I am currently listening to Skalpel on a nightly basis to lull me to sleep. I picked up this self-titled Ninja Tune Recording last year and forgot how great it was. Anybody hear of them?? Which brings me to the theme of this thread. What band(s) started your interest in a certain label. Also, I think we should have a separate Forum to talk about LABELS ONLY.


***I have sited Metacritic to see if we can have a Label Forum to separate it from 'General Music Discusions' so we can talk about ONE Label per thread. Good idea??

NINJA TUNE
So, I am listening to Skalpel, and was thinking back to how I got interested in Ninja Tune. It was The Herbalizer's Blow Your Headphones. It was like candy to my ears listening to hip-hop/breaks/scratches/samples/etc and soon salivated over some Coldcut and DJ Krush offerings. I rarely listen to The Herbalizer now, but they where my walk through the Ninja gate.
Soon after, I hooked up with my fav Ninja artist....Amon Tobin. I just love the moods he creates with his atmoshere qualities in drumnbass/breaks, Permutation being my first purchase. Other favs are: Cinematic Orchestra, DJ Vadim, Roots Manuva,Coldcut, Jaga Jazzist and others.
Who was your first???

Great introductions for newbies would be:
1. ZENDVD: Ninja Tune Video Retrospective
2.XEN Cuts - 10 years of ZEN - 3 cd's
3. Amon Tobin - Permutaion
4. Coldcut - Beats & Pieces
5. Skalpel (hey....why not???)
............and many more.

I am on vacation (Vegas bound in 3 hours) so, I hope this gets going and we can start separate threads on Matador, 4AD, etc. Keep this to Ninja Tune and I'll be back....

I recently bought my very first Ninja Tune album, Amon Tobin's soundtrack for the "Splinter Cell 3: Chaos Theory" game (cleverly titled Chaos Theory). I must say that I'm quite impressed, but I'm honestly not sure where I would go from there, as far as either Ninja Tune or Amon Tobin goes.

It may take a few years to filter out favs, but I took chances on Funki Porcini, Neotropic, but found they were one-offs for me. Not bad CD's, but nothing to further pursue, but a bonus on Best-of's or Ninja Remix Cd's.

As stated, I would suggest the above Xen Cuts(10year anniversary of Ninja). That will introduce you to 90's Herbalizer, Amon Tobin,Kid Koala, Colcut, Up,Bustle & Out, Luke Vibert, Mr Scruff, Clifford Gilberto(sweet Jazz, Ninja style), Cinematic Orchestra, etc.
For Amon Tobin, I'd go with Bricolage, Permutaion, but if you like Chaos Theory, go with something newer like Supermodified.

There is a new Best of and Remix Best of that came out last year. I bought the Remix CD(both are cheap double cd's, around $20) titled-ZEN RMX - remix retrospective.

you should probabbly put this in the electronic section.I have started a few threadson labels and artists there as well.

quote:

Originally posted by The Furnace Is Fiery:

5. Skalpel (hey....why not???)

Skalpel is dope.I love that album.It encompasses everything that is great about Ninja Tune.Youmay already know this but you should check out the radio program...solid steel.I think it is once a week and has various hosts.Very very good.

I am not the typical ninja tine fan...i dont really like coldcut or mr.scruff that much.I really really like...and would consider my favorite ninja tune album Hint "portakabin fever".I also really like anything kid koala touches...he is easily taking the invenive dj crown away from qbert.very creative.

Some faves
Bonobo
Hint
Vadim
Wagon Christ
Cinematic Orchestra
That dynamic Syncopation album was cool too.

more recently Blockhead and rainstick orchestra.

Of course Big Dada...I love Big Dada.
Roots Manuva
TTC
Busdriver "cosmic Cleavage"
King Geedorah
Diplo....duh!!
Infesticons and Mjesticons....love Mike Ladd!!

I really dont have a need for the greatesthits albums.I own most of it anyways.I did get the remix album though which contains one of the best remixes ever...the ashley beedle one.I love that track.

