Airdrawndagger

Airdrawndagger

ASIN: B00006BXG5

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Embracing neither the rampant guest appearances favored by the Chemical Brothers, nor the blatant, pop-flavored pandering of recent work from Paul Oakenfold and BT, Sasha's first studio full-length mimics the up-down-up pattern of a classic trance mix. As closely associated as he is with John Digweed, Airdrawndagger illustrates their different tendencies: Digweed is most comfortable with sinister, subterranean grooves, while Sasha is always threatening to float over the dance floor. Accordingly, Airdrawndagger's head is firmly in the clouds, but it's also a clever mish-mash, convincingly melding electro and ambient sounds with occasional four-on-the-floors, like "Bloodlock" and "Golden Arm." Tracks like "Mr. Tiddles" have a warm facility with machines worthy of a Depeche Mode, as Sasha transforms the grandiose, operatic pretensions of trance into a quick and potent chunk of dance pop. The brooding "Cloud Cuckoo" starts off in a similar vein before building itself up into a wash of overlapping beats and sweeping melody that recalls Sasha's Xpander EP. Throughout the record, Sasha stretches himself in the right directions, pulling off the trick of sticking to what he does best while summoning up the creative juice to make Airdrawndagger just new enough to be fascinating. --Matthew Cooke

From URB Magazine
OK, I admit it: I was so ready to hate all over this thing. The "long-awaited" artist album from a superstar trance DJ? (And yes, I do have a touch of the "trance sucks" bias in me.) Expecting a static collection of anonymous superclub claptrap, imagine my surprise when it not only doesn't suck, but is, well, good. There, I said it. I like Sasha's damn album. It's this sweeping, epic sea of soundtrack-ready segues that play like old Depeche Mode B-sides ("Mr. Tiddles"). It has songs called "Mr. Tiddles." I mean, come on!

But this isn't a joke. "Magnetic North" slowly rises like Tangerine Dream turned vanilla sky before flipping into a quick meditation on New Order. When "Cloud Cuckoo" comes off like Pink Floyd aping Underworld (complete with a Robert Planet sample), I know something's definitely going on here.

When our young charge finally deigns to drop a beat, he does so with an unexpected flair. First there's the drunken breaks of "Immortal," then the narcoleptic drug-step of "Fundamental." Soon it's all reversed synth lines and head-trip sound effects (albeit with a beat) on "Boileroom." It's not until the heart of "Bloodlock" that Sasha finally gives up the ghost, exploding into a torrent of the uplifting melodies and airy ecstasy that made him famous. Settling down into a contemplative Vangelis mood ("Requiem"), his point has been made in spades. I might not be waving glow sticks at the man anytime soon, but I won't be afraid to give him props for an impressive artistic debut.

Scott Sterling

Tracks:

Drempels
Mr. Tiddles
Magnetic North
Cloud Cuckoo
Immortal
Fundamental
Boileroom
Bloodlock
Requiem
Golden Arm
Wavy Gravy

Album Description

Japanese edition of the dance star's premier full length album includes a five track bonus disc, featuring, 'Xpander', 'Belfunk', 'Rabbitweed', 'Baja' & 'Scorchio', with the first pressing only. BMG. 2002.

Album Details

Japanese Version featuring a Five Track Bonus CD for the Initial Pressing.

Average customer rating:

Trance In Your Pants!
the truth....I don't know what these guys are on when they
Groundbreaking CD!!!!
Bon Voyagè
Sasha's ill-fated master-piece

Airdrawndagger
Sasha
Manufacturer: Kinetic Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

Electronica | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

Trance | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

House | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

General | Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Xpander
Involver
Fundacion NYC
Northern Exposure : Expeditions
Northern Exposure II: East Coast

ASIN: B00006BXG5
Release Date: 2002-08-06

Tracks:

Drempels
Mr Tiddles
Magnetic North
Cloud Cuckoo
Immortal
Fundamental
Boileroom
Bloodlock
Requiem
Golden Arm
Wavy Gravy

Amazon.com

Embracing neither the rampant guest appearances favored by the Chemical Brothers, nor the blatant, pop-flavored pandering of recent work from Paul Oakenfold and BT, Sasha's first studio full-length mimics the up-down-up pattern of a classic trance mix. As closely associated as he is with John Digweed, Airdrawndagger illustrates their different tendencies: Digweed is most comfortable with sinister, subterranean grooves, while Sasha is always threatening to float over the dance floor. Accordingly, Airdrawndagger's head is firmly in the clouds, but it's also a clever mish-mash, convincingly melding electro and ambient sounds with occasional four-on-the-floors, like "Bloodlock" and "Golden Arm." Tracks like "Mr. Tiddles" have a warm facility with machines worthy of a Depeche Mode, as Sasha transforms the grandiose, operatic pretensions of trance into a quick and potent chunk of dance pop. The brooding "Cloud Cuckoo" starts off in a similar vein before building itself up into a wash of overlapping beats and sweeping melody that recalls Sasha's Xpander EP. Throughout the record, Sasha stretches himself in the right directions, pulling off the trick of sticking to what he does best while summoning up the creative juice to make Airdrawndagger just new enough to be fascinating. --Matthew Cooke

Customer Reviews:

Trance In Your Pants!.......2007-03-06

I've been a big fan of Sasha and Digweed for quite some time. I wasn't sure, when I grabbed this record, if I was in for the usual treat. There is something about the balance in the two -- Digweed's subterranean rhythms versus Sasha's atmospheric ambience -- that creates a perfectly grounded balance, a sort of quaking typhoon of sound. Is this an example of two good things that go better together, or is there, as they say, a "better half?"

