Lush, Vibrant, Musical Techno
Bluejack | Seattle, WA | 12/27/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"There is quite an interesting mix of sounds, styles, rhythms, beats, and energies that pour out of this CD, and it is a top techno experience the whole way:1) The production of the liner notes is superb. Note the Amazon album cover picture? That passport shaped blue is the whole of the liner notes: the rest is the cd showing through. That's right, it is a passport, rich with tamper-proof designs, vividly reproduced visas and stamps, and also a surprisingly rich history of Khan's recording career as well good notes on all the tracks. Beautiful, and also informative!2) It's techno, but it's not necessarily dance -- though there is plenty danceable music here. Much of this is more like a high energy soundtrack to a high-tech thriller; sort of Matrix meets Run Lola Run, only with more William Gibson in it. Maybe it is the soundtrack to the William Gibson movie that has yet to be made, and lives up to the promise of the early novels?3) I gave it five stars, but really it is about 4.8. I am afraid I have to deduct a couple fractions for the not-so-hot "Body Dump" with Julee Cruise. The Amazon reviewer appears to have liked that, but for money it is second rate, and the vocals and lyrics are neither interesting nor powerful enough to keep up with the instrumental.4) Black Sabbath Riot is a real, er, riot. It's kind of Skinny Puppyish with a sense of humor, except it's a lot better!Overall this is a sharp, clear, lucid, energetic, inspiring work, an addition that will please anyone who appreciates the genre, and worthy of more attention than it seems to be getting as of December, 2000."