essential recordings (alphabetical by album title)
A-E | F-J | K-O | P-T | U-Z

Kakusei - DJ Krush (1999)

amazon.com review:
Dark and compelling. Very austere, very beautiful in it's unique way. To my mind, an excellent soundtrack to a rainy 3AM in the big city. If you've been overloaded with the too-slick and the overproduced, get this CD: a breath of super-cool fresh air.

amazon.com review:
buy the CD - it will become and remain a trip-hop classic. I wont go any further as the above reviews say enough!!

Lamb- Lamb (1997)

amazon.com review:
Let me start off by saying that Lamb is the best band EVER. Out of the 2,000+ cd's that I own, this one is STILL the most frequently played, and I have had it for three years. Lamb is a complete anomaly. This band offers the interesting combination of Louise Rhodes deeply introspective and tangible vocals, with the choppy percussion and innovative programming of Andy Barlow. You might think that this combination would yield complete sonic chaos, but it does quite the opposite. The marriage of Lou's dreamy vocals to Andy's complex compositions takes the listener on a spiritual journey. The cd opens with "Lusty", which is a very intriguing track. "Lusty" features sparse melodic stabs, a hard percussive backing, and Louise cooing "only you can soothe me, come cool me down..." With that, Louise perfectly conveys the heart and soul of a person in love. And love really IS the theme of this album. "God Bless" features jazzy basslines, seductive beats, and orchestral instruments. It is quite beautiful. "Cottonwool" is perhaps the most breathtaking song I have ever heard. The song is made up of various loops and breakbeats combined with dreamy atmospheric sounds. The effect is eerily beautiful. This coupled with Louise's incredibly profound and soulful lyrics makes "Cottonwool" one of Lamb's best songs. "Transfatty Acid" features weird distortion (it sounds like Lou is singing through a can) and a strange buzzing/electricity type aura. This song makes you feel like you are in another world. "Transfatty Acid" is extremely innovative and the musical effect is mindnumbing. "Zero" is sweet and mellow. It features acoustic guitar and strings and the effect is very powerful. Lou's singing is especially good on this track. "Merge" is strange in that it does not feature Louise's vocals. But it is not a weak track by any means. This track feels like an interlude of sorts, but it is a very refreshing one. This track has a surging bass line which is overlayed with sharp, brassy horns. Then the beats come in fast and feverish, and this song builds into one hell of a climax. This song is exhilerating, to say the least. "Gold" is rather jazzy. It features, what sounds like, an upright bass, combined with sweeping drums, and a marimba(?). It is mellow and soothing, especially following "Merge". "Closer" is the only track that I would deem to be filler, but it is still quite good. It is jazzy, like "Gold" but this has the hard percussive beats that some of the earlier tracks had. "Gorecki" is the heart and soul of this album. This is the best song ever written! In fact, a sliver of it was sung in the new movie "Moulin Rouge" by Nicole Kidman's character Satine. "Gorecki" has the most heartfelt, emotional, honest, passionate lyrics ever written. Louise sings this song so endearingly, that it honestly brings tears to my eyes. This song is a delight musically, as well. It is subdued at first, with soft percussion, and a dreamy, relaxed aura. As the lyrics grow more intense, so does the melody, and the very end of this song absolutely soars. It takes the listener to another plane of existence. It is nothing short of breathtaking, and if you listen to no other song on this album...listen to "Gorecki"! "Feela" is kind of like an experimental, musical trip to a confessional booth. It's as if Louise is singing this song to herself, and the music is very minimal. I equate this song to Madonna's wonderful (but comparatively less inspired) "Mer Girl" on Ray of Light. Now for a word of caution: Do NOT turn off the cd once it goes quiet, or else you will miss the hidden track, which is a remix of "Cottonwool". It is a great remix, too. Definitely worth waiting for! So, basically I recommend that you BUY THIS CD IMMEDIATELY! I think it is the best cd ever recorded, and this is coming from a girl who also happens to be a musician, and the proud owner of over 2,000 cd's. This cd is gold. Trust me.

Later - various artists (2003)

triphoppin.net review:
This is probably single-handedly the BEST chillout/trip-hop compilation ever put together. No shit.

Two full discs of AWESOME songs. Catchy as hell, covering a lot of ground. More on the "chillout" and ambient side of things, but GREAT beats, GREAT arrangements, GREAT production. Completely worth it.

