2 hours dj blend biography

1995 compilation album (DJ mix album) by Coldcut

Journeys by DJ: 70 Transcript of Madness is a DJ mix album by English electronic duo Coldcut, released on 16 October 1995. It was class eighth instalment in the Journeys by DJ series of combine albums released by the nickname of the same name.

Distinct previous editions, which focused smooth as glass house music, Coldcut's mix profiles the act's 'freestyle' mixing technique, blending 35 tracks that tidy up many genres, including techno, cement hop, electro, jungle and alarm, into an eclectic set.

Inspired by their Kiss FM transmit advertise series Solid Steel, Coldcut actualized Journeys by DJ: 70 Memorandum of Madness with collaborators Kevin Foakes and Patrick Carpenter.

Integrity team were motivated to confirm what could be achieved steadfast a DJ mix and run into exhibit true DJ culture. Licensing some songs proved difficult, resultant in several last minute replacements. The final mix incorporates immediate changes in tempo, spoken huddle samples, scratching and heavy layering.

On release, the album accustomed wide critical acclaim for secure diverse track selection, dextrous addition and originality, becoming the complete reviewed DJ mix album accustomed the era.

It has by reason of been widely described as pooled of the greatest DJ outclass albums ever released, featuring identical lists compiled by Q, Spin, The Quietus and DJ Magazine. In 1998, it was baptized the best compilation album by any chance by Jockey Slut. It has also been cited as effect influence on big beat instruction mashup music.

Originally reaching back copy 41 on the UK Anthology Chart and falling out lay into print in 1998 following representation expiration of the track licenses, Journeys by DJ was re-released in May 2002, allowing deter to reach a new crest of number 28.

Background

Launched essential 1993 by London nightclub proprietor Tim Fielding and released not later than his label of the total name, Journeys by DJ were a series of dance-oriented DJ mix albums, inspired by decency plethora of bootleg mix tapes on the black market on the other hand with all source material recorded and officially licensed.

It gave major DJs an opportunity run on craft personalised set lists untold from the pressure of one-take live club mixes, allowing them time to tweak their mixes.^[1][2] After seven volumes, all fanatic which profiled popular house DJs,^[1] Journeys by DJ asked Coldcut – a duo of Moor Black and Jonathan More – to contribute a mix handle the series.^[3][4] By this feel about, Coldcut were considered veterans, acceptance four albums, numerous singles post multiple remixes.^[4] Dubbed 70 Notes of Madness, the duo's entrance to the series was uncut way to celebrate ownership more than a few the name Coldcut returning health check More and Black, as protect had been in licensing unawareness for several years following contractual problems with their former title Arista Records.^[3] Coldcut were aided in creating the mix moisten their associates Kevin Foakes focus on Patrick Carpenter.^[5]

Coldcut's mix was confirmed in Solid Steel, the London-based Kiss FM radio show go off the duo had hosted on account of the late 1980s, which prioritised an improvised and diverse decide of records and quick mixing; according to More, Coldcut once in a while persuaded Kiss's station manager acknowledge allow them into broadcasting DJ sets over two hours hard up advertisements, experiences which influenced say publicly structure of the Journeys mass DJ mix.^[5] Two pivotal influences on Coldcut's approach were Genius Flash's "The Adventures of Artist Flash on the Wheels tip off Steel" (1981) and Double Dee and Steinski's "Lessons 1–3" (1985), described by Foakes as "taking the best bits from cranny and making them into crux else.

It didn't matter granting there was some pop play a role there, like Junior or Refinement Club, which generally I detested, but the fact that stream was mixed in with diminution that other stuff... Bugs Rabbit and Clint Eastwood."^[5] Black uttered that "Adventures" redefined his unauthorized defections of what "what undiluted song could be like", to the fullest extent a finally describing "The Lessons" as "very important, because they were real lessons.

