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Description
GDRC-600
Mar 01, 2000
USD $9.99
Low Stock
CD 3xLP
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A:xus - Soundtrack for Life
Guidance Recordings is pleased to announce the release of 'Soundtrack For Life' the highly anticipated debut album from Austin 'A:xus' Bascom. One of the most exciting and innovative producers to emerge from the fertile Toronto electronic scene, Bascom's seminal recordings for Fragile, Prescription and Guidance have earned him widespread critical acclaim and a die hard following within the global dance community. On ' Soundtrack For Life' Austin combines the classic moments from his past with his sonic vision of the future to create a captivating electronic journey through the modern urban soundcape. The seamless musical menu of deep house, techno, funk, electro and acid jazz make this album an ideal soundtrack for 21st Century living. 'Soundtrack for Life' is a fitting testimony to Bascom's vision and versatility and an inspired blueprint for modern urban dance music. The journey begins with 'Callin' U' a lush space samba version of Jevetta Steele's theme from the cult film 'Baghdad Cafe'. 'Callin U' has achieved classic status on the underground, becoming a major radio hit in Europe and a favorite of Francois Kevorkian at his Legendary Body and Soul sessions. Next up is 'Emotionally Raw' a gorgeous aptmospheric breakbeat remix for Glasgow's Bomba Recordings that has never been available to the record buying public until now. 'My Planet Rocks' is a classic electro house tribute to Arthur Baker which may well be the defining moment in Austin's Recording career thus far. An absolutely mindblowing futuristic electronic journey into deepest sonic space. Haunting synths, a liquid bassline and muted effects really take you away. Austin keeps up the space aged pressure with 'Synchronicity' a brand new super funky electro jam that just build and builds! If you dig 'My Planet Rock's' this bona fide futuristic breakers delight is for you! On 'Near or Far' our man takes a pause for the cause, dropping the vibe down nicely with this ethereal electro soul ballad featuring beautiful otherworldly vocals from newcomer Rosina before building the groove back up on 'Pluto'a never before released version of the deep dreamy Detroit flavored tech-house classic that helped define the early Abacus sound. 'Oceans Between Us' sees Austin venture admirably into the drum and bass arena, fusing relentless breakbeats with soothing space aged synth sounds to create nuff dubplate pressure. Continuing to display his versatile style, he drops it down a notch on 'Soundtrack For Life' a dark, cinematic sci fi hip hop jam that would fit perfectly on the Blade Runner 2 soundtrack. 'Lazy Hazy Crazy Days' is a warm and lovely instrumental jazz funk joint with live bass, tight drum programming and delicious spine tingling keys. Pure Class! ' Next on deck is 'Taxi Blues' an ultra cool finger snapping, hip swinging acid Jazz tribute to the legendary Bob James. Groovy Baby! "Nice 2 See U Again" is another aptmospheric electro soul ballad served up by Austin and Naomi setting the stage perfectly for the Euopean club smash "When I Fall in Love" Gorgeous vocals from Jenny B of Esthereo over a pumping 'Inner City' style hands in the air techno house groove. Massive!!! If thats not enough, Austin takes us away with 'You Make Me Feel Like' the brillant new follow up single to 'Callin U'. This stunning slice of soulful uplifting vocal house featuring Naomi Nisembi is destined to become an anthem on dancefloors across the planet. Bascom delivers the knockout punch here with an exquisite production that guarantees him a bright musical future. A devastating bassline, dramatic strings and gorgeous feel good vocals will have you singing clapping and jumping 4 joy! can I get an amen!
