Psyence Fiction

U.N.K.L.E.

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 29, 1998)
• Original Release Date: September 29, 1998
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Fontana London
• ASIN: B00000AFK4
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (108 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #50,171 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
This ambitious effort shows Mo' Wax label guru James Lavelle taking on the role of director, orchestrating a grand design, and translating it musically with the talents of studio muse DJ Shadow. Most accustomed to working solo, Shadow demonstrates here his adaptable talents in collaborating with others, whether it's on the powerful "Rabbit in Your Headlights," a track recorded in 1996 in which Radiohead lead singer Thom Yorke eerily foreshadows his later success, or in "Guns Blazing (Drums of Death Pt. 1)," the album's only traditional hip-hop track, which pairs annihilating beats to Kool G Rap's equally lethal vocal delivery. Psyence Fiction, which also features contributions from Beastie Boy Mike D and the Verve's Richard Ashcroft, is certainly one of the most epic and eclectic records to emerge from the electronic world this year, one that should not only further the efforts to bridge the musical segregation that exists among the hip-hop, alternative, and electronic camps but also introduce these cultures to a few new surprises of its own. --Tamara Palmer

Product Description
Japanese edition of 1998 album for Mo Wax with two bonus tracks added: 'Guns Blazing' (Drums Of Death Pt.1) (Instrumental) and 'The Knock' (Drums Of Death Pt.2) (Instrumental). 14 tracks total, also including the single 'Rabbit In Your Headlights' (with Radiohead's Thom Yorke as guest vocalist) and a hidden, untitled track. Other guests include Beastie Boy Mike D, Metallica's Jason Newsted and The Verve's Richard Ashcroft. Comes in a hardbound slipcase with the front cover opening like gates that is limited to the initial pressing only. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars U.N.K.L.E. - A Compelling Work In Progress, April 13, 2000

By	funktion (The Synaptic Gap) - See all my reviews

Mo Wax records founder James Lavelle and DJ Shadow are the men from UNKLE, a collaborative project that began a few years ago, and the duo released its first full album "Psyence Fiction".It was one of the most anticipated albums of the year,thanks to the success of DJ Shadow's 1997 breakthrough album, Endtroducing...; Lavelle's notoriety as a remixer (Beck, the Verve, Radiohead) and talent scout (Shadow and Money Mark are Mo Wax artists); and a lineup of celebrity guests. Radiohead's Thom Yorke, the Verve's Richard Ashcroft and the Beastie Boys' Mike D all co-wrote and performed on tracks here. There's even an appearance by Metallica bassist Jason Newstead. This merger of star power and DJ-culture cred has already caused a backlash in some factions of the electronic underground and generated preposterous pre-release hype in pop circles. But Psyence Fiction - largely written by Shadow, with Lavelle serving as co-producer and concept man - is neither a bombastic, allstar spectacle nor a groundbreaking reinterpretation of dance music as we know it. The album is an accessible yet edgy blend of movie-soundtrack-style ambience, hip-hop experimentation, rock & roll reverb, maniacal drum breaks and turntable-synthesizer spasms. Psyence Fiction is neither a lofty concept album nor the sonic equivalent of cinema. But it is Shadow and Lavelle's striving for such greatness that makes UNKLE a compelling work in progress.

15 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant integration of stylez, March 15, 2004

By	Manny Hernandez "Author of Ning For Dummies" (Bay Area, CA) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)

What happens when alt-rock and Joe Satriani ("Unkle Main Title Theme") meet Massive Attack ("Blood Stain", "Unreal"), Craig Armstrong ("Celestial Annihilation"), and you pour a little straight-up Public Enemy-like hip-hop into the mix? Sounds like science fiction? Fatboy Slim, you say? Not really. How about Psyence Fiction, U.N.K.L.E.'s ultimate definition of the future of music in 1998, and one that certainly goes beyond 2004?

Granted that this work as a whole is a masterpiece (haven't taken it off my jukebox in over two weeks now), the pinnacles of the album (it has two) come when the voice of The Verve's Richard Ashcroft breaks the silence in track #5, singing "God knows your Lonely Soul..." and when the unmistakable voice of Thom Yorke embraces you in "Rabbit in Your Headlights" close to the end.

What more can you ask for? This album is as close as it comes to perfection in blending musical styles. Listening to it six years after its original release sounds every bit as fresh as it did back then. Indeed, I dare to say it sounds better today, because a lot of these sounds have sunk in, to become a part of mainstream culture, something that says a lot about how far ahead of their time these guys were back then.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Impressive, December 3, 1999

By A Customer

DJ Shadow's influence over this disc is evident with the innovative breaks that underlie every track. However, apart from the expected imagination here, what was a complete surprise was the wide variety of genres explored. From start to finish, the whole affair is completely unrpedictable, ranging from typical Shadow-style mellow grooves, to more classical ballads, to even some speed metal (! ). Consequently, this album is not as immediately accessible as some of Josh's other releases and may require a few listens to open up fully. Nevertheless, due primarily to the creativity of the beats, the album doesn't lose its focus and remains a consistent and comfortable listen throughout from the very first sitting. Believe the hype - this was one of 1998's best and most innovative releases. A must have for all DJ Shadow fans.