Stark Raving Mad

John Digweed | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 25, 2003)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Thrive
• ASIN: B000089IZV
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #60,021 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Slingshot - Digweed & Muir

2. Synchronic - Fitalic

3. Gregory9s Theme - Digweed & Muir

4. Children of the Sun - Moonface

5. Flood - Shapeshifter

6. Rumble Fish - Tone Depth

7. Statue - Digweed & Muir

8. Purple Zone - Pako and Fredrick

9. Kritical - Look Fair

10. Locked On - Nuddles

See all 12 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Walking on Fire - Evolution

2. Lose Control - Lemon 8

3. White Island - Luke Fair

4. Beautiful Strange - Digweed & Muir

5. Synchronic - Fitalic

6. The Red Record - Digweed & Muir

7. Mondrian - Digweed & Muir

8. Time Travel - Voyager

9. Apollo Vibe - Pole Folder & CP

10. A Better Place - DJ Tasmin & Monk

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

When the producers of the film Stark Raving Mad sought a progressive dance DJ to inject some momentum into the plot, their natural first choice was John Digweed. Yet this marks the first time the esteemed DJ has done a proper soundtrack, which seems especially odd given how intertwined dance music and film have become in recent years. Working closely with his Bedrock partner Nick Muir, Digweed uses the opportunity to compose a few brilliant new tracks ("Beautiful Strange," first and foremost) and puts together a solid mix featuring Moonface, Evolution, and other worthy artists. Though it never sounds like a film score (the occasional sampled piece of dialogue aside), the record does feel somewhat incomplete without the film. But while Digweed’s relatively controlled vibe keeps this 2-disc set distinct from his usual thump-filled work, tracks like Voyager’s "Time Travel" definitely move, and Digweed’s always-excellent ear makes for an interesting listen. –-Matthew Cooke

Product Description

Superstar DJ John Digweed delivers a slamming double mix album packed with original material created with long time partner Nick Muir, and a collection of recent and unreleased Bedrock tracks. Slipcase. Thrive label. 2003.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Progressive Heaven, March 26, 2003

By 

anonymous "funboy5150" (Milford, CT USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Stark Raving Mad (Audio CD)

This cd has some tasty numbers from previous Digweed compilations, new stuff and some original music from Digweed and Muir. All of the tracks are oustanding especially Evolution's "walking on fire" and "beautiful strange" by Digweed and Muir. Tracks such as Pako and Fredrick's "purple zone" and Luke Fair's "white island" are a couple of great progressive peak time floor stompers along with many others. The drum & bass piece "a better place" by Dj Tasmin & Monk is a pleasant surprise on this disc, amazing.

The vibe of the cd is a little trippy (partly due to rave related samples from the movie) with tons of energy. However, the cd doesn't "flow" well at times. Which is half of the reason I give it 4 stars the other half is because a couple of the tracks were already big hits on other compilations. I do realize this is the score to "Stark Raving Mad" and not one of Digweed's typical mixed cd's but the vibe has some unexpected shifts in it. For instance, the transition from Voyager's "time travel" to "apollo vibe" by Pole folder & Cp (both tracks are from previous releases) just doesn't feel quite right. It's like falling off a cliff rather than sliding down the peak of a hill.

All in all its a listenable/danceable cd and a solid movie score debut for Digweed. Fans will not be disappointed. In my opinion it's better than Oakenfold's Swordfish soundtrack.

*note* The track "strapped" by White room which kicks off the second song on cd 2(from Digweed's LA set) is on the cd but there is no idication of it.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars balances movie needs with dancehall crowd wishes, May 4, 2003

By 

Richard Diaz - See all my reviews

This review is from: Stark Raving Mad (Audio CD)

It's doubtful passionate but exceedingly polite British DJ John Digweed would ever be seen stark raving mad, so it helps to understand this is the soundtrack for the aforementioned film, about a group of young crooks throwing a rave as distraction to the heist they're pulling on the bank next door. As such, this blends incidental music composed by Digweed and production partner Nick Muir (the two form production team Bedrock) with a heaping-size portion of Bedrock-label tunes from the past three years, working effectively as both movie score and DJ set. Film dialogue segues several songs.

The six original pieces stay short and to the formula of gussied up drum numbers; capable efforts from a team who've listened to thousands of records in their lifetimes. These effectively convey a tense, nervous energy suited to the film, with "Slingshot's" rapid-fire breaks and uneasy synth notes, and the raspy metallic beats of darker "Mandrian" the best of the lot.

Elsewhere, SRM plays like a Bedrock's Familiar Hits package, filled with tunes proven in dance clubs worldwide: Moonface "Children of the Sun" restores a euphoric anthem to prominence, a captivating blend of Indian instrumentation and propulsive tech-beats. Tone Depth's "Rumble Fish" is by all accounts an end of the night classic, a sparse yet powerful kick drum tune with mesmerizing melody and wordless vocals. Lesser know tracks ably perform, from needle rubbing synth wig-out Nuddles "Locked On" to Lemon8's slick programmed "Lose Control" filled with secretive whispers.

Though far from the rave music the film hints this to be - there's a sense of repressed energy throughout these two discs which never fully releases - Stark Raving Mad manages to juggle the needs of movie fan listeners and dedicated dancehall crowd.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Greatest Hits, April 4, 2003

By 

G. A Booth "doublehill" (Santa Barbara, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Stark Raving Mad (Audio CD)

John Digweed is a well known English DJ who has released the indispensible Renaissance recordings as well as the Northern Exposure series. Now master Diggers has released a mix of classic dance tunes with a couple of new releases. In general, this is a strong offering including the must have Apollo Vibes and a truly remarkable drum and bass tune at the end of disc 2. However, as this is a soundtrack to a movie, these discs lack the flow of the usual Digweed comp. Another problem is the chatter in between tracks is somewhat annoying. This is overcome by the fact that the track selection for the most part is excellent. As a Digweed fan I thoroughly enjoy this mix and would recommend this with the above caveats. Happy listening!!