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Callin' U |
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Emotionally Raw |
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My Planet Rocks |
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Synchronicity |
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Near or Far |
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Pluto |
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Oceans Between Us |
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| 8 |
Sountrack for Life |
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Lazy Hazy Crazy Days |
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Taxi Blues |
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| 11 |
Nice 2 See You Again |
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When I Fall |
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Peace and Love and Happiness |
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Reviews
Magazine Reviews
Canadian dance artist struggle to be recognized on the world dance market in much the same way as Australian dance artists. In an industry dominated by Europe and the United States, the rest of the world's output tends to be overlooked. So how about a little empathy for our underdog Brothers in Rhythm. Austin bascom is one Canadian worthy of out attention. He records as both Abacus and A:xus and although he has released this as A:xusmany of the tracks productions are credited to Abacus-how very Prince?The Artist. bascom specializes in minimal, instrumental house. Soundtrack for lifge is dominated by warm and mellow house grooves (Synchronicity) that occassionally dissolve into spacious techno (Pluto) gentle acid (My Planet Rocks) and Breakbeat (Oceans Between Us). The title track finds him involved in some trippy streetsoul beats while Taxi Blues is an outright jazz tune. His vocal tracks include his popular house ballad cover of the Baghad cafe theme "Callin U" the ambihouse "Near or Far", the brief yet funky "Nice To See You Again' and his most commercial effort, the uplifting house anthem ' You Make Me Feel Like" ( Peace & Love & Happiness). Bascom's best moment is the deep house "When I Fall in Love" which borrows from the Nat King Cole song of the same name (there is another nod to Cole with the jazz instrumental "Lazy,Hazy, Crazy Days") and creates an EBTG-like love song of bruised romance and brushed beats.
Beat-Andrew Mast
May 1, 2000
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Guidance Recordings starts the New Year off proper with the much anticipated debut release from Toronto-based producer Austin "A:xus" Bascom (formerly Abacus). Featuring the rapturous underground hit "Callin' U," Soundtrack For Life is a subterranean urban panorama seamlessly blending lush deep house with sublime ambient textures, electro, soul, jazz and leftfield experimentation. The 13-track opus resonates with seductively hypnotic songs ideal for teh dancefloor or chill-out room including: the sumptuous soulful ballad "Nice 2 See U Again," the atmospheric "Near Or Far," the instrumental jazz-funk groove "Lazy, Hazy, Crazy Days," and the funky European house hit "When I Fall In Love" (which features the exquisite vocals from Jenny B. of Esthero).
BPM Culture - Craig Roseberry
Jun 1, 2000
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Soundtrackl for Life is the debut album from accomplished Canadian house producer Austin bascom who has also employed the aliases A:xus and Abacus. Over the years, Bascom has issued his work on respectable labels like Fragile , Prescription and and Guidance. He also collaborated with Esthero on their 1998 album Breath For Another. Soundtrack For Life wades through everything from soulful garage to deep house to ambient techno. There is at least one unexpected surprise: an unlikely jouse interpretation of of Jevetta Steele's gospel soul "Callin U".
Onion
Mar 31, 2000
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If and when a documentary on electronic music is made, the debut album from Austin Bascom (aka A:xus) would make the perfect soundtrack. Based in Toronto, A;xus gained success when disc's haunting deep house opener "Baghdad Cafe (Callin U')" appeared on David Alvarado's acclaimed compilation "Midnight Express". On "Soundtrack For Life" A:xus seamlessly combines the classic moments from his past with his sonic vision of the future creating a captivating journey through the modern urban soundscape. His delicate interpretation of Nat King Cole's "When I Fall in Love" is one of the album's many vocal highs and the downtempo "Taxi Blues" showcases his poignant side. As the new millennium dawns, A:xus provides us with the perfect soundtrack for 21st century living.
Beat Magazine
Apr 5, 2000
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Looking for a soul inspired dance album to accompany the change of seasons, then look no further. Its all here on the debut album by Chicago outfit A:xus ( also known as Abacus). Tight funky house music production is given wings via the strong musicality of the tracks on offer and the dreamy female vocals. Sultry deep house can best be found on the two cover versions on offer-excellent versions of "Callin U" Nat King Cole's "When I Fall in Love". Elsewhere, there's jazz, breakbeat and soul thrown into the mix, ensuring a welcome diversity of groove quality . Check out the cool flow of "Lazy,Hazy, Crazy Days" and the excellent laidback flow "Taxi Blues". Highly recommend.
