- Audio CD (22 Sep 2003)
- Number of Discs: 1
- Label: Universal / Island
- ASIN: B0000C24KU
- Other Editions: Audio CD | Vinyl | MP3 Download
- Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 26,833 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
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Product details |
Track Listings
| 1. Back & Forth |
| 2. Eye for An Eye |
| 3. In A State |
| 4. Safe In Mind (featuring Josh Homme) |
| 5. I Need Something Stronger |
| 6. What Are Yot To Me? |
| 7. Panic Attack |
| 8. Invasion (featuring 3D) |
| 9. Reign (featuring Ian Brown) |
| 10. Glow (featuring Joel Cadbury of South) |
| 11. Inside |
| 12. Awake the Unkind |
Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Like the end-of-season regenerations of Doctor Who, every new record from James Lavelle's UNKLE finds the musical project at the climax of some dramatic transmutation. Never, Never, Land is no exception. Soon after the release of 1999's Psyence Fiction, beats wizard DJ Shadow announced he'd never work as a member of UNKLE again--and accordingly, the first thing you notice about Never, Never, Land is the absence of his robust percussion. But once over that minor disappointment, it's not hard to wallow in this record's impressively dark scope.
With the aid of new collaborator Richard File, Lavelle has made a record that connects the dots between the creeping melancholy of Talk Talk, the scaly electronics of Massive Attack's Mezzanine and the grand sky-bound epics of the Verve. Like its predecessor, there's a proliferation of guest appearances: Jarvis Cocker, Josh Homme, Brian Eno, Ian Brown, Massive Attack's Robert del Naja. But the vocals are assimilated much more successfully here, ensuring that guest never overpowers song. Lavelle still has a fine eye for casting his songs in the grandest narratives: "Panic Attack" samples the robotic pulse of Joy Division's "She's Not Control" and overlays it with blurred electronic shimmers and driving bass. Mind you, it might be the understated numbers--"Glow", "Inside"--that provide some of the record's loveliest moments. --Louis Pattison
Review
Four years on since Unkle's debut Psyence Fiction, music industry stalwart James Lavelle is back with a new album that promises much and delivers more. With his Mo' Wax label currently in hiatus, the timing for Unkle's return couldn't be better, generating some much needed interest in a scene that's drifted from the underground into the mainstream and then back into the shadows in consecutive years.
Richard File (vocalist, and one time drum 'n' bass aficionado) and songwriter Ant Genn, with Lavelle, now make up the trio. The set opens with the Norman Whitfield/Undisputed Truth-sampling "Eye For An Eye" (a recent UK hit) - the song's animated video recently winning the prestigious McLaren Award for animation at the Edinburgh International Film Festival.
"Be There" gave the group their first top ten hit in 1999. It featured the adroit Ian Brown, who again joins the group for the symphonic odyssey, "Reign" - a beautifully constructed soundscape that also features Mani on bass; trivia fans note it's the first time the two have worked together since the hedonistic days of the Stone Roses.
Lavelle's pulling-power also attracts the likes of Jarvis Cocker and Brian Eno on the ethereal electronica of "I Need Something Stronger". Massive Attack's 3D contributes the dark and moody topline on "Invasion", while Queens Of The Stone Age front-man, Josh Homme, features on the stark, yet explosive "Safe In Mind" - surely a single contender.
Never, Never, Land confesses File, is "a clash of high and low emotions", none more so on the beautifully rich "In A State", with Cocker's soothing acoustic strumming working perfectly in unison with Graham Gouldman (of 10cc fame) unearthly vocal. Sasha liked the record so much that in a rare studio sortie he's turned it into an essential club item.
