Amon Tobin - Easy Muffin

Bricolage became the first release for Amon Tobin, who was now recording under his own name and on the label Ninja Tune in 1997. Bricolage is one of only 11 albums to receive (on initial release) a 10.0 from Pitchfork Media. The album was a departure from his last effort, Adventures in Foam (as Cujo), incorporating a heavier blend of jazz melodies and intense jungle rhythms. The album became a success overseas and was followed by Permutation in 1998.The track "Easy Muffin" was used in Toonami commercials for Gundam SEED as well as an episode of IGPX. It is also featured in the Elie Suleiman film Divine Intervention. It is also featured in many episodes of Top Gear; most recently in the November 4, 2007 episode, which was the African special.

Ursula Rucker - Supa Sista (Modaji Downlow Mix)

fter years of work with artists across the spectrum (The Roots, Jazzanova, Josh Wink), Philly-born poet/singer Ursula Rucker has released her first full-length album, Supa Sista. The disc runs the gamut of social consciousness, from inner-city school system politics (the tabla-infused "Philadelphia Child") to child molestation (the chilling "Song For Billy"). The exquisite "7," featuring M.A.D. and Vicki Miles, recounts the construction and gradual erosion of a relationship: "The belly flutters...The soft sweet-as-apple-butter kisses...From night flights inside fancy and fantasy/Now we a family." The track "What???" takes the "near non-existent state of black music" to task; while Rucker's didactic tone is a bit awkward (the rest of the album speaks volumes more by sheer example), it's an accurate and long-overdue diss from within: "No Crissy, no thongs...No lies about your ghetto rep." "Digichant" explores the long-festering debate on technology (is the world shrinking by speed of communication or are we growing more isolated?), Rucker's voice digitally pitched up and down across a backdrop of electronic programming: "Can you/Fuck me with your modem/Talk dirty while you finger your diseased keys?" Supa Sista's mix of new jazz, soul and analog synthesis creates a muggy sweetness that's strung cohesively by a slew of producers (Alexkid, King Britt, among others). "All they can or want to see/Are scantily clad asses that swing/And beg to be slapped/During self satisfying sex/Say my name," Rucker says on "Womansong." This ain't no Destiny's Child; it's Nuyorican poetry, it's the unadorned essence of hip-hop.

The Cinematic Orchestra - Channel One Suite

The Cinematic Orchestra is a U.K.-based jazz and electronic outfit, created in the late 1990s by Jason Swinscoe, which records on the Ninja Tune independent record label. Their debut album, Motion, was released in 1999. The critical success of that album led to them being asked to perform at the Director's Guild Awards ceremony for the presentation of the Lifetime Achievement Award to film director Stanley Kubrick.
"Motion" is jazz - there's no way around it. It has paved another path through one of the leading experimental electronica labels, which isn't the easiest thing to do when sharing the same distributer as the likes of Amon Tobin and Funki Porcini. J. Swinscoe, the brainchild of the Orchestra, has pumped new life into the future of music by combining elements of jazz, classical, and dub. Rather than finding sources for his sampling elsewhere; however, he has chosen to sample the works of his own arrangements, the resulting layers of music sounding fresh and original.

Smith and Mighty - Same

Set the control (for the heart of BASS) !
Big World, Small World is a striking long player from producers Rob Smith, Ray Mighty and junglist associate Peter D that aims for a heavy-hearted urban blues. Architects [and perhaps archetypes] of the "Bristol Sound", Smith & Mighty enjoy a formidable legacy--they produced Massive Attack's first single and recorded a "great lost" debut LP "Bass Is Maternal". Subsequently more street (or more accurately rave) than Massive they continue to thread junglist licks and a punky grit into their productions. Tracks are slow-hipped, downtempo and firmly rooted with references to Jamaica's Studio One, old school breakbeat and earthy basslines. Lyrics are strident and romantic--backstreet howls and soundsystem laments--meat for the soaring soul of guest vocalists LD, Tammy Payne, Kelx and Rudy. It is difficult to pick a standout as all are burnished alloys of keening voice, dope rhythm and Bristol's trademarked imperial "Sound".

Aim Feat. Kate Rogers - Sail (Rae & Christian Remix)

Aim is Andrew Turner, a British musician, DJ and producer, who was born in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria. Aim's sound is a blend of funky electronic music and hip hop beats, a sound which typified the Grand Central Records label. Much of Aim's work is instrumental, though his records include collaborations with other artists who provide vocals, including Stephen Jones of Babybird, Diamond D, Souls of Mischief, QNC and Kate Rogers.

Cold Water Music was the debut album released by Aim in 1999.
user review: My favorite track off of Cold Water Music gets the remix treatment from Rae & Christian. The remix doesn't detract from the original at all; instead, the icy synths and electric guitar gives the track a fragile, crystalline beauty.

DJ Cam - Dieu Reconnaitra Les Siens

DJ Cam wasn't a crate-digger like DJ Shadow; he much preferred creating a reflective atmosphere around a chosen few samples, usually familiar. While simplistic (especially early in his career), it was often very effective, as the best tracks here illustrate. "Sang-Lien" has only vibes, a fragment of a flute line, and muted trumpet, but Cam still creates something very special with the addition of a French chanteuse. "Mad Blunted Jazz" switches it up a bit, moving between multiple drum tracks and samples. Most of these are little more than background hip-hop tracks that the average rapper wouldn't even consider rhyming over, but in the grand tradition of ambient music (from Satie to Eno), DJ Cam's productions ranked near the top.

Tricky - Evolution Revolution Love

Blowback is the sixth album by Tricky, released in 2001. Like Nearly God, Blowback contains several collaborations, but the album's sound is much brighter and more relaxed by comparison. Tricky himself says that he wants to get airplay with this album, while most of his older albums were made to stay off the radio. Guest singers on Blowback include Anthony Kiedis and John Frusciante of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Cyndi Lauper, Alanis Morissette, Ed Kowalczyk and less well known artists such as Hawkman, Stephanie McKay and Ambersunshower, with whom he already worked in 1996 for the charity compilation Childline.