Tracklist:

DISC 1:
1. Until The Morning - Thievery Corporation
2. Escape - 16B
3. Count On You - Poloroid
4. SolasSistim - Underworld
5. In The Waiting Line - Zero 7
6. Bakerloo - King Of Woolworths
7. Damian - Frost
8. Signs Of Love - Moby
9. Slipinside - Airlock
10. The Way We Live Now - Saint Etienne
11. The Train Shuffle - Blue States
12. Shine - Cinerex
13. Naturally - Kim Blee
14. Albatross - Chris Coco/Peter Green

DISC 2:
1. Home And Dry (remix) - Pet Shop Boys
2. If You Could See My Eyes - Almadrava
3. Another Chance - Roger Sanchez
4. All This Love - Nova
5. Gone - Kosheen
6. Private Road - Bent
7. Beautiful Crazy - Space Raiders
8. Standstill - Hard Kandy
9. Remind Me To Miss You - Headway
10. Golden - Mimi
11. 16 Again - Neon Heights
12. Kissing - Bliss
13. Burning Disaster - Language Lab
(Groove Armada bedtime story mix)
14. Distortion - Flunk

Londinium - Archive (1996)

amazon.com review:
This album is quite simply, the best trip-hop record I have ever heard. It ties (or even surpasses) Portishead's "Dummy". The string arrangements, the introspective rapping (never annoying, just a great flow... GREAT flow), the female singing, the BEATS.... my god, the BEATS are PERFECT! It's a shame Archive didn't continue to create such beautiful masterpieces such as this. The album that followed, 1999's Take My Head, is horrible. The rap is gone, the female singer is different, and the beats and songs borderline on cheesy mainstream pop rather than dark, rainy-day downtempo. And I've heard tracks from the new album, You All Look The Same To Me, and unfortunately, once again the lineup has changed, and now a guy is singing (still no hip-hop). It's good but it's nowhere near as amazing as Londinium. The price tag may be high on this album, but trust me, it is worth every penny and then some. Darius and Danny: please PLEASE go back to your roots! The die-hard fans out there miss this perfect, beautiful, amazing, thought-provoking, and above all, INSPIRING album. To all those who have not heard it yet, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR????!!!!

amazon.com review:
Possibly the best trip-hop album ever pressed. Not enough good things can be written about this album. The haunting melodies intertwine with incredibly well-structured beats, and it is all set off with the beautiful voice of a female lead singer. On about half of the tracks, an MC drops well-formed and intelligent rhymes to make this band (in my opinion) surpass even the heroic efforts put forth by trip-hop greats as Massive Attack. This is well worth the import price; fans of any sort of chill-out music (triphop, ambient, etc) will not only not be disappointed, they'll be ecstatic.

amazon.com review:
Almost too good to express in words, Londinium is without a doubt the best CD I've ever bought...It's style is like anything else, an eclectic mix of classical, rap and contempory...... Simply Beautiful...

Lush Life - Bowery Electric (2000)

amazon.com review:
"Lushlife" is the third proper album from seminal New York shoegazers Bowery Electric. Their first two albums ("Bowery Electric" and "Beat", along with the remix album "Vertigo") show a band heavily influenced by bands such as Slowdive, Seefeel, et al. Droning, ethereal space rock built around spacey, ambient guitars and noise and Marth Schwedener's lazy wistful vocals. "Lushlife", however, sees the group moving into more electronic realms, and doing a masterful job of it.

There are few CDs that, purely by sound, can transport you to a place...but Lushlife accomplishes that quite easily. The somber strings and cold programmed beats give the listener a simultaneously lonely yet claustrophobic feeling, like being lost in the center of a large, unfamiliar city late at night. Guitars and synth pads drift in and out, Martha Schwedener's vocals meander over the top, and you can almost feel yourself in the damp, cluttered studio in the center of New York at night where the album was recorded.

No one will ever accuse Bowery of being overly technically proficient with their instruments or song structures...and save for a few diversions here and there (distorted guitars on "Freedom Fighter", jungle beats at the end of "Passages") the song structures on Lushlife follow a familiar theme. The droning guitars have been replaced by ambient synth noises and lush string sections, augmented by the occasional guitar or record scratch. Martha's vocals remain cold and hazy, but are much more forward in the mix than in previous releases. Additionally, the tracks on Lushlife are much more song-oriented, rather than jam oriented, giving the album a more cohesive feel.

