Very Mercenary (+1 Bonus Track)

Very Mercenary (+1 Bonus Track)

Track Listings

1. Intro

2. Mission Improbable

3. Who's the Realest?

4. When I Shine

5. Goldrush

6. Moon Sequence

7. Mind in the Frame

8. Funny?

9. Shattered Soul

10. Road of Many Signs

11. Wall Crawling Giant Insect Breaks

12. Sensual Woman

13. Let It Go

14. Jake's Backache

15. Missing Suitcase

16. Starlight

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Compared with label mates like Coldcut, the Herbaliser doesn't always get a lot of attention. That's a shame, because they might just be the most interesting--and the most accessible--artists in the Ninja Tune Records camp. Working with a bevy of talented MCs--What What, the ultra-smooth woman from the Natural Elements crew; Roots Manuva; the Dream Warriors--and a number of musicians who are touring members of the band, Wherry and Teeba have made a subtle, minor classic here. Assembled from pieces they've worked on for the past few years--selections have appeared on EPs (Wall Crawling Giant Insect Breaks) and mix tapes--the mix is a seamless blend of classy dance-floor jazz and hip-hop; if it sometimes plays like a soundtrack, that's because the entire album is informed with a noir style. The duo has taken the sound it developed over the Herbaliser's prior two albums (Remedies and Blow Your Headphones) and guided it in a more refined direction on Very Mercenary. It's a treat to listen to. --Randy Silver

Product Description
Japanese Version featuring a Bonus Track. --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Tracks:

Intro
Mission Improbable (featuring What What)
Who's the Realest?
When I Shine (featuring Bahamadia)
Goldrush
Moon Sequence
Mind In The Frame (featuring Blade)
funny?
Shattered Soul
Road of Many Signs (featuring The Dream Warriors)
Wall Crawling Giant Insect Breaks
The Sensual Woman
Let it Go (featuring What What)
jake's backache
The Missing Suitcase
Starlight (featuring Roots Manuva)

Amazon.com

Compared with label mates like Coldcut, the Herbaliser doesn't always get a lot of attention. That's a shame, because they might just be the most interesting--and the most accessible--artists in the Ninja Tune Records camp. Working with a bevy of talented MCs--What What, the ultra-smooth woman from the Natural Elements crew; Roots Manuva; the Dream Warriors--and a number of musicians who are touring members of the band, Wherry and Teeba have made a subtle, minor classic here. Assembled from pieces they've worked on for the past few years--selections have appeared on EPs (Wall Crawling Giant Insect Breaks) and mix tapes--the mix is a seamless blend of classy dance-floor jazz and hip-hop; if it sometimes plays like a soundtrack, that's because the entire album is informed with a noir style. The duo has taken the sound it developed over the Herbaliser's prior two albums (Remedies and Blow Your Headphones) and guided it in a more refined direction on Very Mercenary. It's a treat to listen to. --Randy Silver

Album Details

Japanese Version featuring a Bonus Track.

Customer Reviews:

not a review, just a little note.......2006-01-31

To let all of you who don't know, know, "What What" doesn't go by the name of "What What" any more. She can be found on mixtapes, CD's and other items under the name of Jean Grae. And for the sake of knowing, she STILL rips the mic to this day.

The herbaliser delivers the goods.....(again!!!).......2003-10-29

Possibly wanting to avoid being `Confined' to the `Trip-Hop' tag, The Herbaliser moves more into a rough conceptual-themed Spy Thriller, with a abundance of 60's spy movie sample snippets littered throughout the album. With what could have been a one trick pony idea, works to overwhelmingly superb effect, "Mission Improbable" has female scattershot MC `What What', delivering complicated wordplay over a tasty bed of (60's inspired) uptempo hypnotic Hip-Hop beats. But really impresses is the way that the way that `The Herbaliser' can construct a sound or beat, without resorting to tired clichés, and interesting diverse. "Shattered Soul" really does show how the limitations of the Trip-Hop genre haven't even begun to become confining, it's a purely instrumental track (of which there are several on the album) and shows how beat creation can now truly be considered with (almost) the same creditability as a instrumentalist, and cements `The Herbaliser" as amongst `Ninja Tunes' finest.

Hot Hot Hot! All about the horns.......2003-01-12

Fans are raving about the rappers on this album but I have to say - The Herbaliser team has got its groove on!
It's all about the horns. Andy Ross and his boys positively blow me away. Subtlety goes along way, and WHEN are these guys touring the U.S.A. again?

smooth creamy goodness.......2003-01-06

this album by some of the greatest master craftsmen of the hip hop art ever to come out of the US will offer you the smoothest samples, creamiest cuts and tranquilizingly relaxing beats youve ever enjoyed. What What's and Bahamadia's vocals (together with other great mc's) will soothe your soul and shut your eyes in peace. If you enjoy creamy female lyrics and know what intelligent hip hop is, even better. Put it on when sparking a fatty at home or driving to work; Ninja Tunes prime prodigies will caress your aural senses with the greatest of eloquence and the warmest musical arrangements in Hip Hop. The Herbaliser's Very Mercenary cut will never get old. trust me.

This is a great album.......2000-06-27

This cd is a great album to listen to and chill out. This cd is better than most of the hip hop albums out there. Mellow, laid back beats, a worthy effort by herbaliser and a must have for fans of hip hop. Tracks by what what are the highlights of the album. No offense to the female gender, but many female rappers can not rap. Fortunately, rapper what what seems to be the exception. Her rhymes are smooth and for the most part unbelievable. She is phenomenal! The instrumental tracks like goldrush are very good. I don't know why other commenters compare herbaliser to dj shadow, as they have totally different styles.

Average customer rating:

not a review, just a little note
The herbaliser delivers the goods.....(again!!!)
Hot Hot Hot! All about the horns
smooth creamy goodness
This is a great album

Very Mercenary (+1 Bonus Track)
Herbaliser
Manufacturer: Ninja
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

General | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music

Experimental Rap | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music

Dance & DJ | Imports | Stores | Music

Rap & Hip-Hop | Imports | Stores | Music
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ASIN: B00000JX8B
Release Date: 1999-12-14