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Keep It Unreal

Childrens Toy Shop > Music > Breakbeat
by: Mr. Scruff

June 07, 1999
Mr Scruff (known as Andy Carthy to his mum) is a multi talented DJ producer who is very difficult to pigeon hole (good the way I like it) - his productions on Keep It Unreal are dreamy and very funky, with crazy samples from children's TV of the 50s and 60s.

The finest moment on here for me is Midnight Feast with it's delightful xylophone and jazzy feel, this is a good one for when you want to drift to sleep, and could probably be fun if you're a DJ cutting between tracks - or for scratchin'. Another favourite of mine is Get A Move On, with the sample of an old country record - it's bluesy yet jazz based melody is just fun and can get anyone dancing like a loon.

Altogether this is an excellent album to chill out to ... Read More:

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Since I Left You

Childrens Toy Shop > Music > Breakbeat
by: Avalanches

April 16, 2001
I got this on it's release on the strength of the singles "Since I Left You" and "Frontier Psychiatrist". I recently thought I would give it another go. Those two singles are still ace but the rest is a mess of samples and little more. It sounds like the musical equivalent of enough monkeys and a typewriter will produce a Shakespeare, enough samples and DJs will eventually make a decent track. It often sounds like a mess to me. Other reviews have mentioned it's "party feel", I think it sounds like standing outside a club, you can hear a beat, you can hear the whiff of a recogniseable tune but you can't actually discern a coherent tune. Two stars for the two decent tracks, the rest is noisy padding. Add a star if you like endless messing about with ... Read More:

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Trouser Jazz

Childrens Toy Shop > Music > Breakbeat
by: Mr. Scruff

September 09, 2002
This is one edgy album. Very unpredictable and fresh. I would recommend this to anyone who likes surreal funk that's a bit mad. Buy it otherwise your world will be too normal!

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Morning Sci-Fi

Childrens Toy Shop > Music > Breakbeat
by: Hybrid

September 15, 2003
Hybrid produced a debut album that could almost have sunk them, so good was its content, and indeed here they seem to get off the mark slowly with a much leaner, introspective and dark mood permeating proceedings...

However, by the time we reach 'I'm Still Awake' and then 'We Are In Control', we're back in familiar barn-storming territory... Add to that 'Gravastar' and the mega closing track 'Blackout' and you have a must-have techno-trance album from the Welsh masters...

Don't just get this, get all their output, now....

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People Hold on: the Best of Coldcut

Childrens Toy Shop > Music > Breakbeat
by: Coldcut

February 02, 2004
Brilliant! As somebody else has said a reminder of how good music was in the early 1990's. Some lovely songs on here notably Autumn Leaves which also appears in French form as well. Lisa Stansfield good as well.

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Hinterland

Childrens Toy Shop > Music > Breakbeat
by: Aim

February 25, 2002
What is all this speak of hinterland being inadequate? True, cold water music is a hard album to follow up, but i think hinterland is a match for it in all aspects. The vocal tracks on offer are brilliant, kate rodgers latest contribution far better than her last effort on cold water music while stephen jones delivers a brilliant falsetto to make a beautiful song out of good disease. Equally, the rap offerings shine with diamond d and the souls of mischief providing tight rhymes - all this over the usual dope beats AIM so often provides. Admittedly some of the instrumentals do drag on a little but that is not enough to convince me this album deserves no less than five stars.

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Bentley Rhythm Ace

Childrens Toy Shop > Music > Breakbeat
by: Bentley Rhythm Ace

September 08, 1997
One of the many lesser bands to crack the States in the electronica “invasion” of 1997, this duo had the style label execs thought American audiences would eat up. It’s easy to see why, as BRA layers on heavy doses of rhythm and groove then toss odd, cheeky samples throughout. Fatboy Slim anyone?

Actually, they could take a lesson from label mate and fan-fav Slim; the man knows the importance of a hook. His tunes may be simpler, but they’re more infectious. BRA are stuck in the middle, developing tracks with twisting, lively basslines, fluctuating beats- and not much else.

They come close a few times, and get it right with “Let There Be Flutes,” thanks to, er, flutes, and “On Her Majesty’s Secret Whistle,” ... Read More:

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Ninja Cuts - Flexistentialism

Childrens Toy Shop > Music > Breakbeat
by: Various Artists

March 25, 1996
One of the many lesser bands to crack the States in the electronica “invasion” of 1997, this duo had the style label execs thought American audiences would eat up. It’s easy to see why, as BRA layers on heavy doses of rhythm and groove then toss odd, cheeky samples throughout. Fatboy Slim anyone?

Actually, they could take a lesson from label mate and fan-fav Slim; the man knows the importance of a hook. His tunes may be simpler, but they’re more infectious. BRA are stuck in the middle, developing tracks with twisting, lively basslines, fluctuating beats- and not much else.

They come close a few times, and get it right with “Let There Be Flutes,” thanks to, er, flutes, and “On Her Majesty’s Secret Whistle,” ... Read More:

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FABRICLIVE17: Aim

Childrens Toy Shop > Music > Breakbeat
by: Aim

August 16, 2004
If you love AIM, you'll love this. It's very smooooth, and the tunes are a perfect mix of up tempo, and Sunday summer chill out tunes. If you get the chance to buy, do so!!.As although this is not on vinyl this will be sort after by people with music taste long after being deleted . Sweet music to listen, laugh, and love too!!

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WIDER ANGLE

Childrens Toy Shop > Music > Breakbeat
by: Hybrid

August 01, 2007
I'd heard of hybrid b4 - read the generally fantastic reviews and based on this I purchased Wider Angle. First hearing I thought OK good but what is all the fuss about. The more I listened and analyzed the better it got. God what a complex 'avalanche of sound'. What a grower this album is. You have to listen to it. A CLASSIC. The live sets especially 'Snyper' are so crisp and deep - the crowd noise actually adds to the energy / vibrance - ASTONISHING. I don't normally like live sets but this is excellently produced and you hear the crowds reactions in the right places. This album includes some of the best tracks I have ever heard. A multilayered masterpiece. My personal favorites being: 1)Snyper (Live Version); 2)I Know; 3)Kill City; 4)Finished Symphony - (A Tour de Force).
If you have a good ... Read More: