Released
1999

Label
Soup Records

Reviewed by
Matt Simpson

Visit
Soup Records


Last Edit/Update
06 June, 1999

Various Artists Soup Records

Out of Perspective

Track Listing

 1.  Suzukiski --  "Tunnels"
2.  Montage --  "Expressa"
3.  Riow Arai --  "Wandering"
4.  Taichi --  "The Ultimate Preference"
5.  Computer Soup --  "Untitled (edit)"
6.  Cappablack --  "Niji's Hierograffiti"
7.  Kitta --  "Communication Network"
8.  Nagi --  "Hoshizukiyo"
9.  Suzukiski --  "Throwback"
10.  Riow Arai --  "So Back!!!"
11.  Montage --  "Eternal Beatz (Pulse Phase Mix)"
12.  Computer Soup --  "Beijing 251 (edit)"
13.  Kitta --  "What About ?!!!??! (poetry mix)"
14.  Cappablack -- "The Crossing"

            Ahh, the flavour of soup.  You know what I mean - that good ole' cure-all for any ailment that your mom prescribed.   A myriad of ingredients floating lazily in a hot bath, dousing the taste buds with soothing extacy.  Of course, no two bowls of soup are the same - each is distinct with spices and flavours that equally evoke a calm, soothing mindset.  Yum!

            "Out of Perspective", the first compilation from the upstart Japanese label Soup-Disk, also presents a calm, pallatable myriad of flavours with its distinct collection of artists.  As compiler Gil Gershman puts it, "Soup is many flavors, many tastes, many textures swirling in collisions and in sensual harmonies."  The artists of Soup-Disk have given very laid back tracks with roots in drum and bass. Calming and very sensual, the tracks distinctly stand out to the listener.  It's difficult to make comparisons - with influences ranging from drum and bass to hiphop to blues, "Out of Perspective" holds its own as being a truly original masterwork.  It's been said that drum and bass is the new jazz - I wouldn't go as far as to say I totally agree, but this CD is definitely such an example.  The groove-laden tracks invite the listener into a calm euphoria, enticing him into perfect motion with samples ranging from sounds of nature to ambient drones to the sounds of a smoky blues club. 

            I think it's pretty clear that I like this CD.  A lot.  Very original.   The masterwork of Soup's artists comes together in an incredibly eclectic collection of jazz-laden groove.  My main gripe is the same as my gripe with most other d&b or hip-hop - it's repetitive.  Sometimes the tracks drag on for a while with very little change - I guess that's the purpose, though.   That's just personal taste, however, and this whole CD really makes me sway.  Aww jeah.  Groove on....