Earth 1 [Import]

"The Poets of Thought" start the ball rolling with the Jazz/Hip-Hop Fusion of 'The Rhyme goes on', heavily influenced in its construction by jazz, it's as contemplative as it is soothing, backed by ghost-like horns arrangements with a steady textured breakbeat underpinning the whole thing, it's the musical equivalent of driving through the city late at night. "Appaloosa's - Travelling" shifts the musical focus into more traditional territory, with restrained Jungle, increasing the BPM significantly, and the drum patterns here, will be familiar to all with a long standing history with Drum 'n' Bass/ Jungle, but just as the prospect of any experimentation appears slim, the track bursts into an simple elegant keyboard chord that coupled with the looped high-hat drums & synth melodies presents a interpretation of jungle that is less 'Jump up' and a more a refinement & less abrasive jungle sound, fused with ambient breakbeat.

"The Poets of Thought" again contribute another sublime effort, but this time the paring of Latin-Jazz & eloquent Samba, that largely make up this track, and rhythmic drum patterns make for a energetic fusion of the Brazilian music, this is largely instrumental and a studiously interesting inclusion on this album and not only shows bukem's musical influences are far more wide reaching then Drum 'n'Bass, but that, this track could stand proud on any Brazilian/Cuba themed musical collection.

"Pablo's - Do what you Gotta Do" takes the Jazz influenced Drum 'n' Bass of someone like 'Peshay' (or indeed Bukem's own work), and throws down hypnotic bass & piano arrangments, integrated with a with an (almost) improvisational Jazz aesthetic, this is possibly most familiar to those that follow the intelligent breaks / Intelligent Dance music scene, and is as polished as it is beautifully arranged with these Jazz/Breakbeat crossover tracks. And anyone that still believes that Drum 'n' Bass is squarely suited to the Dance floor would do well, to listen to this fantastic effort.

It's wouldn't be a Bukem Compilation without one of Bukem's own tracks, and thankfully he's realised that everything complied on this album is of an incredibly high standard, and thus wheel's out his 9 Minute Epic "Moodswings", to make sure he's not upstaged by the various artists. And being a Bukem track, not only is it beautifully expressive, but it also has that seemingly unmistakable 'Bukem' stamp all over it. Moodily paced, meticulously devised, and looking to deliver something that works just as well as 'Head noddingly catchily composed music, it's slow almost Electronica tempo and Jazz keyboards sits wonderfully with 'Pablo's' ambient Breaks track in representing sublime Electronic / Downtempo Beats on an album with a fairly eclectic tracklisting.

Anyone looking at this album and seeing the 'Bukem' Name on the front and (quite reasonably) expecting a continuation of either his "Logical Progression" or "Progression Sessions", will undoubtedly feel a little let down. That's because this isn't really a continuation of either of those series of albums, and more a broad spectrum of various forms of music that not only have incorporated Drum 'n' Bass in its various forms, but (more than likely) some of the musical styles that have influenced Bukem, and judging by how his music is constantly referencing Jazz/Soul/Funk, this probably is the case. If there are any criticisms with the album, then the album isn't sequenced with regards to continuity....leaping one minute from sophisticated Jazz-Funk to Jungle/Breakbeat the next, and those expecting bass driven music will also maybe what to look elsewhere, as the mood is generally far too slow, to recreate Bukem's legendary live sets. But as a collection of sublime music that shows Drum 'n' Bass has the potential to show a more soulful side, this ranks with the 'Logical Progression' & "Progressive Sessions" albums.

You've got it all here, from the cool breaks of appaloosa and doc scott (the most d'n'b-oriented tracks here, to downtempo chillout tunes (bukem's extraordinary, lifting "moodswings") to honest-to-god soul jazz (the poets of thought three contributions), to tracks that split the difference (blame's revival, an honest-ta-god breakbeat track with a killer walking bassline).

more should be said about the poets of thought, the name paul hunter recorded under for these sessions. gorgeously recorded double bass lines, samba and hip hop beats, cool horn lines, killer organ-- it's like he's bringing big john patton, jimmy smith, or brother jack mcduff into the 21st century. and it works great.

now the compilation is worth picking up for one track alone, pablo's "do what you gotta do," which splits the difference between trip-hop and d'n'b, and features one of the best horn breaks and vocal samples i've ever heard. bukem, in his liner notes, catches nod to the great gamble & huff philly sound, and that's entirely accurate. this track works on the dancefloor. it works while driving too fast on a city highway late at night. it works when you're laying in the dark with that special someone. it just works. absolutely brilliant.

all in all, this is nearly a perfect record. and unlike many 'electronic' albums, it hasn't become dated, as recording techniques improve. the production on this is so warm and wonderful that this record seems to *improve* with age. seriously. i picked this up in 1997, and now i still pull it out every week or two. i can only say that about a handful of records.

the only downside is this: i don't know how easy it is to find this record anymore. but make it your quest, dear reader. the hours of effort you put into finding it will be rewarded by the years of listening you get out of it.