*Apologies for the lack of ups thus far, im still to download the software to do it, i'll put alll the ups people want up as soon as.


22


Widely regarded as the best album ever released on the peerless Def Jux label (although i personally disagree as you will see later on in the list), The Cold Vein is an exceptional display of production and wordplay, a high watermark in underground hip hop

Harlem duo Vast Aire and Vordul Mega proceed in setting down lyrics that resonate through the deepest chasms of the mind, they are lyrics that, regardless of race, sex, social class or political stance, are relevant to the listener. They deal with the moral fabric of human existence, the thought processes that form the basis of every day life - they highlight human nature in its grittiest, harshest form.

El-P's production though makes the album. Highly unconventional time signatures and complex, challenging beats litter the album. These beats both manage to sound like they're gliding along silk and being scraped across pebbledashing simultaneously. Synth strings and deep, booming percussion interspersed with sound effects from the very edges of outer space create an errie, cold and desolate atmosphere that runs consistently throughout the album. Coupled with the lyrical content it is consequently quite an intense, challenging listen at times. But i promise its one you will ultimately enjoy.

The songs Rasperry Fields, Iron Galaxy, Pigeon and Atom are particular highlights, but to be honest there isnt really a weak track.

Is this album anything like Midnight Boom because that album sucked.

Well I will definitely give this a listen tonight and report back to you shortly.

No, Midnight Boom is The Kills going cleaner and embracing a pop sensibility to an extent, KOYMS is dirtier, edgier and more primal. It has somewhat of a lo-fi aesthetic. I happen to like both but they're very diiferent.

Really do, i'm creaming over it right now.

Good to see some less common but equally deserving choices in your list Stu; don't have the debut but 'cat claw' by the Kills is a candidate for best single of the noughties I think (and the B-side had a cover of 'dropout boogie'). These bands all got lumped into the 'garage-rock revival' at the time but they make for refreshingly raw listening now, Part Chimp included, I remember them from an old compilation, loud as f*ck. Like Raw Power loud.

Definitely prefer that Cannibal Ox album over El-P's solo work with the exception of Company Flow. He's a great MC and all but his production coupled with Cannibal Ox in particular is just superior and totally unique from anything I've ever heard in hippity-hop.

21


A lot of people believe the self titled debut is Neu!'s best album, indeed its very good, but '75 takes it for me, it's one of the best albums to come out of the 70s in my opinion.

Having taken a break from the band, Rother and Dinger got back together to start work on the third album. However, Rother wanted to take a more ambient approach whilst Dinger was interested in a more aggressive, rock-orientated style. So as a compromise the album is split into two sections, and **** me does it work.

The first half consists of Rother's ambience. It begins with the excellent Isi, a track that trundles along to Dingers trademark motorik beat as a synth twists and weaves playfully through ethereal sound effects. Seeland begins on a sombre, ominous note. Its a slow, atmospheric piece that launches a lumbering drumbeat to a whirl of sampling and lingering guitar chords. The third track, Leb Wohl, is amazing. This due mainly to the fact it samples natural sounds such as waves and wind to create a lush, deep atmosphere. Its supposedly a love song, and the emotions it evokes are as rich and fulfilling as you can possibly get i think. A piano plays over the top as the track delicately ambles on.

Suddenly, out of nowhere, a guitar chops in aggressively and that driving motorik beat hammers out of the speakers. Hero is definately one of the albums best tracks, Dinger snarls over the driving rythm as the relentless aggression of the song shakes away the tranquility tenderly carressed upon the listener from the first half of the album. That pounding ryhtm continues with E-Musik, as the guitar and synth aggressively fight for space amongst the composition. Another sample of natural sound interrupts the constant barrage of motorik, the sanguine sound of wind flows effortlessly out of the speakers as what i can only describe as one of them growling conveys an utterly otherwordly mood. After the welcomed break the album kicks into overdrive with the final track - the closest thing Neu! get to writing a punk song. After Eight is highly decent song to finish on, the sudden silence that greets the listener at the end after listening to 25 minutes of relentless motorik is a strange, numbing experience.

This album isnt for everyone, it takes a good few listens to really appreciate it i'd say, but the transition from ambient, soothing krautrock to highly unconventional, aggressive 'rock' music is both startling and highly innovative for the time. Its an album that needs to be listened to as a whole, the sampling and phasing gives it a deep, lushious texture that, coupled with the transition in musical thematics, makes it a rewarding listen IMO

I would like to also but having trouble finding it.

If you can wait a day or two i'll have it upped for you

That would be great thanks.