Customer Reviews

Outernational Sound

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Theivery Corp. have built their reputation as tastemakers over the years by releasing records so hypnotic and streamlined that, though most of the music is stolen -- i.e. thievery of sounds--, the brand name Thievery Corporation is another way of saying good taste.

So by releasing a CD containing some of their favorite songs, did Thievery live up to its reputation? Yes, mostly.

There's no fancy mixing here, and the songs do not always blend together in seemless fashion. But the brothers do dig some gems from their crates 'o wax.

The music ranges from South American rhythems to North Atlantic drum and bass to Washington DC dub to the Beatles (off of Sgt. Peppers) to Funk to Asia (but not really) and ends with one of the best Jamaican rocksteady songs, by Delroy Wilson, I've ever heard.

To top it all off, the CD is encased in layer after layer of shiny-psychedlic-Warholian-pop-art-packaging - which may be worth the price of admission if that's your thing.

My overall impression is that, after spending a decade or so trying to be as effortlessly-cool as possible, Thievery is dying to get a little funky. They've amassed wealth through many heists, and this mix-tape album is their chance to just let the good times roll.

If you're looking for high art, go elsewhere. But if you're looking for an intruiging mix of sounds that would probably do well at a party, check this out. Grade: B.

The Thievery Corporation take some time out from creating their own smooth grooves and instead return to their record collection with a trippy compilation of soul, dub, ethnic grooves and, er, reggae, all mixed, remixed and filtered through their fashionable sound lounge.

The 70's easy sound of David Snell's "International Flight" (a track that appeared on the second 'Sound Gallery' compilation) launches the collection with an air of sophistication followed by The Gimmicks equally delightful 1971 Sergio Mendes-ish track Ye-Me-Le (Mendes also recorded this). Then decades start to blur with Thunderball's contemporary take on 60's easy as we hit a groovy oil patch with suave, if somewhat similar, sounds from the likes of Crazy Penis and Block 16.

There's some 70's (either sounding, or really 70's) funk from the likes of Breakestra and Antonio Carlos Jobim (which came as a bit of a surprise, not the bossa style he is generally known for). Interestingly it's often hard to tell which tracks are three decades old and which are contemporary as they meld seamlessly. 18th St Lounge label-mates The Karminsky Experience get a look in with their lush Marrakech via Cambden sound (and can I just take this opportunity to mention their album 'The Power of Suggestion' is very fine). The sitars come out with The Alan Lorber Orchestra and Indian Vibes before Alan Moorhouse (70's British library music composer) lands us squarely in the world of Suzi Wong with the corny 'Expo in Tokyo'. Following are some cool psycho-grooves from The Bobby Hughes Experience before rounding out the collection with some reggae/dub from The Thievery Corporation and Delroy Wilson (the latter I'll admit made me want to rush for the track advance button).

The Outernational Sound is tailor-made to soundtrack cafés or specialist book stores and you could be forgiven for feeling under-dressed or perhaps under-furnished, whilst listening to it (one probably needs 1960's Swiss modern furniture to fully appreciate the Thievery world). I can't help but think that they might benefit from casting their musical net a little less wide, it's the sort of compilation where tracks will be skipped. Also a few less tracks, rather than the snug 20 (in just over an hour), might have allowed a little more breathing room. Still, it's very smooth, very sophisticated, and basically very charming. The shiny silver packaging is truly dazzling, the contents, only very slightly less so.

With the recent release of "The Cosmic Game" it inspired me to give a listen again to some of my fave chill out/lounge fare by the duo of Garza and Hilton known as The Thievery Corporation. This disc is all over the map, mixing every conceivable style of music for a remarkable synthesis of sophisticated sounds. Is it jazz, bossa nova,r&b, reggae and more ? Yes , and then some, with snippets of the velvety turn- the -lights-down- low Barry White voice, interspersed with the 60's seductive willowy female voices of the Sergio Mendes singers and the cool jazz horns blowing softly through the multi-layered tracks. Your aural passage takes you through Sao Paulo by way of the dark night within the city lights of your metroplitan view. If this doesn't strike your fancy how about some reggae, Afro-beat or Far Eastern inspired grooves for a deliciously packaged smorgasbord of sound? African chants, rhythms and beats , mesh with percussion and horns to the twangy plucking of the Indian sitar, sometimes shifting to a rock steady Jamaican groove to keep you guessing in what direction the music will turn. It's a global hopskotch and a jump to some Latin percussion, funky shake -your -booty soul music switch -your -groove in time to change the tempo again. It is a mind boggling harmonious blend of turn table fun that is exhaustive to the listener so you had better get your energy up and move. A nice addition and a momentary pause is the George Harrison composition "Within Without You " that tranports you somewhere along the Ganges River as the sitar gently weeps via the Discovery of India Mix. Along the way stops will be made to hear the Japanese tinged "Expo in Tokyo " with a dreamy stopover to see "My French Brother " before closing out with a reworking of one of Thievery Corporations best and most recognizable songs, "The Richest Man in Babylon". The Garza and Hilton composition features taunting, haunting , smoky, vocals by Notch with a bass thumping groove that reverberates in sporadic dub style, resulting in an even better version; if that is possiblle. An uplifting conclusion to the disc is a blend of old school, straight ahead , rock steady reggae with Delroy Wilson blasting out the vocals like a reborn Wilson Pickett/Otis Redding transported via Jamaica. Great disc, plenty of music for your dollar and like their other discs, highly recommended.

