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Product details
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Track Listings
| 1. 2808 |
| 2. Doomsday |
| 3. My Eyes |
| 4. Guilt |
| 5. Fugue State |
| 6. Me And You |
| 7. Innocence |
| 8. In The Way |
| 9. Scorpions |
| 10. Crush |
| 11. Must Be The Feeling |
| 12. Reaching Out |
| 13. Promises |
| 14. Departure |
Product Description
Review
Since their feted 2009 remix of The Streets' Blinded by the Lights, London dance duo Nero have built themselves a steady reputation as producers operating at the commercial end of dubstep and drum'n'bass. Now, some six years after their first release, the pair of Daniel Stephens and Joe Ray have finally realised their own album. The time, therefore, is right to evaluate where they stand amongst the genuine stars and almost-there also-rans of their assigned genre.
And the verdict? Judging by Welcome Reality, Nero's work is more likely to be heard alongside the rest of the chart-dance canon on commercial radio, rather than stations like Rinse or at scene-driving club nights like the capital's ever-influential FWD>>. On one hand, this is no bad thing - only the worst kind of snob equates commercial success with lesser-quality material. But there are times here where the sheer mindlessness of Nero's music makes Pendulum sound like Squarepusher.
Doomsday, for example, rumbles away like a forgotten hard house tune crossed with a facsimile of The Prodigy's Breathe. Elsewhere, there's My Eyes - My Ears (And What Are They Doing to Them?) might have been a better title - features synth sounds probably last used by a 1980s keytar-wielding Eurovision hopeful. Breakthrough track Me and You, which topped the UK Indie Chart in January 2011, includes a riff that apes The Human League's Love Action, but still suffers from the bombastic beats and hammered keys present everywhere else.
But Welcome Reality isn't purely one-dimensional, and is saved by glimpses of the talent that's guided the pivotal pair this far. Their first number one single, Promises, includes a La Roux-like vocal from regular collaborator turned third member proper Alana Watson, and is sensible enough to highlight instant-hit catchiness amidst the trademark (and somewhat tired) wobbles. Fugue State, meanwhile, is a valiant attempt at creating the sort of towering electro-house that French duo Justice are known to churn out. It's a slice of variety that, alas, is served up all too rarely.
Welcome Reality lacks the finesse and creativity being made at the more interesting end of dance music in 2011 - by the likes of SBTRKT, for example. Ultimately, despite its makers' impressive credentials, this debut long-player is destined for the homes of listeners with more Basshunter in their collection than Burial.
--Lou Thomas
Find more music at the BBC This link will take you off Amazon in a new window
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Every time Nero have put out a single, it has excited me no end. The first time I heard each one on the radio, it instantly got stuck in my head and got put on repeat on Youtube. This album was a must buy for me on day one, and I don't regret it.
Obviously, the singles that have been released ("Me & You", "Guilt" and "Promises") are on there and they sound as amazing as the first time I heard them. They are backed up by the stomping intro to the album, "Doomsday", which builds to a cracking climax before the jaw-clenching drop, and the cover of the Jets' 80s pop track, "Crush on You", which is kinda mad and very dubstep, but it really works for me. These tracks alone are worth the entry fee.
A good album, but it perhaps has a few too many filler tracks to be a 5 star classic. Definitely worth a purchase though, as it's a really exciting insight into what this pair could do in the future. Recommended.
Obviously, the singles that have been released ("Me & You", "Guilt" and "Promises") are on there and they sound as amazing as the first time I heard them. They are backed up by the stomping intro to the album, "Doomsday", which builds to a cracking climax before the jaw-clenching drop, and the cover of the Jets' 80s pop track, "Crush on You", which is kinda mad and very dubstep, but it really works for me. These tracks alone are worth the entry fee.
A good album, but it perhaps has a few too many filler tracks to be a 5 star classic. Definitely worth a purchase though, as it's a really exciting insight into what this pair could do in the future. Recommended.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I've always been a huge fan of Nero ever since I first heard 'Innocence'about a year ago, then they released 'Me and You' which was another Epic tune for me, the same goes for 'Guilt' and the latest single 'Promises' So when I found out they were releasing an album. I had to purchase it, and I was not disappointed. 14 amazing songs, each as good as the one before. The album kicks off with '2808' a strange orchestral type piece which kind of acts like the calm before the "storm" and its one heck of a storm especially as '2808' leads directly into 'Doomsday' -already my favourite-
'Doomsday' is a very dancey song, with a typical dance drum beat at the first drop*, and with a BPM* of 120 it has that element of the french Nu-Disco duo 'Justice' witch I really like. the second drop is in my opinion better, the change in flow and the drum patter changed to a more dubsteppy one. That song packs a punch and the rest of the album follows, where you get a mix of what we have already heard of Nero, and a little mix of Nu-Disco and 80's feel, which combined with the Dubstep makes for a strange yet amazing sound. Totally different to all the other Dubstep that is out there, Nero have created there own sub genre of Dubstep, combining elements of Dubstep with Rock and Nu-Disco. Its an amazing album and also the Singer Alana has a pretty good voice. I believe she sings on the songs:
My eyes
Guilt
Me & You
In The Way
Scorpians
Promises
(My favourite songs on there are: Doomsday, Me & You, Innocence, Promises, Crush on you and Must be the feeling)
(Figure state and Must be the feeling are very Nu-Disco)
*BPM [Beats per minute (tempo)] Dubstep usually falls around 140 BPM, Dance around 110-130 BPM, and Drum & Bass 150-180 BPM