Sain
May 15, 2000
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To A:xus aka Austin Bascom, it's not just music, it's a way of life. His deep-seated, techno-house hybrid grooves are soaked in emotion and feeling, his real life experiences having an undoubtedly lasting effect on his work. Opening with his magical interpretation of theme tune from Baghdad Cafe, Bascom flirts elegantly with downtempo beat structures on "Raw Emotions", "Synchronicity" and the hip-hop oriented title track and 21st century soul with "Nice To See You Again". However it's a dancefloor tempo that his work is most suited to: drawing on his Chiago house and Detroit techno legacies in equal measures. Soundtrack for Life boasts the Larry Heard meets Red Planet "Pluto" and the house groove of "When I Fall In Love" ideal for crowded clubs 6 am sessions and summer days. Soundtrack For Life does exactly what it says on the packet. (RB)
Hot Press
Apr 5, 2000
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With the recent barrage of "soundtracks" flooding the market, local boy Austin "A:xus" Bascom cuts through the crowd. Austin A.K.A. Abacus, having earned both critical acclaim and a loyal following from the global dance community, has put together a true soundtrack for the 21st century. Solid tracks include the crowd pleasing cover of Baghdad Cafe's "Callin U" featuring the vocals of Naomi Nsombi. In "Near or Far," newcomer Rosina's soulful vocals add to the hot electro soul ballad, and Bratticus a.k.a Jenny B. of Esthero lends her talent to the tech house hit "When I Fall In Love." "Taxi Blues," an Acid Jazz tribute to Bob James, is as groovy as it comes. With sounds including deep house, electro, funk, garage and acid jazz, this debut album gives a broad view of A:xus' innovative talents and demonstrates his vision of dance music's future. -Luis Sequiera
The People Have Spoken (TPHS)
Apr 4, 2000
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Historically, house music has been driven by the 12" vinyl single. But, recently acts like Atlanta's Wamdue Project and even the UK's Presence have redefined the genre into a viable album format. And it's refreshing to finally see house artists exploring this new terrain with the same enthusiasm that hip hop and other dance genres have. Under the pseudonym A:xus, Toronto basaed Austin BAscom adds his name to house's fledgling album tradition with his debut, Soundtrack For Life. Starting off with his rendition of Jevetta Steele's "Baghdad Cafe," Bascom moves through a myriad of styles over the course of the album; house, techno, drum 'n' bass, hip hop. On "Pluto," an instrumental of his earlier track, "Black Thanks," Bascom offers an interpretation fo the Detroit techno spawned by Juan Atkins and Derrick May. Bascom touches on drum 'n' bass with "Oceans Between Us" while "Nice To See You Again" featuring Naomi Nsombi swells into an emotive, R'n'B marvel. As the machine soul theme to the 21st century, Soundtrack....welcomes you to your wonderful life. Exquisite.
Revolution - Chris Orr
Apr 1, 2000
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If you've been keeping an ear to the ground over the last few years than you'll already be familiar with the cool tech house grooves of and hip grinding vocal anthems of Toronto's Austin "Abacus" Bascom. But its not until this, his debut album (under the guise of A:xus) that the full range of his musical ability has become evident-across not just house and techno, but also blues inflected downtempo, ethereal breakbeat and planet rockin electro. While an effective melancholia ties the tracks together and makes for an enduring sonic oddessy, the key to success rests with the fact that Bascom doesn't fall prey to the pitfall of foresaking the dancefloor for those of the headphones. Last year's Body and Soul fave "Baghdad Cafe" is here, as are other positive vocal house gems like 1998's anthemic "When I Fall in Love" and the upbeat "You Make Me Feel Like ( the next single) but so are magical hypnotic grooves such as "Raw Emotion" a certian Detroit cousin to Nu Yorican Soul's "Nervous Track." Backed up by narcotic downbeat instrumentals and warm Derrick May like Techno, this isn't so much a soundtrack for life, but a soundtrack of our times.
