The Shamen : "Drop"

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Controversial I know, but today I feel this is their best album.

― phil jones (interstar), Thursday, 19 June 2003 03:42 (twenty-two years ago)

In what way is that controversial?

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Thursday, 19 June 2003 04:00 (twenty-two years ago)

meaybe he meant the best album

― jess (dubplatestyle), Thursday, 19 June 2003 04:07 (twenty-two years ago)

in gorby we trust is the shit u r gayy

― donut bitch (donut), Thursday, 19 June 2003 04:10 (twenty-two years ago)

it has to be either in gorbachev we trust or phorward. although i haven't actually heard drop and am unsure as to why i would want to. it all seemed to go pear shaped for them after they signed to one little indian and then getting moulded into a chart phenomena.

one little indian's attempts to do the same to the finitribe failed miserably.

― frenchbloke (frenchbloke), Thursday, 19 June 2003 05:51 (twenty-two years ago)

I'd say the death of Will Sin was the beginning of the end clearly, although I'm still puzzled as to what his contributions to the music was, aside from the odd rapping song.

En Tact was their shining glory I think, picking whichever of the gazillion versions of the release you want. Though I'm glad someone spoke up for Phorward, which was partially newly recorded versions of older songs, but contains some of their best crossover 303 material.

― donut bitch (donut), Thursday, 19 June 2003 06:01 (twenty-two years ago)

(meaning the "Phorward" CD, in this case)

― donut bitch (donut), Thursday, 19 June 2003 06:01 (twenty-two years ago)

OK. I accept the general consensus of all right minded people is that
Gorbachev was the master work. I remember seeing them live at ULU at that time and it changing my life. For one thing I wore one of those little round hats for the next 3 years, just like Will wore on stage.

And Phorward, the cusp of them turning acid, basically the acid house version of Strange Days Dream *was* their triumph. But ... you know, it was also a false promise. I don't think the Shamen were really much good at that techno thing. En-tact was pleasant at the time, but I haven't listened to it for years. The only track I remember is Move Any Mountain, and, frankly, there's not much to that. Ebeneezer Good is probably their best attempt at pop-techno. But the rest of Boss Drum is dire.

Gorbachev was bold, interesting, and has War Prayer, In Gorbachev we Trust, Jesus Loves America, Sweet Young Thing. Yet these days, the only album I feel like going back to is Drop. The haunting melodies of things like Strange Days Dream, Velvet Box, World Theatre, Where Do You Go? etc. are still with me. The lyrics are pretty adolescent, but who cares?

It's definitely not a techno-instrumental vs. guitar based songs thing. 808 State or Orbital were producing masterpieces at the time. I clearly remember things like Pacific State, Cubik, Cobra Bora, Chime, Belfast etc. And when I go back and relisten, they're still brilliant. But The Shamen were basically a good psychadelic, song band, who had the sense to get great remixes.

― phil jones (interstar), Thursday, 19 June 2003 06:42 (twenty-two years ago)

Some of their best early songs weren't on Drop which what makes it lose marks for me, i.e. Shitting On Britain and Knature of A Girl.

Seeing them in 1989 was one of the best two gigs I've ever seen.

― tigerclawskank, Thursday, 19 June 2003 08:00 (twenty-two years ago)

d'oh. drop - i have that, not one of my favourites, tho. (i misread it into thinking it was something post 92ish. me bad)

will sin did a lot more than the occasional rap - he played bass and did a lot of the sampling / programming from what i remember. a top bloke too.

the shamen vs bam bam was one hell of a collaboration - my shamen wake-up call. i loved knature of a girl (sadly i seem to have lost my copy)

― frenchbloke (frenchbloke), Thursday, 19 June 2003 08:10 (twenty-two years ago)

(I do have to stay that the original version of _En:Tact_ is just BRILLIANT and I deeply love every song on it, especially "Oxygen Restriction", "Hyperreal" and "Hear Me O My People".)

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Thursday, 19 June 2003 10:06 (twenty-two years ago)

five years pass...

wtf is the arpeggiator synth line on Omega Amigo? 10/16? that track rules the school. Can't believe I'm the first person repping it on this whole board in seven years.

― TOMBOT, Friday, 31 October 2008 05:23 (seventeen years ago)

we'll always have time

― Ragnar's Savoury Pockets (If You Whiz) (Mackro Mackro), Friday, 31 October 2008 05:28 (seventeen years ago)

I missed the original Omega Amigo single, but thankfully I have it on one of those cheapo Beechwood Top Hits of UK Indie CDs from 1989 or so. The honeydew green one that also has Spacemen 3, Dub Sex, Spacemen 3, and A Guy Called Gerald on it.

― Ragnar's Savoury Pockets (If You Whiz) (Mackro Mackro), Friday, 31 October 2008 05:30 (seventeen years ago)

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