Greetings from Amazon.com Delivers Dance and DJ Editor, Mike McGonigal FEATURED IN THIS E-MAIL: * Word for Word: Stereolab * New and Notable: Everything but the Girl, Westbam, Breakbeat Era, Flanger, Death in Vegas, and Nine Inch Nails * Amazon.com Presents the Best of the Century * Recommended Reading: What to read when you're not on the dance floor * Our Customers Recommend: Nobukazu Takemura's "Scope" * Experimental Techno: Our list of joyous, modern-day noise * Editor's Choice: Leftfield's "Rhythm and Stealth" * Free Digital Downloads: Ninian Hawick and Stereolab WORD FOR WORD: STEREOLAB ************************ "I'm a wiggler; I get claustrophobic when I feel hemmed in. I like [our] music to have contradiction or some element of confusion, even. It's quite important to not be able to guess what's going to be developed." --Tim Gane of Stereolab Read more of our interview with Stereolab at Dance & DJ NEW AND NOTABLE *************** "Temperamental" Everything but the Girl http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00001QENY/entertainmentsit "Temperamental" illuminates Ben Watt and Tracey Thorn's evolution from an acoustic-guitar-based pair of suburban love griots to acoustically accomplished soundscape explorers who still have a weakness for a pleading melody. Watt has managed to create a bed of music that mirrors and complements Thorn's expressive vocals. "Temperamental" straddles the line between lovely folk and avant dance-pop in a most pleasing way; this is the pop music of tomorrow. "We'll Never Stop Living This Way" Westbam http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00000K2D5/entertainmentsit Maximillian Lenz, a.k.a. Westbam, is such an important figure in dance music--he's cofounder of Berlin's Love Parade, the biggest rave in the world; producer of the track "Alarm Clock," which inspired the early Chemical Brothers; and creator of "Sonic Empire," a hit that became the anthem of Germany's World Cup soccer team--that his near obscurity stateside shows how far behind the U.S. is on the dance-music tip. The American release of "We'll Never Stop Living This Way" should remedy that situation. A perky sampling of the techno-electro style that's been his thing for the past few years, this 12-track album harks back to the now-quaint electro pioneered by his hero Afrika Bambaataa (who guest raps on "Agharta, the City of Shamballa") without ever reeking of the conservatory. "Ultra-Obscene" Breakbeat Era http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00001QGL1/entertainmentsit Roni Size is a man with a mission: to bring drum & bass to the world by any means possible. With his first full-length, Reprazent's "New Forms," Size ably took a few small steps for mankind--and a huge leap for the jungle nation. And Breakbeat Era just might be the key to unlock the public's ears to drum & bass. Armed with vocalist Leonie Laws and coproducer and boy wunderkind DJ Die, one wonders after a listen to this exceedingly catchy record, is there anything Size can't do? "Templates" Flanger http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00000J82A/entertainmentsit Flanger are composed of Chile's Atom Heart, veteran of 140 recording sessions, and Germany's Burnt Friedman, who produces spare digi-dub under the name Nonplace Urban Field. On "Templates" they trot out countless samples, live drums, Rhodes piano, and electric bass. Most of the time, the music sounds as vaguely faraway as those nighttime wails that give "The Blair Witch Project" its uncanny aural texture. But this album won't have you standing in the corner--it's too lively for that. Dancing in the corner, on the other hand, is a completely different matter. "The Contino Sessions" Death in Vegas http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00001O30K/entertainmentsit Richard Fearless has earned his name. Death in Vegas's 1997 debut, "Dead Elvis," established him as a defiant DJ, mixing techno with weird dub, rock, and industrial. On "The Contino Sessions," many high-profile guests add to the blend of smooth grooves, noisy ambience, and raucous rock rhythms. From gospel choirs and organs to Americana twang, deep bass rumblings to spacey sci-fi sounds, it's a psychedelic trip with bravery and grit. "The Fragile" Nine Inch Nails http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00001P4TH/entertainmentsit He's baaaack! "The Fragile" is even bleaker than 1994's "The Downward Spiral" as it lurches along with a perpetual scowl. In true late-'90s fashion, however, the disc is a schizophrenic melange of styles, sounds, and textures, all unified by that inimitably frenzied Reznor sensibility. NIN's third full-length album is hushed one minute, explosive the next. Spite and anger intermix with heartbreaking resignation, sometimes in the course of one song. Still, Reznor's dour and uncompromising approach is accessible and undeniably entertaining. AMAZON.COM PRESENTS THE BEST OF THE CENTURY ******************************************* As the century comes to a close, Amazon.com takes a look at the landmarks in books, music, and video of the past 100 years. Selected by our editors, our lists take you decade by decade from the turn of the century all the way to the end of the millennium. But don't just take our word for it; cast your vote for the best book, video, and CD in our best-of-the-millennium poll for your chance to win our customers' 300 favorite music, book, and video titles. Music of the century RECOMMENDED READING ******************* Amazon.com has selected 25 dance-and DJ-related books for you, from the history of techno to collections of dance-music-oriented graphics. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/external-search/?keyword=dance&tag=entertainmentsit OUR CUSTOMERS RECOMMEND: NOBUKAZU TAKEMURA ****************************************** "Scope" Nobukazu Takemura http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00000JCD2/entertainmentsit A customer from the U.K. recommends "Scope" by Nobukazu Takemura: "The new psychedelia. Nobukazu Takemura takes the listener on a fascinating, hypnotic journey through a strange off-world composed of micro events and digital errors." EXPERIMENTAL TECHNO ******************* From the earliest days of sampling-based sound (musique concrete) and computer-and synth-based music (Morton Subotnick, Faust), electronic music and innovation have gone hand in hand. Today, there are myriad realms of techno that forego or subvert the tyranny of the beat for far subtler, alien pleasures. Amazon.com's list of experimental techno provides more than an earful of joyous, modern-day noise. Dance & DJ EDITOR'S CHOICE: LEFTFIELD ************************** "Rythm and Stealth" Leftfield http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00001R3G3/entertainmentsit Few dance-electronic efforts have been as hotly anticipated as Leftfield's aptly titled sophomore outing, "Rhythm and Stealth." A stunning, original mixture of techno, house, breakbeat, dub, and everything in between, this is one dance album equal to the sum of its parts. FREE DIGITAL DOWNLOADS: NINIAN HAWICK AND STEREOLAB *************************************************** Ninian Hawick is the name of a loosely knit group revolving around Minneapolis-based musician John Crozier. Their music is globally inspired (with bagpipes at the center of several songs), super-eclectic electronic pop, and is recommended for fans of Bjork, the Chieftains, and Natacha Atlas. You can download Ninian Hawick's "Scottish Temple Stomp" for free, only at Amazon.com. Dance & DJ Stereolab mix together bossa nova rhythms, lush melodies, free jazz, and experimental electronics on their perfect late-night dance-pop record, "Cobra and Phases Group Play Voltage in the Milky Night." You can download two spectacular tracks, "The Free Design" and "Op Hop Detonation," for free, exclusively at Amazon.com. Dance & DJ ****** Give the Perfect Gift -- Get the Perfect Gift Does Aunt Ida send polka CDs when you'd prefer pop? Create an Amazon.com Wish List and save everyone the agony of the unwanted gift. Wish list
Clueless as to what to get your Kentucky cousin for Christmas? Send him an e-card and tell him to set up an Amazon.com Wish List so you can easily find and send him his heart's desire. Wish card ****** You'll find more great music, articles, and interviews in Amazon.com's Dance & DJ Music section at Dance & DJ
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