Search - Various Artists :: Pop Fiction

"Stick Oan Some Techno"-Irvine Welsh

winkingtiger | Oakland, CA | 07/02/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Although this disc isn't always available, it's well worth getting as a fine example of mid-90's acid jazz/trip hop. Most of the songs are atmospheric & 'downbeat', but there are a few fast, rump-shaking cuts, such as the brilliant 'Million Town' by Strange Cargo (kind of a cross between David Byrne's 'Catherine Wheel' music & Herbie Hancock's 'Future Shock'-era funk), and I agree with the other reviewer about Alex Reece's groovy, electro-samba cut, 'Jazzmaster', it kicks majorly. Patrick Pulsinger and the infamous Barry Adamson also contribute wonderful tracks. And I must mention MY favorite, Grantby's 'Timber'. This cut is atmospheric crime-acid-jazz-electronica at it's finest, the beginning will blow you away all by itself, and the cut just gets better from there...birdcalls, scratching, this really DOES sound like some weird crime movie soundtrack.The only diappointing tracks on 'Pop Fiction' (to me, anyway) are the closing track 'Manna' (way too long and goes nowhere; and who is this guy it's credited to, 'Kevin Bacon', anyway?), and the highly overrated track 'To Kill A Dead Man'. Don't get me wrong, I'm a MAJOR Portishead fan, and I think the title of this track is clever and funny, but the music is just tepid and doesn't live up to the cool title. Some listmaniac said that this was comparable to John Barry's spy soundtrack music, NO WAY! There's just too little going on in the track...not only isn't it as good as John Barry, it's not even as good as any other Portishead song. Sometimes B-sides are B-sides for a reason...But that's just one or two cuts on what is a very strong techno compilation. Just get it for the Grantby, not the Portishead!"

Pulsating Bit of Acid Jazz

Syyd | Buffalo, NY USA | 01/10/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"There are tracks on this cd that will blow you off your chair....its a great piece of action Bond style acid jazz, from Portishead on down, and I originally bought it because Portishead was on it. Alex Reece is phenomenal as well are all the performers. Get it, you won't be sorry....Im an artist, and its great music to work to."

Great CD to listen to, especially Million Town and Beanfield

Syyd | 11/13/1998

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is the type of cd you can leave on and on and on. .... and keep on listening. I played it about 40 times in a week.... Try it, you might like it."