Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Torn, 16 Sep 2003
I'm a bit in two minds about this one. On one side, you've got my passion for all things Underworld, going to bed hugging a copy of Second Toughest In The Infants and taking Beacoup Fish for romantic meals out. On the other side I've got my expectations of the Back To Mine series, such as the fantastic ambience as mixed up by Dave Seaman and Nick Warren, the wonderful melancholic chill of Faithless. When other faves of mine Orbital got snapped up to do one of these, I was quite looking forward to it, what I didn't like was what turned out to be a bit of a mish mash of a mix. Randomly jumping from style and tempo in a manner that should really be left to experts like Soulwax and Coldcut. And I find the same feeling creeping up here. Ok, I get the concept that Part 1 are tracks that should be left to stand alone and Part 2 is the actual DJ mix experience, but it just doesn't sit right for me. The harsh old skool techno sounds of LFO, Rave Signal and Remy & Sven, for me, just clash against downtempo numbers like Dr Octagon and TLC. Its like two radically different ends of the musical spectrum clashing against each other in a way that isn't that fun to listen to. However, get to the sequence which is the Toots & Maytals through to Dead Prez and you're treated to a wicked soundclash of dub, intelligent drum & bass and hip hop. Great stuff. Perhaps I've been spoilt by the previous mixes in the series, seamless flowing journeys that hook you in from track one and carry you on a journey right up to the closer. After listening to this, I wonder, what would it have been like with Darren Emerson still on board. Maybe the DJs insight might have led to a more coherant mix. I'll be listening to this, though, most likely sticking it on right at track 7 to hear a bit of mixing inspiration in action...
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
excellent, 16 Dec 2003
i own a few of these collections and in relation to this type of album, it is one of the best. the first i heard was groove armada's an was amazed, purely because this was my first experience to this sort of album. somehow, no matter how many of these albums get released, the more similar they all feel. this is by no means a bad thing, yet i find myself listening to the album a good 20 times, adore a few tracks, but then i am bored with it. this is the reason the album gets a 4.
so far as the content is concerned, the middle section of the album is incredible. to mix reggae, into an indie group, to dance through to hip hop, (this by the way is the moment of the album, when the bass of aphex twin - didgeridoo is mixed into dead prez - hiphop) you have to be a genius in musical knowledge and production. underworld show their maturity in this collection, although i very much doubt that all these songs were serious influences on the group! forget that though, this is an entertaining musical ride through many genres, and a superb offering. my personal recommendation of a back to mine/late night tales collection
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5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
START AT TRACK TWO..., 25 Aug 2003
This is an excellent addition to the Back to Mine series with the exception of the opening track whose inclusion smacks of self indulgenace and stubbornness on the Underworld duo. There's got to be a good reason for any track to last eleven minutes - Mr Scott Heron makes his point well and should have quit at half time. After that though, the CD is a perfect mix of summer beats (TLC), techno, reggae, dub and world music.
The mixing (to my non-mix ears) is a real highlight, especially from the Toots & the Maytals track through to Ali Farka Toure.
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