Customer Reviews

Without Within

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

 

 

Wow, Holroyd mixes some beautiful and intricate rhythms here. You'll want to dance to some and chill to others. Track 1 gently carries you into a global groove to the clapping rhythms and vocals sung by an 80 (or so) year old bushman. I play this one over and over. Confluence is another favorite - lots of tribal joy with a choir of multi-generational voices. All in all, a unique and evocative mix of songs that'll warm your heart and speak deeply to your soul. World beat dance and chill out fans will definitely dig it.

I''ve been a follower of Holroyd's work for his whole career. Track #1 starts off with a blending and building array of beats and bushman tribal calls. Love it. Just enough tempo to get rhythmically stimulated. Games without Frontiers is a great song however I felt a little flat after hearing this version. I think my favorite track is Confluence. Great tribal Holroyd style, building and exploding into frenzy of beat, sound, and very hypnotic! Reawakening is nothing new--isn't that on a compilation somewhere? The Spaces in between is beautiful - probably my 2nd fav track on this cd. Lots more rhythm on this album compared to A Different Space. Of course, lots of horns. I love his relationship with horns and his usage of them. I really love how they bring the songs alive! Overall, I enjoyed the feeling that this album took me further along a journey, like the story of A Different Space simply continuing.

Bob Holroyd proved himself in his first album "A Different Space" and he carries on his talent showcase here. The problem with a lot of electronic ethnic music is that the ethnic portion is overwhelmed by the electronic beats and doctoring. Holroyd manages to balance the two perfectly, thus creating an excellent hybrid that explores a vast number of global soundscapes through his unique eyes.

After hearing a clip from this artist during an NPR segue, I had to find out more about him and his work. I bought this cd and unfortunately, forgot about it. One day while shuffling through my i-pod, I came across it again, but this time I listened. What a thrill! The mixing was superb and quite refreshing. The world beats, which I am usually not a big fan of, were woven into an exciting and eclectic mix of sound - and I can't stop listening...highly recommend to anyone who likes dj mixes.

Great music should take you somewhere , a temporary displacement to a different hopefully better place , space or time. This CD will do it better than most I can think of. A perfect amalgam of electronic soundscapes, ambient grooves and world music elements. It is pretty much a continuation of his previous CD, Different Space. There are chants by African bushman, and latin percussion interlaced , synthesized ambient backbeats and Asian sounding synthesized strings. It is mostly down tempo, great chill-out music.

This is another good find to add to your collection--no junky cuts put in as filler. The compilation weaves through some different styles, from the hypnotic traditional singing of a Kalahari bushman to funky tribal rhythms that take you in to their joyful exuberance. Holroyd has done an excellent job of pulling this all together into a cohesive, highly enjoyable whole.