So if you like Dubstep, Nu-Disco, Dance, Nero, or are very open minded then consider buying Nero's album, You can also get the deluxe edition with 6 extra track, two of which are Drum & Bass, one is a remix, of a 'Justice' song (so that could explain the Nu-Disco feel), A VIP (Variation in Production) mix of 'Welcome Reality' from which the album gets its name yet the original track does not feature, another Dubstep song, and the Collaboration Nero did with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra entitled 'Symphony 2808'
Hope enjoy my strange review not really a reviewer but as its Nero :D
'Doomsday' is a very dancey song, with a typical dance drum beat at the first drop*, and with a BPM* of 120 it has that element of the french Nu-Disco duo 'Justice' witch I really like. the second drop is in my opinion better, the change in flow and the drum patter changed to a more dubsteppy one. That song packs a punch and the rest of the album follows, where you get a mix of what we have already heard of Nero, and a little mix of Nu-Disco and 80's feel, which combined with the Dubstep makes for a strange yet amazing sound. Totally different to all the other Dubstep that is out there, Nero have created there own sub genre of Dubstep, combining elements of Dubstep with Rock and Nu-Disco. Its an amazing album and also the Singer Alana has a pretty good voice. I believe she sings on the songs:
My eyes
Guilt
Me & You
In The Way
Scorpians
Promises
(My favourite songs on there are: Doomsday, Me & You, Innocence, Promises, Crush on you and Must be the feeling)
(Figure state and Must be the feeling are very Nu-Disco)
*BPM [Beats per minute (tempo)] Dubstep usually falls around 140 BPM, Dance around 110-130 BPM, and Drum & Bass 150-180 BPM
So if you like Dubstep, Nu-Disco, Dance, Nero, or are very open minded then consider buying Nero's album, You can also get the deluxe edition with 6 extra track, two of which are Drum & Bass, one is a remix, of a 'Justice' song (so that could explain the Nu-Disco feel), A VIP (Variation in Production) mix of 'Welcome Reality' from which the album gets its name yet the original track does not feature, another Dubstep song, and the Collaboration Nero did with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra entitled 'Symphony 2808'
Hope enjoy my strange review not really a reviewer but as its Nero :D
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:MP3 Download|Amazon Verified Purchase
My first experience of Nero was the recent single Promises, which almost had me jumping out of bed in the middle of the night to buy it, but I waited for the album and at the introductory download price on Amazon I got a bargain.
It's the first time I've actually liked dubstep, and that's probably because I tend to listen to dismal amateur dubstep remixes on SoundCloud rather than the actual quality stuff, and also because Nero are genuinely inspired and inventive songwriter-musicians. Even the cover version of The Jets' Crush On You kicks any other non-Nero track in the charts this week to bits.
This is groundbreaking stuff, works as a whole album as well as individual tracks, and they're British - so if they don't win several Brit awards next year I'll eat my insert anything you care to choose in this sentence here.
It's the first time I've actually liked dubstep, and that's probably because I tend to listen to dismal amateur dubstep remixes on SoundCloud rather than the actual quality stuff, and also because Nero are genuinely inspired and inventive songwriter-musicians. Even the cover version of The Jets' Crush On You kicks any other non-Nero track in the charts this week to bits.
This is groundbreaking stuff, works as a whole album as well as individual tracks, and they're British - so if they don't win several Brit awards next year I'll eat my insert anything you care to choose in this sentence here.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Without Guilt I'd never have listened.
I listen to or will listen to pretty much anything from Frank Sinatra, Metallica to snipets of Opera (thank you Smallville). Read more
Published 4 months ago by Don Pablo
Weird but good. Buy it and give it a shot, you're bound to like it on...
I like the variety of the tracks, first and foremost. From the ambient Innocence to the cinematic Departure, and the bouncy Must Be The Feeling, there's a bit of everything without... Read more
Published 5 months ago by Tasha Milan
Great gift
Bought this CD for wife to be for Christmas. She loves it and has played it loads over the holidays, she reckons it is a bit different to their other stuff but is good all the... Read more
Published 5 months ago by Gary, Dartford UK
Awesome (Nero Welcome Reality)
In Spanish:
He comprado uno de los mejores cds de música electrónica a mi parecer, de el momento, mezclan sonidos retro, con la tecnología y calidad... Read more
He comprado uno de los mejores cds de música electrónica a mi parecer, de el momento, mezclan sonidos retro, con la tecnología y calidad... Read more
Published 5 months ago by Jose Manuel Campos
Exceptional
This is a really innovative dance music at last. Excellent CD. Nero is a genius producer and has inspired beats on this already well-played CD.
Published 5 months ago by Miss Anne E Lomas
BOOM!
Bloody brilliant, I love it from start to finish.
I thought I miss out the dubstep sound, more of a hard trance kinda person. This however blew me away. Read more
I thought I miss out the dubstep sound, more of a hard trance kinda person. This however blew me away. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Craig White
Nero
I have got this for my partner and he is really into this music and he has been asking for it for a while and its really good baule for money
Published 6 months ago by The Doctor
Great uplifting electric album
I heard Nero's number 1 single "Promises" on the radio one morning and instantly fell in love with it. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Stampy
Awesome
This album has been on almost constant repeat since I got it. Given that most albums these days give me one or two plays at most, that should hopefully indicate how much I love it! Read more
Published 7 months ago by D. Gilman
Amazing
Shame its not the Deluxe version :(
But they can be purchased at a different time ;)
Its perfection, the intertwining of drum and bass and dubstep is epic. Read more
But they can be purchased at a different time ;)
Its perfection, the intertwining of drum and bass and dubstep is epic. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Gareth Plimmer
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