You Don't Know - Ninja Cuts [Box set]

The first two reviews are very thorough so I try not to repeat. Rarely write reviews but this has to be one of the best compilations I have heard in many years. As mentioned previously, the unique feature is the mix of releases from the relatively recent past (vs v old) and forthcoming releases. Amazingly varied tracks with the overwhelming majority of great quality. I admit I'm a Ninja record label fan but even if youre not into so called "underground stuff" I thoroughly recommend this to anyone with even a mild interest listening to stuff from outside the charts! You wont be disappointed. Would make a great surprise present for someone who's into their music.

The dropping of a multi-CD compilation by Ninja Tune or Big Dada is big news. So many of their previous compilation albums have become revered classics that music lovers go back to time and time again. Who can forget releases like `Zen Cuts' (possibly one of the greatest compilations released), `Funkungfusion' and the more recent `Well Deep: 10Yrs of Big Dada'. The classic status of these releases is not purely gained by the quality and eccentricity of the artists on the label's rosters, but thanks to the rarities and remixes that adorn these compilations.

Blowing all previous notions of your typical compilation album out of the window and surpassing even their own high standards, Ninja Tune has served up this fantastic 49track 3CD compilation. Acting as a barometer to the state of alternative off-kilter music in 2008, the compilation serves as a signpost of where the label has come from and where it's heading. Spanning across the three labels, Ninja Tune, Big Dada and Counter Records, this compilation has something for anyone interested in interesting music, be it hip-hop, psychadelic rock, cut'n'paste, drum'n'bass, dancehall, electronica or just plain sonic weirdness. Famous names like Roots Manuva, Coldcut, Amon Tobin, RJD2 and Mr Scruff rub shoulders with (currently) lesser known names such as The Long Lost, Ghislain Poirier, Max & Harvey, Loka and John Matthias in a compilation that will have you constantly reaching for the tracklisting.

There are surprises lurking around each corner from the kaleidoscopic psyche-rock of Pop Levi to the explicit porncore laced electronica of Spank Rock to the twisted neo-funk to The Heavy. Like hip-hop? Well you're in luck with top cuts from both sides of the Atlantic including the quirky ramblings of King Geedorah, the crazed stylings of TTc, the old skool mash-up of DJ Shadow, the avant-hop of Clouddead, the wisdom spittage of Ty and the future grime of Wiley. Many of these tracks are remixes which give an interesting slant on the originals and which in most cases can't be found anywhere else. A true standout track is `Fear the Labour' by One Self. Comprised of St Petersburg-born Ninja Tune turntable stalwart DJ Vadim, New York rapper Blu Rum 13, and Yarah Bravo, the trio engage in a bout of top-draw hip-hop which sees a manipulated Middle Eastern melody snake over a bottomless bass groove whilst Blu Rum 13 spits consciously overtop.

Dig deeper into the compilation and you'll uncover some thumping beats. Modeselektor carves out a gargantuan stompathon remix of Ghislain Poirier whilst Warrior Queen spits conspicuously on The Bug's contemporised old-skool bashment mash-up, `Poison Dart'. Echoing Pendulum's rock influenced d'n'b, The Qemists burst out with a floor-quaking slice of electro underpinned by a deep Jungle groove. Fans of old-skool drum'n'bass will be in for a treat, because, stepping straight-out from the halcyon days of melodic drum'n'bass where acts like E-Z Rollers and 4Hero dominated the rave scene is Bonobo's `Nightlife'. Reconstructed by bass-heads `Zero DB' and featuring the silky harmonized vocals of Bajka, the track carves out a fresh, contemporised play on the old-skool d'n'b dynamics with its deep rolling basslines, hypnotic melodics and constantly unfurling crisp beats. Moving further on into the compilation sees Coldcut prove that they still have their finger on the pulse with the hypnotic Clint Mansell-esque techno of `Just for the Kick'. The Tiga remix of their `Walk A Mile In My Shoes' also coasts captivatingly with a menacing techno groove.

Staying true to their tradition of putting out the finest music, regardless of genre, the compilation also features some wonderful offerings by acts from more specialist genres. Loka are on hand to provide a dash of exotic jazz fused electronica while Max & Harvey provide an explosive soundtrack of atmospheric noir-ish jazzscapes coupled with elongated female vocals to create a sound reminiscent of early Goldfrapp fused with early Cinematic Orchestra. The Cinematic Orchestra themselves provide both a live track and a remix by Leaf label ambience guru Susumu Yokota. Jaga's contribution towards the end of the third disc is further proof of Ninja Tune's procurement ability and is a subtle slice of hypnotizing electro-acoustic gorgeousness.

