Bow To The Master
Glen Tan | Singapore | 04/28/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This album in 1 word: Unbelievable
Ils has spun a masterpiece with this album - just listen to the intro and lead in from the start: Mind-blowing explosive progression.
It only gets better from there:Track 1 (Fight Alone- Ed209): A killer intro leads into a classy, intricate break. The base is carried via a bassline throughout the track rather than solid thump-thumping base (i.e. techno/house). It soon transitions into track 2 rather anticlimatically.Track 2 (Ils- Music (Evil Nine Remix)): Distorted guitars carry this track - the beat is natural (sounds like it's coming from an ordinary drum, not electronic). One of my least fave tracks in the CD because I don't like the natural sound, but that's just my opinion.Track 3 (Frome- Kick A Hole): A brilliant funky track with a solid beat and understated fills. Again, a running bassline carries this track. It's got a long, somewhat draggy bridge (If you were on the dancefloor you'd be left wondering what to do during the minute-long bridge), BUT it comes back in with the beat inverted - BRILLIANT. He builds this track all the way up nice and thick after which he cuts it down into the next track...Track 4 (Blowfelt- Ardcore): Good, solid breaks. Nuff said.Track 5 (Roni Size- Lucky Pressure): If you ask me, this track blows - only DJ Ils' breaks save it. The bassline is draggy and monotonous. However, what comes next is worth the torture..Track 6 (Evil Nine- Cakehole): An AMAZING classic track oft-used by people like the Plump DJs. This is one of my faves- extremely TIGHT and HEAVY bass make this track easy to love. It's well organized and beautifully composed. Brilliant.Track 7 (Tsunami One & BT- Hip Hop Phenomenon): Not a bad track, but it's too overused in other break compilations. It's doesn't have much of a coherent beat either. So-so.Track 8 (Ils- 6 Space): Another one of my faves. His sense of rhythm is surreal! Classy off-beat break with the right sonic highlights at the right places. It's not one of those tracks with random bass all over the place- Ils chooses his basslines strategically, and keeps this track wonderfully busy without letting things get out of control.Track 9 (Initial Reasearch- The Visitors): Another orgasmic break! It's got those tiny, complicated details within the main break that take you that much higher. Listen to the rapid highhat tapping. Ils takes you up, and before you get too comfy, at just that right moment, introduces you to the next ultra-funky sound.Track 10 (Layo & Bushwacka!- Deep South): The best remix of Deep South I have ever heard!! The funk is to die for. Again, Ils adds those tiny nuances (listen for the subtle variations!) that make this album so special. Brings the next track in very gradually.Track 11 (Dynamite MC- Can't Copy): Nonsensical vocals you'll never make sense of (not a great MC if you ask me - he's not smooth). It's one of those tracks with loose bass and top-heavy effects that make it kind of random and messy. Not my gig.Track 12 (FC/Kahuna- Hayling): Despite the lousy last track, Ils mixes this one in very well. He then brings total silence and restarts this track with a much better rhythm. It's got a mysterious sound to it with addictive female vocals with a nice cut-out of pure beats late just before the second minute is up. This track gets a bit boring after awhile though, and Ils only moves on after almost 5 minutes.Track 13 (Pixie ft. Rhallia- It Don't Come Easy): A very vocal track with a decent rhythm. Nothing special. So-so. The vocals are varied but the sound is monotonous compared to earlier tracks.Track 14 (Rkidz & Noize- Passion): It's one of those tracks with a wacky bassline that sounds like dischordant rubbish. Thank goodness it only lasts 3 and a half minutes. Ils should have chosen something better. This track is a smudge on an almost-perfect album. Was he doing someone a favour??Track 15 (10Sui- Go Deeper): A deep track that doesn't do very much for me. Rather messy and ends badly.Track 16 (Chris Coco ft. Peter Green- Albatross): A strange instrumental intro on an acoustic-sounding e-guitar leads into an what seems like an off-balance beat, but soon develops a life of its own - then you realise how perfect a choice of beat it is. Very unique sound - Ils lets the album wind down with a slightly more downbeat track that's also quite atmospheric. He fades it off quickly, leaving you craving for more.This album is the best breaks album in the Y4K Series, hands down, unequivocally. DJ Ils is brilliant, and deserves an award for this masterpiece. There are very few flaws, and the overall quality is top-notch and more than makes up for the flights of occasional fancy. THIS is music."
High Rotation Breakalicious Beats
Eric Klawitter | Brisbane, QLD Australia | 08/14/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"There's not enough superlatives for this album. A Breaks masterpiece from the Adam Freeland stable; new tunes like Music and classics like Kick a Hole and Space (Next Level) will have you dancing your buttocks off. If you love your Breaks, you owe it to yourself to get this. Thank-you Ils."
Progressive breaks with lot of bass
Michael Cross | 08/15/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"a very progressive and bassy breaks album. ils was on the first y3k with hyper doing the mixing. great uk breaks all around."
Track Listings (16) - Disc #1