16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Essential, January 2, 2001
This review is from: Remixes 1997-2000 (Audio CD)
The last decade has seen an explosion of downtempo electronica, and with exceptions, two schools seem to have emerged. One (i.e. Massive Attack, Portishead, Hooverphonic, Tricky) derives its sounds from Bristol, and the soulful dub/hip-hop/soul hybrid found in Britain's melting pot. The other (i.e. K&D, Trüby Trio, Beanfield, Tosca, Kyoto Jazz Massive, Fauna Flash, et al.) is truly more jazz-based and seems to emanate from southern Germany and Austria. Jazzanova is of the latter. This German DJ collective performs actively (every Thursday night at WMF Club in Berlin), and are also quite prolific as remixers. For that reason, this collection needed to be made.
For the beathead massive, it's an essential release. Jazzanova's bossa-influenced jazzscapes transcend the listener, leaving you either relaxed, or on the floor sweating out a furious samba. I can't really call it jazz. It's a fusion of bossa, drum & bass and jazz, with a distinctive Euro twist on it. And the artists? 4Hero, Ian Pooley, Truby Trio...it reads like a who's who list of the whole beathead/jazz scene.
The newcomer will cite the lack of sonic variety when critiquing this release. A solid argument; the remixes don't venture into uncharted waters, sticking to the tried and true Jazzanova formula.
For the unitiated, it's a good place to begin. For those who know - why don't you have this already?
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9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Jazz never stops evolving..., November 23, 2000
This review is from: Remixes 1997-2000 (Audio CD)
Jazzanova are a Berlin based group of musician/DJ's who formed back in the heady "electronica" days of 1995. Their strength lies in their use of beat heavy Jazz structures to reshape many of these tracks into silky smooth compositions. If the over used IDM (Intelligent Dance Music) tag was ever more appropriate then people should use this double CD as a template. This is a great collection of tracks for anyone who likes the the jazzy late nite music coming from the smokey chill-out rooms tucked way in the back of many dance clubs around the world.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Remix Album With a Twist, July 6, 2002
This review is from: Remixes 1997-2000 (Audio CD)
The overwhelming majority of remix albums consist of generic reinterpretations of familiar tunes set to lazy beats and uninspired rhythms. An exception, however, is this remix album from Jazzanova, which compiles the band's greatest work on two discs. The grooves, always rich and multilayred, offer a careful balance of jazz, Latin influences, and a touch of electro beats so as not to scare away even the most conservative jazz gurus. Among the better numbers are Incognito's "Get Into My Groove" and MJ Cole's "Sincere." Whether you want a disc to spice things up at a weekend dinner party or music to relax to on a Sunday afternoon, you'll be pleased with this excellent double-disc set.
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