The great thing about this release is that it isn't a greatest hits album containing the tracks that many of the target audience would already own. Instead it provides a healthy mix of big hitters, rare & unreleased material and remixes. The full spectrum of artists are featured although, disappointingly, sixties psychedelica band, The Dragon's don't appear. Ultimately, `You Don't Know' is a sonic-document proving that Ninja Tune (and its sub labels) are amongst the most important in today's alternative music scene. (RM)

The dropping of a multi-CD compilation by Ninja Tune or Big Dada is big news. So many of their previous compilation albums have become revered classics that music lovers go back to time and time again. Who can forget releases like `Zen Cuts' (possibly one of the greatest compilations released), `Funkungfusion' and the more recent `Well Deep: 10Yrs of Big Dada'. The classic status of these releases is not purely gained by the quality and eccentricity of the artists on the label's rosters, but thanks to the rarities and remixes that adorn these compilations.

Blowing all previous notions of your typical compilation album out of the window and surpassing even their own high standards, Ninja Tune has served up this fantastic 49track 3CD compilation. Acting as a barometer to the state of alternative off-kilter music in 2008, the compilation serves as a signpost of where the label has come from and where it's heading. Spanning across the three labels, Ninja Tune, Big Dada and Counter Records, this compilation has something for anyone interested in interesting music, be it hip-hop, psychadelic rock, cut'n'paste, drum'n'bass, dancehall, electronica or just plain sonic weirdness. Famous names like Roots Manuva, Coldcut, Amon Tobin, RJD2 and Mr Scruff rub shoulders with (currently) lesser known names such as The Long Lost, Ghislain Poirier, Max & Harvey, Loka and John Matthias in a compilation that will have you constantly reaching for the tracklisting.

There are surprises lurking around each corner from the kaleidoscopic psyche-rock of Pop Levi to the explicit porncore laced electronica of Spank Rock to the twisted neo-funk to The Heavy. Like hip-hop? Well you're in luck with top cuts from both sides of the Atlantic including the quirky ramblings of King Geedorah, the crazed stylings of TTc, the old skool mash-up of DJ Shadow, the avant-hop of Clouddead, the wisdom spittage of Ty and the future grime of Wiley. Many of these tracks are remixes which give an interesting slant on the originals and which in most cases can't be found anywhere else. A true standout track is `Fear the Labour' by One Self. Comprised of St Petersburg-born Ninja Tune turntable stalwart DJ Vadim, New York rapper Blu Rum 13, and Yarah Bravo, the trio engage in a bout of top-draw hip-hop which sees a manipulated Middle Eastern melody snake over a bottomless bass groove whilst Blu Rum 13 spits consciously overtop.

Dig deeper into the compilation and you'll uncover some thumping beats. Modeselektor carves out a gargantuan stompathon remix of Ghislain Poirier whilst Warrior Queen spits conspicuously on The Bug's contemporised old-skool bashment mash-up, `Poison Dart'. Echoing Pendulum's rock influenced d'n'b, The Qemists burst out with a floor-quaking slice of electro underpinned by a deep Jungle groove. Fans of old-skool drum'n'bass will be in for a treat, because, stepping straight-out from the halcyon days of melodic drum'n'bass where acts like E-Z Rollers and 4Hero dominated the rave scene is Bonobo's `Nightlife'. Reconstructed by bass-heads `Zero DB' and featuring the silky harmonized vocals of Bajka, the track carves out a fresh, contemporised play on the old-skool d'n'b dynamics with its deep rolling basslines, hypnotic melodics and constantly unfurling crisp beats. Moving further on into the compilation sees Coldcut prove that they still have their finger on the pulse with the hypnotic Clint Mansell-esque techno of `Just for the Kick'. The Tiga remix of their `Walk A Mile In My Shoes' also coasts captivatingly with a menacing techno groove.

Staying true to their tradition of putting out the finest music, regardless of genre, the compilation also features some wonderful offerings by acts from more specialist genres. Loka are on hand to provide a dash of exotic jazz fused electronica while Max & Harvey provide an explosive soundtrack of atmospheric noir-ish jazzscapes coupled with elongated female vocals to create a sound reminiscent of early Goldfrapp fused with early Cinematic Orchestra. The Cinematic Orchestra themselves provide both a live track and a remix by Leaf label ambience guru Susumu Yokota. Jaga's contribution towards the end of the third disc is further proof of Ninja Tune's procurement ability and is a subtle slice of hypnotizing electro-acoustic gorgeousness.

The great thing about this release is that it isn't a greatest hits album containing the tracks that many of the target audience would already own. Instead it provides a healthy mix of big hitters, rare & unreleased material and remixes. The full spectrum of artists are featured although, disappointingly, sixties psychedelica band, The Dragon's don't appear. Ultimately, `You Don't Know' is a sonic-document proving that Ninja Tune (and its sub labels) are amongst the most important in today's alternative music scene. (RM)