Well, I wouldn't go that far. I even knew, before I dismissed the advertisements calling this a "dance" album, that I was in store for some uncut trance, the musical equivalent of fog rolling in from the shore, or stars steadily appearing in the gathering darkness of dusk. Don't be fooled by brightly colored stickers calling this a house album; Sasha wants you to sit back and relax.

That's not to say he doesn't also want you tapping your fingers or nodding your head. Much of the CD treads lightly through angelic daydreams ("Wavy Gravy"), opulent melancholia ("Mr. Tiddles"), and incorrigibly beautiful fugues ("Magnetic North," which passes the hat to the livelier but equally dreamy "Cloud Cuckoo"), but these are just the bows and ribbons on the heart of the album: a dark and turbid core of deep, deep house.

"Immortal," "Fundamental," and "Boileroom" are the blazing hub of this record, a triad of mechanically and earthily raunchy four-on-the-floor itchiness. Sasha shows us the dark side of his skill in these pieces, sonic tapestries that could easily be the soundtrack to a crashing rocketship, a factory strike, an android orgy. Whatever you want to call them, they're deliciously harsh and heavy. Maybe not dance worthy per se, but nitty, gritty, nervy and wicked.

Sasha manages to pull out of this tantalizing tail spin with some skillful twists and turns; "Bloodlock" is an artful mix of the dark and the light, a booming, gusting, bell-drenched bloom. His course heading wants serious correction at one point -- "Requiem" starts out fine but devolves into a bewildering mish-mosh of off-tune bloops and bleeps, something that sounds like a small child poking randomly at a circa-1980 Casio keyboard (a problem also mirrored in splinters by "Drempels," the intro piece) -- but this is, literally, a two minute snag in an otherwise wholly entrancing trip that's over one wonderful hour long.

the truth....I don't know what these guys are on when they .......2007-01-20

listen to this music...garbage...I don't know what Sasha was on when he mixed this...

Involver more sleek and sexy...

Groundbreaking CD!!!!.......2007-01-18

Sasha is the master and if you haven't gone to see him play live then you haven't gone to see the Grand Master of Mixing! Giant 2007 he played so so so so so good and brought the night to a heartpounding finish, definitely one of the best DJ's in the Universe! This CD brings you through almost a dream like state, used to play video games to it because it make you concentrate and sucks you into the beats. If you don't have this CD then you need to get it now!

Bon Voyagè.......2006-09-30

For some people, electronic music is nothing but a set of repetitive beats and uncreative sounds (perhaps those people are staying too long in the techno section?). Superstar DJ Sasha tackles those issues with this flabbergasting compilation that differs from most things we've grown accustomed to - It's avant-garde material made to show the world what trance should be. From the playful "Mr. Tiddles" to the masterful "Wavy Gravy", all songs make sense as a whole and give substance to the concept, making it a classic.

Sasha's ill-fated master-piece.......2006-08-09

When this record came out it was surrounded by so much hype it was only natural to expect some serious backlash. Before its release it was being touted as Sasha, aka the man like.., aka the Son of God's first studio album. Sash himself claimed the title came from a Shakespeare reference he had found on the internet about a character having a recurring dream (supposedly a romantically complex one). Upon its eventual release it was met with very mixed reviews. Indeed never had a much anticipated underground record received such dichotomy in opinion. The inevitable backlash of excessive hype led to the consensus that it was rubbish and owning most of Sasha's releases I can confidently inform you that this concept was never repeated.

But as anyone above 18 years of age and had had access to any form of media (TV, magazines, internet) knows truth is stranger than fiction. Here are some facts you may or may not know;

The title is in fact a reference to Shakespeare but not as Sasha intended. Allegorically Sasha must have simply liked what the reference signified but I doubt he was aware the airdrawndagger is a disturbing line from a character (I won't mention who) who is engrossed in dialogue with another character and both characters are having a definite psychotic breakdown. The work that this album title comes from is Shakespeare's bloodiest and most disturbing play.

Sasha's name is Alexander Coe and Sasha is considered in some languages as Short for Alexander. In some languages Alexander translates to "Son of God". Hell, My own name in English translates to God's hand or his will in a way. It is not a bombastic compliment or a pin-up campaign even if Sasha is or was or was never (depending on your opinion) that good.