DJ Magazine-Sean Bidder
Mar 30, 2000
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Keeping it simple sometimes pays off. A:xus's debut album has no need to resort to any fancy percussion tricks or overindulgent sampling tricks, but simplely, skillfully creates lush swathes of ambient techno. The gentle collision of laidback soulful vocals with an incandescent shower of deep house and acid jazz is a subtley involving piece of music, it's gradually involving loops a wonderfully scenic journey. To keep the tempo going occasional breaks in the sun are provided with a bluesy guitar on "Soundtrack for LIfe" and a vocal reminiscent of Bjork of "When I Fall in Love", but the rest of this is dreamy techno with crystal clear production. Skip the horribly lightweight closing song and you have a very pleasent piece of contemporary urban dance. Sit back, relax and enjoy the perfect album for going absolutely no where. Alex Whitehead
Rocksound
Apr 1, 2000
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This is the first full length offering from Toronto's Austin "A:xus" Bascom, who's released a modest amount of quality singles for a wealth of top underground vinyl emporiums. Widely-known for his break out hit "Baghdad Cafe (Callin U)" snatched from the like-named movie, Bascom shows that he has quite a few more good ideas up his sleeve. While not quite as polished as Mr. Fingers' seminal "Introduction" or as musically adventurous as Presence's recent "All Systems Gone", this first offering finds it producer walking the fine line between trackmeister and full-on songsmith. In the gorgeous "Near or Far" or the downright crafty, electro flavour of "My Planet Rocks" Bascom's tracks are curiosly refreshing and unusual. When he goes for the sing-along anthem, he does well with Estero's Jenny B fronting "When I Fall in Love" but runs in to a wall of lyrical cliches on "You Make Me Feel LIke (Peace & Love & Happiness)." In the end, Soundtrack for Life possesses all of the warmth of a dance album that was made in your bedroom. But if he really wants to takes his music to the next level, a world of new challenges awaits him.
Mixer
Apr 1, 2000
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A:xus makes sweet house music for the soul. The Toronto-based artist also known as Abacus has pulled off an album with widescreen vision and infused with a subtle warmth and inner glow. This is a very downbeat collection, where electronic backwaters ebb and trickle into R&B breaks and stammered drum and bass. Don't expect the classic 'We Cookin Now" or any of his Prescription material; he doesn't need it here. That Abacus witnessed Derrick May and Chez Damier at the halcyon days of Detriot's Music Institute is evident-this album has you rushing back to your Red Planet or Mr. Fingers 12"'s. Nat King Cole's classic "When I Fall in Love" shines in its new surroundings and if everyone could craft vocals as sweet as on'Baghdad Cafe' clubland would be a better place.
Straight No Chaser-MC
Apr 15, 2000
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If this is the soundtrack to Austin Bascom's life, then his must be filled with dreamy, gravity-defying dance floors where sultry singers croon fragile harmonies and angular beats curl around your spine, caressing it rather than commanding it to dance. The opening four tracks are little short of breathtaking. "Calling U," already a hit in Francois Kevorkian's Body & Soul sets, is a warm, deep house rumble. "Emotionally Raw" marries a sweet staccato rhythm to a lush synth wash. "My Planet Rocks" has an electro tinge but transposes the Arthur Baker sound to a weightless jam on one of Pluto's moons, and the beats on "Synchronicity" sound like pulses from an underwater laser battle, envelo(o)ped in dark Detroit chords. Elsewhere, tech-house, proto-jungle, and even acid jazz all get props. On "Nice To See You Again," Bascom teams up with singer Naomi Nsombi to murmur an emotive soul ballad that in the hands of a lesser producer would have come off as cheesy and schmaltzy- in this electronic context, it's truly affecting. In short, it looks like we have an early contender for album of the year.
