Customer Reviews

Secret Art of Science

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is, without doubt, one of THE best drum & bass mix albums released in the past five years. Ever since Reprazent's brilliant "New Forms" album, jungle has degenerated from being a truly advanced music with seemingly limitless potential to 'just another' dance subgenre. The exhilarating ragga/hardstep and impossibly twisted techstep of the past have somehow ended up at the formulaic sounds of second-rate Bad Company, Ed & Op, and Ram imitators. Little good can possibly come from following a musical template that, though fun on occasion, is simply inferior to the stuff that preceded it.

Anyways. What all this means is that pretty much every drum and bass mix released during this time of dancefloor suckiness sounds the same -- a bunch of unimaginative records mostly composed of linear two-step rhythms, filtered-to-death basslines, and 'scary' sounds. Which makes this latest DB release such a treasure to own and listen to. Though I don't really agree with the comments in the liner notes about 'putting the music back' into drum and bass by bringing more melody and 'emotion' (a vast majority of the best jungle tunes had little melody, or even 'soul' as most people know it), the tunes here are still way better than any of the current dubplates hurting the dancefloors.

Though it easily falls into the 'atmospheric' category, one should know that it's not just another collection of the pseudo-intelligent, sissy coffee-table jungle that Bukem and friends have been churning out as of late (though it's safe to say that their contributions to this mix aren't nearly as formulaic as their newest stuff; Bukem's own 'Music' is beautiful and a certified classic). Nope, the drums here are mixed into the forefront, distinct and emotive. The linear two-step patterns are well balanced by more intricate breakbeat programming from the likes of Photek and Pieter K (who's looking to be the next big auteur-producer on the scene). You can tell DB really thought out the track sequencing, because though each track stands alone as a marvel of craftsmanship, the way they blend into each other just sounds so right. He's not just matching beats, he's playing with moods, colors. Just listen to the mix between the very first two tracks to see what I'm talking about.

Highlights here would be Blame's jazzy (but different!), rolling "Overhead Projections", both of Pieter K's tracks, Omni Trio's aching "Secret Life", Bukem's anthem, and Klute's "Chicks". Unlike Richard "progressive-house" Diaz, I find "Chicks" a flawlessly constructed minimal piece, hypnotic and understated. Good stuff. All in all, I would suggest you forgive the awkward title and BUY this mix if you're sick of boring noise masquerading as jungle. Peace.

The negative reviews seem to be missing the point. As it says in the liner notes "this is not a collection of the hardest, darkest plates currently smashing up the dancefloors." If that's what you're looking for, you've come to the wrong place. Check out the new DJ Dara or Dieselboy's CD instead.

On the "Secret Art of Science", DJ DB avoids the stranglehold that dark, nasty, mechanical beats have had on drum & bass in recent years. Instead he offers lush melodies and real breaks in a seamless mix that hasn't left my cd player since the day I bought it.

I love drum & bass/jungle in all its forms but there's only so much darkness a man can take. Props to DJ DB for letting the light in!

The Secret Art of Being Brilliant, really. While professing to know little between dark-step, tech-step, and blah blah blah, it's certainly obvious that DJ DB offers up (yet again) some of the most accessible and credible work to be found. His prior Shades of Technology served as a roaring flyover of the depth within drum and bass, and this works as aptly by exploring the rarely charted, song-oriented fare the scene offers. He certainly has an ear for melody and vocal; sharp revisions of house producers Lil Louis, Everything But the Girl, and double dips of Jonny L infuse warmth and emotion to the precisely calculated beats. Gluing the tracks together are layers of atmosphere and flat-out musicianship as predominant as the rapid backing.

Big names Photek and LTJ Bukem ("Music" still sounding fresh after 8 years) sit snug next to small records - major points just for daring to drop Nautilus's quaint guitar stroll "Small Adventures." There's some sag in the paunch (Klut's blah "Chicks") but ultimately the concept overcomes those quibbles. After all, it's not often you'll find drum and bass your hyper-caffinated mom would adore, right? Grade: 4.5 stars

Dj DB, although more widely known for mixing hardcore styles and bumbin bass beats has hit if off quite well with his more downtempo mix of drum and bass. The initial track slowly rolls you into the entire cd where you are memsmerized by the sonic precission of the beats. He encompasses a wide group of drum and bass producers and weilds a cd that can be listened to at any time for the purposes of just chillin out. I'd have to say this is one cd worth buying.

very well informed track selection, some oldies and some new stuff, but all of it very chill and melodic, definitely worth getting if you are in the mood for some easy going beats try also Carol C's album, very similar, a couple of tracks appear on both albums

This is the cream of the intelligent crop when it comes to drum and bass. The track selection is superb and when combined with the flawless mixing courtesy of DB, it creates a beautiful sound that carries you effortlessly through the entire album. I am more impressed with this CD every time I listen to it, and consider it essential to anyone who enjoys intelligent drum and bass

this is one of the most beautiful CD's i've heard. i'm not hugely heavy into jungle (i'm a hip hop DJ who also produces "chillout" styles -- my hip hop preferences are people under the stairs/madlib styles). i picked this up looking for some education in drum and bass, and came up with one of my best memories of music, period. the beginning starts off lovely and light (not what i was expecting), then the pace picks up and becomes more intense, while never becoming straight-up dark...then it rounds out with a mind-blowing performance by pieter k.

eargasmic. a perfect mix CD.

With this album DB shows that drum & bass can be incredibly beautiful and have depth. This is a soulful and beautiful album to listen to. The Everything But the Girl mix is one of the best remixes ever. My animals love this cd.

this is so great, its perfectly mixed and compiled. DJ DB is my hero. He has topped his last releases with this one, its such a great chill dnb album!!! amazingly beautiful.

sometimes, when i'm listening to this cd, the music is so beautiful that it pains me to listen. i have to STOP whatever i'm doing and just listen, particularly to the EBTG, Klute, Pieter K and Tango tracks. this is THE dnb album of 2001, by far.