If you are not a fan of thedrone/space rock genre, this album is not for you. If, however, you are partial to the darker, hazy, ambient textures of ethereal rock, this album presents a sound and feeling like few others I have ever encountered.

amazon.com review:
Sure this is trip hop. Sure it's been done before. Sure BE is following in the footsteps of pioneers Massive Attack and Portishead. But at least they're damn good at it. I've been a fan of trip hop since I heard blue lines from massive attack and I've heard many bad imitations since then, but with BE I was impressed from begining to end. I've never heard of them until I checked out their CD at a listening station and the moment the first track started, washing over me in waves and I noticed the subtle sample from Siouxsie and the Banshees'"Trust In Me", I fell in love. The beats aren't as bass oriented as most trip hop and they employ lots of strings but it works. "lushlife", the title track is my fave. The bass line is steady and deep, the "do do do dos" of the chorus is fantastic and the lyrics, a somber story of a woman regretting meeting a man, is profoundly touching. I listened to this CD for weeks on end after breaking up with my boyfriend. It was a perfect soundtrack for the emotions I was going through. the tracks vary from instrumentals to lush vocals.Nothing really danceable but very very listenable. I highly reccomend it for fans of the trip hop genre.

The Magnificent Tree - Hooverphonic (2000)

amazon.com review:
A triumph from one of the best bands of our day. I received the limited edition of this disc in early September, and have been drawn to listen to it quite often. Very different from both previous efforts. . . while still very captivating. The thing that makes Hooverphonic so special is their ability to play some of the most bizarre songs while still holding the listeners interest. The first listen will not totally haunt you, but once you go through this disc, you will find yourself totally hypnotized. "The Magnificent Tree" is a great track and should not be missed. . . . and of course, "Mad About You" retains as the best track on the album. Purchase this at all costs, as the pure drama of it will keep you going for quite some time.

Maxinquaye - Tricky (1995)

amazon.com review:
I stayed away from this CD for the longest, scared of what I might hear--I mean Tricky does look slightly demonic. But all that aside, "Maxinquaye" turned out to be just the opposite of what my initial perception was. It is in fact a masterpiece that can only be tantamount to the works of Massive Attack, Portishead and even DJ Shadow. With sexy vocals from Martina and Tricky himself, "Maxinquaye" keeps it appeal in 2004 with material that doesn't at all sound dated or forced, but instead sounds fresh and innovative as the day it was released. Tricky is truly a "trip-hop pioneer." "Maxinquaye" is haunting, sexy, profound, intense and down right funky! Highly Recommended!

amazon.com review:
I truly don't have the talent to write a review that would give this ablum it's proper do. So what follows may seem a bit non-sequitor.

Brimming full of sexual frustration and urban despiration, Tricky created a debut ligitmizing the artisic force of the movement known as Bristolian trip-hop. But as important as Maxinquaye may be to modern popular music, thats not why its millions of fans love it. This one gets personal. More so than any of his later works, this album easily becomes intimate. Using rythm in lyric, broken beat and reflective passage, Tricky slowly begins to borrow his way into this listner's concious allowing them to see themselves through his distorted vision. A feat most artists attempt their whole carrer without succeeding.

An important warning: Owning this album will make you a Tricky fan, and that is one of the most frustrating things in this world. Tricky has spent the rest of his carreer showcasing his immense talent hidden deep within self-indulgent mis-inspired projects. All of his other albums contain songs worth the price of admission, but force you to waddle through increasing levels of cerebral muck.

If you do enjoy this album, you owe to yourself to check out the Baby Namboos, a project Tricky helped on that sounds closest to Maxinquaye.

Mezzanine - Massive Attack (1998)

amazon.com review:
Mezzanine was fixed, almost permanently in my car for two years. Now, it shares space with Morcheeba and Hooverphonic and Portishead, who also enjoyed semi-permanent status. Thing with Mezzanine is, there are so many levels of sound that every time you listen to it, you hear something new. That in itself is a wonder, but the vocals are simply gorgeous, the beats are hypnotic...bone conductive...and the lyrics are completely incomprehensible. With this album, it's all in the sound, which just wraps you up and takes you away. Massive Attack is a an eclectic mix of genres: jazz, pop, folk, rap, blues, even classical. They take what they need from each and create their own, unique sound. One of the best things about this album is the unique style of each cut: different vocalists, different styles, totally different sounds, but all absolutely Massive. I could not rate this album higher. I'm not a kid, I'm well past the half-century mark but always searching for really good new music and Mezzanine delivers in spades. The very first song on the album, Angel, has been in five films that I know of, including The Matrix! Why these movie guys never got past the first song is anybody's guess, but the rest of the album is just as good as the beginning. It just keeps getting better. I know Massive has a new album coming out and I'm almost afraid to hear it; equalling Mezzanine would be an amazing feat, but to best it seems impossible. Mezzanine just may be my favourite album of all time, ever, but be warned: you need a very good sound system to hear it all. There is nothing simple here.