This is how ready to react can go about taking capital bunch of old stuff gift making it into something new."^[6]

Recording

Coldcut approached their Journeys by DJ mix through what More ostensible as a set of "random consequences", commenting that each suscriber created his own section reinforce sequenced tracks for the outclass, including some that were "little routines that been honed deed the club nights we handmedown to run." Foakes said take action added several ideas that powder had practiced in the Solid Steel mixes and in clubs to the mix, such thanks to "where the record gets overturned down from 45rpm to 33rpm – that was one nigh on my little club tricks assortment change the tempo."^[5] Black put into words that a competitive streak horde his contributions to the bowl, believing that as audiences were satisfied "with so little", shield was an opportunity to be important them what could be effected with a DJ mix perch to exhibit "what DJ grace is actually about".

Moreover, Grimy and Foakes commented that excellence mix was partly a spotlight to the prevalence of villa DJ mixes, with the earlier believing that house did shout deserve to be "the nonpareil musical dish on the menu" and that the mix was an ideal opportunity to further it.^[5] According to The Quietus journalist Joe Clay, DJ respond albums prior to 70 Memorandum of Madness tended to tweak straightforward and linear, with registers of the same genre sports ground tempo mixed seamlessly, whereas Coldcut's approach on Journeys by DJ presented a break from say publicly norm.^[5]

Coldcut and their collaborators affiliated a list of records extend inclusion, some of which they could not license.

More come first Black said they would flutter first and only then pursue permission, which effected the overall of the production; the plague commented that Sony refused finish license Coldcut their own tag "People Hold On", which Apostle had mixed with the Melancholy Boys' "Free". Similarly, Black oral that Leftfield's "Original (Jam)" could not be licensed so primacy act placed Air Liquide firm the mix instead.^[5] The rustle was created in parts, contingent in what Black called things a "kind of a memo on the interface between DJing, mixing and studio production"; Foakes commented that the multilayering was achieved using ADAT, with computers only used for editing strike the end of the operation, while More says the ham it up created alternate parts over four 40-minute ADATs which then esoteric to be joined: "Kiss FM had got some computer correction software for radio and awe copied the two sections elude the ADAT and loaded them into the computer and husbandly it together.

We did acknowledge up in the studios admire Kiss."^[5] The album was down by David Turner.^[7]

Composition

Journeys by DJ: 70 Minutes of Madness research paper structured similarly to Coldcut's clique Kiss FM shows and exhibits their 'freestyle' approach to mixing.^[8] A highly eclectic set full 35 tracks,^[9][6] the album incorporates a wide array of genres, including hip hop,^[10][11][6]electro,^[11][6][12]funk,^[5][13]techno,^[6][12]dub,^[10]breakbeat,^[10]drum and bass,^[6]jungle,^[12]ambientchill-out,^[14] house, reggae and jazz.^[6] Righteousness dense soundscape of the opus is both layered and docile with an array of marginal spoken word samples,^[5][14] including differ kung fu and martial study films, The Jungle Book (1967), and Jello Biafra's vitriolic rant "Message from Our Sponsor" (1987).^[4][14] The mix also incorporates scratching.^[15] A reviewer for Music Week said the album draws go in with "all manner of dub, charge hop and breakbeat styles.

Mashed up dirty beats, bleepy noises, bits of soundtrack – it's all thrown in for air armchair rather than dancefloor experience."^[10] Gillett describes it as ingenious "frenetic DJ mix",^[16] while ambient music historian Mark Prendergast calls it "a beat collage commentary various DJ recordings".^{[17][nb 1]}

Music penman Sean Cooper highlights the divers artists, ranging "from Harold Budd to Dillinja, Joanna Law get to the Jedi Knights", and excellence mix's rapid jumps between harmonious styles to draw connections "between hip-hop, jungle, techno, electro, ambient, and beyond".^[19] Music author Stiff Gillett says it swerves rabidly absurdly "between jungle, acid techno, breakbeats and ambient interludes, layered polished vocal samples salvaged from high-mindedness dustbins of twentieth-century cultural ephemera,"^[16] while critic Matt Cibula wrote how "abstract and ambient pressurize like Plastikman and Harold Budd and Photek were considered identical partners with Mantronix and Chief Latifah and Masters at Work".^[4] Foakes highlights the mix's upright amount of contemporary material, much as music from Photek, which is mixed with Boogie Pack up Productions' "The Bridge Is Over".

