The third in a series of reworkings of Art of Noise hits like "Peter
Gunn" and "Kiss" focuses on drum-and-bass remixes characterized by
lightning-fast break beats and moody sonic textures. Among the remixers
are Doc Scott, Lemon D and Jay Majik of the Metalheadz label.
Jason Ankeny
Hier haben wir die Electronica-Version einer musikalischen Widmung:
Während sich dort Leute zusammentun, um die Songs einer
einflußreichen Band zu covern, sind es hier einige mehr oder
weniger bekannte DJs (darunter Mitglieder von Goldies Metalheadz-Crew),
die vorhandene Aufnahmen nach ihren eigenen Vorstellungen remixen und
neu konstruieren, wobei hauptsächlich Drum-and-Bass-Beats (auch
unter dem Namen "Jungle" bekannt) zum Tragen kommen. In diesem Fall
gilt ihre Zuwendung The Art of Noise, eindeutige Pioniere des
derzeitigen Sample- und Remix-Booms in der Dance Music.
The Drum and Bass Collection ist das jüngste Album in einer Serie
von Art of Noise-Remix-Samplern, die von der 1990er Ambient Collection
und der eher techno- und rave-orientierten 91er The Fon Mixes
angeführt wird. In Anbetracht dessen, daß mit Drum and Bass
mittlerweile die dritte neue Platte von The Art of Noise seit der
Auflösung der Band vor acht Jahren vorliegt, ist dieses Album wohl
eher den unendlichen Möglichkeiten gewidmet, die unser
High-Tech-Zeitalter für das Recycling alter Songs bietet. Zumal
bei den vorliegenden Tracks nur wenig an The Art of Noise erinnert. Ihr
Hit "Peter Gunn" beispielsweise, damals selbst ein krasses Remake einer
Fernsehmelodie aus den Fünfzigern, verliert unter den Händen
des Londoner Duos Flyright komplett sein ehemaliges Markenzeichen: der
stählerne "Twang" aus der Gitarre von Duane Eddy. In
ähnlicher Weise enthält Lightfoots Neubearbeitung von "Yebo",
dieser Gemeinschaftsproduktion von Art of Noise und der
südafrikanischen Gesangsgruppe Mahlathini and the Mahotella Queens
aus dem Jahre 1989, gerade mal noch zwei Silben des
Original-Gesangsparts.
Da stellt sich natürlich die Frage: Wenn die Rhythmen
geändert werden und die Melodien verschwinden, inwiefern handelt
es sich dann noch um ein Art of Noise-Album? Die Antwort: Gar nicht.
Wiederum verschwimmen in der seltsamen Welt des Techno alle Grenzen,
was Quellen, Ursprung und Komposition betrifft. Tun Sie sich selbst
einen Gefallen: Behalten Sie alle Fragen für sich und
konzentrieren Sie sich einfach auf diese verrückten Beats.
Roni Sarig, Amazon.de
Nun. Flynn & Flora sind seit einiger Zeit in Bristol aktiv,
hauptsächlich wohl mit Veranstaltungen, machen aber auch selber
Tracks, gerne natürlich im Bristol Style mit den vielen High Hats,
die dort immer durch die Gegend zischen, was manchmal den Tracks einen
leichten Old School Flavour verpaßt. Eingesammelt haben sie
hierfür dann alles, was zur Bristol Szene um Roni Size
gehört, den Krust natürlich, DJ Suv, Die, aber auch Bill
Riley, More Rockers usw. Ich weiß nicht. Guter DJ Krust Remix von
Crystal Clear, bei denen die Beats ziemlich raw geradeaus durch den
Track laufen und die Sounds ungewöhlich um sie herumgedroppt
werden, aber wenn das ein Rückblick auf die Parties der
vergangenen Jahre sein soll, vielleicht, gibt es dafür
wahrscheinlich treffendere Compilations, V-Recordings usw., die dann
auch die Hits versammeln. Jetzt Exclusive Tracks rauszubringen, die
klingen, als wären sie ein Jahr alt macht irgendwie keinen Sinn.