URB - Kieran Wyatt
Apr 1, 2000
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The feeling of ecstasy, rather than the drug, has always been a part of house music; orgasmic anthems like "Break For Love" and "French Kiss" are the most popular examples. There's no doubt that Toronto producer Austin Bascom shares an interest in the matter, but he's one of the few to express it from positions of melancholy and yearning. His debut album under the alias A:xus (but also featuring tracks as A'ba-cus) reveals those voices with a depth of soul that's rarely been paralleled in the recent history of this music. "Baghdad Cafe (Callin' U)," "Near or Far" and "Nice To See You Again" fill the emptiness of loss between lovers with lyrics poetically illustrate their telepathic communion. The beats are minimal on such cuts, but like the vocals their pulse is hypnotic. On "When I Fall In Love" and "You Make Me Feel Like (Peace & Love & Happiness)" Bascom's songwriting is much more sentimental, but his production speaks from a place of intimacy that's bound to weaken the knees even while the bass keeps the feet on the floor. It's clear that this guy takes his romance seriously, but it's more passionate than charming. The introspective electro layers on "My Planet Rocks" and the interstellar drum & bass interlude, "Oceans Between Us," attest to this. The only shortcomings of this album are in the instrumental down-tempo tracks like "Taxi Blues" and "Lazy, Hazy, Crazy Days," where Bascom's production is flat by comparison. They do break up the album's flow, but nothing is as sophisticated and seductive when the beats are up and fine vocalists like Naomi N' Sembi, Rose Kazi and Bratticus (aka Esthero) are in his mix.
Exclaim
Mar 7, 2000
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If you;ve seen the timeless classic Baghdad Cafe, directed by German left of center motion picture visionary, Percy Adlon you will instantly recognize the lead track (of the same name) on this stunning debut from Axus. With the vocals performed by Naomi Nisombi comes the same wonderful sense of freedom and liberty found in Adlon's masterpiece . The freedom to impress is certainly an imperative for A:xus (real name Austin Bascom, alias Abacus) who incorporates everything from deep house to downtempo to drum and bass with even a splash of Detroitish t echno on this smahing new release from Guidance. "My Planet Rocks" and "Pluto" represent Detroit with their stark Motor city beats and surreal chord washes. "Near or Far" incorporates the most beautiful vocals from Rosina and while essentially beatless would provide the perfect set starters. "Oceans between us" could have been produced by LTJ Bukem, while the title track is a clever melange of saved voicemail messages and shadowy abstract hip hop percussion. Pure and honest electronic music from a superbly talented artist-another classic from Chi-town's cutting edge Guidance.
XlR8R -Luke Magnuson
Feb 14, 2000
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A smooth mix of slow-groovin, hip-movin: funky and sometimes New agey house, you could listen to this disc every day for the next month and still hear new things each time around. Some of these songs go diving deep into the depths with water colored bass lines, while others reflect the hot yellow/orange of sunflowers. It spans the range from moody downtempo to the thrill of an ice cold shower in July. It just goes to show, you can always put your trust in Guidance.
Hour Magazine
Feb 15, 2000
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The long awaited debut set from Austin "A:xus" Bascom finally arrives from Chicago's highly productive Guidance Recordings. "Soundtrack To Life" fuses all the best parts of deep house with tinges of jazz, funk, ambient and garage to very good effect on vocal cut "Bagdad CafŽ (Callin' U)" which features the vox of Namoi N'Sembi, you become enthralled by the warm creativity of this guy - who made his name with the production outfit A'ba-cus.Tunes such as "Raw Emotions", "Near Or Far", "Taxi Blues" and "Synchronicity" are all superb deep house grooves while Namoi N'Sembi again lends her tonsils on "Nice To See You Again" and the excellent "You Make Me Feel Like (Peace, Love & Happiness)" while the Nat King Cole penned "When I Fall In Love" works very well with a gorgeous vocal from Bratticus. Altogether an impressive debut, but typical of the quality to expect from Guidance Recordings.
Blues and Soul-Benjamin Mynott
Feb 9, 2000
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First he was Abacus, now he's simply A:xus but whatever he calls himself Austin Bascom has long been one of the jewels in Guidance's deep house crown. From the imperial funk and roll of older tracks like"We Cookin" from his "Analog Tracks" twelves to last year's near perfect soulful overdose 'Baghdad Cafe' (Callin U'): the Abacus/A:xus tag has long been a byword for house music made with depth and emotion to burn. This, men is an album for dancefloors and headphones alike. Vocal cuts like 'Near and Far' and the Nat King Cole cover "When I Fall in Love" glide serenely by before the deep space jazz of 'Pluto' or 'Emotionally Raw' take you way, way out there. A 'Soundtrack For Life' is exactly what it is: score yourself some today!