The album is not as unusual as you might think. The so called highlights; such as Cloud Cuckoo for example actually borrows samples from a song from a band that is over 35yrs old (again I won't say who)

It is not really exclusively a Sasha record per se. There are too many collaborations. It is Sasha's brainchild but like all brilliant masterpieces you need solid collaborations.

The record came at a time when the prog and trance scene must have been at her peak. Experimental and conceptual records did not have a prayer.

As you can see there are so many misunderstood premises before the actual work it is no wonder people hated it when it did not extricate itself out of their cd drives and tap dance. Which is too bad because this is probably Sasha's best work to date. It is actually better than involver in some respects.

The record itself, all clinical objectivity aside is, for lack of a better word, beautiful. It is flawed. But then again what isn't? It is heavily influenced. But lets face it what isn't. Too many collaborations? Not really. Not compared to some rap and rock albums I have come across (again I won't name names)

What this record is emotional, artistically indulgent to be personal but not enough to be egotistical or narcissistic, inspired, subliminal, melodic, playful, contemplative, experimental for its time, driven, brilliantly written, and like I said earlier ill-fated. It borrows from a variety of fields and genres but if I were to take the classic Western approach and search for a label to stick onto something I don't understand, I would go with ambient, tech, psychedelic rock, trance, pure emotional songwriting and break beat.
The record starts out with Dremples, a hazy, lazy calming afterhourish track, that does not even come close at providing a hint of what it to come. With its lingering sustained ambient background, directional ambivalence and length I can't really think of a better opening for a record such as this one.
Mr. Tiddles finally moves in. By the title you can already tell this a record intended to throw you off guard and at the very least put a smile on your face. All this tech, cold-bloodedly beautiful sounds finally reach a peak with Magnetic North my favorite track on this record. I liked it immediately but it took me months to properly figure out why. It is because of the naked emotion the track effuses. It is uncannily beautiful, minimalistically energetic, and yet detached at the same time. What makes it an absolute killer is the forlorn helpless emotion it tries to relate. The record reaches its emotional peak with this track and I suspect the producers must have realized that to continue in this vein would be hedging to closely to the cheese that had become electronica so they attack you with Cloud Cuckoo, a track which can be summed up with one word; Dystopian.

Immortal shows the already very psychological journey headed towards darker techy waters. With its zombie-like baseline and sci-fi feel it is actually quite humorous albeit flawed at some transitions. In the same vein wanders fundamental, a typical bank robber getaway car track that would have done wonders for particular scenes in the movie Sin City. It also signals the first signs of excessive break beat and the next track boileroom confirms this suspicion. This is probably the hardest banging, tech breakbeat almost acid track on the album. It is a fairly nasty ride and does wonders for the mood and direction the record is taking. Things come to a complicated breakdown with James Holden's Bloodlock (the only track that completely carries someone else's signature and style). The name of the track throws me off as to what it is actually trying to do. With its very complicated piano performance, actually in retrospect it sounds like the old Holden sound. It is complicated, yet meticulously arranged and carries his near compulsive attention to detail. It is a great and would have been a very out of place sounding track, but the producers (Sasha and co) tone things down with the Vangelis like requiem which I hear was inspired by the emotions He and May and Co. felt during 9/11. A very sad but dreamy track. Things get really creative with the final tracks which in summary demonstrate that you don't need lyrics to write songs that speak volumes.

As you can see this is not your typical prog or techno record. It does not inspire comments like banging, throbbing, clubbing or dancing. It is one of those anomaly records that every club junkie hates and most electronic enthusiast. Well let us face it at the time Sasha's audience did not and probably did not include any electronic enthusiastic in the Vangelis, slacker, gus gus, bjork sense. It is an avant-garde record that was made with emotional and psychological primers coupled with way too many creative, doodling hours in the studio.

Everyone has an opinion about this record and whether or not you will or should like but I am stout believer in the expression: "To each his own" and in my case is that I'm glad I can appreciate the body of electronic work that is airdrawndagger.

Average customer rating:

Airdrawndagger
Sasha
Manufacturer: Kinetic
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

Electronica | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

Trance | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

House | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

Dance & DJ | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B000068TIU
Release Date: 2002-08-06

Tracks:

Drempels
Mr Tiddles
Magnetic North
Cloud Cuckoo
Immortal
Fundamental
Boileroom
Bloodlock
Requiem
Golden Arm
Wavy Gravy

Album Details

One of the Biggest Dance Albums of 2002, 'airdrawdagger' Avoids Pure Dancefloor Fodder in Favor of a More Understated, Almost Chilled Out Approach. It Melds his Love of Breakbeat and Soundtrack Work and Plays Tribute to Some of his Biggest Influences. True Turntable Artistry.

Average customer rating:

Airdrawndagger
Sasha
Manufacturer: Bmg Int'l
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

Electronica | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

Trance | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

House | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

Dance & DJ | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B000069RNM
Release Date: 2002-07-02

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