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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk
Purists on both sides scoffed, but EBTG's transition from bedsit folkies to club favourites was one of the artistic coups of its year. Ben Watt had admitted that their previous album in 1994, Amplified Heart, seemed lacklustre, the work of a band trapped by its format, and he sought an outlet for his burgeoning love of dance music. Encouraged by the chart success of Todd Terry's remix of that album's "Missing", and by partner Tracey Thorn's collaboration with Massive Attack, the pair took the plunge setting their melancholy vignettes of love-gone-wrong to discreet electronics, and recruiting an impressive roster of drum & bass producers (Omni Trio, Howie B, Spring Heel Jack) to assist with the update. The result was their most cohesive and satisfying collection since Idlewild, an extraordinary return to form that sounded nothing like their earlier work. Tracks like "Single" and "Big Deal" covered familiar lyrical terrain (loneliness, nostalgia, unrequited passion), but allied the material to a radically more contemporary sound. Yet, as ever, the real coup was not any piece of studio trickery, but Thorn's languid, sensuous vocals. Rarely has heartbreak seemed so enticing. --Andrew McGuire
Product Description
CD Virgin, cdv2803, Jewel Case 11 Track 1996
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Launched into the spotlight with thier mammouth cross-over hit "Missing" (Thanks to a genius re-work by legendery Todd Terry), Everything But The Girl became somewhat reclusive with thier subsequent albums following "Amplified Heart". With this relase, one that didn't obtain nearly as much commercial success as it desserved, they bring perfection to thier previously often flawed 'Emotive Electro' style. As always, Tracey Thorn's vocals are perfect. At a time when gushing diva-esque vocalists with a range larger than Mariah Carey's were all the rage in dance music, Thorne's vocals provided (and still provide) a breath of fresh air. It's her stunning tone and the quality of her voice that is so outstanding rather than her range.
Aside from the vocals, production matches up and is brilliant throughout. The difficult task of bringing together the emotive lyrics and vocals provided by Thorn with the striking hooks and beats that make this an electro/drum and bass influenced recording has been completed successfuly. Everything just sounds fantastic and most tracks are both instantly distinctive and appealing. The two remixes that appear (courtesy of Omni Trio and Todd Terry) seem tacked on to beef up the tracklist but this can't really be said to flaw the album - there a nice little extra if nothing else. Overall, this is a much over-looked piece of Electronica history that anyone with even a slight liking/interest for the genre should adore.
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Anyone who thinks Drum and Bass is just a lot of loud mindless noises strung one after the other should take a listen to this. What is so good about it is that the lyrics are up to EBTG's usual quality, and that there is a variety of rhythms used here, while still keeping it a bit techno. I love listening to this when I'm driving late at night, standout tracks for me are "Before Today", "Mirrorball", and "Good Cop, Bad Cop". Enjoy!
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Audio CD
The tracks on this CD are some of the most atmospheric, haunting ever. Listen to the CD and hear all your life experiences put to superb melody and beats. Essential!
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I was always aware of Everything But The Girl but frankly found them a bit lightweight and never took much notice of them. That all changed with the electronica remix of 'Missing' (which really should be on this album but isn't).
This is a perfectly judged album which in my mind blended the (then) contemporary sound of drum & bass with pop melodies that lighten a dense, heavy genre into something accessable and enjoyable. Also, the lyrics are superbly observed and written - I urge you to listen to them closely.
Random thoughts:
* The feeling of space in the title track is amazing
* 'Mirrorball' is the perfect song to listen to whilst sipping a Pimms & lemonade in the garden on a sunny summer day
* The drum breaks on the fade out of 'Before Today' are superb
* 'Big Deal' is the perfect "Oh grow up" song from a cheesed off girlfriend to a pathetic boyfriend
* 'Single' has one of the most moving lyrics regarding a break up that I have ever heard. It sums up perfectly the "oh my, what have I done" feeling and I know that it has inspired at least one person I know to fix their relationship rather than walk out on it.
* 'Good Cop Bad Cop' - the drum beats from 2:30 onwards are awesome
* The two remixs on the end have no business being there and smack to me of filling up the play list. I never listen to them.
In summary this is honestly my favourite album of all time. Fact. Buy it.