Muzik Magazine-Cal Gibson
Feb 9, 2000
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Goddamn It! When is Guidance going to put something crap out? Then we can get on with that fine tradition of knocking someone the minute they put a foot wrong. Still for the time being the label and particularly Austin 'A:xus' Bascom are safe: this is the finest piece of soulful house in aeons, encompassing the broken beat of "Emotionally Raw" the murky deep house of "Pluto" and Body and Soul anthem "When I Fall in Love." Nick Holder, the king of Canadian house had better watch his back. There's a new kid in town and he doesn't take prisoners.
Jockey Slut-Ben Mortimer
Feb 8, 2000
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Guidance starts 2000 with the much anticipated debut LP release from Toronto-based producer Austin "A:xus" Bascom (fomerly Abacus). Featuring the rapturous underground hit "Callin' U," Soundtrack for Life is a subterranean urban panorama seamleassly blending lush deep house with sublime ambient textures, electro, soul, jazz and leftfield experimentation. The 13-track opus resonates with seductively hyupnotic songs ideal for the dancefloor or chill-out room.
Flyer NYC - Craig Roseberry
Feb 1, 2000
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Toronto based Austin 'Axus' Bascom has long been something of a legend on the house scene and 'Sound For Life' shows why. Gorgeous vocals pepper deep, sumptuous beats, leaving the harmonies to lift you to that special place. From the blissed-out soul of Baghdad Cafe to the uplifting funk of When I Fall, Bascom soundtracks a life of slackness. Sit back, spark up, and tune in.
Ministry
Feb 1, 2000
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Guest Reviews
Superb sublime deep house. An amalgamation of cool, cosmopolitan "proper" house music that deserves another 5 star rating...
Noel Morgala
Nov 9, 2001
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A fantastic release the embodiment of deep house from the rather excellent Guidance label.Perfect music for relaxing evening and those 4am moments and ny girlfriend likes it to boot.
Daniel Walsh
May 15, 2001
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Fabulously aptmospheric. When I Fall in is completely amazing - voice is stunningand ; the beat lifts you.You Make Me Feel stunningly sou&38; ambiant. I glad I managed to track this down...
Tara Salo
May 4, 2001
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excellent
ron pallini
Jan 14, 2001
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I must admit I picked up this CD for the interesting graphics and since it was used, I gave it a listen. Also was intrigued by the address of Guidance - I grew up next to Halsted St. on the So. side. Well, I was not quite prepared for the music that hit my ears. It was electronica, with a funky, acid jazz flavor. Some tracks had danceable beats, while others were almost in the Trance arena. While some drum and bass fans would say the music would put them to sleep (it is NOT the Chemical Bothers), I found the CD a joy to listen to even though I had trouble catagorizing it. As a measure of what appeals to me, and why I liked this record, let me say that I really like Moby's last two CD's but not his early stuff. I guess that makes me something less than a hard-core electronica fan but on the other hand, I am also a smooth jazz fan. Now all I have to do is figure out how to pronounce the artists name!
john lehner
Jan 10, 2001
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House beats all night long!!!!!
