"This is a great album ignoring the somewhat pompous title. Jazz, blues, funk, drum n bass etc are hardly new. I agree with others that it is a little too repetetive and boring at times but hey what isnt these days. Those seeking a bit more jazz and fewer and slower beats might like to check out Bugge Wesseltoft and his equally pompously titled New Conception of Jazz which has real horns, guitars, a wider spread of tempos and is actually rather better than this apart from some iffy treated vocals (but then if it has to be called Drum N Bass to fit your personal lifestyle choice, keep the blinkers on)"
I'm Still In Shock
R. Wyatt | 11/28/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This album blew me away. Damn, if you listen to it loud and let the whole album play out, you'll get the best listening experience possible for this album. New Forms plays out like a continuous drum & bass mixtape. The songs, with their rich basslines and pulsing percussion, draw influence from jazz, soul, and hip-hop. Add some smooth vocals and a guest spot by Bahamadia and you have one solid album."
Challenges Goldie for the Crown
essence_uk | 11/16/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Roni Size stakes a claim for being the top name in drum&bass with this Mercury Music Prize winning effort, also by chance a double CD set like the aforementioned's "Timeless". The sound is a different end of the genre though, utilising live instrumentation more, particularly the live bass, with the seminal "Brown Paper Bag" a good example."
5 STARS!!!
Xam | nyc | 04/18/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This album deserves 5 stars, not 4. It is simply one of the best drum&bass (jungle) albums out there. New Forms was certainly one of the difinitive album in the history of the genre (along with Timeless by Goldie, and a few others). It served a major role in bringing American attention to the UK jungle scene, which has been quite big for a number of years now. It also helped jungle emerge as an art, be taken more seriously and not just thought of as dance/rave music. This is an extremely well-made album and it turned a lot of heads on to jungle. I couldn't believe the average rating for this album was 4 stars, so i felt it was my duty to write this review. If you want to get turned on to the new forms of music that have been emerging this is the pefect album to do so. Do yourself a favor and get this album!"