Amazon.co.uk Review
Psyence Fiction is the epic brainchild of Mo' Wax boss James Lavelle and hip-hop auteur
DJ Shadow. Seldom before had a project of such scope and such lofty ambition been attempted. But over three years of gestation,
Psyence Fiction became hip-hop mythology, complete with a cast of international players; Thom Yorke of
Radiohead, Richard Ashcroft of
The Verve and Mike D of the
Beastie Boys all offer vocal contributions.
Psyence Fiction was blighted by its vast hype but still sounds like a box-- office blockbuster of an album. Shadow's deft orchestral mixing provides a wide-screen backdrop for Yorke's mournful delivery on "Rabbit In Your Headlights" but he proves equally capable of providing scene-stealing instrumentals with the likes of "Unreal" and "Celestial Annihilation". Indeed, sometimes the collaborations seem slightly mismatched; Ashcroft's take on "Lonely Soul" and Mike D's uncharacteristically poor rapping on "The Knock" prove low points on an otherwise fine album. --Louis Pattison
CD Description
In the UK, where both electronica and brash guitar rock arebigger chart-toppers than in the US, artists are a lot freer about mixing the two styles. Hence UNKLE, the project of James Lavelle and illbient hero DJ Shadow. The duo puts theirsampling/looping expertise to work in the service of a project that blends the best of Britrock and electronica, without sacrificing the integrity of either style. Towards this end, they're assisted by some talented friends. Radiohead singer Thom Yorke cowrote and sings "Rabbit in Your Headlights",which takes his band's sound and runs a little further afield. The Verve's Richard Ashcroft is on hand for "Lonely Soul", which links syncopated drum loops, midtempo rock, and extended orchestral sections. PSYENCE FICTION is a fresh-sounding effort that pushes the boundaries of both rock and electronica in a way that will appeal to fans of both genres.
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