"Fans of LTJ Bukem's signature atmospheric, so-called 'intelligent' style of drum & bass selections would do well to pick up Vocalist01 immediately. With this Good Looking Records release the focal point orignates with the man, MC Conrad's unique storytelling rhyme technique and takes off from there. The drums, rolling bass lines and tech-noises along with Conrad's consistently spectacular MCing takes the listener on an adventure through time and space like no one has done before in the history of recorded techno music. I've always found Bukem's style beautiful, but at times a bit repetitive ~ here Conrad successfully beathes fresh air into the mix, enhancing, challenging, but not detracting from the music. Check it out for yourself so you can share it with others."
The best of MC Conrad on one album
Benjamin Bethurum | Seattle, WA | 01/27/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Vocalist is a mix of MC Conrad's favorites from the past. This album is a powerful compilation of LTJ Bukem classics with phat lyrics pounded by MC Conrad. This album is a must for the fans of the good-looking record company, and the first of many more albums to come in the vocalist series."
Amazing
LHB | Dallas, TX | 09/08/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I first heard MC Conrad on Bukem's Munich Progression Session album. On-line reviews were critical, but to me it sounded like a cross between Barry White or Isaac Hayes, energized beyond belief, on the best night of their lives: no-one sings and raps in a low baritone like this nowadays. Since then I've been looking for more of his stuff and found it the other day in a 4 disc set ($20!!!) with includes Bukem Producer 1 and Logical Progressions Level 4. This disc is fabulous, but its the Logical Progressions disc that's absolutely extraordinary. Conrad has an impossibly hot little band, and his guitar player lays perfect liquid licks across the beats like no-one I've heard in thirty years. A neo-soul, breakbeat or whatever vocal classic. Both discs are winners, but the Logical Progressions disc is an instant classic. If you're in the U.S. the package says "Good Looking Experience, 3 for 1 and I've seen them at both Tower and Virgin for, seriously, only $20. If I had no alternative I'd easily give $100 for the Logical Progressions disc alone. By the way, on all this Bukem/Conrad/Good-Looking stuff, the main inspiration seems to be those great Lonnie Liston Smith cosmic-liquid-jazz-funk Flying Dutchman albums of the middle seventies, especially the great "Expansions." If anything, although sometimes a little uneven, this stuff is even better. So if you've been craving more Lonnie for the last few decades, check Bukem and Conrad's new work. The stuff by Conrad (aside from that which is reviewed above, check out the magnificent remix of the beautiful "Futures Call" on Bukem's "Some Blue Notes in Drum&Bass"- the original mix on Logical Progressions is excellent but not quite as stunning as the remix) and the Japaneese artist Makoto are particularly fine. Too bad Makoto is only available on horrendously expensive Japanese imports for now. In any case, "Vocalist" is highly recommended, "Logical Progressions 4" is a desert island disc masterpiece that you should not pass up at any price. By the way, on a very high end two channel stereo the recording quality is unbelievably excellent with none of the thin, mechanical quality of some Drum&Bass discs--kind of like De-Phazz without the sultry analog haze."
A superb starting point, for Conrad's prolific career
fetish_2000 | U.K. | 10/13/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"MC Conrad - Producer (Drum 'n' Bass, Electronica) : For those that aren't familiar with MC Conrad, he's been the vocalist of choice for the Ltj Bukem owned 'Good Looking Records' label for some time now, featuring on umpteen releases for the label. From everything from the 'Progression Sessions', 'Logical Progression' & the 'Producer' series.
The reason that Conrad features so heavily on the labels work, is because (love him or hate him), his lyrical wordplay stays true to the spirit of Drum 'n' Bass clubbing. Knowing exactly when the easy back on the complex rhymes, and let the music play uninterrupted through its crucial points. And also when to turn up the lyrical dexterity and push forth with rhymes, sentences, expressions and and call-and-response lyricals to progress listeners moods, as many of the best vocalist are able to do.
Having had first hand experience with the label pretty much from its inception, he's obviously well adversed to lending his considerable knowledge regarding track selection from the labels huge back catalogue of tracks. (so much so, that he even had his own expectational 'Logical Progression' album). Here he contributes his own entry to the 'Vocalist' series (obviously they couldn't use the 'Producer' tag for this release), picking 9 of his own favourite vocal contributions to the many tracks he has freestyled over.
It then comes as no surprise, to find that this is an exemplary collection of tracks selected here, with each and every track very worthy additions. Although It must be said that there are a couple of truly remarkable tracks, that do manage to stand out from the pack, that have remained unmitigated classics within the Good Looking label ("Western", "Progression Session", "Orchestral Jam", "Planetary Funk Alert", will be familiar to all but the relative newcomers to the labels work). And there are some truly remarkable workouts here, that just won't fail to disappoint. managing to move through, melodic, hard-edged, Funk-derived, Jazz-fusion Drum 'n' Bass. Endlessly soothing one minute, and Hypnotically elegant the next, before crashing back with complex, beat-orientated jungle.
For those interested in making the purchase, this is a 5 Star deserving album, of that there is no doubt. It comfortably collects some of Conrads most accomplished contributions and sticks them on one tidy disk, and if you don't have a Mc Conrad album, this is a fantastic place to start. But, if you want the definitive statement in a MC Conrad originated album, then I'd have to say that if you don't have it already, then his truly exceptional "Logical Progression 4" (perferably the limited 3 Cd edition), is the finest album that he's lend his name to. But admittedly that is at a much higher price point. But those that already have that album, really must seek this release out, as this is a perfect (and cheap) primer for one of Drum 'n' Bass' premier vocalists."
Track Listings (9) - Disc #1