Search - Meat Beat Manifesto :: Actual Sounds & Voices

An imperfect masterpiece

eightpointagenda | Chicago, IL | 01/24/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Jack Dangers is definitely a genius. But whether its a genuis of his own design or just by accident is hard to tell but still a genuis none the less. As far as I can tell, no one has made an entire career out of soundcollage and design and make it seem substantial. Yet somehow his fusion of dub, jungle, industrial, hip-hop, dance and rock all seems to come together in his signature mess he calls Meat Beat Manifesto. And I think no album he's made is as sucessful in his self-created sound as Actual Sounds + Voices.



What definitely makes a difference this time around is having a stong list of versital collaberators who not only understand Danger's sound, but can work well within its expansive, limitless sound. Dangers still has a strong influence over his list of players, but they only help strengthen this album. Unlike previous attempts, the album plays out more like an album made by a band rather than an eccentric artist working in his own world(Subliminal Sandwich, while good, was far too expansive and loose for its own good). The work here is tight, detailed, undeniably groovy. Sort of like the jazz band of the future, as depicted by some surreal painter.



The album itself is well paced, moving through Jack's various influences without lagging in one place for too long. You'll hear live jungle workouts(Prime Audio Soup, Let Go, Where Are You), industrial rock(Oblivion, Funny Feeling), big beat(Acid Again) and everything else inbetween. The real highlight comes near the end of the album in the form of this jazz/fusion electronic jam called The Thumb. Its expansive, quirky and above all surreal. It truly shows Jack's ability to imagine a sound and get it to come out through his players(though I'm sure he played bass on it).



But where the true wonder of this album comes in is its complete disregard for melody and hooks, yet somehow manages to remain memorable throughout. Jack's ingenious sound design and masterful ability to evoke tones and atmosphere while remaining balanced in both dancablity and listenablity I would say is his real charm as an artist. His only fault on this album is he sometimes makes his songs just too busy for mental consumption. Otherwise, this is the pinnacle of an artist who's mind knows no bounds for sound and continues to remain relevent for more then a decade. I actually get excited to see what he will put out next."

Wow, some people are clueless....

Tim Rockwell | Gainesville, FL United States | 04/02/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This not electronic music to dance to, it's electronic music to LISTEN to.



This is quite possibly MBM's best CD next to Satyricon."

Aggressive? Chaotic? Pretentious?!?

Douche Baggins | A Rift in Reallity | 12/13/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I do not see how the above adjectives apply to this incredible CD. Yet these descriptors have been featured in an alarming number of reviews. I think the authors of said reviews just weren't listening to the music right. Granted, this is not really music for dancing (with a few exceptions. "Prime Audio Soup" for example), and that may have really turned some people off to it, and I will admit that "Where Are You?" is aggressive (it being dark jungle and all). What this music requires however is a slightly "chill" environment for one to really appreciate it. Highlights for me include "Hail to the Bopp", "Funny Feeling", the ultra chill "The Thumb", "Let Go" and "Lets Have Fun". Alright.....untill......"