With titles like "Panic Attack", "Invasion", "Safe In Mind" and "What Are You To Me?", it could be argued that Never, Never, Land is drenched in paranoia. It is. So what? Like Radiohead's Kid A it is also rich in metaphors, kaleidoscopic beats, lush cinematic soundscapes and sonic textures that are worthy of your attention. --Jack Smith
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
13 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
So UNKLE go on, post Shadow. Those of you fearing a dip in UNKLE quality have no need to worry. The same space age mood and tone carries through to this album, and (dare I say it) actually sits together and flows much better than Psyence Fiction. Lavelles stints as Fabric resident has definately influenced his sound, the moody hip hop and indie sound is now blended with some uptempo breaks and house ... but none of the tracks can be pigeonholed into one style, its just something completely different. Its UNKLE. For those of you who have managed to pick up the UNKLEsounds mix Do Androids Dream Of Electric Beats?, some themes might sound familiar on this album. An Eye For An Eye has been expanded on, larger bass, added vocals, a wonderful epic intro to the album. In A State mixes synths, beats and guitars, wonderfully moody. Apparently the next track up for a single release too with Sasha at the controls of the remix. Safe In Mind has an evil growling bass to it, thrashing drums then I Need Something Stronger takes your right back down into Vangelis/Bladerunner style swirling ambience. What Are You To Me? ... well personally I think this should be released as a single. Wonderful sunset bliss style soundtrack. Soft vocals, gentle guitars and piano, house beats. Uplifting house music that reminds you of the good old days. Panic Attack has an appropriate urgent feel to it, harsh synths, urgent breaks. Invasion has a very dark and menacing Massive Attack feel to it, quality. Reign features Ian Brown and sounds like a much better version of the UNKLE version of his own Fear track. Pacy breaks action again. Glow and Inside round off the album, melacholic and chilled. And we're lucky enough to get Awake The Unkind as a bonus track with its almost Doves/Pounding style banging percussion.
I think its a great follow-up. So NME have given it a bashing have they? I wouldn't worry, its probably because it hasn't got Sir Josh of Davis on board for this album and its not 'hip' enough for them. Give it a try, the big melting pot of indie/dance has produced another wonder album. The collaborations never overshadow the tracks underneath, and it just feels like it might age better than Psyence Fiction.
Once again, if you like this, try and search out what James Lavelle has been doing on the side inbetween albums. The wicked, if hard to find, 3 CD mix which is Do Androids Dream Of Electric Beats? (featuring some exclusive remixes of UNKLE tracks, UNKLE remixes of everything from Vangelis to The Beatles plus tracks from Dancelands finest), Global Underground Barcelona showcases Lavelles recent exposure to house and breaks and his new found passion for it, and FabricLIVE01, the first in the series with Lavelle showcasing many of the talents that no doubt ended up influencing him for this album. Oh, and do check the singles for Never Never Land, some top remixers from Tyrant, Meat Katie and Sasha (for the upcoming (In A State) are being drafted in. Roll on the UNKLE machine!
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
When i bought this record i had just found out that it was Richard File partnerning James Lavelle and not the mighty Dj Shadow. My first thoughts were negative as i hadnt really heard of Richard File and i really enjoyed Pysence Fiction.
But as soon as i had heard this album in full i was complety turned around on the matter. Never never land is nothing like Pysence Fixtion and it never tries to be, without Dj Shadows moody beats Never never land takes on a complety diiferent sound, a dramatic sound it still has UNKLEs trademark samples on hand though. Every track on never never land has something different on offer from the ambient synths from ''i need something stronger'' to the fast paced beats in ''Eye for an Eye''.
My highlight is ''Reign''. With Mani and Ian brown reuntied for the first time since the stone roses it packs a powerful punch. The quick strings at the start mixed with the classic Brown Vocals built up to an explosion of sound and the finish is breathtaking allowing Mani to take control and delivering one of the most catchy and heavy bass riffs ive heard in a long time.
All in all if your looking for a repeat of UNKLEs debut this isnt it. The only similarity between the two is an allstar guestlist, never never land taking the likes of Josh Homme, Jarvis Cocker,Ian brown,mani and 3D on.But if anything this is better than its predecessor and is a much easy listen.
This is a brilliant album and any fan of this genre should own it but to fans of UNKLEs previous work this is not Pysence Fiction 2.
But as soon as i had heard this album in full i was complety turned around on the matter. Never never land is nothing like Pysence Fixtion and it never tries to be, without Dj Shadows moody beats Never never land takes on a complety diiferent sound, a dramatic sound it still has UNKLEs trademark samples on hand though. Every track on never never land has something different on offer from the ambient synths from ''i need something stronger'' to the fast paced beats in ''Eye for an Eye''.
