Customer Reviews

Wider Angle

5 star:		(40)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

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"

I first picked up Hybrid's "Wide Angle" album while browsing through a Wherehouse Store. They were playing it in the background and I asked the cashier there what was playing and they told me it was Hybrid. I picked it up immediately cause the music sounded so good. I'd have to say that that was one of the best impulse-decision buys I've made in my life.

Each track is great and I love the way Hybrid was able to put in strings that adds a lot to the mood of the music.

I later found that the older European version has a different track list than the one I picked up. The older version has "High Life" and "Fatal Beating" in the tracklist. The newer US release, which is the one I picked up, replaces those two tracks with "Kill City," "Altitude," and "Kid 2000." I picked up the older European version later and I must say I like the newer tracks on the US version better. So don't accidentally pick up the European version. Check the tracklist to see if it is the US version and pick that one up.

Any person who loves Electronica will love Hybrid's Wide Angle. I can't even belive I'm listening to this Album more than any GATECRASHER album.

Hybrid is one of the most innovative electronic bands of today..though releasing an already released album, Wider Angle has a live cd on which you can hear and feel their presence and energy they put to playing live. I had the previlege of seeing Hybrid play live at Ultra Beach festival and they went off. though the price is a bit high, its completely worth it, especially if you dont already have there cd.

This is a wonderful, wonderful, CD. But unfortunately, it's a bit complicated getting the best version of this album.

The original American version of Wide Angle, before Hybrid lost their distribution rights in the US, is the best copy of this CD. It has no extraneous [stuff], and it's the best CD I own ....

Now, the first CD in this set, Wider Angle, is the UK version of the album. It has the weaker tracks 'Fatal Beating' and 'High Life' in place of the amazing 'Kill City' and 'Altitude'. The second disc is apparently a live mix, which is most likely excellent, knowing Hybrid's talent for live shows.

If you're already a Hybrid fan, you should probably buy this CD. If you have never heard their music before, go buy a used copy of the US version of Wide Angle. Either way, it'll blow your mind.

This CD is a must have for any fan of great music. The blend of symphonic music and electronic music in this album is unprecedented and worth listening to over and over. The music contains few lyrics in many songs, but this does not detract from the story that the song tells. Hybrid does an excellent job of turning the human voice into another musical instrument. One finds that they don't realize what the vocals are singing; just what they sound like. Unlike many albums comparable to this one, each of the tracks are individual and do not sound monotonous, which is a definite plus.

I honestly have a hard time describing just how good this CD really is when I try and get them to buy it. All I can do is send them sound clips and hope they have a brain. And that's really who this kind of music is for; electronica fans that haven't burned out all their synapses and depleted all their seratonin by by clubbing and rolling every night. The way everything comes together on this CD is absolutely amazing. It's very strange the way that breakbeats and string arrangements can go together so well, but they certainly work in Mr. Truman's cabable hands. Every song on here is a gem, but my personal favorites are "If I Survive," "Finished Symphony" and "Altitude (Red Square Reprise)". The last of the three gives me chills every time I hear it, with fast erratic beats careening alongside a very slow, sad tune by the Russian Federal Orchestra. Absolutely breathtaking. If you're an idiot who only likes mindless music that doesn't have any emotional impact whatsoever, go buy yourself a Brittney Spears album and get the hell out of my sight. But, if you're a clubber who likes a little variety in your music, not just trance but a little breaks, drum and bass and classical, and you like CDs with the emotional impact of a planetary collision, then this is a CD you must own at all costs. Stop reading this and buy it, now.

I first heard the single "If I Survive" during the summer of 1999 and fell in love! I spent the next year trying to find the CD it was off of, "Wide Angle," ultimately finding it in London when I went there during winter of 2000. I have never been happier with a CD purchase!
Hybrid is a truly innovative group with some magnificant tracks. Unlike other electronica artists, the songs they produced have distinct melody, as well as remaining true to the techno-genre. The trackfs featuring Chrissie Hynde (including "If I Survive") are all wonderful! Again, unlike other artists in this field, each track is very distinct and has a lasting effect.
This was the CD that turned me onto the electronica, and since then, I have bought dozens of CDs throughout all the sub-fields (trance, house, etc...), but "Wide Angle" is still the best of them all. It is a must-have!

This is easily my favorite dance/techno CD I've ever heard that actually holds up in any of my moods and is worth listening to the whole disc. In a typical disc of this genre, the strength of the CD -memorable melodies infused with "catchy" beats- is also its weakness; its candy, sweet at the time but wholly unfullfilling. After several listenings most of the tracks don't have enough substance on their own, and the listener quickly loses interest.....

Hybrid, however, defies this standard with catchy rythms infused into more complex themes. For once, the beat is not overpowering, because there's actually some other things to listen too. With the loops keeping the deeper orchestratal themes together, and techno- drum machine riffs that are actually pretty varied and impressive the combination comes off rich and multi-textured... It is an electronic symphony that is actually emotionally charged, unlike so many similiar releases where you feel manipulated by a fast soap opera score....

Altogether, a really mature sound in a fresh but uneasy scene.... This is the BEST trance CD out there today...

Two concerns: the female lead vocalist for the studio release "Wide Angle" (first disc) lacks an edge in her capabilities that is needed for the band to continue to succeed and keep her around.... With a strong albeit straight opening in "If I Survive" the other various tracks with her are great, but more sultry lounge than techno....her voice doesnt really go with the style... And the live portion of the second disc, while a nice bonus, it lacks the immersive stereo sound of the studio tracks....Trance music is about immersion into its world, and with a crowd screaming on disc, its tough to get into it...Actually going to a rave is a far better experience...Well that's it for that....