Psyence Fiction

Psyence Fiction

ASIN: B00000AFK4

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
This ambitious effort shows Mo' Wax label guru James Lavelle taking on the role of director, orchestrating a grand design, and translating it musically with the talents of studio muse DJ Shadow. Most accustomed to working solo, Shadow demonstrates here his adaptable talents in collaborating with others, whether it's on the powerful "Rabbit in Your Headlights," a track recorded in 1996 in which Radiohead lead singer Thom Yorke eerily foreshadows his later success, or in "Guns Blazing (Drums of Death Pt. 1)," the album's only traditional hip-hop track, which pairs annihilating beats to Kool G Rap's equally lethal vocal delivery. Psyence Fiction, which also features contributions from Beastie Boy Mike D and the Verve's Richard Ashcroft, is certainly one of the most epic and eclectic records to emerge from the electronic world this year, one that should not only further the efforts to bridge the musical segregation that exists among the hip-hop, alternative, and electronic camps but also introduce these cultures to a few new surprises of its own. --Tamara Palmer

Spin
[James Lavelle and DJ Shadow's] first full-length collaboration, Psyence Fiction resembles a funked-up version of This Mortal Ciol, the 4AD house band fond of keeping it sur-real with spooky Goth grooves and drama-queen vocal excess.

Psyence Fiction

Tracks:

Guns Blazing (Drums Of Death Pt. 1)
Unkle Main Title Theme
Bloodstain
Unreal
Lonely Soul
Getting Ahead In The Lucrative Field Of Artist Management
Nursery Rhyme/Breather
Celestial Annihilation
The Knock (Drums Of Death Pt. 2)
Chaos
Rabbit In Your Headlights
Untitled

Amazon.com

This ambitious effort shows Mo' Wax label guru James Lavelle taking on the role of director, orchestrating a grand design, and translating it musically with the talents of studio muse DJ Shadow. Most accustomed to working solo, Shadow demonstrates here his adaptable talents in collaborating with others, whether it's on the powerful "Rabbit in Your Headlights," a track recorded in 1996 in which Radiohead lead singer Thom Yorke eerily foreshadows his later success, or in "Guns Blazing (Drums of Death Pt. 1)," the album's only traditional hip-hop track, which pairs annihilating beats to Kool G Rap's equally lethal vocal delivery. Psyence Fiction, which also features contributions from Beastie Boy Mike D and the Verve's Richard Ashcroft, is certainly one of the most epic and eclectic records to emerge from the electronic world this year, one that should not only further the efforts to bridge the musical segregation that exists among the hip-hop, alternative, and electronic camps but also introduce these cultures to a few new surprises of its own. --Tamara Palmer

Customer Reviews:

Trip-Hop's Top Album.......2007-06-24

In my opinion, Psyence Fiction is one Trip-Hop's finest hours. You get the gritty Shadow production, the infectious Lavelle beats and a bucketload of New York shtick courtesy of Mr Mike D. The album has an edgy, atmospheric sound that enthralls the listener with varying degrees of light and shade. One minute you're exploring the desperate depths of isolation in "Lonely Soul," the next you're being blasted by a butane torch of agression in "Drums of Death." This musical mood-shifting is what gives Psyence Fiction the edge over the relatively monotomous themes found in albums like Mezzanine and Dummy. Featuring guest appearances by Thom Yorke and Richard Ascroft, Psyence Fiction is a must for any true trip-hop fan.

An U.N.K.L.E. For All Seasons.......2007-01-30

DJ Shadow and James Lavelle come together in this trippy, mood-laced CD, an ambitious attempt to blend together not just genres, but also a variety of musicians and their trademark styles. DJ Shadow's skills at mixing and melding are pushed to the hilt, strained to the breaking point, and -- in a few cases -- completely absent.