My highlight is ''Reign''. With Mani and Ian brown reuntied for the first time since the stone roses it packs a powerful punch. The quick strings at the start mixed with the classic Brown Vocals built up to an explosion of sound and the finish is breathtaking allowing Mani to take control and delivering one of the most catchy and heavy bass riffs ive heard in a long time.
All in all if your looking for a repeat of UNKLEs debut this isnt it. The only similarity between the two is an allstar guestlist, never never land taking the likes of Josh Homme, Jarvis Cocker,Ian brown,mani and 3D on.But if anything this is better than its predecessor and is a much easy listen.
This is a brilliant album and any fan of this genre should own it but to fans of UNKLEs previous work this is not Pysence Fiction 2.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
This is something very special indeed.
This is UNKLE to epic proportions. The case is epic, the art is epic, the music is epic.
The whole thing opens up like some kind of nuclear bunker, or a sci-fi artefact to save the human race. It all fits together and opens up with a satisfying chunkiness that can only be described as cathartic. Once you have admired the layout, and stopped drooling over the CD\DVD combination, pop one of them in and prepare yourself…
It’s not exactly what I was expecting. I recognised a few backing beats and layers from Do Androids Dream Of Electric Beats? and Big Brother Is Watching you, but rather than a sense of a re-hash, it gives a fantastic feeling of EVOLUTION to the proceedings. Indeed, if Psyence Fiction was a little unsure of its own boldness, Never Never Land seems to relish in its dark, sweeping, head-first approach. It doesn’t care that it defines genres, for who needs labels?
It is noticeable that DJ Shadow left the partnership, with the album result being more 100th Window and Furious Angels than Private Press. The fantastic thing is though, is that it is STILL UNKLE. Lavelle has done a fantastic job and pushing through with an album that takes on a new meaning when put together. The whole really is greater than the sum of its parts.
Let’s not forget though, that the parts are all exquisitely executed. The bonus DVD is fab, the album is simply fantastic, the packaging is superb.
Never Never Land sets itself apart from the world and is strong enough to take it all on. Buy this. Buy it now.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Atmospheric, quality material
Yeap, can't argue with this one. Very good album with a string of quality tracks with some interesting vocal samples and guest singers. Read more
Published on 13 Jan 2007 by Mitya
chilled out psychotic melodies try to be deep. And succeed.
Hmm... An absolutely excellent listen, providing you're up for slightly deep sounding words every 5 tracks, and some music verging on the suicidal side of Moby's private... Read more
Published on 16 Mar 2004 by "rubinwest"
Astonishing
I got hold of a copy of the DVD box set of this album. I have the previous masterpiece by UNKLE and was aware that DJ SHadow was not a part of this work. Read more
Published on 19 Feb 2004 by Mr. J. T. D. Lewis
No Shadow, No Better
Without DJ Shadow, James Lavelle was always going to find it hard to create an album as good as 'Psyence Fiction'. Read more
Published on 23 Jan 2004 by "wilfeo"
Dark and Brilliant
Firstly, this album is quite different from Psyence Fiction with less emphasis on beats (due to Shadow's departure). It is however a brilliant album. Read more
Published on 17 Jan 2004 by creamer_jim
A Good Album
This is not a great album, it is a good one. Do Androids Dream Electric beats and the shorter mix, Big Brother is Watching You, have greater scope, variety and interest than Never... Read more
Published on 6 Nov 2003 by "thomasallan"
Unkle - Never, Never Land
I am not really sure why the other reviewers for this CD are saying its a bit hit and miss or that it hard to understand. Read more
Published on 1 Nov 2003 by andy w
worth checking out...
All the other reviews here sum up my feelings about this album quite adequately. There are a few quite abrasive, morose tunes, yet there are a few pearls! Read more
Published on 28 Oct 2003 by "wtl31"
On point - or atleast getting there..
This is a pretty spectacular package, all told. Yet, UNKLE’s second album is bound to invite a host of negative reactions. Read more
Published on 26 Oct 2003
On point - or atleast getting there..
This is a pretty spectacular package, all told. Yet, UNKLE’s second album is bound to invite a host of negative reactions. Read more
Published on 26 Oct 2003 by moog_man
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