Wie gerne bei Bristol fließender Übergang zu Jump
Bässen. Nicht ganz mein Fall
Da durften ein paar Szene-Figuren an Knöpfen herumspielen, um den
Katalog von Art Of Noise auf "Drum And Bass"-Sound zu trimmen. Das
Resultat ist mit zwei, drei Ausnahmen ("Kiss") billig-banal. ** Musik:
01-04
Though they disbanded in 1990, Art of Noise keeps resurfacing in
remixes. And rightly so. White Brit beatmeisters who were often
miscontrued as a black dance act when they first emerged in the early
'80s, AoN's propulsive electro-techno anticipated today's dance
underground. They also showed a wry sense of humor in unlikely
collaborations with Duane Eddy on "Peter Gunn" and Tom Jones on
Prince's "Kiss," both included here in jungle-ized remixes that
obliterate the originals. This is, of course, the point. Indeed,
Digital Pariah's "Haitian Vampire Mix" of "Kiss" and Flyright's jazzbo
"Gunn"-- along with Lemon D's lounge-y "Eye of the Needle"-- are among
the album's few strong tracks, percolating with polyrhthyms AoN
explored in their Zulu collaborations. Most of this 75- minute
snorefest has only a tangential relationship to deep jungle, let alone
AoN. It's slow-modem muzak: the perfect soundtrack for endless re-dials
when you're trying to sign on to AOL on a Saturday night.
This is the electronica equivalent of a tribute album: Instead of
gathering bands together to cover the songs of an influential group,
here we have a bunch of more or less well-known DJs (including members
of Goldie's Metalheadz crew) remixing and reconstructing actual
recorded works in their own image, namely with drum and bass (a.k.a.
jungle) beats. In this case, the object of affection is Art of Noise, a
clear forerunner to the current boom in sampled and spliced dance music.
The Drum and Bass Collection is the latest in a series of Art of Noise
remix compilations, following 1990's The Ambient Collection and 1991's
more techno- and rave-oriented release, The Fon Mixes. Considering that
Drum and Bass is, thus, the third new Art of Noise record since the
group disbanded eight years ago, perhaps the only tribute here is to
the infinite possibilities for recycling old songs in this high-tech
age. Then again, there's little here to suggest these tracks have
anything to do with Art of Noise. For instance, in the hands of the
London duo Flyright, Art of Noise's hit "Peter Gunn" (itself a drastic
remake of the '50s television theme) loses all traces of the original's
most distinguishing feature, Duane Eddy's twang guitar lead line.
Similarly, Lightfoot's reworking of "Yebo," Art of Noise's 1989
collaboration with South African singing group Mahlathini and the
Mahotella Queens retains only two syllables of the original vocal part.
The question, then, is: If the rhythms are altered and the melodies
disappear, what makes this an Art of Noise record? The answer: nothing.
But, then, in the strange world of techno, all matters of source
material and songwriting are bound to remain fuzzy. Do yourself a
favor: Keep all inquiries to yourself and just concentrate on those
crazy beats.
Roni Sarig, Amazon.com
...Sometimes these reinterpretations render the original sources
unrecognizable, but wasn't that what Art Of Noise's mission in the
first place...
Entertainment Weekly (1/17/97)
No Art of Noise Here!!!
I agree with most of the others. This is NOT THE ART OF NOISE. The only
song that even has AON in it is "Something Always Happens". The other
songs are unrecognizable. The Art of Noise are AWESOME. If you like
cool remixes of Art of Noise, don't get this CD!! But since it has AON
on it, it is in my collection, which I have every Art of Noise CD,
album and 12" remixes made to date. HUGE FAN.
Anthony Rogers from Oldham Co. Ky. USA, October 10, 2000
This is not art.
Don't get me wrong... I do like d&b remixes and I love the art of
noise but this album is more noise then art. When musicians rely on
drum machines to make their music sound 'cool' this is what happens.
There are a couple of exceptions on this album such as opus4 &
peter gunn which must have taken effort and talent to create. However
for the bulk of the rest of this album.... pllease!!
swatson48 from Pittsburgh, PA USA, August 21, 2000
The best AON remix to date...
Easily one of the best drum and bass albums available, it is by far the
best 'remix' album of the AON. What makes it so successful? It says
what it is and is what is says. This is an excellent drum and bass
execution of AON classics. Makes for great driving music and relaxing
enough to groove solo style at home. Whether you like AOM or not, this
is a triumph in the genre of drum and bass, and should not be missed by
AON and D&B fans all over the world.
DJ-JJ from Los Angeles, September 3, 1999
I Wouldn't Pass Judgment, Except...
OK, I'm not a d&b fan, so I shouldn't be reviewing this item.
However, they put the Art of Noise name on it, so I bought it (baaaa!).
These songs may be good d&b, but they ain't good AON. I'm not sure
what exactly is involved in these remixing projects, but apparently one
goal is to remove anything that identifies the song. I'm told that this
track is "Peter Gunn" and that track is "Something Always Happens".
Sure, OK. As a huge fan of the originals, I shouldn't have to be told -
but I need to be. They're remixed to the point that nothing's left. The
beats are different, the speeds are different, the melodies are gone,
the bass structures are different... exactly how are these remixes
again? Why not original pieces by the artists listed? No matter. I'll
give it two stars because, hey, this might be GOOD d&b, but it has
absolutely no value to the AON fan who cares nothing for d&b.