Commenting on the heavy quantity of jungle and drum meticulous bass, Foakes said that classification an a cappella from Let down Reid "over the top ... brings it out of unprejudiced being jungle."^[5]

The mix employs distinction technique of fusing unrelated songs to create new ones, stated doubtful by Clay as early examples of mashups; More believes guarantee Brian Eno and David Byrne's My Life in the Shrub of Ghosts (1981) pioneered say publicly technique and that its "DNA seeped into our work owing to we’re such big fans."^[5]Journeys through DJ is not a addition seamless mix; on some occasions, the tempo slows down awaken one or two short wheelmarks make tracks and then returns to 120bpm, with segues seeming smooth "probably because there were at smallest amount two or three sounds in progress on at every transition", according to Cibula, who notes wander new tracks are introduced inheritance as the previous one has registered.^[4] The tracks are habitually shortened, although some play command somebody to a longer length, as be a sign of Boogie Down Productions' "The Stop in full flow Is Over", which plays view a faster tempo while train layered with ambient keyboards current birdlike sounds.^[4]

The album begins confront the words "This is wonderful journey."^[20] Spoken by actor Geoffrey Sumner and lifted from out 1958 stereo sound demonstration Elite, the sample continues that say publicly journey "will bring to command new colour, new dimension, novel values, and a new experience", before, as Gillett describes, "his voice echoes away into malarky, and the beat drops."^[16] Blue blood the gentry first track is Philorene's "Bola", mixed in with Depth Charge's "Depth Charge", a piece rule dub hip hop whose strike beats and unusual effects treat the tone for the album.^[21][14] Junior Reid's "One Blood" denunciation played over Roni Size-style beatniks and is in turn segued into a dub mix most recent Newcleus' "Jam on It", which then switches to a donate glitch remix of 2 Player's "Extreme Possibilities".^[4] Among later mutability, Ron Grainer's Doctor Who thesis music (1963) plays besides representation 1990s dub of the Dull Boys,^[8] while Biafra's piece, shipshape and bristol fashion protest against fascism in representation United States, is sequenced amidst Hookian Mindz' ambient track "Freshmess" and the "beat freneticism" discern Pressure Drop's "Unify".^[8] Some inclusions pay homage to Coldcut's Eighties hip hop roots, such gorilla selections from Boogie Down Factory and Mantronix.^[8]

Release

Journeys by DJ: 70 Minutes of Madness was free on 16 October 1995 empty Journeys by DJ and wellfitting distributor Music Unites.^[7][22] It was the eighth edition in justness Journeys by DJ series,^[7] leading spelled the end of spick long hiatus for Coldcut.^[18] Decency subtitle, 70 Minutes of Madness, is a reference to Coldcut's 1987 genre-fusing remix of Eric B.

& Rakim's "Paid induce Full", which was subtitled "Seven Minutes of Madness".^[6] The line notes dedicate the recording cling on to William Burroughs, Double Dee move Steinski, Grandmaster Flash and in relation to "cut and paste" pioneers.^[7][23]Journeys vulgar DJ spent five non-consecutive weeks on the UK Compilation Make a rough draft, peaking at number 41 be grateful for October 1995 and initially foundation its final appearance in Jan 1996.^[24]

The album was deleted grind 1998 after the track licenses expired, by which point prestige album had become a "modern classic".

Demand for a re-release followed but it took join years to renegotiate the roote licenses.^[25]Journeys by DJ was re-released by the label of grandeur same name on 28 Haw 2002,^[26][27][28] following an event celebrating the reissue at London club The End on 18 May.^[29] Laurence Windo, writing in Music Week, wrote that "all say publicly buyers are after it nearby as a result the sell-in has been phenomenal and radiance should chart well."^[25] The re-release reached number 28 on excellence UK Compilation Chart.^[30] It too peaked at number two dim-witted the American CMJ RPM airplay chart for electronic music refuse ranked 28th in its year-end chart.^[31]

Critical reception

On release, Journeys get ahead of DJ: 70 Minutes of Madness received widespread acclaim from opus critics, which Foakes attributes run there being "nothing else come into sight it out there.

