the Prodigy, DJ Icey - Urbal Beats: Definitive Guide To Electronic Music

Purist's Nirvana of Late 90's Origination Mod House

This CD, in the late 90's, was a critical implement to the American understanding of the movement taking place in Europe >outside< of the Ministry of Sound. For those of you that spent your collegiate summers studying various forms in Oxford, you'll have vague recollections of weekends spent in London's back-alley clubs that only the "natives" could navigate. July 11, 2008

Electronica 101?

Obviously these 16 songs aren't all you need to know about electronica. I could think of another 16 right off the top of my head. BUT, this all good, and one of the better collections to come out of 1997. You got your big names like "Chemical Brothers", "Prodigy", and "Crystal Method", along side some more unknowns which is nice. Three of my favorites are the tracks by "DJ Keoki", "Underworld", and "CJ Bolland". All are excellent. I could have dropped a few of these myself, but I'll let you decide which ones. Though no compilation is gonna be perfect, I would say this is almost there. By not having it, you might find yourself in "Sour Times". July 7, 2003

Electronic at it's finest

First let me say this - The artists and tracks that Urb magazine has pulled together on this compilation are definitely good music. But I would not call this a definitive guide to electronic music. There are definitely other bands that put out good electronic music at the time. But I guess you can only fit so much good music on an 80 minute CD (76:43 to be exact). That being said, let me give a short run down of the awesome tracks on this CD:
1. The Prodigy - Poison: gets better with age - Prodigy is definitely an essential - powerful lead in track for this CD
2. DJ Icey - Big Ditch: Icey is nice and dicey on this track
3. The Chemical Brothers - Block Rockin Beats: might have been played one too many times but it rocks every time you here it
4. Future Sound of London - We Have Explosive: the original is a good track and this remix is even better
5. Rabbit in the Moon - O.B.E.: This is how down tempo is done
6. Wink - Higher State of Consciousness: I would call it the anthem of acid funk - my favorite track
7. Keoki - Caterpillar: the driving beat and guitar sounds make it worth listening to twice
8. Underworld - Born Slippery: a sticky tune with a beat that makes you move to the music
9. CJ Bolland - Sugar is Sweeter: a very surprising track with some nice lyrics
10. Orbital - The Saint: shows the best side of Orbital with airy flute sounds and a nice bass line
11. The Orb - Toxygene: the comeback of the orb - a good ambient dub
12. Goldie - Inner City Life: good ambience - nice vocals
13. Reprazent - Share The Fall: the airy flute at the beginning leads to a good beat
14. Portishead - Sour Times: another good ambient dub
15. Everything But The Girl - Before Today: the best vocals on the CD with a hint of drum and bass
16. Crystal Method - Busy Child: one of the most played by the crystal method, but makes for a good driving last track

Hope this helps in making your choice to add this CD to your electronic collection. Now that I own Urbal Beats Vol. 1, 2, & 3, I can say that Vol. 1 is probably the best. October 16, 2002

Tecno Heaven

This CD is a mixture of songs from various artists. If you just started listening to techno, you'll really be hooked after hearing this one. Out of the three urbal beat CD's, This one is the best. Because of all the different artists. Highly reccomended. ENJOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! December 24, 2001

Excellent Introduction To Techno/Ambient

This CD contains some of my favorite tracks of the genre, including 'Block Rockin Beats', 'Rabbit In The Moon', 'Sour Times' and 'Busy Child'. Probably the best overall mix that I have encountered. A very few of the tracks are a bit grating/overly repetitive, so it doesn't quite deserve five stars (maybe 4 1/2). If you like the samples, you will like the rest of the disc! June 1, 2000

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