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)
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