Where his work is, it shines. "Bloodstain" is a slick, acrylic gloom pop number featuring Alice Temple. Thom Yorke's unmistakeable voice paddles peacefully through the waters of "Rabbit In Your Headlights," a tune that sounds like a UFO's torch-song. The symphonic strings and slithers of "Lonely Soul" are wound up tightly with Richard Ashcroft's fervent vocals. These and others bear the watermark of artists creating something whole and substantial.

Others don't fare so well. The two hard rap numbers (Kool G Rap's "Guns Blazing" and Mike D's "The Knock") do contain patches of DJ Shadow's music-mosaics, but the lyrics are uninspired and sound rote. The main title theme is fully DJ Shadow's, every wickedly, ambiently funky moment of it, but it also lacks a foundation, something to give it closure.

The rest of this star-studded album could be said to suffer from a similar problem (although it doesn't suffer much): there's not much that grounds these songs together. For that reason, it's likely you'll find one or two songs that don't fit your style, but it's equally likely that you'll find some that do. In the mood for rushing digi-rock? Badly Drawn Boy's got you covered with "Nursery Rhyme/Breather." Want synthetic box pop? Check out "Celestial Annihilation." How about gloomy junk dub, throaty ballads, or spoken-sample mixes?

It's all here. If you grab this album, I doubt you'll like everything you get, but you'll definitely find something that's up your alley, whether that alley is lined with strobe lights or fog lamps, with dark curtains or neon tinsel.

a decent cd.......2006-08-27

it is a little outdated now, but it may have been ahead of it's time when originally released (1998). i had to check it out since i am a HUGE DJ Shadow fan. but it wasn't bad.

G.

A barely classic album with several cool guest appearances (Radiohead's Thom Yorke!) - has great mainstream appeal.......2006-01-05

U.N.K.L.E.'s "Psyence Fiction" is a great turntablist album (the duo is made up of the legendary DJ Shadow and also James Lavelle) that even has lots of mainstream appeal. Several different styles are present here - a little trip-hop...a little hard rock...really cool stuff. The beats are foottappers and are mostly magnificent - you'll definitely love playing most of these songs. Several pretty cool cameos fill this album - guest appearances by Radiohead's Thom Yorke, The Verve's Richard Ashcroft, The Beastie Boys' Mike D, Kool G Rap, Alice Temple, and Talk Talk's Mark Hollis are great. The songs are usually quite complex and the lyrics are usually pretty interesting if you can make them out. Except for perhaps "Chaos", there aren't any bad songs here. U.N.K.L.E. goes through several different moods and pacings throughout the album which helps in keeping the songs fresh. One song, which arguably doesn't belong, is "Nursery Rhyme Breather" which features a hard rockin' guitar and incomprehensible lyrics (it's still interesting). At first listen I would've given this 4.5 stars, but after several listens I realize that with its great standouts (like "Unkle Main Title Theme") and it's mainstream appeal that this is a fantastic album to own. Giving "5" stars was, admittedly, a tough decision. It may be barely a classic, but it's still great fun! Highly recommended!

Highlights include:
the entire album ("Chaos" is arguably the weakest)

Psyence Fiction.. More like Psyence Fact.......2005-11-19

DJ Shadow is a genius when it comes to his own tracks. This cd isn't just DJ Shadow so therefore he didn't have nearly the control that he does on his solo projects. There are a few tracks to skip over. For example, track 6, I think it's supposed to be a parody commercial or something. I don't know. I just dont like it that much. Track 7, any track that starts out with loud amounts of feedback dont really appeal to me. Although, I did like Tracks 1,4,5,8, and 11.

