Unknownwerks, Vol. 1

Unknownwerks, Vol. 1

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
"The New Crop of American Artists" reads the subtitle of this electronica compilation, and it's the "The" that rankles. America is crawling with widely disparate dance communities, from Bay Area junglists to midwestern techno purists to those ubiquitous tranceniks. Unknownwerks checks in on these various tastelands, but its main focus is on the latest wave of American breakbeat producers. This isn't the new crop, but it is arguably the new consensus: 4/4 is out, block-rockin' beats and cock-rockin' aggression are in. The result is 12 dance tracks that seek inspiration from Astralwerks licensees Fatboy Slim and the Chemical Brothers, as well Florida's Funky Breaks scene and our native tradition of cutting and scratching. Though this can get as silly as the "Smells Like Teen Spirit" remix Norman Cook unveiled on tour--check "Hard Hit," Illinois producer Central's cheeseball reworking of "Tequila"--most of the time (i.e., Metrodub's "Cut Up Music (Jazzy Mix)" and Shiverhead's "Ready to Rock") this collection earns the right to someday be renamed Knownwerks. --Jeff Salamon

Tracks:

Cut Up Music (Jazzy Mix) - Metrodub
Hallucination Generation - Hexx
King Of The Bad Groove - Le Pimp
Ultra Blue - Bionic
The Next Big Chill - Beat Pharmacy
Funktastic Boombastic - SJP
Hard Hit - Central
Ready 2 Rock - Shiverhead
Lift Ticket - Wide
Freon - DJ Donovan
This Time - Atnarko Bear
Liquid Loops - Agent Babylon

Amazon.com

"The New Crop of American Artists" reads the subtitle of this electronica compilation, and it's the "The" that rankles. America is crawling with widely disparate dance communities, from Bay Area junglists to midwestern techno purists to those ubiquitous tranceniks. Unknownwerks checks in on these various tastelands, but its main focus is on the latest wave of American breakbeat producers. This isn't the new crop, but it is arguably the new consensus: 4/4 is out, block-rockin' beats and cock-rockin' aggression are in. The result is 12 dance tracks that seek inspiration from Astralwerks licensees Fatboy Slim and the Chemical Brothers, as well Florida's Funky Breaks scene and our native tradition of cutting and scratching. Though this can get as silly as the "Smells Like Teen Spirit" remix Norman Cook unveiled on tour--check "Hard Hit," Illinois producer Central's cheeseball reworking of "Tequila"--most of the time (i.e., Metrodub's "Cut Up Music (Jazzy Mix)" and Shiverhead's "Ready to Rock") this collection earns the right to someday be renamed Knownwerks. --Jeff Salamon

Customer Reviews:

What happened to these artists?.......2003-06-13

Ok this is a CD that was a great idea, that well...flopped.
where are the artists from UNKNOWNWERKS now?
uhmmm...
i wish that Astralwerks Records would have tried to see what
some of these artists could do.
i mean they were good enough to put on this cd right.
so why not more.
So, the best song on here is Central's "Hard Hit", (sort of a
60's spy theme meets bigbeat...i love it) it actually reminds
me of the Propellerheads album "DecksDrumsAndRockandRoll".
but where is Central now?
Also Le Pimp "King of the Bad Groove", this is a great song
i have also downloaded another song by this guy called "le Rock
Non Stop" which is simple but excellent.
But where is Le Pimp now?
Why did the label give up on these potentially bright new artists?
it is just disappointing that's all.

can't believe they sold it.......2000-04-10

I went over to CD warehouse after class to check out what they had availiable. After I browsed through the selection, I spotted the CD. I asked the clerk to get the CD so I could listen to it. I listened to it for a while, and found that nearly all the songs on it were pretty tight. I decided to get the CD, since it was only for 8 dollars. When I put the CD in my car, to listen it again. The CD really bumped, this CD is tight, and I can't believe the original owner sold it. I am looking forward to volume 2. Because there is a whole slew of "unknowns" out there waiting to be discovered.

Music Fan.......1999-12-10

This comp is awesome! Not a single clunker on it, which is a rare occurance. Looking forward to more of these from Astralwerks.

It consists of three artists: Central, Le Pimp, Metrodub........1999-08-10

Overall this album is a great idea,problem is I believe most of the artist's idea of good "techno" music is nothing more than a rehash of old astralwerks tracks. If more kids in their bedrooms would quit sleeping with their tom-n-ed dolls maybe we could experience more unique beats as CENTRAL'S HARD HIT! Judging by the Chems last record these kids from Bloomington need a record deal! Oh yeah,Le pimp was pretty slamin' but I think Clinton already covered it! review by: the guy who knows

the best of the next wave of american electronix.......1999-08-02

it's not perfect, but this album represents a very fresh new idea. unknownwerks is a compilation that deserves all the attention and praise equal to big-name techno artists, and at some points overpowers the 'mainstream' electronica that people are used to thinking is 'the next big thing.' While there are obvious standouts (Metrodub's urban flavored opener and the awesome hyper Central track Hard Hit), whole whole album seems to be working together, letting the audience get a taste from every region. And for the most part, it tastes good.

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