Wider Angle [Limited Edition]

Hybrid | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 20, 2001)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Limited Edition
• Label: Dist. Breaks [Stu]
• ASIN: B000059M4R
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (50 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #137,090 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

When Hybrid members Mike Truman, Chris Healings and Lee Mullin released their debut album "Wide Angle", it surprised anyone who thought that dance music couldn’t be clever, challenging and musically astute. "Wide Angle" was over a year in the making. They wanted to produce something more melodic, imaginative, bigger and deeper than had ever been before. So they went from Swansea to London, Moscow, Paris and New York, gathering material for a set of startlingly innovative tracks. That was in 1999. Hybrid were received as one of the most acclaimed new bands of 1999, with "Wide Angle" collecting an abundance of album of the month reviews and ending 1999 on a high with a Best Dance Act award at the 2000 Miami Winter Music Conference, a slot on the Muzik magazine UK tour and a Best Live Act nomination at the Muzik magazine awards; all the more outstanding considering Hybrid had only a handful of live gigs under their belt at that time. They have gone on to hone! their gigs to near perfection, with live dates as far afield as Mount Fuji in Japan, Miami Beach, San Francisco, Ibiza, Sydney, Taiwan, New York, Singapore and Panama City, their global presence getting stronger with every dynamic live show performed and fans converted to the sound of rapturous applause. 2000 also saw the boys completing an extensive national US tour in support of Moby.

Embracing both their chart and live arena success, "Wide Angle" has morphed into a "Wider Angle". This is a special edition re-release of the album. In addition to the original album it also includes live versions of tracks recorded on last years tour of Japan, capturing the passion that has entranced many and bringing it into the living room. Their UK Top 40 hit, "Kid 2000", a reworking of a Pretenders track featuring Chrissie Hynde is also included on the CD as a bonus track, along with sought after and previously unreleased tracks "Kill City" and "Altitude". Highly emotive and inspiring, Hybrid’s "Wider Angle" is sure to find it’s way into many living rooms and DJ booths alike!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Breakbeat and orchestral majesty in a most original release, September 2, 2001

By 

Christopher Culver - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Wider Angle (Audio CD)

Hybrid, perhaps the finest breakbeat production team around, were supposed to smash into the U.S. market with their first album WIDE ANGLE last year. Sadly, due to distribution problems the album was delayed and so much well-placed advertising went to waste. Happily, Hybrid succeeded in releasing the album, renaming it WIDER ANGLE because of the inclusion of a second disc, chronicling the Hybrid live experience.

The blurb on the slipcase by Ed Potton of The Times/Metro calls WIDER ANGLE "one of the most moving pieces of electronic music ever." He's totally right. Hybrid began by using traditional breakbeat production but transformed it into something totally original and novel by bringing in the Russian Federal Orchestra, conducted by Sacha Pullman. The vibrant strings add colour and cinematic grandeur to the album that brings it to greater heights than any electronica album I had heard before.

WIDER ANGLE from a production
viewpoint is wonderfully consistent and not a single track fails to entertain. The high points of the album, however, are pure emotion. "If I Survive" is sweeping with its breaks and perfectly placed strings. "Theme from Wide Angle" is a non-stop electronic parade. Perhaps the most spiritual experience on WIDER ANGLE is "Finished Symphony." It will sound familiar to those who had heard Hybrid's "Symphony" on the East Coast disc of Sasha and John Digweed's NORTHERN EXPOSURE II mix, but this version is performed with a real orchestra and has combined the best of live recording and studio editing.

The bonus disc, Live Angle, isn't as must-hear as the first but does excite. It's interesting how "Snyper" retains its composition even performed live. The crowd noises complement the tracks well. The last three tracks are non-live rarities that sound great.

WIDER ANGLE is such an original and polished release that I would recommend it to any fan of electronic music.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Remarkable, July 16, 2005

By 

MorningSciFi (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Wider Angle (Audio CD)

I remember buying this CD a year or more ago. Wow. In my opinion, the orchestration and the way it is incorporated into Hybrid's music to this day still stands out as beautifully as it did the first time I listened through it. Not only is every song fresh and filled with energy, but gorgeous and intelligent all at the same time. The only way I can describe this album is that it gives off almost a silky, futuristic vibe. Often times fast electronic music (in any sub-genre) feels stupid, and is only fit for clubs, if even that. But this music rises far above that and still manages to sound brilliant. To add to how wonderful this CD is, the bonus disk is not just a "Bonus disk"-- it is basically a standalone album itself, being 74 minutes long. The first 6 tracks are all live, and all great. Thankfully the crowd does not interfere with the sound or feel of the performance, I rather like to think that it adds to it. I love this CD.


Highly recommended.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Nu Skool Breaks Never Sounded Better..., April 14, 2001

By 

Colin Allrich (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Wider Angle (Audio CD)

There is not a doubt in my mind that this is the sound of the future. The genius of Hybrid (Mike Truman, Chris Healings & Lee Mullin) can never be fully explained in words, one must hear it to believe it. Hybrid is definitely (along with Keven Beber aka Tsunami One and Adam Freeland) one of the leaders of today's fast emerging nu skool breakbeat. With the aid of the Russian Federal Orchestra, conducted by Sacha Puttman, Hybrid comes alive with mind-wrenching sub bass, layered beats and highly entrancing vocals. each track on the debut album "Wide Angle" is a masterpiece none the less, each track breaking the boundaries of breakbeat and cracking the magnets on sound systems everywhere. The tracks that showcase the raw talent of these 3 producers/musicians include "If I Survive" a dark moody track with the almost menacing voice of Julee Cruise swarming over the beats. "Kill City" rocks hardcore with savage nu skool breaks and twisted synth progressions. And lets not forget to mention the excellent remake of the Pretenders/Chrissie Hynde's "Kid" (aka "Kid 2000"). Unfortunately they missed the mark with the track "Sinequanon", which seems to fall apart with the vocals by Soon E MC and lacks some cohesiveness. All and all, this is a welcomed change from the obnoxious 4/4 beats and cheesy arpeggiated synths we're pummeled by from the likes of Paul Oakenfold, ATB, Fragma and all that other mindless nonsense. Here my friends is the future of what is to come. Don't miss it. If you dig this CD I definitely recommend you pick up Hybrid's "Remix and Additional Production By..." BT's U.K. Pressing of "Movement in Still Life" (Where BT works with Hybrid, Adam Freeland, and Kevin Beber on the tracks "Madskillz-Mic Chekka", "Hip-Hop Phenomenon" and "Running Down the Way Up".) and also Adam Freeland's DJ Mix "Tectonics". And also keep your eyes out for the Hybrid side project, "Electrotek", and their current single "Superfly"