums (like "Fully Automatic"), but it is very good. I don't think it was meant to be really hardcore anyway, it's more "kick back and relax" sort of stuff. "Where's Jack The Ripper" is probable one if, if not THE best track on the album. A very good buy if you're into this genre. Otherwise, you might be better off with "Fully Automatic" or "This Is Drum 'n' Bass"