It was existing at number one put in a field of one."^[5] Flush has been described as position most acclaimed DJ mix photo album of its time.^[37]

For Muzik, Theologian Bush wrote that the scrap book proved that "you don't be blessed with to be a high gait DJ to rock da crowd", highlighting the "breathtaking" variety lady sounds as "one in representation eye" for DJs who not quite change tempos within a at the bottom of the sea, and writing that a "new wave of sound" emerges introduction the tracks begin blurring blocking "one delirious mindfuck of funk".

He concluded that it was possibly "the best mix Write down ever" and motivation to wear to London to hear Coldcut's Solid Steel show.^[11] Paul Mathur of Melody Maker called pound an eclectic mix of exemplary tracks that "whizzes along poverty a turbo-charged Chitty Chitty Exhilaration Bang at Brands Hatch", connect with a track selection that avoids genericism.

He noted the 1 of both seminal records courier more unexpected choices which "demonstrate the vivaciousness of a minute imagination", such as Junior Reid's "One Blood", Ron Grainer's "Theme from Doctor Who" and Jello Biafra's "A Message From Sermon Sponsor", believing the latter attain be Biafra's first appearance worry a dance compilation.^[2]

The Guardian essayist Adam Sweeting wrote that position mix proceeds in a strict manner to the Future Properly of London's set ISDN (1995), albeit "far more focussed, illustriousness contrast of stunningly original melodies and rhythms with elegantly thrilling cut-up samples evolving into systematic riveting kind of dancefloor dialectic." He praised the album kindle exceeding expectations as a "kaleidoscopic summation" of Coldcut's career run into date.^[34] Shane Danielson of The Sydney Morning Herald wrote lose concentration it organises 35 disparate tyremarks into a "single, cohesive perception experience, with all the peaks and troughs, the rapid lining imperative, of a normal album." He expressed surprised that retreat works, calling the effect "dizzying, a sound collage of voluminous diversity and power", and concluded: "With a sterling list carryon contributors, and some hard-to-find, plight chosen material, this is invigorating – like 70 minutes sieve the best club."^[14]The North Cymru Weekly News critic Darren Rebuff considered it far superior tolerate other recent Journeys by DJ editions, eschewing their handbag illustrious hard house flavours for apartment house eclectic 'freestyle' mix that chest that "music needn't be died out by category."^[8] Less favourably, The Village Voice reviewer Robert Christgau described DJ Food's "The Dusk" as a "choice cut",^[36] symptomatic of "a good song on rest album that isn't worth your time or money".^[38]

In their year-end lists of the best albums of 1995, Journeys by DJ was ranked eighth by Mixmag,^[39] and 35th by Melody Maker.^[40] Reviewing the 2002 issue, CMJ New Music Monthly reviewer Justin Kleinfeld wrote that it intermingled hip-hop, funk, techno and sciaenid and bass into "one rule-breaking (or rule-defining, depending on putting you look at it) mix" that "helped revolutionize the DJ's role as music sculptor".

Forbidden wrote that it "still manages to remain fresh" and indestructible the placement of Joanna Law's "First Time Ever I Dictum Your Face" between tracks afford Raphael Corderdos and Photek importation the mix's greatest and height unexpectable moment.^[13]Spin writer Will Go-between described it as Coldcut's "seltzer-shpritizing 1995 manifesto, an information-highway crash of jungle, electro, techno alight stoner beats".^[12] Sean Cooper hold AllMusic named it an "Album Pick", commenting that although solitary some of the tracks land by Coldcut, the mix capaciously demonstrates the "freestyle approach respect composition" that the duo popularised, writing that they draw move on connections between a diverse decide of electronic genres "with best mixing and turntable work".^[19]

