If last year belonged to disco samples, this year Armand has dug far further back into the crates, unearthing early house music, hip hop, 80s synth pop and yes, even heavy metal for his source material. Applying hip hop'... more »s rapping and scratching to house music, he has come up with radical new hybrids likely to resonate through popular music for years to come. "Little Black Spiders" has Armand fighting for your right to party, mashing Euro headbangers The Scorpions into the most danceable heavy metal record ever. "Full Moon" sub poenas currently white hot rapper Common to lay down some rhymes over a class boogie groove that harks back to the Jungle Brothers early hits. "Flyaway Love" is the track for the DJs: pumping dark house just right for those Ibiza sunrises. "Hybridz" sees Armand picking up the mic himself to trade rhymes with his DJ mate Junior Sanchez over a rhythm that's pure New York Sound Factory 1988. Best of all is first single "Koochy". Perfect pop and headf*ck house rolled into one, this is the epitome of the album's spirit has Armand rapping over clicking electro, scratching and an eardrum-popping sample lifted from Gary Numan's electro pop classic "Cars". Forget everything you've heard from the sample slaya so far: once heard, "Koochie" will drill its way into your brain and become Armand's biggest tune yet. Destined to be for light aeroplane -flying futurists everything Basement Jaxx are to flamenco guitars. This is the year of Armand Van Helden: prepare to leave your preconceptions at the door when you pick up that flak jacket. This year Van Helden is Armand and Dangerous.« less
If last year belonged to disco samples, this year Armand has dug far further back into the crates, unearthing early house music, hip hop, 80s synth pop and yes, even heavy metal for his source material. Applying hip hop's rapping and scratching to house music, he has come up with radical new hybrids likely to resonate through popular music for years to come. "Little Black Spiders" has Armand fighting for your right to party, mashing Euro headbangers The Scorpions into the most danceable heavy metal record ever. "Full Moon" sub poenas currently white hot rapper Common to lay down some rhymes over a class boogie groove that harks back to the Jungle Brothers early hits. "Flyaway Love" is the track for the DJs: pumping dark house just right for those Ibiza sunrises. "Hybridz" sees Armand picking up the mic himself to trade rhymes with his DJ mate Junior Sanchez over a rhythm that's pure New York Sound Factory 1988. Best of all is first single "Koochy". Perfect pop and headf*ck house rolled into one, this is the epitome of the album's spirit has Armand rapping over clicking electro, scratching and an eardrum-popping sample lifted from Gary Numan's electro pop classic "Cars". Forget everything you've heard from the sample slaya so far: once heard, "Koochie" will drill its way into your brain and become Armand's biggest tune yet. Destined to be for light aeroplane -flying futurists everything Basement Jaxx are to flamenco guitars. This is the year of Armand Van Helden: prepare to leave your preconceptions at the door when you pick up that flak jacket. This year Van Helden is Armand and Dangerous.
"I don't know why some people gave such bad reviews for this album. They say it's not original, it's too loopy, they've heard better, etc. I think Killing Puritan is revolutionary--it shows many talents of Armand Van Helden; he is able to mix and loop metal, jazz, breakbeats, house, hip-hop, rap, electronica and I was quite impressed with his scratching skills in Koochy--and he does all this in one album. It's revolutionary because no one has quite done it as well as he did here. Most DJ mixes are either too repetitive in style or mixing only occurs at the end of each songs. And, I am sick of Hi-NRG house music which all sounds the same and are boring--I'm talking about the type you hear in cheesy clubs. Killing Puritan is revolutionary because he breaks away from mainstream House. The music may not be all that original but the way Van Helden put all together in the album is simply amazing and is very original. Little Louie Vega, Tony Morrillo, Masters at Work are great house DJs but none of them have attempted to create albums as diverse as Killing Puritans. I say, if you like and appreciate house music, this should be a must have album. Don't expect too much to hear Fatboy Slim or Chem Bros, though. It's just different."
A classic cd already!
Josephll | CET | 06/08/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Armand Van Helden from NY, onew of my favorite dj's around, made this one back in 2000. Here he mixes diffrent genre's, lots of loops and scratching too which is kind of a trademark for him. I think this album got a little but of everything, and it's great to see those cool sounds recorded on a cd. "Full Moon" is a funky disco sounding song, rapper Common appears on it. "Koochy" is a remake of Gary Numan's "Cars" but with lots of scratching and a robotic voice on it's hook. On "Conscience" we have Tekitha Washington feautured, it's a midtempo song with cool beats same thing with "Little Black Spiders" even if i think these two would have been better instrumental. It's more rock in this one then the previous one though. "Flyaway Love" must be one of the weirdest songs recorded, you get the feeling something is wrong with the cd, but it's not, that's the beauty of it. "Swampthing" got cool beats which are echoing through the record. "House boxing" has to be one of the coolest, funky beats, melodic sound and drums. This man is capable of everything. "Breakdancers Call" is another song includeing a robotoic voice. If you're into dance/electro stuff, well then you should take a look at this. It's one of the coolest cd's around."
Strictly for the Urban Masses
"Johnny Salzone" | Brooklyn, NY United States | 06/15/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Notice that the bad reviews for this album come from places in the middle of nowhere. The bottom line is that this type of music is geared strictly for the most modern and progressive urban masses, people in places like New York City and Amsterdam.
That's it; that's the bottom line. And you know what? Armand is a God. Thank God for Armand, and keep doing your thing, kid!
Oh, and this music is NOT "electronica" or "techno" - this is Garage House, which is a totally different scene completely. For those who don't know, Garage House is grimey, highly creative dance music from the underground pens of places like New York City (birthplace of several massive musical movements such as Salsa and Hip Hop) and Western Europe.
For the countless masses who wish to one day call themselves "New Yorkers," getting caught up on this will go a long way toward understanding the culture and lifestyle of the greatest city on the face of the earth.
"
House with a different Twist!!!!!
Josephll | 01/22/2001
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I would have to say that armand mixes up a variety of sounds that come together to make an album that is worth having in the collection. It uses alot of repetitive riffs but in the end it all comes together rather well and it just proves that house can go in various directions. I definetly would recommend this cd for anyone who enjoys a good house tune!!!!!!"
I did like "Necessary Evil" though
Matthew Dunlap | Virginia | 06/10/2006
(2 out of 5 stars)
"Whatever scene this is, that scene needs to cuts its tracks in half. I like repetitive music, but only when I can put it in the background. Repetition and sandpaper don't mix and fall into the background."