...BUT WE LIKE IT!

Believe it or not there is 'non-rock' out there that doesn't suck.  Usually if it ain't 'rock', it sucks; but if done well, some stuff does actually...er...rock! - make sense?  Cool, below is some non-rock that we think...rocks!

 Vitalic:

 'Ok Cowboy'
The debut brainchild of monsieur Vee-tal-eec (aka Pascal Arbez) is something very special.  It's driving electronica that wears its heart on its sleeve.  Check 'My Friend Dario'; in a word, bewildering.  


 Lamb:

  'Fear Of Fours'
It's not meak and it's not mild; this is trip hop infused with lashings of d&b that will have your heart pumping one minute then clinging on to its strings the next.  Featuring vocalist Lou Rhodes, 'FoF' is twisted and fantastic.

Underworld:

 'Beaucoup Fish'
The follow up to 'Second Toughest...' (which also rocks), 'A lot of Fish' :-) creates an array of soundscapes across its vast musical terrain, building on the delicious debut 'Dubnobass...' and pushing the boundaries set by 'STITI' to ensure you'll be coming back to this lake of electronica again and again.

 Orbital:

 'InSides'
This is the work of mad men; men with a seriously warped sense of time and motion.  The brothers Hartnoll's sprawling indie-electronic masterpiece is haunting and utterly uplifting; you'll be digging around for a sense of reality for weeks.

 Tricky:

 'Maxinquaye'
This is probably one of the most unique albums of our time.  From '95, if you haven't heard Maxinquaye then you must've been living in a cave.  Full of rich, dark and layered trip hop, with the help of Martina Topley-Bird Tricky speak-sings his way through some of the most diverse 'pop culture' you'll ever hear.  Check 'Hell is Round the Corner' and Black Steel; superb!



 Breakbeat Era:


 'Ultra Obscene'
Roni Size' Reprazent scooped the awards, but it was Size's side project with producer Dj Die and vocalist Leonie Laws that grabbed this critic the most.  This is a fine set of sharp shooting and immensely catchy drum & bass that shines like a hugely accessible diamond amongst the wholly inaccessible d&b genre.  A rare treat.

 David Holmes:

 '...presents The Free Association'
This would be the Irish mix masters only sortie with the Free Association and although a marked departure from his previous scores, this big beat danceable winner has character and soul in spades; and a rather unique Billy Halliday style lead vocalist.  A heady concoction not to be missed.

 El-P:

 'I'll Sleep When You're Dead'
From the founding member of Definitive Jux, this stylistic and collaborative platter has been labelled hip hops downward spiral; and rightly so with The Mars Volta, Trent Reznor and Cat Power amongst the illustrious contributors.  It's forceful white rap that is deft, dark, full of paranoia and some outstanding tracks.  Check 'Overly Dramatic Truth' and 'Flyentology'.