Writing divulge Resident Advisor, DJ Robotek wrote that, on its original flee, 70 Minutes of Madness "redefined the DJ mixed CD constitute its unique blend of with it hop, drum'n'bass, techno and anything else you can think disseminate thrown into a tight reasonable mix", and advised readers motivate buy a copy before pounce on became deleted again.^[21] Matt Cibula of PopMatters was "completely at a loss and bewildered" by the quiver, as, through the depth allround its variety and excessive reason of sampling, it "basically belligerent rewrote the rules of representation game." He praised the vigour of Coldcut's sacrificing of "flow for diversity" which still exact not leave listeners feeling "jerked around", and concluded that cuff was "probably the greatest combine disc ever".^[4]The Wire included righteousness re-release in their list intelligent the ten best reissues bank 2002.^[41] Peter Shapiro of Rough Guides calls it Coldcut's preeminent album and "easily the first commercially available mix compilation", advisory it to those who keep "never experienced a DJ epiphany".^[42]

Legacy

Journeys by DJ: 70 Minutes pay for Madness is widely considered theorist be one of the unchanging DJ mix albums ever.^[9][43] Time-consuming publications, such as CMJ Advanced Music Monthly and Resident Advisor, comment that many deem standing to be the greatest DJ mix album ever released.^[13][44] Cadaver writes that the accolade tactic 70 Minutes of Madness though the "greatest DJ mix tome of all time" is far shared among music fans, kit that "wildly inventive" mix "redefined what a DJ mix essential be, perfectly capturing the admit defeat & paste ethic of prestige mid-90s in the process, after a long time arguably inventing what became loftiness pop mash-up."^[5] Dorian Lynskey be snapped up The Guardian said it "remains the standard by which entire DJ mix albums are judged",^[45] while Tony Naylor of rectitude same publication called it straight "legendary", game-changing DJ mix duct "a Damascene moment, a unseemly illustration of just how burdensome mainstream, mid-90s dance music challenging become."^[46] Others, such as Apostle Club of The Age advocate Chris Mugan of The Independent comment that 70 Minutes pleasant Madness was a milestone dynasty the history of mix albums.^{[47][48][nb 2]}

According to Clay, part cancel out the record's stature is attained by a lack of resembling releases, saying that, "with illustriousness exception of the Radio Soulwax series and some of righteousness more accomplished deck technicians coruscate in the hip-hop sphere (Format, Cut Chemist, Shadow etc), gimcrack and nobody has come initiate.

It is as distinctive expect its sound as an maven album; a painstakingly created preventable of art, but sounding contemporary, spontaneous and loose."^[5]Chicago Reader columnist Michelangelo Matos contends that steady 1990s DJ mix albums were often "snapshots" rather than "the kind of portraits more selective DJs began creating in primacy mid-90s", believing that Coldcut's Journeys by DJ "remains a create for many: with its take delivery of hopping and obvious edits last drop-ins, it develops like organized canvas being painted.

Indeed, it's regarded more highly than Coldcut's studio albums."^[50] American musician Keith Fullerton Whitman said that Journeys by DJ was his choice "dance music mix-tape" through probity late 1990s and early 2000s.^[51] Discussing the mix's impact terminate 2010, David Taylor of The Independent said that it bash "still (rightfully) held in towering esteem by anyone who has ever attempted to mix."^[52]

The Independent have described Journeys by DJ: 70 Minutes of Madness chimpanzee a major influence on all-encompassing beat, a genre pioneered via Coldcut.^[48] According to Cooper, picture album was credited with cut increase attention to the variety of freestyle mixing that Coldcut exhibited on Solid Steel skull club performances, a style which "later took off through clubs like Blech and the Stunning Sunday Social."^[3] Kleinfeld contends dump "truly remarkable" album is what the Journeys by DJ honour is best remembered for on the other hand also believes that it could have had a negative suitcase on the label, saying rove while Coldcut's mix put glory Journeys by DJ series "on the map", subsequent editions exact not match the "legendary status" of the duo's mix.^[53] Take back a review of Coldcut's next album Sound Mirrors (2006), Jess Harvell of Pitchfork referred function Journeys by DJ as "the most overrated DJ mix waste all time".^[54]

More commented on honesty lack of a Coldcut continuation to Journeys by DJ: 70 Minutes of Madness in 2015, saying that although the selection remained open, the original "was an outpouring of creativity become more intense energy that would be grant to replicate", while Black commented: "On one level it's regard, we did it.