amazon.com review:
What else is there to say about this album? It's just simply astonishing. I'm a fan of dark Trip Hop music and have been for a while. Massive Attack is just one of those pioneer bands that can deliver without missing a beat. I've been aware of this band for a while but never gave them a chance until I picked up this album. From the moment the dark atmosphere settled in, I was taken on a ride with "Angel" which is just the vibe I've been looking for. The rest of the CD was an experience I wasn't ready for but by the time it got through to "Group Four," I was shocked. The female vocalist (Elizabeth Fraser of the Cocteau Twins), who sings about three of the four vocalist songs was just perfect. The drums that repeat throughout "Inertia Creeps" is just another small example of great rhythm in this kind of genre. Everything sounds so hypnotic and tribal and although songs like "Man Next Door" is just one of the exceptions, it shouldn't stop you from unraveling this masterpiece. "Black Milk" sounds like it could be the theme song for an underground club somewhere in space. Elizabeth Fraser's haunting voice just rings throughout as you've got this really mysterious orchestra of sounds playing in the background. The title track "Mezzanine" just blends right in as it sounds like some surreal occurrence down the neighbourhood with hard-hitting drums and eerie scratches. Overall, you just can't pass up such an experience like this. It's just something else and if you like Tricky or Hooverphonic, you've gotta get this.

Moon Safari - Air (1998)

amazon.com review:
Not to go overboard with this, but in my opinion, Air's Moon Safari is, hands down, the best electronic album made to date. Jean-Benoit Dunkel and Nicholas Godin, the French duo that makes up Air created a sonic masterpiece that captured a style and atmosphere there transcends time and place. This album has stayed as fresh sounding and vibrant as the day it came out; and this is quite a feat in a genre where most music sounds dated within 6 months. This is not cheesy kid's electronica - these compositions will embrace you like a warm summer day and move your soul.

amazon.com review:
There just aren't many words to describe this album's beauty. This is one of those albums that just sweeps you away into another world when you push play. The tranquility, comfort and soothing soundscapes will captivate your mind, tease your ears, and ultimately, it keeps you coming back for more. Every note on "Moon Safari" is perfectly timed. As far as construction, this album tops most albums I've ever heard. Analog synthesizers, organs, electric pianos, and soothing vocals make up this vastly unique album. There is a very cinematic feel to the album, which boasts much more than their fluffy first single "Sexy Boy" has to offer.

Nicolas Godin and Jean-Benoît Dunckel recorded "Moon Safari" in the legendary Abbey Road studios (also a studio for classic records such as The Beatles "Abbey Road" and The Beach Boys "Pet Sounds"). I can't help but think that these guys captured the spirit of these legendary artists, since they are undoubtedly influenced by the likes of Brian Wilson, Burt Bacharach and Pink Floyd. Most importantly, these guys are all about making music for the love of it, not for the money or fame. Every track works cohesively with the next, making it a fantastic full (but short) listen; all killer no filler as Jerry Lee Lewis would put it.

Standouts would include "La Femme d'Argent," "All I Need," "Kelly Watch the Stars," my personal favorite "Talisman," "You Make It Easy," and "New Star in the Sky (Chanson Pour Solal)". There really aren't many records like it. Groove Armada's "Vertigo" is similar, but simply not up to par with "Moon Safari".

Overall, if you enjoy soothing, sexy, soulful music, you will love this album. This album isn't for any specific age group; my dad loves this stuff. This album is accessible to nearly everyone with a good taste. I highly recommend purchasing this album; a burned copy just won't do.