Okay let's see here. I've listen to The Outnational Sound about 10 times now--once on a plane. I've come to several conclusions. First, this is a very good CD to have on a plane. Secondly, I don't fly enough. Take a seat in a chair (any chair), closes one's eyes, and just listen. Sure you may want to dance on many of the tracks; in particular tracks 5 through 7, but this is definitely a "listening CD." Some of the mixes are a little choppy, but for the most part this is another seamless work by the TC. Garza and Hilton's music knowledge base is freakishly scary. Where do these guys find these cuts. And how in the world can they listen to it all. Whatever voodoo they are using, I shall continue to drink the kool-aid they are serving up. Can't wait for the next flavor!

Not exactly famous for its music, (Fugazi, Pussy Galore, Girls Against Boys and a very small handful of others not withstanding), Washington, DC can, these days, proudly boast the rather excellent Thievery Corporation, resurfacing after 2002's Richest Man In Babylon, with this DJ set..

Rob Garza & Eric Hilton's Latin-tinged mix of trip-hop and Acid Jazz - both genres about ten years past their prime - gives Thievery Corporation studio releases a naturally retro sound, and it's no great surprise that The Outernational Sound is very much a south-of-the-border love affair with yesterday.

With David Snell's light, samba-infused Lounge opener, `International Flight', segueing straight into a genuine Latin piece from 1971, courtesy of Gimmicks, (a Sergio Mendes cover band from Sweden), Gaza & Hilton's mission statement appears to have been obscure - aside from a Beatles cover and a couple of their own tracks remixed, there's very little that you will be familiar with. Die-hard reggae fans may know Delroy Wilson's original 1971 Jamaican hit, `Better Must Come', which closes this collection, but the majority of the material here is very obscure. The mix is a little sloppy in places, tracks bumping into each other, rather than blending invisibly, still, the artwork is stunning, (of course), and it's possible that The Outernational Sound is merely filler, ahead of the new studio album due early next year, but hey, any Thievery Corporation product is better than eighty-percent of whatever else is out there. And as far as lazy-Sunday-afternoon music goes - this is damn near perfect.

Kim Porter, Forté Magazine, Australia

Thievery Corporation is kind of like that friend you had growing up who had this really great record collection with songs you never heard before and had no idea existed. Always exasperated you would ask him 'Where in the world did you get that?' And then, of course, you'd have to get a copy of all of them in the form of a mix tape. That's pretty much what these guys do.

With access to songs most of us would never encounter, it's kind of like getting one of your friends' mix tapes. The production is slick and a tapestry is woven of music from around the world that you would otherwise not find in one place.

Like their other discs, this one continues to grow on me the more I listen to it. Great to listen to when you don't know what else to listen to.

Owning most of their output, this is my favorite, followed by "Mirror Conspiracy" and then "Cosmic Game". Re-mixed tunes from obscure (to me) artists segue into one another for over an hour's musical world tour, Thievery-Style. Their musical perspective explores the best elements of each choice, moving on at the perfect time to keep you interested and wanting more. Unlike a lot of CDs, this set stays strong towards the end!

Stand outs:
'International Flight'
'Sea Groove'
'Cramp your Style'
'Re-return of the Original Artform'
'Expo in Tokyo'
'My French Brother'

Super-nice artwork and cover treatments.

Take this to a party only if you never want to see it again!

i'm not sure why C Davis is so confused and disappointed by this CD. it says "DJ Set" right on the packaging, so logic would dictate that this is going to be a compilation of OTHER people's music (nobody is trying to fool anybody here). this is what Thievery is known for, having great musical taste and compiling mixtures of great music. they are, first and foremost, DJs.

that said, this is one hell of a good mix CD (the next Thievery album of original material is set for release in early 2005). no, the transitions aren't completely beatmatched, but the focus of this CD is on a wide variety of different genres of music with different tempos. it's meant to be a sophisticated musical journey, not a seamless monotone trance set for drugged up clubbers. from downbeat, to drum&bass, to bossa, to funk, to dub reggae: honestly this tops their previous DJ Kicks set (and the packaging is beautiful). buy on sight!

I was really psyched when I heard Rob and Eric were going to be coming out with a new mix cd. Outernational Sound delivers the goods; this cd is packed with rare blissful beats and vibrant sounds. It is very diverse and encompasses Thievery Corporation's current direction in their music. (Anyone interested in the other ESL artists pickup the Modular Systems cd)

The only thing that kept me from giving this 5 stars was there are a few points where the tracks catch you ear because they don't merge as well as the others. That said trust me, this cd is not one to miss.

This CD is great! Just play, lay back and chill. The beats are melow and invigorating. I can't take this out of my CD player.