Search - Fluke :: Progressive History X

Skip this, get the box set

C. G. | Atlanta, GA | 10/24/2002

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Let me just say this first: I love Fluke. However, I have a problem with Fluke's U.S. representaion on Astralwerks. This comp of their work is so unbelievably shallow, Astralwerks should be ashamed at having it in their catalogue. This disc is actually a cut-down compilation from a 3 cd compilation called "Progressive History XXX" that was released in Great Britain. You can probably guess which one is worth buying. The box set has a total of 32 songs on it, ranging from early "Blighty" and "Peel Sessions" works, to some tunes from "6 Wheels", "Oto", and "Risotto". The real gem on the 3 disc set is the disc of remixes...most have been unavailable for years. To be honest, I only gave this disc 3 stars because it has Fluke's name on it...seek out the import, and you will be rewarded."

An index of metals

loteq | Regensburg | 10/15/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"While many of the trio's contemporaries, for example, Underworld, Chemical Brothers and 808 State, have crossed over into commercial territory, with records in the pop charts all around the world and interviews in the press, Fluke remain very much a mystery. Maybe they shouldn't have hidden themselves behind their brilliantly designed cover artworks, maybe their singles suffered from bad promotion, distribution and missing radio airplay - two things are for sure: Fluke have released a string of great dance tracks throughout the '90s, and their 1997 outing "Risotto" is regarded as one of the best electronica albums of the decade. And now, just when I expected to hear some new material from the band, their label decides to release "Progressive history X", a compilation of singles, album tracks, alternative versions and remixes. It's obviously a collection for the newly interested more than anyone else - if you want to have a convenient introduction to the band, then this disc is the best place to go. It opens with the previously unavailable "Thumper!", a fairly laid-back and pop-oriented piece with funky, almost Caribbean-type rhythms and childish vocal samples. Nice, but not exactly indispensable. One of the most interesting pieces of this compilation and still Fluke's most progressive track is the 7-minute arena-rock/acid house masterpiece "Philly", originally released in 1990. Now look, where would Underworld be without Fluke's influence? Still playing ponderous pseudo-blues rock like "Change the weather" or "Underneath the radar"? By the time Fluke released their second proper album, "Six wheels..", however, the trio's approach had shifted away from their early cross-over sound to a straighter and more simple approach - clean and clinical and perfect for the dancefloor, as "Slid", "Electric guitar" and "Groovy feeling" prove. With their third album, "Oto", Fluke thankfully began to branch out again and to adopt various other styles, ranging from dubby basslines to eerie ambient sounds, but most importantly, they added some memorable vocals and intriguing lyrics to their music. The three tracks from this era which are included here - "Bubble", "Bullet" and "Tosh" - were extensively remixed for their single/EP appearances and do not have much in common with the original album versions. "Bullet" comes up with much more powerful and rougher beats, but the real highlight and one of my all-time favorite dancefloor tunes is the remix of "Tosh", which is built on a fluid layer of incredibly forceful, arpeggiated sequencer riffs and equally driving techno beats. If you thought Underworld's "Cowgirl" was engaging enough, then this will blow you away. Finally, we have a selection of tracks and remixes from Fluke's most recent and overall most consistent album, "Risotto": "Atom bomb" introduces the quite hard-edged sound of the band's late-'90s output, not too dissimilar from the material released by other "big-beat" outfits at that time. While these latter-day cuts are quite suitable for single release as well, they really should be enjoyed as part of the album "Risotto", where one track seamlessly segues into the next and makes for a continuous and fascinating listening experience. Overall, it would have been nice if this disc would sport a few more tracks from Fluke's early days, simply because many of their early-'90s albums, singles and EPs have gone out of print. Given the fact that little information ever appears on the group, the booklet unfortunately doesn't provide any comments on what Fluke achieved in the eyes of each member, how the trio came together, or what the tracks/lyrics the band composed were about. Despite these flaws and the rather pedestrian packaging of the album, it really is essential for anyone with a genuine interest in UK dance music and, as such, comes highly recommended."

Great Compilation

Reticuli | Las Vegas | 07/26/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Progressive History X includes one very old track (Philly), one brand new track (Thumper!), 2 tracks strait off of Six Wheels (Electric Guitar & Groovy Feeling), a slightly extended version of Risotto's "Atom Bomb", and six remixes, including the best versions of "Absurd" and "Squirt". Each of these six remixes can only be found on separate disks elsewhere, and one would likely experience difficulty in tracking some of them down in the U.S. "Squirt (Risotto Vox)" is the famous version performed live during the Risotto-era tours. The only must-have track which isn't on this CD is "V Six" from the Wipeout XL various artists compilation. If you're a fan but don't already have all of Fluke's remixes and import albums, then Progressive History X is worth purchasing. If you're new to Fluke, this is the best of the group's work and the place to begin.Update: "Thumper!" is actually from the 1994 Peel Sessions EP. Thanks Allen Cheung!"