It may sound somewhat familiar, perhaps even dated now, but in 1994 there was very little frame of reference for music such as was heard on Portishead’s debut album. From the opening strains of the kick-off track, “Mysterons” with its turntable scratches, B-movie Theremin and down-tempo break beat, Dummy was [...]
I was two years old when New Order released Power, Corruption & Lies, but it’s one of those musical moments that makes me wish I’d been around to appreciate it. Ian Curtis, frontman of Joy Division, had killed himself three short years earlier and the remaining members had regrouped to [...]
Following up the legendary releases of the previous year such as Notorious B.I.G.’s Ready to Die, Nas’s Illmatic, and Outkast’s Southernplaylisticadillacmuzik, 1995 held its own special place in Hip Hop history with albums like 2Pac’s Me Against the World, Raekwon’s Only Built 4 Cuban Linx, and Goodie Mob’s [...]
French duo Air’s Moon Safari is a downtempo retro space age masterpiece that was greeted as something of an instant classic even when it first came out in January 1998. Although the album was released on Astralwerks records and was technically an electronica album, Moon Safari had in fact almost [...]
With its heavily reverbed snares and fingered bass, Balearic Beats – The Album Vol. 1 may seem a little dated nearly 25 years since its release, but it’s a great insight into where the Balearic scene has come from. Opening with Electra’s Jibaro, the album settles into a [...]
Dancehall is undoubtedly the most danceable subgenre reggae ever produced. It initially emerged in the late ‘70s as a leaner, bouncier version of the roots reggae sound that was popular at the time. But dancehall really came into its own in the early ‘80s when it went digital. It’s dancehall’s [...]
By the time Creating Patterns was released in 2001, the group was already known for their sublimely crafted drum and bass. They had already established a reputation for the kind of smooth harmonies and melodies that would help define the liquid funk sound so popular in London shortly before the [...]
Released in 1994, Plastikman’s Musik was a game-changer. It was like a study of the 303, and ranged from swirling, creamy dreamscapes to piercing acid – and it did it without sounding haphazard. Given the breadth of its dynamism, it’s hard even today to understand how it’s so cohesive. But [...]