Customer Reviews

Set the Controls for the Heart of the Bass

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

William Orbit, along with a few backup singers, have combined on this CD to create one of the best techno disks ever. If you like this disk, you will also like William Orbit on his own, so look for albums like the whole Strange Cargo series (One, Two, and Hinterland are the best, IMO). William Orbit also produced a fair bit of Madonna's music in the mid-90s, and if you find the CD-singles with William Orbit remixes on them, they are really fun.

Bassomatic - A collaboration including William Orbit behind the synths and production way ahead of its time. Orbit's use of complex layers, evolutionary rhythm, sample loops/stabs, and blended vocals mark the beginning of what has lead to countless remixes of top-pop acts (Erasure, The Cure, Seal) and later with original hits "Water From a Vine Leaf" - Strange Cargo III, and Madonna's smash hit album - "Ray of Light."

True brilliance from a true genius.

This album has been known to be hard to find. Order while it is still in print.

The playing, production and mixing techniques of William Orbit defy categorization. He balances soft, almost subliminal percussion and synth work, with FAT basslines, jamming loops, and ethereal echos and delays. He demonstrates his musical talent, his technical wizardry and production prowess in his solo records, (The Strange Cargo series), also his most recent release "Hinterland", as well as his work with Torch Song ("Towards the Unknown Region"). This CD was recorded in 1990. The Genre is dance. Although now 10 years old, this stands the test of time, and still sounds current. Standout cuts: Fascinating Rhythm, the title cut, and In the Realm of the Senses. EXCELLENT! You will NOT be disappointed! Check out his other work too!

Songs Include : In The Realm Of The Senses / Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Bass / Fascinating Rythm / Rat Cut-A-Bottle / Love Catalogue / Zombie Mantra / Freaky Angel / Wicked Love / Ease On By / My Tears Have Gone

One of William Orbit early works. He is incredible at giving so much depth to an otherwise cold genre known as techo. Few others can do this so successfully. If you enjoy Orbits stuff, scope YELLO and SHAMEN. Oh, this album is must have material for music lovers.

top sounds! an absolute gem. i just bought my second copy, after overplaying my first which i've had since it was released.

this music is a mix of acid jazz, dub, r&b, techno, etc... truly a masterpiece. another great cd that came out around this was renegade soundwave's 'in dub'. another must have.

I recall the first time I heard this album being played at a small club in Hermosa Beach about ten years ago. I immediately asked the DJ for the name and the next day made a point of tracking it down and buying it. Bassomatic fast became my favorite CD. It has been stolen from me twice and I always replace it!

Hopefully, fans of "Ray of Light" will seek this out. William Orbit was a new name to most dance fans when this album was released, but the huge hit "Fascinating Rhythm" made sure people remembered him. This CD contains 12 tracks, all techo-dance of the same high standard. Most of the songs have vocals, (although some are just repeated samples) making it much more mainstream than the later "Strange Cargo" albums. Check out "Wicked Love" which sets a chunky dance beat to melodramatic dialogue samples from "Jane Eyre"! Also worth a closer listen are the final two compositions "Ease on By" and "My Tears Have gone", two slower, sexy shuffling numbers with great female vocals. This is an excellent package, well worth owning. The second Bassomatic album, "Science and Melody" is also worth getting if you can find a copy.

This is quasi "techno" that is more akin to new age, very over-produced and dramatic in an enya-type way. Im not sure what year the other reviewers are stuck in (..."Madonna's smash hit Ray of Light" uuubllah), but this album seems to make the over-50 crowd cream their jeans. On the plus side, it's perfect for naked unconditional dance jams and genX beach parties in tv commercials.