Blow Your Headphones

Herbaliser

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 1, 1997)
• Original Release Date: March 25, 1997
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Ninja Tune
• ASIN: B000003S7W
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #24,006 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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  #5 in	Music > Indie Music > Dance & DJ > Trip-Hop
  #5 in	Music > Indie Music > Rap & Hip-Hop > Experimental

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
English outfit the Herbaliser take their sophomore LP, Blow Your Headphones, into cinematic territory, creating an imaginary soundtrack (complete with opening and ending credits, a theme song, and an intermission) to a cheekily British dark comedy with their hip-hop-oriented take on jazz, easy listening, and suspense music. DJ Ollie Teeba serves as a conductor of sorts for the band; his featured takes, such as "Intermission," "Shocker Zulu," and "More Styles," wield deft cuts and scratches on his turntable as a constant reminder that the band's soul is firmly rooted in an underground hip-hop perspective. Unlike much of American hip-hop, which tends to be MC-driven, the Herbaliser's strength does not hinge on lyrics, though vocal tracks like "New + Improved" (featuring the stunning verbals of female MC What What of Natural Resource) and "Saturday Night" (with British rappers Fabian and Big Ted) are just as solid. A beacon in illuminating the U.K. hip-hop sensibility to the global community. --Tamara Palmer

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars ~Amazing Work~, March 15, 2001

By	E. Hopson "Dinosaur Harness Maker" (Land!) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is quickly becoming one of my favorite cds among my 1,000+ collection. An amazing collection of funky instrumental beats and high-quality musical rap. Get this and listen to it often. =)

On another note, people have been asking about the incredible rapper "What what" who tears stuff up on "The Blend" and other Herbaliser song. After some long searching, I found her. Check out the strict rap group "Natural Resource". "Negro League Baseball" is one of their big hits, she's on the top of her game there. Also any Whatwhat fan should check out "I love this world"... this is where "The Blend" lyrics came from, a little extended and different. Quality stuff. =)

-Dr. Airdog

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fresh for 1997 and beyond, you suckas, September 30, 2001

By	"joe_momma" (La Puente, Ca USA) - See all my reviews

I've finally figured these guys out. I copped "Blow your Headphones" first, then "Very Mercanary"-- only when I finally got "Remedies" did I realize that these cats were a hip-hop jazz band, in the PUREST sense. And with their sophmore effort, one can see the obvious growth and sharpening of musical skills that true artists experience with their second album( i.e., The Roots, Common, ATCQ ). More discplined tracks makes for pure listening pleasure; witness the abrupt but timely jump from "Ginger Jumps the Fence" ( puncutated with skidding sounds, no less ) to the laid back, jazzed out "Put it on Tape". Jazzy cuts with a noir feel to it best descibes this group, and they are a bit more lively then, say, DJ Cam's "Mad Blunted Jazz" ( due to, of course, the actual use of live instruments ). Another notable, "Mr. Chombee has the Flaw", almost goes to full-tilt Swing, but not quite. Most cuts include some great scratching and the tracks with What What are ludicrously head-nod inducing, though the one with Fabian and Big Ted try too hard, and this reveiwer recommends skippage on that one. This is one for the Beat Generation.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Yes....'Blow's Your Headphones' indeed!!!, October 30, 2003

By	fetish_2000 (U.K.) - See all my reviews

The Herbaliser certainly knows how to throw down a Hip-hop or two, and this his second studio album (along with "Something wicked this way comes) is by far his most accomplished work. Although far more of an instrumental album than "Something wicked this...", it's a undeniably a far more kaleidoscopic affair, with the few vocals tracks that are in this album, sitting very comfortably with the Stoner grooves scattered throughout the album. In fact it feels part `Kruder & Dorfmeister', part Dj Shadow, and as highly gifted as both.....The Herbaliser keeps the listener completely on his/her toes by throwing innovative sampling and rough & ready beat heavy jazz tracks in amongst the cut & paste Hip-Hop tracks. In fact it's been constructed in along the lines of a scripted television show, with an introduction, intermission (which are so fantastic....that to not expand it into a fully fledged track seems like something of an oversight), as well as end credits. This album due to its emphasis more on non-vocal tracks, is possibly slightly more suited to enthusiasts, rather than casual listeners (not that casual listeners wouldn't get superb mileage out of it), but it all adds up to become recognised as amongst the very best of the constantly growing Ninja Tune catalogue, that deserves investigation for people curious to seek out artists that are pushing the Hip-Hop envelope and an essential purchase for Ninja Tune fans.