Search - Red Snapper :: It's All Good

Red Snapper construct a wonderfully eclectic mix album......

fetish_2000 | U.K. | 03/30/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Red Snapper have a collection of very strong well regarded albums behind them, so when the `Keep Diggin' record label approached them to do a Mix Album of some of their favourite/influential tracks, this was always going to be a chance to do something a little different than their studio work. Firstly it should be noted, that this is not a continuation of Red Snapper's Studio albums, The emphasis here seemingly appears to be about making emotional / Eclectic dance album, that although shares the impressive ideas of their studio albums, carries none of the continuity. They start proceedings with what can only be described as smooth Electronic-soul with "His Name Is Alive's - Someday My Blues Will Cover the Earth", an unusually choice sure....but undeniably unexpected & the quality of the track is not in question here. Sticking a little closer to home is the fantastic coupling of `Prefuse 73's' exuberantly brilliant glitch Hip-Hop of "Nuno", followed straight after by Rhythmic ambient beats of "Susumu Yokota's - King Dragonfly" and shows that Red Snapper's influences run wider than just Electronica.....wisely an attempt to make these distinctly different tracks has been avoided, and the tracks are allowed to run in their entirety. Around the halfway mark, the transition to more Dancefloor themed music starts to take shape, with the funky breaks of `Nahawa Doumbia's' 7 minute breakdown of "Fatien", considerably stepping up the pacing, by which the Electro-shudder of `Smokestack's' little known "Metallic Funk Appliance" feels suitably applicable to the dancefloor. By the last quarter of the album Red Snapper are shifting the goalposts into territory that they are especially familiar with.....Electronica!!, Working towards the more subtle end of the spectrum is the metallic ambient Techno of "Ultraviolet" which seems to vaguely reference `Autechre's' earlier albums, before closing the album wonderfully with the atmospheric groove cut of their own "Belladonna" track from their "Our Aim is to Satisfy Red Snapper" album. In summary.....it's has to be mentioned that those hoping for an continuation of Red Snapper's studio album will be disappointed by what's here, as very little of it, is similar to "making Bones" or "Prince Blimey", but as a mix album that works mood & sets it own atmospherics to a very eclectic track listing (Trip-Hop, Electonica, Electro, IDM, Jazz-House), it also works as a reference point to how this may have shaped their own albums, and coupled with the fact that this is probably going to be the last (and probably only), chance to hear one of the Electronic scenes most consistently performing and enduring acts do such an album, if your curious I strongly urge you to give it a try.......fantastic."

It's All Good?

Carl Johnson | Detroit, MI United States | 12/22/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"If you have followed Red Snapper since the early 90's, you may or may not like this CD. The first track is the most inventive out of them all and should be on every underground radio station play list. Enriched with synthesized voices in harmony and a slow deep groove, it is a Good Snapper mix. Being that this is more of a DJ mix which includes a couple of Red Snapper numbers... and if you LIKE compilation CD's, then buy this as it is really good. If your looking for something like Our Aim Is To Satisfy, then pass on this."