Shpongle - Nothing Lasts... But Nothing Is Lost
Buy from: Amazon.co.uk
, Amazon.com
, 
UK or USA
This is one of those rare albums that you can listen to from start to finish and enjoy every second of it. It's exquisite complexity and musical and technical ability shine through a blissful roller-coaster ride of melodies, chords and heavily processed vocals. It's often not exactly easy listening; the truly bonkers sound of the tweaked voice (at least I think it was once a real voice!) at the end of 'Outer Shpongolia' will leave someone thinking 'what is that!' if they happen to hear only that section. In the context of the album though it works brilliantly.
The tracks are mixed together so it would be foolish to try and buy individual songs of iTunes. Indeed to album really does work at it's best if you play it right through from start to finish. It goes through so many phases and sequences that you really feel as if you have been on an epic musical journey. Each phase seems to perfectly follow the last and after a few listens you're familiarity with it will only increase the anticipation and pleasure to be had from listening to the album.
The album is an audiophiles dream, and to be enjoyed at it's best really does need to be heard on a sound system to do it justice. This album has not just been recorded, it has been engineered. Some of the sounds in this album will remain truly unique forever and are a remarkable accomplishment. If you enjoy electronic music and want to hear an example of a group at the peak of their ability, this album must be heard.
Leftfield - Leftism
Buy from: Amazon.co.uk
Amazon.com
UK
An album that has stood the test of time and been my most enjoyed album since I was about 14! As I've listened to this for so long it no longer seems to evoke any particular memories but simply provides a wonderful soundtrack to any summer adventure. As with most of this collection, Leftism is most effective while driving. Not necessarily fast, I might add. It's just as effective on a slow country drive to have a splash in the sea as it is with the windows down at fair pace on an open road.
The rhythms and sounds in this album are captivating and hypnotic. Once in a while you'll have it playing and realize you've been overcome by a wonderful sense of euphoria. The beats are so satisfying and really pulse through your soul. They remind you of how music can make you feel and why it was used by our ancestors to induce trance like states.
Scissor Sisters - Scissor Sisters
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, Amazon.com
, UK or USA
This an album which I listened to over and over when I first heard it. It's originality and impeccable sound quality combined with excellent song writing made it a very popular hit. It made it's mark on me while driving to a job I was working on in Bude, again in a hot summer a few years ago. Driving through the Cornish countryside along the coast, overlooking the surf and high blue sky.
The self titled Scissor Sisters album is a great, uplifting and upbeat accompaniment to a summertime drive to work. It does have an inviting temptation to sing along so it's probably best enjoyed alone! 'It can't come quickly enough' is a great one for this and the lyrics and melody are a very powerful combination. Yes is mainstream pop but bloody hell is it good!
Fluke - Puppy
Buy from: Amazon.co.uk
or Amazon.com
Fluke have a sound all of their own. Like many I suspect, the first time I heard Fluke was on The Matrix Reloaded which worked very well with the dance scene and I thought at the time I must track the track down. Turns out its on the album Puppy by Fluke and the rest of album is in a similar vein. The sound is a smooth electronic dance sound, not heavy like the Prodigy and not as beat based as the Chemical Brothers. Instead the rhythms are built up using synth sounds which provide a base for the whispery but slightly industrial sounding vocals.
There is something very appealing about the synth beats and textures on Puppy, it all fits together brilliantly and again is an excellent summer driving soundtrack.