Via Exclaim! magazine, I won a cool Ninja Tune package a few years back. It included CD's by Roots Manuva, Bonobo, and Flanger. Also, I got Roots Manuva rolling papers and an amazing Ninja Hooded Sweatshirt. Bring on the Ninja!!

Looking forward to see Amon Tobin this summer.

Any fav Ninja Tune Tours/DJ sets out there???

I've seen: Jaga Jazzist which blew the roof off last summer. Also, Dj set of Bonobo, which was too laid back...

Yeah i won a hand painted on canvas robot thingy from Kid koala himself.I still do not know how or why i won it i just got it in the mail one day.It is very cool though.

I liked a lot of the early Ninja Tune releases but got a little bored of some of the artists as they progressed, more due to my changing tastes than anything else. The first Roots Manuva and Amon Tobin albums are pretty classic, but they have also continued to make great music since. I also enjoy Up, Bustle & Out's albums a great deal. I still love Coldcut's Every Home A Prison(Shut Up and Dance mix)with Jello Biafra from Let Us Replay. Mr.Scruff was one of the best DJ's I have seen live. The Funkungfusion 2disc compilation from 98 was probably the apex for me personally, but I've returned a little thanks to King Geedorah and Mike Ladd.

Personally, I tend to think of Ninja Tune's stuff as a bit too weird and self-consciously obscure.

But thanks for the recommendations, anyway. I might grow to like the label yet.

Anyone give the new Herbalizer a listen??? Should be out soon, and I've read a couple of good reviews....anyone get an early copy?

I have heard mostof it.it is good.Especially if u like them previous to this release.Has a different vibe though.

I just got the "too cold" 12" from roots manuva.The original song is not that great...but the Go Team remix is great...and of course the sa-ra version is great as well.Highly reccomended from ninjas little buddy big dada.

That Go! Team remix sounds interesting....I must go shopping....

On the Herbalizer front, I hear many good artists stopping in for on the new one....previously like Blow your Headphones, Very Mercenary was somewhat disappointing, but liked about half the stuff on it...

I've been listening to a lot of this album lately:
Hint - Portakabin Fever (Ninja Tune, 2002)

It's mostly jazzy-instrumental. Since I hadn't heard of it till reciently, it was a pleasant surprise.

thats a very good album filmore.
one of my faves from ninja tunes ever.

the new bonobo mix is cool.
also the new blockhead is on par with his debut.

I think the new DJ Kentaro mix is the best Solid Steel mix yet (especially if you like drum & bass).

Picked up the new Bonobo recently, "It Came from the Sea". I really enjoyed this set, especially the "Pick Up" track. Now I'm searching for Green's previous cd " Dial "M" for Monkey", which I've heard good things about.

as a ninja fan, i can only list my favs (because boasting this label would lead nowhere):

cinematic orchestra "every day" (strongly recommended)
mr. scruff "keep it unreal" as well as "trouser jazz"
bonobo "animal magic" (somehow liked that one)
animals on wheels "designs and mistakes"
blockhead "music by cavelight" (better than bonobo, i would say; haven't heard the new one yet)
daedelus "exquisite corpse" (really good)
homelife "flying wonders" (ooh!)
wagon christ (whichever, like them all)
up, bustle & out "one colour just reflects another" (very good)

also some from big dada:
roots manuva "dub come save me"
ty "upwards"
diplo "florida" (ooh!)

heard live set: herbaliser, treva whateva, pest, j mountain. liked them all.

new Skalpel coming out......unless out already

I heard it dosen't stry much from their first outing...but that's not neccesarily a bad thing...

quote:

Originally posted by The Furnace Is Fiery:
new Skalpel coming out......unless out already

I heard it dosen't stry much from their first outing...but that's not neccesarily a bad thing...

It's been out for a while. I reviewed it months ago. Surely as good as their first album.
My Reviews Of Both Albums