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Last 1 review(s):
This record left DjMonkeyRabbit feeling ecstatic.
Nearly every song is the nuts... I'll give it 4 out of 5 for the 12" version I've got.. the songs what are good are really good.. A MUST BUY! Review date: 14 May 2008
What we say
This record left our BRIAN D feeling ecstatic.
Yipee! I got the Benga album. Well the CD anyhow. The promo vinyl has mysteriously sold before we could do the dubstep skank across the office. I reckon the phat grooves would bust the stereo's tits off. I tried to turn Prurient up the other day & the whole thing just cut out as he was screaming something about the wrong kind of cheese in his crust free sarnies. And he dissed his mum. Well, that's Prurient for you. I'd like to se a collaboration with Benga actually. White dubstep noise. Yum. Back to the subject in hand. 'Diary of an Afro Warrior' is rather sublime after 3 listens. A grooving, wobbling technoid dub journey that makes you wanna hit a grimy dancefloor in Chapeltown or Brixton the minute you leave the office (or warehouse/building site whatever...) Not just a home listening experience, this collection of bassbin busting tunes is both hugely satisfying for your battered mind & your itchy feet. The slowed down junglisms of some tracks are minimal & fresh enough to satisfy clubbers & beards alike & the more techno flecked tracks are a real treat. There's lovely hints of old classic dawnbusting free party "rave" in some of the synth lines whilst the bass moves your soul & the beats are constantly engaging. A certain magazine compared this to Roni Size & Reprazent's 'New Forms' & highlighted just how shite Skream's album was when displayed alongside his raher tremendous & eclectic EPs. Benga's actually made the first great Dubstep album here that improves constantly, morphing between established textures & sounds whilst constantly pioneering and evolving the "genre" he helped create. I really hope Digital Mystikz can pull off something as good as this if they ever decide to follow suit with a full artist album. Wicked stuff!
What the label says:
Diary Of An Afro Warrior is one of the most highly anticipated albums
of the year. If Burial’s ‘Untrue’ dominated 2007’s end of year critics
charts then it’s odds on ‘Diary Of An Afro Warrior’ will do the same in
2008.
Dubstep’s trickle into the mainstream has been steady; Skream and
Burial alike have nudged the door open. Benga is undoubtedly the force
to smash it through and take Dubstep to another level.
Much more than just a straight Dubstep album, the tracks on ‘Diary..’
have been favourably compared to such names as CARL CRAIG, UNDERGROUND
RESISTANCE, REPRAZENT and MASSIVE ATTACK.
‘Night’, the anthemic underground smash single lifted from the album
has literally had ravers from countless club scenes, DJs and
grandparents whistling and humming its infectious melody for months now.
In addition to becoming the first dubstep record to be playlisted on
BBC Radio 1. ‘Night’ represented Benga’s tipping point for many DJ’s
and music lovers across the globe, including Gilles Peterson (‘Night’
was his Single Of The Year), Ricardo Villalobos, Pete Tong, Zane Lowe,
Annie Mac, Herve, Shy FX and many others regardless of genre.
So we know how well ‘Night’ has been received, can we say the same of
the album? Once the journey begins it becomes clear what all the fuss
is about, neither relying on incessant wobbling basslines to grab
attention nor sailing toward the ‘coffee table’ banner, Benga has
managed to create an album with duality.
For times when your ear is keen and your speakers are of the Bang &
Olufsen ilk, the intelligence and quality of production shines through.
The superb dance-ability, grooves and emotions remain present on even
the tinniest of speakers. Herein lies Benga’s
massive crossover appeal.
TRACKLISTING
- PLEASE NOTE: THE 3LP TRACKLISTING IS VASTLY DIFFERENT TO THE CD
TRACKLISTING (HALF OF THE 8 TRACKS AREN’T ON THE CD), AIMED MORE AT THE
PURE SPECIALIST DUBSTEP HEADS, WHEREAS THE CD IS MUCH BROADER MUSICALLY.
- TRACKLIST CD: 1 ZERO M2 2 NIGHT (by BENGA & COKI) 3 B4 THE DUAL
4 E TRIPS 5 SOMEONE 20 6 LIGHT BULB 7 CRUNKED UP 8 GO TELL THEM 9 THE
CUT 10 EMOTIONS 11 3 MINUTES 12 PLEASURE
13 26 BASSLINES 14 LOOSE SYNTHS
- TRACKLISTING 3LP: A. E TRIPS B1. OUT OF PHAZE B2. THE CUT
C. ZERO M2 D1. AIR D2. Z E. 26 BASSLINES F1. TWISTER F2. TECH WOBBLER
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