Search - Uberzone :: Faith in the Future

A conglomeration of hits ... and misses

Christopher Betche | Jeffersonville, Indiana, USA | 10/25/2001

(3 out of 5 stars)

"It's not an album.Keep that in mind, and you may find Faith in the Future listenable. It serves far better as a collection of very different singles than as one cohesive work. I'm glad Uberzone finally got a proper album out; I just wish it was a unified work instead of a hodge-podge. Beat Bionic is jumpy scratch-master drum n'bass. Science Fiction comes across as bad computerized reggae. Black Widow has servicable beats and bad vocals. Bounce is awesome, with a pounding beat and creative samples and scratching. Dreamtime is the album's high point, consisting of a cascade of vocal samples laid down in rounds for the first minute, and only then does the beat slowly fade in. Rhythm Device is funky and weird, with a simple beat and truly bizarre samples. Frequency is a misguided pairing of live vocals and weak beat work. Faith in the Future is shimmery synth work and not much else. 2 Kool 4 Skool is groovy, but sounds dated even with computerized updates. Keep Go-In is mellow drum n'bass. Little Dragon is electronica with vocals, almost like Plaid, but nothing special. And Botz, even though it's the oldest song here, sounds unoriginal and forced. The album as a whole is worth a listen, but unfortunately, there's lots of filler. Bounce and Rhythm Device are very strong, but Dreamtime is a truly excellent and innovative track. I'm not saying to buy it for Dreamtime alone, but it might be worth it! One last thing: Uberzone is incredible in concert. I saw them in July with Crystal Method, and to witness Q's drum work first hand was was mindblowing. Uberzone has no problem with the beats. They just need better song structure and more innovative vocals to make the style really work."

GOOD THINGS COME TO THOSE WHO WAIT

babenko | somewhere over the rainbow | 08/29/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"A bold and brilliantly crafted collaboration of fresh, funky beats and melodic tunes catapults this album above and beyond all others of this genre. The album starts strong with energetic beats and wicked scratching in "Beat Bionic" before it slows you down a little toward the middle of the album by introducing a totally original track called "Dreamtime". It's hypnotizing vocals and curiously smooth pitter-patter flow keeps you mesmerized until the very last beat. Just when you think you're reaching the light, you're hit with massive bass and kicks in "Rhythm Device" and you realize that you've still got your whole life ahead of you. The album continues on strong and keeps you tickled pink with each developing track, especially with "Frequency" and "Faith in the Future" because their concepts are so unique and innovative (words simply cannot explain). Good things come to those who wait because the album ends with the classic, "Botz", and need I say more?"

A little disappointed, but still quality work

meeks | Atlanta--Gateway to the south | 05/06/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"If you have seen Uberzone live then you know that he is purely sensational. And if you know Uberzone, you know that all his previous singles have been dope. I guess that's why I was a little disappointed. This album is very good, but I expected it to be classic material, which it is not. If you are considering buying this album, and you are not familiar with Uberzone, you should understand that he specializes in ultra crisp, clean, science fiction like breaks. He is probably a bit of a science fiction nut or something....I don't know for sure but that's how his music sounds. But Uberzone always represents super quality production. He has skills for sure. The quality of the tracks is up to the brim......quality noises, sounds, samples, composure. See, I believe that when he created this album he created it EXACTLY the way he wanted it to sound. You just have to step off in his mind to appreciate where he is coming from............."