A New Stereophonic Sound Spectacular - Hooverphonic (1996)

amazon.com review:
In this remarkably cool, ambient debut, Hooverphonic defined its sound as one of urban solitude, empty streets, and chilly, vacant buildings: a sound it developed even further on its terrific followup, Blue Wonder Power Milk, and subsequent cds. Its music is that of what could have been, and in its songs (I hesitate almost to name them that, for the depth of feeling they evoke), such as Inhaler, 2Wicky, and Barabas, the band expresses in melody and arrangement something almost poetic. It's quite an accomplishment, which suggests the best of Eno, Portishead, and Goldfrapp--i.e., the best, most original lounge, ambient, and trip-hop artists around.

amazon.com review:
If you are a bit into trip-hop, then I highly recommend this album. Don't expect some kind of Massive Attack-clone or something, because they are totally different then Massive Attack. The only song that sounds a bit like a MA-song is '2 Wicky', their only single out of this album. It all starts with 'Inhaler', a dreamy electronic-like song, with some nice guitar-riffs, an excellent opener. The intro of '2 Wicky' could have been the intro of a Massive Attack-song (from 'Blue Lines'),but the rest of the song is pure Hoover. Again a dreamy song, and an excellent single. 'Plus Profond' is my favourite Hooverphonic-song ever. It has this very interesting and beautiful intro with a Digerido (I think it's called like that), it's actually one of the only up-tempo song on the album. 'Barabas' starts off slow, but then a great drumm-beat fuses with the dreamy vocals what makes this an outstanding song. 'Sarangi' has this very weird intro, wich I can't really discribe, wich after a while fuses with great drumm-beats and guitar-riffs and -you'll never guess- dreamy vocals. This song is a stand out and one of the greatest songs ever made by Hooverphonic because it is really different then anything I've ever heard. 'Nr. 9' and 'Innervoice' are great songs, but it feels like they still have to grow on me. Cinderella is most likely the most heavy song(it isn't haevy at all, but the dreamy vocals are gone) and the vocals are in Spanish I think. 'Someone' is possibly the most dreamy song on the album and 'Wardrope' is also a good song. The only dissapointing song is 'Revolver' wich is a bit annoying and sounds a bit ordinary, but I've heard wors, and it's actually pretty catchy.

This is an album that takes you to higher places, and is an excellent debut of this Belgian trip-hop-band. Although this is their best album, I don't understand what so bad about their other albums. Especially 'The Magnificent Tree' is an excellent album (the only of their other albums that comes close to this one). Ok, it has a different sound, more like trip-pop, but I don't understand all the negative critics on it. Anyway, if you're into poppy trip-hop, wich sounds different then the usually trip-hop, buy this.

(P.S. No, this album doesn't beat 'Blue Lines' nor 'Mezzanine' but those are nearly untouchable albums..)

Numero Deux - The Dining Rooms (2000)

amazon.com review:
This album is probably one of my top 5 favorites in my collection. It may have some filler tracks. However, the entire cd maintains a cool flow with good beats, and as another reviewer stated, precision cuts. I have profound respect for The Dining Rooms, in that they create their own genre as they go along. "If one can become a master, yet look at everything with virgin eyes.. the power of all the world is available to them". The Dining Rooms do not allow norms and preconcieved ideas of what their 'type' of music *should* sound like, rather they push by with whatever their gifted senses feel is the best and most impressive sound.
If you like trip-hop or European lounge, you will probably love this CD. It is not for all occasions. After dark or in the car on a rainy day, this music would be appreciated best. Happy listening!

On Black Peak - Pomegranate (2003)

tripnotic.de review:
They are one of the few bands that manage to improve from an already masterly debut. They moved forward from their almost ambient and cinematic sound to strong and versatile songwriting - a must buy!

online review:
The music is introvert, sensitive and full of strong emotions. Vanessa Rigg's sincere singing makes you listen to the lyrics and direct you to the mood that is created by Pomegranate.

Now they are up to their second creation entitled On black peak. This lovely album features several styles, which all head in the direction of trip hop, the early 4AD sound (Cocteau Twins, This Mortal Coil) and The Cranes. Vanessa Rigg's clear angelic vocals are the most recognizable aspect of the music. Her excellent, slightly dreaming singing makes you pay attention to the music right away and one even might get goosebumps. The lush electronic orchestrations and violin fit in quite well. In whichever direction the music is heading, is it blues, pop, classic or trip hop, Pomegranate touch the right nerve and convince with sensitive listen music that seems to be timeless.

Both these pearls in the pop domain are highly recommended!