Average customer rating:

Same as the regular album, only with Be There

Psyence Fiction
UNKLE
Manufacturer: Universal
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Ambient | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

Electronica | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

Trip-Hop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

General | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music

Experimental Rap | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music

Dance & DJ | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B00004UH7A
Release Date: 2003-06-23

Tracks:

Guns Blazing (Drums of Death, Pt. 1)
UNKLE (Main Title Theme)
Bloodstain
Unreal
Lonely Soul
Getting Ahead in the Lucrative Field of Artist Management
Nursery Rhyme/Breather
Celestial Annihilation
Knock (Drums of Death), Pt. 2
Chaos
Rabbit in Your Headlights
Outro

Customer Reviews:

Same as the regular album, only with Be There.......2005-07-06

This really is just the regular version of the album, with Be There tacked on at the end. For those who don't know, shortly after the album came out, they released a single called Be There, which is basically Unreal with vocals by the Stone Roses' Ian Brown. I prefer Unreal myself, but you might disagree. If you can find this version cheap enough, it's worth it. If it's being sold at a huge markup, try and find the single instead.

Average customer rating:

Great CD
Scary, sad, surreal, unprecedented
Good CD...
Nope, it's fab.
ridiculous

Psyence Fiction
Unkle
Manufacturer: Plygr
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

General | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000026PD9
Release Date: 1996-07-03

Tracks:

Intro
Guns Blazing: Drums of Death Part 1
Unkle Main Tittle Theme
Bloodstain
Unreal
Lonely Soul
Getting Ahead in the Lucrative Field of the Artist Management
Nursery Rhyme
Breather
Celestial Annihilation
The Knock: Drums of Death Part 2.
Chaos
Rabbit in Your Headlights
Outro

Album Description

Japanese edition of 1998 album for Mo Wax with two bonus tracks added: 'Guns Blazing' (Drums Of Death Pt.1) (Instrumental) and 'The Knock' (Drums Of Death Pt.2) (Instrumental). 14 tracks total, also including the single 'Rabbit In Your Headlights' (with Radiohead's Thom Yorke as guest vocalist) and a hidden, untitled track. Other guests include Beastie Boy Mike D, Metallica's Jason Newsted and The Verve's Richard Ashcroft. Comes in a hardbound slipcase with the front cover opening like gates that is limited to the initial pressing only.

Album Details

Japanese Version featuring Bonus Tracks No. 12 and 13

Customer Reviews:

Great CD.......2004-01-09

I couldn't disagree more with BjA from USA.
This disc is fantasic and people I know who appreciate british rock music agree.

DJ Shadow is a genius and teaming with James Lavelle to form UNKLE is sheer brilliance. The production is tight featuring tough drum beats and a stellar list a guest artists, almost a "who's who" in british rock (Richard Ashcroft, Badly Drawn Boy, Thom Yorke, and if you seek out the UK Import, Ian Brown, former front man of the Stone Roses, contributes "Be There"). To top it off, they recruited Mike D. from the Beastie Boys for "The Knock."

If you like the Verve, Radiohead, or british rock, you will definitely enjoy this disc.

Scary, sad, surreal, unprecedented.......2003-04-13

I borrowed this soon after it came out in late 1998 but I didn't listen to it all the way through. It's taken me this long to get around to doing that and I wish I did back then. It refers to a realm that's sort of on Earth but sort of not. It tells stories and says things that are uncomfortable but absorbing and mesmerizing, and takes you to places that you don't want to leave. You can really "put aside the everyday world."

Good CD..........2000-05-22

This is Great Cd ... it will sound "lame" if only you dont like the type of music this is ... its kind of like a person ... that has listened to rock all there life . .and then listened to some rap ... pretty much that person will not like rap .. same way with this cd ... if you dj shadow kind of music .. then this is a cd for you ...

Nope, it's fab........2000-04-28

You are astoundingly wrong, though you are right about the people involved in this being talented as well. I usually hate this sort of music but I can't get enough of this album, especially Richard Ashcroft's 'Lonely Soul'. Immense fun and good to dance and play on the computer to. The Beastie Boys track is a bit rubbish in a 'funny because it is rubbish' kind of way. When they sing 'gonna break it down in the Unkle way!' I cringe with barely concealed embarrased amusement.

ridiculous.......2000-03-24

Very pretentious and lame, even though all the people on it are normally good, most of all Shadow! Everyone hates this record

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