Various Artists - Dance & DJ - Techno - Xen Cuts
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Free Music Notes for Xen Cuts
Free Music Review: Funkjazztical!
Hit: 5 Stars
Okay... Fully aware that this is a "10 Year Anniversary / Best Of" compilation and all that... But it is 100% essential. While I was disappointed that this set was not mixed, I won't drop stars over it.For those unfamiliar with the works kicked out by the various Ninja Tune artists: This is as good of a place as any. The included booklet will give you the low-down on the label's history and the CD's feature the eclectic sounds being dropped by the various producers, artists, DJs, and madmen that are all affiliated with the nebulous and at-time-enigmatic Ninja Tune.
Like jazz? Check it out. Hip hop? Check it out. Trip hop? Check it out. Drum & bass? Check it out. There's such an array of styles in here. But as far as being a "best of" --- well, for once someone delivers on that promise. This truly is the best of what Ninja Tune has to offer. Perhaps a little more Coldcut, but with so many artists...
Free Music Review: Nirvana attained.
Hit: 5 Stars
Ahhh...Ninja Tune...purveyors of atmospheric beats, mad samples, and numerous flavors of abstraction. The Ninja crew has had a major hand in redefining conventional views of hip-hop and jazz, and with Xen Cuts they prove that they are once again without peer. This diverse collection beautifully displays all aspects of the genre-bending Ninja sound, all in the space of about two hours...and there is very little redundancy to be found here. Even hardcore Ninjas will be hard-pressed to find many of these tracks already in their collection. There are some new/exclusive tunes here, but most seem to have been purloined from the massive Ninja backcatalogue of now-OOP singles and LPs, which is fortunate for both the many who haven't yet been exposed to Ninja Tune, and for the completists whose palates are in desperate need of satiation. In addition, the included booklet is well-assembled, and features an extensive, often humorous history of the label, album cover-adorned pages, and a complete discography of every artist on the Ninja Tune, N-Tone, and Big Dada labels. I was hoping for some mention of Ninja's occassional partners-in-stealth, Shadow Records; however, this is a minor omission. The Cuts are broken up into three discs: Disc 1 is mostly hip-hop/MC oriented, Disc 2 embraces the jazzier, more instrumental side of Ninja, and Disc 3 features a mix of unreleased mixes and rare tracks (by the way, track 15 is not credited on the packaging). The highlights of this release? Well, there are 47 of them, so take your pick. Do not hesitate, young grasshopper...Free Music Review: amazing!
Hit: 5 Stars
I can't recommend this comp. more highly. It's amazing -- out of 44 tracks, there isn't a single one that I am compelled to skip. Hell, the set is worth buying for the gorgeous packaging alone! And as a label-sampler, it's doing its job, because now I have to go buy full-length albums by most of these artists!My favorite tracks, so far, are all by Amon Tobin, Cabbageboy's "Rhythm & Blues Angus Steakhouse," "Your Revolution" by DJ Vadim and the fabulous Sarah Jones, "The Ageing Young Rebel" by DJ Food, and "8pt Agenda" by the Herbaliser.
Free Music Review: enter the braggin'
Hit: 5 Stars
For 17.99, you get 3 CD's with 77 minutes of music on each one.How's that for spectacular? I really enjoy this compilation because it stands apart from other recent comps I've bought from Warp and Matador.There is an element of class with Ninja Tune that you just don't find elsewhere.There's not a song on here that disintegrates into unlistenable white noise.It's all..groovy.The first and third discs are kinda street, kinda hip-hop.The second one is jazzy, serious seduction music.Nothing reeks of cheese, though, surprisingly, Luke Vibert's "I Hear A Drummer" might be the most whack cut in the whole box.Coldcut, Saul Williams, DJ Food Feat. Ken Nordine and Clifford Gilberto all have amazing tracks.Kid Koala kills.Insanely consistent and very educational.Free Music Review: Don't drink from the mainstream
Hit: 5 Stars
All I can do is agree with the other reviews -- BUY THIS! It serves as a great overview of the ninja label, if you haven't heard much of their stuff before, but contains lots of new tracks and brilliance for even the most experienced ninja.The first CD starts off with the intro cutups, then moves into a mostly hiphop mode. The highlights for me here include Roots Manuvas insane mix of Amon Tobin, the brilliant Dj Vadim and Kid Koala tracks, and Up,Bustle & Outs "Hip Hop Barrio". A fantastic exception that stands out is Luke Viberts "I Hear the Drummer".
The second CD moves onto some mainly jazzy business. The Clifford Gilberto track is funky filmic soundtrack business, and Amon Tobin contributes a great track. Later come the amazing fried up beats of Flanger, before Funki Porcini and others finish the disc in a swirl of ambient orchestration.
The third CD (subtitled "missed, flipped and skipped), is raritys and remixes as the title suggests. This disc is also killer, with Mr Scruff and Dj Food contributing some awesome sounds, and the insanity of Squarepushers mix of East Flatbush Project's "Tried By 12". The disc finishes with more jazzy sounds, but the real highlight here for me is Kid Koala's "Drunk Trumpet", where a trumpet sample is munted and mutated by the kid over a jazzy piano loop. Absolutely insane, and brilliant with it.
To sum up, if you are even the slightest bit into the hiphop / jazz insanity that the ninjas do so well, then you need this like you need food and air. Sell your own mother if you have to.