Search - DJ Spooky :: Modern Mantra

Game of two halves

R. Lister | Palo Alto, CA United States | 07/07/2002

(3 out of 5 stars)

"he's not short on imagination, our subliminal kid - and his heart is definitely in the right place. The mission is: stay off the beaten path, keep it interesting, mix up some styles. The result: ummm, mostly pretty good. The first section is killer: tracks from all over the musical compass and some absolutely top-notch mixes going on here: DJ Krush brings cool jazzy vibes, the Sharpshooters low-key hip-hop is a high point, old skool styles with Aesop Rock and that's not mentioning the D&B, abstract techno and other moves and grooves hiding in the corners....and then things go a little pear-shaped. The second section dwells in the realm of very abstract beats, heavy jazz influences and finally heads off into the hills of ambient electronica. It wears pretty quickly, given DJ Spookys tendency to mix in and out of tracks before they've even got properly settled down. This works for faster, catchier tracks, but is a bit disorientating with more jazzy, open grooves.- so, if you have Mr. Miller's magpie-like taste and find yourself painfully bored by any mix less interesting than, say, Coldcut's superlative JDJ collection, I'd say this was a risky disc. But it's definitely not dull."

Probably the best CD around.

Kenneth Harden | Reno, NV | 10/10/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Wow, I really don't know what to say. This CD is thoroughly amazing from start to finish.Basically, this CD is a bunch of different styles of music artfully mixed into a 72 minute CD that will take you breath away. Everything from jazz, techno, rap, ambient, hip-hop, etc. is on this disc. The sounds go from fast and loud to soft and tranquil. It is a beautiful and emotional masterpiece that is a must have for anyone even remotely interested in this type of music.Please, buy this CD and listen to it, start to finish, and I am sure you to will be as amazed with this CD as I am!"

Pretty Decent

mauser0000@aol.com | Buffalo, New York | 07/02/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"A clean mix from Dj Spooky, on a Shadow Records kick all of a sudden. We hear from the likes of hip-hop gurus Dj Krush and Dj Cam, some new faces (to me at least) like Quentin's Ladder and Fugitive Elf. Its altogether very jazzy, which is a bit different from his last DJ Mix, which was a bit more boppy and thumpy.
The mix is about 40% hip-hop, 40% jungle, and 20% ambient. Few mixes can accurately join these genres together, but I feel he was successful in the attempt.
I think the highlight track would be 23. Anything with Bill Laswell is bound to be interesting, but this track is very subtle and extremely dope. Hopefully Dj Spooky will go back on the ambient, dubby kick, which is an amalgamation that is sorely missed."