Jack Dangers is the veteran composer and sound sculptor behind Meat Beat Manifesto. His constantly evolving musical invention has generated a long string of futuristic classics including Prime Audio Soup from the sci-fi fa... more »ntasy blockbuster The Matrix . An acknowledged innovator in the electronic music scene, Jack Dangers continues to stretch sonic boundaries and influence new generations of sound activists. Some of Dangers past production/remixing projects include: Public Enemy, David Bowie, Orbital, Nine Inch Nails, David Byrne, Bush, Depeche Mode and Tower of Power.
Supporting him in his latest effort are Blue Series alumni Craig Taborn on keyboards, Bad Plus skinsman Dave King and Peter Gordon on flute. Incorporating his trademark sounds into the tradition of the Blue Series, At the Center is sure to open a new chapter for Meat Beat Manifesto.« less
Jack Dangers is the veteran composer and sound sculptor behind Meat Beat Manifesto. His constantly evolving musical invention has generated a long string of futuristic classics including Prime Audio Soup from the sci-fi fantasy blockbuster The Matrix . An acknowledged innovator in the electronic music scene, Jack Dangers continues to stretch sonic boundaries and influence new generations of sound activists. Some of Dangers past production/remixing projects include: Public Enemy, David Bowie, Orbital, Nine Inch Nails, David Byrne, Bush, Depeche Mode and Tower of Power.
Supporting him in his latest effort are Blue Series alumni Craig Taborn on keyboards, Bad Plus skinsman Dave King and Peter Gordon on flute. Incorporating his trademark sounds into the tradition of the Blue Series, At the Center is sure to open a new chapter for Meat Beat Manifesto.
"As always, Jack totally reinvents himself with each release and makes an album that only he can make. With a mixture jazz and electro sensabilties, "At The Center" may be a suprise to his fans used to the techno industrial sounds of the past 16 years, but in the end, it rewards greatly. Surely not one to miss if you think Jack as much of a musical genius as the rest of us do. However, As Subliminal Sandwich notes, I suggest you "play twice before listening."
My only complaint is that, once again, Jack's vocals are absent. Please bring your singing back, Jack!
Otherwise, this is a treat for your ears."
Jack Dangers finally gets his jazz album.
T Boz | USA | 05/25/2005
(4 out of 5 stars)
"After years of pioneering dance, dub, big beat, jungle, alternative hip hop, and tape music, Jack Dangers' Meat Beat Manifesto project evolves to where it was always headed, an improvisational jazz quartet. Part of 'The Blue Series' on Thirsty Ear Recordings, an imprint fusing electronics with jazz, they could have not asked for a better contributor. MBMs albums have differed vastly over the past 20 years, and this may be one of their most unexpected yet. Using well known jazz musicians, Dangers layers beats, bass clarinet and flute, and thundering dub basslines over improvised noodling that changes with the flow of each track, sometimes employing his trademark vocal sample archives. Overall, a welcome experience, now we just need him to pick up the microphone again, and school all newcomers."
MBM Keeps Moving The Music
schmuck303 | 04/07/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This, like all MBM albums, pushes the lines into a new area. It is heavily Jazz influenced. If you do not like Jazz this album is probably not for you. Personally I find it great to put on while working. My personal favorites have to be the Want Ads One and Want Ads Two. Something intriguing about them. One thing I've noticed about being a MBM fan is every album is way different than the other. This is not Storm The Studio or Satyricon or Subliminal Sandwich. MBM keeps reinventing the wheel. Going into this album trying to compare it to the others does this album injustice."
Pleasant Surprise
Z. Simon | Poway, California United States | 07/03/2005
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Much as Techno and HipHop have played tugofwar with MBM, that touch of Jazz was always there, lounging on the centerflag.
And It has finally arrived to embrace us all.
"At the Center" is one of the finest 'beginning to end' albums I've heard in some time. Granted, my heart of hearts was holding out hope for another "Actual Sounds and Voices". Yet once we stop looking for the next 'asbestosleadasbestos' or 'acid again' we find a group of sincere artists emanating a constant mellow groove with no need to skip about.
We find something good for professional movers and wallflowers alike, ready to wink back at anyone willing to listen.
If word of the flute's constant presence made you apprehensive, you're not alone. It's hardly my favorite instrument, but after a few weeks of play I can't imagine this work without it. Of course, I'll always want more, and I know they could have worked in more variety, or at least given us more time before having to start it up again.
I know I'll keep it in for house parties, house cleanings, communities and chambers alike.
Btw:
Don't worry about the live show being too mellow, they mix it up and crank it up with the best of them.
"
Ahhh
AC | Los Angeles, CA | 09/04/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Quite a refreshing thing to hear...
Like next level jazz fusion, picking up where the 70s left off"