This is a perfectly judged album which in my mind blended the (then) contemporary sound of drum & bass with pop melodies that lighten a dense, heavy genre into something accessable and enjoyable. Also, the lyrics are superbly observed and written - I urge you to listen to them closely.
Random thoughts:
* The feeling of space in the title track is amazing
* 'Mirrorball' is the perfect song to listen to whilst sipping a Pimms & lemonade in the garden on a sunny summer day
* The drum breaks on the fade out of 'Before Today' are superb
* 'Big Deal' is the perfect "Oh grow up" song from a cheesed off girlfriend to a pathetic boyfriend
* 'Single' has one of the most moving lyrics regarding a break up that I have ever heard. It sums up perfectly the "oh my, what have I done" feeling and I know that it has inspired at least one person I know to fix their relationship rather than walk out on it.
* 'Good Cop Bad Cop' - the drum beats from 2:30 onwards are awesome
* The two remixs on the end have no business being there and smack to me of filling up the play list. I never listen to them.
In summary this is honestly my favourite album of all time. Fact. Buy it.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By Christopher Hunter
VINE™ VOICE
Format:Audio CD
Still waiting to see how the drum and bass influenced production stands up to the musical judgement of time but as a record of pure song writing this is difficult to surpass.
The album is a perfect song cycle taking the listener from the forces which cause a relationship break up, through the liberation and remorse of separation and then through a series of steps to rationalisation, re-evaluation and the establishment of a different life.
I've listened to this record at so many stages in my life over the past 10 years and more, it's become a real guide to me and has assisted thinking through lots of problems.
The songs are very EBTG, in that they are beautifully constructed and lyrically are nigh on perfect. As I said at the start, the drum and bass may well age, the songs won't and perhaps could stand a re-make in the next five years or so!! Excellent.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By D. Ramsey
Format:Audio CD
Definitely one of those 'soundtracks to life' albums (forget the hyped David Gray). Fantastically touching lyrics combined with a great, drum 'n' bass sound (less refined than Temperamental, the later album). Tracey Thorn's fabulous haunting voice carries emotion in an almost begrudging way. This album has a feeling of city life about it, a sort of urban feel. Enthralling, mourning and moving all at the same time.
Buy this and Temperamental to complete your record collection!
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Audio CD
I purchased this cd after I bought Amplified Heart and the sound is quite similar. There are the token remixes of a few songs ("Walking Wounded" and "Wrong") which are very good - as is "Missing" from Amplified Heart. The other songs are also very mellow, and great to listen to. Very similar to the other release and if you enjoyed one you will surely enjoy the other. Again, do not expect to find a cd full of faster paced, dance songs. I would strongly recommend this cd to many listeners.
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4.7 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
great CD
a fabulous CD timeless and never get tired of listening to it.buy it and Temperamental too especially love listening to it in the car on the way to work cheers me up.
Published 3 months ago by M. Beckley
4.0 out of 5 stars
'Drum, Bass And The Story Of Your Life'
'Walking Wounded' is the kind of album that shouldn't work for a number of reasons but does. Tracey Thorn and Ben Watt's songs of heartbreak, regret and insecurity always were... Read more
Published 12 months ago by Antony May
5.0 out of 5 stars
Inspired Electronica
Some people only know EBTG for their mainly acoustic work and dismiss EBTG's so-called 'Drum & Bass' era.
I think this is short-sighted. Read more
I think this is short-sighted. Read more
Published 14 months ago by Infiniteloop
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Seller
Item as described, was a good price and received quickly! Nothing more to say!
Published on 2 Aug 2010 by JN
5.0 out of 5 stars
Music you get entrapped by
Until very recently, the only LP and CD that I owned of the band were "Love Not Money" (I bought the LP in 1985), and it's always been one of the favourite records that I have. Read more
Published on 11 July 2004 by Manuel Martín Fernández
5.0 out of 5 stars
brilliant album
this is an amazing album. its an all time great album that has aged well. check out track 8 - "Mirrorball" its the best song on the album. this is a must have record!!!!
Published on 25 Jun 2004
5.0 out of 5 stars
No Buts, it doen't get any better than this
Every song is an inspiration. The whole album bears playing over and over again, even after many years of listening.
Published on 18 Jun 2004 by "eddieposh"
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