Customer Reviews

Since Then (Enhanced Special Edition)

5 star:		(28)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

When I heard Meridian, I was shocked at how good that album was.  In my heart, that album is still a classic.  Ever since then, I must admit, I've become an Ian Pooley fan because he has developed a sound that seems to click with me on every level possible.  So whenever I could find a track of Ian Pooley or a track that he remixed, I would try to get it by any means necessary.  So when I heard Ian Pooley, this artist who is a member of Da Mongoloid, had a new album out, I was torn with conflicting emotions.  I expect follow-up albums to blow, yet everything I had heard from him was slamming.  So I knew I had to hear the new album to see if not only could  he maintain, but progress. Previous experience with other artists told me to prepare for a sub-par effort.

Not only does this new album maintain the high quality of house music that Ian Pooley creates, but it has progressed, too! The first thing that stands out is the influence of Brazilian jazz on Ian Pooley throughout the album.  On Meridian, he dabbled with it briefly on one track, track ten I believe.  It is not used as another layer to keep the track `busy', but it seems like a natural evolution from Meridian.  What makes this possible is that Ian Pooley still retained what is the essence of his sound, like "Balmes", a stone-cold floor killer.

Another pleasant addition is his usage of vocals.  It adds another facet of humanity and complexity.  The three tracks credited with a vocalist; "Coracao", "Visions" and "Menino Brincadeira" adds a nice variety to the album.  From the chill-out Brazilian jazz feel of "Menino Brincadeira" to the house stomping of "Visions", you're bound to find a lot of tracks on this album that deserve immediate and repeated play.

Listen to "Sundowner" and you'll swear he's some warp test-tube child of Carl Craig and Glenn Underground, hanging out in Chicago composing some wicked house tracks.  If you think this is purely a house CD from top to bottom, listen to "Spicy Snapper", a lil' trip-hop gem.

Like a fine artist, Ian Pooley diligently applies strokes of Afro-Cuban cultural rhythms, soft bass grooves, mournful keys and soulful vocals to create a masterpiece.

I don't usually like DJ CDs because they tend to start sounding repetitive by the third track, but this CD is solid from start to finish. The sound is cohesive all throughout, yet there's such variety within the material that you can go with the flow and stay interested in the music as well. His blend of solid house beats, deep throbbing bass, horns, acoustic guitars, Portuguese vocals, voice samples, and Latin beats is balanced perfectly.

This CD sounds like Sade if they were genetically merged with a deep house producer. Or Thievery Corporation if you kept their lounge sophistication but lost the trip-hop aspect of their sound and replaced it with upbeat bounce. Solid grooves throughout are offset by an inspired selection of instrumentation (or samples?) on every track: quasi hip hop keyboard on "Since Then", Latin percussion on "Coracao Tambor", and lots of other little touches. Great combination of sounds - electronic and acoustic!

Only gripe I have is that on "Visions" I had to tolerate Kirsty Hawkshaw's off-key vocals. Other than that tiny slip, this is a beautifully conceived set of tracks. Great stuff!!

This CD was one of my favorites of 2000, the popping bossa-house rythms perfect for keeping your head nodding while you work. A great introduction to just how varied and tasty electronic music can be, "Since Then" makes a great gift for those hesitant to dive into house music--You won't hear any of the typical thumping "boom-piss-boom-piss" monotony that is often associated with house.

Ian Pooley has been blazing his own path through electronic music ever since he first started releasing records at the age of 16. With the rest of Germany caught in a trance, Ian was molding his distinctive house and techno sound. While his music has continued to evolve over the past decade, his new album "Since Then" represents perhaps his biggest musical leap forward yet. With more than a nod in the direction of Brazil, incorporating a few guest appearances, "Since Then" and Ian Pooley himself have been busy garnering critical acclaim. Very busy.

As for the Brazilian flavor that runs through "Since Then," Ian sees an already existing shared musical territory. Brazilian music to me has a lot of similarities to house. Its always been very harmony-driven, [similar] to electronic music, and at the same time very groovy.

To provide the vocal stylings on "Since Then," Ian enlisted the help of Kirsty Hawkshaw of Opus 3 fame for the soul-infused Visions, as well as Rosanna and Zelia (one name only in true Brazilian fashion) for the tracks Coracao Tambor and Menino Brincadieira. Sung in Portuguese, the vocals on these two tracks have a playful, rhythmic quality that complements the production perfectly. So perfectly, in fact, that I can almost hear these vocals gracing other Pooley songs of late.

Its precisely this easy mating of styles that makes "Since Then" so impressive. Ian incorporates overt Brazilian elements into his new album while at the same time giving the impression that they were there all along, if only we had listened for them. He seems to simply absorb influences and make them his own.

Nowadays, in the burned CD era, it's very difficult for me to rationalize spending [money] on a new one. This one did it! Entranced by "A Better Life's" play on German MTV I figured I'd go ahead and download the album. Upon hearing the other 10 tracks on the album I was convinced, threw out my burnt copy, and proceeded to the record store. What hooked me were the beats that seemed to transport me to a tropical, sandy beach. I wanted the original CD's crystal clear sounds have me begging never to come back. BUY THIS ALBUM; you won't regret it.

The aural equivalent of that little plastic monkey that comes with your fruity mixed drink. Mellow filtered house with nice Brazilian influences, so much more then just a dance record, party music for the soul.

Another Latin influenced downtempo album, and another enjoyable, soothing album from Ian Pooley, globe-trotting German DJ. Pooley has obviously been influenced by hard Detroit style beats, but when he uses them he turns the "volume" down on them to make way for his own style. Pooley builds on the beats with atmospheric female vocals and Latin influenced instruments and sounds. You could dance to it, but the energy level is more in line with hanging out, where you want the music to be more then just background. Ian Pooley won't let you make his music background. This music is Downtempo that requires your attention.

Also recommend St. Germain's Tourist

THE best house music CD there is, way cooler than Cassius or Daft Punk. every single song reflects pure joy and happiness! the whole CD sounds very fresh & summerly, an absolute must for every house/lounge - music fan. in recent times i cannot think of a CD that i could recommend more!

A much needed change of pace from the energy trance and hard house that I normally listen to. While hard house and trance are the candy raver party all night style, Ian Pooley's mix is the relaxing in your living room having a drink after hours style. Recomended to anyone that is looking for a change of pace from frentic trance mixes.

I picked up Ian Pooley's "Since Then" on one of my "compulsive browses" through the record store. GREAT FIND!!! "Since Then" had me hooked from beginning to end with its mix of ethnic rhythms, witty samples, sassy vocals and house grooves. Pooley has taken the old standard house beat and layered it with live instruments and other goodies. There's even an interview with him towards the end of the CD which gives us a better understanding of the man. Note to record companies: instead of putting those frivolous "hidden tracks" on CDs, do an interview with the artist instead.

This cd is so cool. It is almost a chillout cd, but is is so upbeat and fun at the same time. Its a great cd to just sit down and listen to. I wouldnt recomend getting the enhanced sp ed though, it is not really worth the money, but it is fun. i would totally buy this cd!!!!