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484 music Electronica CD selections page 2 ::
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| the best electronica albums on CD
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Artist
Fila Brazillia
Title
Brazilification
Label: Kudos Records
Genre: Electronica
Origin: UK
click here for more info about Brazilification - Fila Brazillia
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| Brazilification is somewhat of a mixed bag. Fila is a bit of a critics' favorite, and certainly some tracks show why. The sound ranges from exellent chill-out techno of Electric Orange-meets-Orb on the better songs to unengaging repetitiveness on others, dragged down by a dry mix. On the good tracks, the trippy ambient feel is not lost to a boring drum loop |
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Artist
Kruder & Dorfmeister
Title
The K & D Sessions
Label: K7
Genre: Electronica
Origin: Austria
click here for more info about The K & D Sessions - Kruder & Dorfmeister
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| Viennese trippers Peter Kruder and Richard Dorfmeister fry up beats like a fine Wiener schnitzel. With crisp percussion, tender melodies, and subtle bass flavor, they more than know their way around the production kitchen. Take the remix skills of these two chefs de musique; add a dash of fresh electronic ingredients, including Roni Size, Rockers Hi-Fi, David Holmes, Alex Reece, and others; run it through a beats processor; and you have one sumptuous and definitely not calorie-free meal. Tastier sound bites can be sampled during the Roni Size "Heroes" course, as K&D strip down and reconstruct a new and improved recipe for downtempo soul. Lip-smacking good.
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Artist
Madonna
Title
Ray of LIght
Label: Warner Bros/Wea
Genre: Electronica
Origin: USA
click here for more info about Ray of LIght - Madonna
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| Never underestimate Madonna's power of persuasion: By nearly all critical accounts, Ray of Light, Madonna's first album of new material since 1994's Bedtime Stories, and her first since motherhood, is her richest, most accomplished record yet. While Ray of Light is being tagged as Madonna's big leap into electronica, it's important to note two things: First, her music has always had close ties to dance culture, and, second, her collaborator William Orbit is no Chemical Brother. Though it has all the latest blips, bleeps, and crackles electronica has to offer, Ray of Light is still largely an adult album, completely within Madonna's realm. Still, Orbit's tasteful sonic constructions provide Madonna with her most adventurous, hippest musical backdrop ever. What's more, the arrangements and production are understated enough to highlight an even bigger development: Fresh from singing lessons on the Evita set, Madonna's vocal range, depth, and clarity have never been stronger. But larger pipes don't necessarily make for deeper, truer music. Never a master lyricist, Madonna's words have worked best when they've practically been slogans ("Vogue," "Express Yourself"). This time she goes for more emotional depth, and even tries her hand at ethno-techno-mysticism ("Shanti/Ashtangi"). She largely stumbles, however. The tone conveyed on songs like "Nothing Really Matters" is a self-centered pat on the back that belies her claim to a newfound altruism. It's enough to make you wonder, now that Madonna's given up being our material girl, if maybe she's set her sights on becoming the center of our spiritual world too. |
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Artist
Mandalay
Title
Solace
Label: v2 North America
Genre: Electronica
Origin: Philipines
click here for more info about Solace - Mandalay
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| "Beautiful", is probably the top track on the album, with 3 variations, and the 12" Canny mix is my favourite. Some of the material reminded me of early Propaganda, but infinitely smoother. I prefer Mandaly to Portishead, who were always a little weak with their vocals, and after listening to them after Solace, that opinion is confirmed. The material blends well, giving the impression of a single hour long song. But it is the remixes on the bonus CD that make this version so good. The now familiar sound of a soft girl's harmonising voice over a throbbing beat is so good, it will be hard to find better material. |
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Artist
Morcheeba
Title
Who Can You Trust?
Label: Rhino/Wea
Genre: Electronica
Origin: UK
click here for more info about Who Can You Trust? - Morcheeba
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| "I first heard Morcheeba's "Tape Loop" on one of my chill-out mixes a long time ago. But when I stopped listening to the mix after a few weeks, I sadly forgot all about them. However, after a four-year hiatus, I gave Morcheeba a second listen (quite by accident) a few weeks ago while on vacation with some friends. One of our group had brought with him this CD, on which I was immediately hooked.
Morcheeba's debut album is hypnotic, trippy, quiet, and beautiful. The CD provides excellent backgroud chillout music. Comparable to Massive Attack and Portishead, Morcheeba features a whispery, female lead singer (Skye Edwards) and a host of electronic, ambient grooves. Starting with "Moog Island" the CD quickly sets the quiet and hypnotic tone with Skye's haunting voice and deep, calm baselines. The disc continues in a similar fashion with "Trigger Hippie," before breaking into the basy, quiet instrumental interlude of "Post Humous." Next is "Tape Loop," which was just as cool as I had remembered it to be."
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Artist
St. Etienne
Title
Sound of Water
Label: Sound of Pop
Genre: Electronica
Origin: France
click here for more info about Sound of Water - St. Etienne
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| Saint Etienne's delicate, perfectly crafted blend of '60s pop and of-the-moment electronica has been replicated by so many other acts over the years that the band is threatened with losing its musical brand. The artistic achievement in Sound of Water has been diminished somewhat by competent musicians such as Broadcast and Mono having picked up the gauntlet Saint Etienne first threw down in 1988, and having taken the sounds to new places. Trends are fleeting by definition, and Saint Etienne, in the precarious position of being an inadvertent trendsetter, would have served their audience better with a little reinvention (the Cardigans made this transition magically with 1998's Gran Turismo). Rather, they stick to their overly precious formula, mixing cheap-sounding drum loops, Sarah Cracknell's snazzy-cool vocals, drawn-out melody, and subtle instrumentation (flute, harpsichord, bongos) with butterfly-fluttering techno. As lovely as it all is, by the end of the album, the ear is desperate to hear something more assertive--it's as unsatisfying as eating cotton candy all day when you long for lasagna. In all, the abundance of emotionless na na na's and la la la's result in no no no's |
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Artist
Various Artists
Title
Café del Mar
Label: Ibiza Spain
Genre: Electronica
Origin: Spain
click here for more info about Café del Mar - Various Artists
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| The Café del Mar series are considered worldwide as the best CDs of Chill-Out / Ambient music on the musical scene. Café del Mar Volume 9 has been compiled by Bruno Lepretre, Café del Mar's Resident DJ . The series of compilations keep alive the memories of Café del Mar for the people who have visited it. Through the music an attempt is made to capture the essence of Ibiza, always keeping in mind its spectacular sunset. |
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