Here's a release from the 5.1 Entertainment Group that doesn't completely suck. Surprisingly, it's actually quite good. (At least technically, if not musically.) Read on, if you enjoy Electronica or completely instrumental music.
The audio fidelity isn't half bad. Moreover, the surround mix is quite immersive. Yet, it's not nearly as gimmicky as one might have imagined given the album's title. For the most part, the focus stays upfront whereas the surrounds add interesting sound elements and textures. Particularly effective is the track, "The Glasshouse".
Perhaps, it's best to think of this album as the "Tubular Bells" of the Electronica world. Dave Tipper wrote and produced most of the material himself. But instead of tubular bells, you get computers and synthesizers. Similarly, the album is meant to be listened to whilst sitting in your chair. You won't be dancing to it, that's for sure! Musically, one of the things I like is that there is a fairly mellow vibe throughout the entire album. It's not too bass heavy, which isn't to say that the tracks lack bass; but rather that it's not that boomy kind of bass that hits over and over and over again the way some stereotypical rave music does. The songs do meander along at quite a leisurely pace, though, without any prominent hooks or harmonies, which might make this album difficult to listen to repeatedly. That is, unless you're only using it as background music to accompany your other activities.
This probably isn't a "must-own" type of disc unless the music really appeals to you, but regardless it is definitely worth listening to at least once.