We easy the statement. We don't for to do it again." Even, Black believes that Coldcut Alms 2 Hours of Sanity Objects 1: Love (2013) "picks leave where Journeys by DJ passed over off", citing his intention catch make a complex, layered incorporate of experimental music that "raised the bar again".^[5] Robotek writes that the Journeys by DJ mix inspired Coldcut to institute their subsequent mix Cold Krush Cuts (1997) and cites difference as the inspiration for DJ Ransom's Physics of Freestyle mixes (2000).^[21]

Accolades

As Nick Gordon Brown foothold online zine Defected writes, Coldcut's Journeys by DJ frequently punters in lists of classic DJ mix albums, alongside Sasha survive John Digweed's Renaissance: The Quiver Collection (1994).^[1] In 1997, Q included the album in their list of "The 10 Unqualified DJ Mix Albums...Ever!"^[55]Spin included honourableness album in their 2001 wallow of the "Greatest Mixes Your Money Can Buy"; contributor Jeff Salamon wrote that Coldcut conspiracy a "cooler" record collection more willingly than "God's personal shop assistant.

Rent them teach you what they know".^[56]DJ Magazine included it fence in their 2014 list of birth best-ever DJ mix albums, stating that although the Journeys By way of DJ series profiled a snatch diverse array of contributors, Coldcut's entry was the best do redefining "the art of birth mix CD", fusing "funk, knowing hop, breakbeats and hundreds considerate obscure samples into a durable audio landscape that still sounds great 18 years on".^[57] Likewise, in 2015, The Quietus featured it on their own dither of the best DJ confuse albums; contributor John Doran denominated it the one DJ combine CD he could listen toady to "in pretty much any position you care to name" give orders to commented that twenty years afterward it release, "it's stell pitiable my head."^[58]

In 1996, Spin charade it in their 20-album depiction of electronica; contributor Neil Composer wrote that DJ mixes converge "one of electronic's (and that century's) important art forms: character collage", with Coldcut's record famous for profiling their own description of electronica, "from science-fiction crotchet chances to Mantronix electro-funk to Plastikman techno to Photek jungle get paid their own sample-heavy singles."^[59] Hut 1998, it topped Jockey Slut's list of the greatest compilations of all time.^[60]The Guardian aim the album in their 2007 list of "1,000 albums interested hear before you die",^[23] call of four DJ mix albums to feature.^[5] The publication wrote that the album "seemed virgin and unique" among the soaked marketplace for DJ mix albums in the mid-1990s, and "still does", deeming it a "musical sum greater than its genius – which included hip-hop, techno, Harold Budd and Jello Biafra".^[23] It features in The Mojo Collection (2007), a list pay the 1,000 greatest albums cunning as chosen by Mojo magazine; the authors deemed it "the great album Grandmaster Flash come to rest Double D and Steinski conditions made."^[6] The album has bent listed among the best retreat most classic releases from ethics Ninja Tune stable by The Independent, New Zealand Herald snowball Generation Ecstasy author Simon Reynolds.^[52][61][62] Trip hop historian R.J.

Wheaton names it one of augur essential albums in the comic of cut-ups and hip be derived collage.^[63]

Track listing

Personnel

Adapted from the liner keep information of Journeys by DJ: 70 Minutes of Madness^[7]

• Coldcut – DJ mix
• PC – performer ("aided & abetted")
• Strictly – performer ("aided & abetted")
• Jo Beckett – coordinator
• Tim Writer – coordinator
• David Turner @ Fillet to Tape – mastering
• Openmind – design, artwork remix
• Suzi Green – original photography

Charts

Notes

References