ewe2
24-02-2006, 09:22 AM
Yeah, I’m on the energy source
The cosmic force
With prodigy
Kicking astrology
My intellect’s the power
With diesel power
Blows your mind drastically, fantastically
-- Diesel Power
The Prodigy were revered in the dance scene for Liam Howett's gifted production, an uncanny ability to mix the right samples over the right break-beats to produce the best rave experience. With The Fat Of The Land, something unexpected happened: the casual clubber found a rave they could dance to. Liam had found a way to turn several strands of dance culture into coherent mixes that could be assimilated by those accustomed to more traditional musical structures. Astonishingly for a dance record it went to #1 in 22 countries! Electronic had come of age, and the Prodigy were the spearhead.
This album is still amazing. Cleverly, two previous European singles were added which made it a no-brainer for the US market, and there's no denying the Prodigy had buzz written all over them, but it is still very influential and in many ways unmatched.
Smack My Bitch Up sorts the hardcore from the rest right at the start, and as the video makes clear, "bitch" is a relative term. It's also a great test of your subbies. Breathe has been a favourite of mine since its single release,
Breathe the pressure
Come play my game I’ll test ya
Psychosomatic addict insane
a throbbing, unsettling slave-driver. Diesel Power brings Kool Keith into the mix, with a winning rap over another swinging subbie thrasher, and segues into Funky Shit an uptempo ode to Beasties hiphop that dissolves into warning sirens that herald a moshie classic Serial Thrilla that features Keith Flint at his best, and much-imitated breaks. Cut to Minefields, a beautifully constructed piece of techno that slides through deceptively; the rhythms surge and fade until that intoxicating break, its just a masterpiece. Now you've been primed, Narayan, the most intense and unapologetically electronic-techno trance takes over, collapsing in a hardcore break that gives up to Firestarter the second of the included singles, an uncompromising breakbeat-driven background for Flint's showmanship. Climbatize is an unexpected instrumental break, just a tasty little morsel before we're back into it with the punk-inspired Fuel My Fire, a vengance song with gorgeous organ breaks. Suddenly its over and we can get our breath back.
To say this work was meticulously constructed is an understatement: most of my favourite rhythms are made of 8-10 distinct elements that loop around each other and repeat over different sections. The sampling is fabulous, the creative use of guitar feedback oscillations as just one example of a fresh texture, and gloriously filthy synth bass throughout makes for a wonderfully deceptive rude sound. Howett has the talent to ensure that the beats never get in the way, as loud and dirty as they are, and just makes it sound organic. This is a masterpiece of production, and an infectious dancethon in one.
It must be played very very loud at wild parties. That is all.
The cosmic force
With prodigy
Kicking astrology
My intellect’s the power
With diesel power
Blows your mind drastically, fantastically
-- Diesel Power
The Prodigy were revered in the dance scene for Liam Howett's gifted production, an uncanny ability to mix the right samples over the right break-beats to produce the best rave experience. With The Fat Of The Land, something unexpected happened: the casual clubber found a rave they could dance to. Liam had found a way to turn several strands of dance culture into coherent mixes that could be assimilated by those accustomed to more traditional musical structures. Astonishingly for a dance record it went to #1 in 22 countries! Electronic had come of age, and the Prodigy were the spearhead.
This album is still amazing. Cleverly, two previous European singles were added which made it a no-brainer for the US market, and there's no denying the Prodigy had buzz written all over them, but it is still very influential and in many ways unmatched.
Smack My Bitch Up sorts the hardcore from the rest right at the start, and as the video makes clear, "bitch" is a relative term. It's also a great test of your subbies. Breathe has been a favourite of mine since its single release,
Breathe the pressure
Come play my game I’ll test ya
Psychosomatic addict insane
a throbbing, unsettling slave-driver. Diesel Power brings Kool Keith into the mix, with a winning rap over another swinging subbie thrasher, and segues into Funky Shit an uptempo ode to Beasties hiphop that dissolves into warning sirens that herald a moshie classic Serial Thrilla that features Keith Flint at his best, and much-imitated breaks. Cut to Minefields, a beautifully constructed piece of techno that slides through deceptively; the rhythms surge and fade until that intoxicating break, its just a masterpiece. Now you've been primed, Narayan, the most intense and unapologetically electronic-techno trance takes over, collapsing in a hardcore break that gives up to Firestarter the second of the included singles, an uncompromising breakbeat-driven background for Flint's showmanship. Climbatize is an unexpected instrumental break, just a tasty little morsel before we're back into it with the punk-inspired Fuel My Fire, a vengance song with gorgeous organ breaks. Suddenly its over and we can get our breath back.
To say this work was meticulously constructed is an understatement: most of my favourite rhythms are made of 8-10 distinct elements that loop around each other and repeat over different sections. The sampling is fabulous, the creative use of guitar feedback oscillations as just one example of a fresh texture, and gloriously filthy synth bass throughout makes for a wonderfully deceptive rude sound. Howett has the talent to ensure that the beats never get in the way, as loud and dirty as they are, and just makes it sound organic. This is a masterpiece of production, and an infectious dancethon in one.
It must be played very very loud at wild parties. That is all.