crsa3k
Dec 19, 2000
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Soundtrack For Life is an ambitious title. How can one artist craft a soundtrack to fit all of life's moods and quirkiness?Ê It's theoretically impossible, but A:XUS creates a fluid soundscape with this effort that reflects the diversity of life. The first thing you should know is that this record is MELLOW. Everything has soft, wispy keyboards that seem to link the tracks together. This album is a journey. It takes you through the different stitches of the electronic music fabric forming a patchwork of satisfaction. When you come to the end, you're grateful for the experience and sorry that it had to end. I found it similar to listening to I:CUBE's Picnic Attack mixed with Nightmare on Wax's Smoker's Delight. Ambient, spacey house that morphs into jazzy trip-hop that morphs into "body and soul" house. There's even a drum and bass number, albeit somewhat weak. "Baghdad Cafe (Callin' U)" is the first track. It is a preview of what is to come near the end of the album, starting off with a nice mellow house groove. There are vocals on the track, and I'm known for despising vocals, but here they aren't intruding. This is a track that will get some play in the wiser house venues. "Raw Emotions" follows and has this spacious ambient feel running through it then comes "My Planet Rocks", a Miami-Bass throwback with those soft, textured keyboard lines fluttering over it.Ê Both tracks have a serious dub feel to them and should get some club play but probably won't. "Synchronicity" will leave you in a deep trance after the panning sets in. A trippy track that's one of my favorites on the album, it reminds me of Autechre, in their softer moments. I can't get enough of this track and I always find a way to slip it on. You want more trancey sounds?Ê"Pluto" is reminiscent of the trance sound of 1993. "Soundtrack For Life", is like a DJ Krush loop with samples of an answering machine/voice mail thrown in here and there. It has a strong hip-hop beat but is still on the mellow side. This is followed by two very strong tracks, "Lazy, Hazy,Ê Crazy Days" and "Taxi Blues". The former is aÊ nice after party chill track on the trip-hop tip. "Taxi Blues" is literally like the theme to TV's Taxi updated '99 style. The last three tracks morph into mellow house, forming a perfect loop, taking us back to where the album first started off. The first time I heard this album, I was blown away. A couple of more times, I started to ask myself if the sum was critical to the parts. Some of the tracks can definitely stand on their own, but others only seem to work in context with the others on the album. Did A:XUS craft a soundtrack for life? Not really, but he has crafted one of the more listenable albums on the chill out side since Smoker's Delight, which is good enough. Perfect for decompressing after a long day of work or a long night of clubbing. Guidance Recordings has been putting out quality product and is definitely a label worth paying attention to.
punkdolphin
Nov 22, 2000
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makes me wanna get out of bed in the morning.......yes.
kate
Oct 20, 2000
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Great Cd, very chillin' stuff. Except track 2, which really almost soured the album for me the first time I heard it. What a wretched sounded squall that woman makes!
Bruce
Oct 13, 2000
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One of the best sounds around. A beat that drills right down to your core, you just can't help loving the tunes.
Rob
Jul 24, 2000
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Pure Guidance. This is one of the best deep house CD to chill-out to. "Soundtrack for Life" is literally what it means here from the begining track to the end with Naomi on "You Make Me Feel Like.."Brilliant, inspiring, cascading beautiful deep-soul house. A1 in my books.
Taff (Singapore)
Jul 7, 2000
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Another gem from Guidance, they just keep on getting better..."Sountrack for life" is just the record to play on that summers day cool and mellow.."Callin u," a great chill out track from a hard night to the dance floor classic "You Make Me Feel Like"...Any Person who has never herd of Guidance Records will know that after listening to "Soundtrack for life" there are more great things to come...
Smooth
Jun 19, 2000
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My first disc from Guidance Recordings, a very good introduction to what looks like one awesome collection of records. Keep it up!
Matias
Jun 13, 2000
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See on see, mis on ›ige vaim ja meel, mida kannab Guidance! VŠga hea! See plaat lihtsalt ON! Ta ei saa olemata olla. Siin on midagi raske šelda, te saate ju niigi sellest aru. SEDA MUUSIKAT MA ARMASTAN...
SAN
May 15, 2000
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Esto es de lo m‡s chingon que existe en la tierra!! un super viaje escuchar a A:xus !!!!
Sabino Mtz.(Sabdesign)
May 12, 2000
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I so disappointed I didn' t knew the existence of this record. Although a fun of guidance recordings I believe that this sound is the newest thing I have ever heard. I don' t believe that this music should be rated for it is impossible to rate your own soul and feellings. Greetings from Greece (hoping that my fellow people will get to know with true music sometime).
Chris
Apr 17, 2000
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i remember the first time i heard Austin's track "phases"(the sample is taken from Logic's "the warning"on strictly rhythm) in gramophone in Chicago. the feeling that i felt all throughout my body as the synths bathe the mans voice. then the drum kick and congos.i was hooked on that track for years. i still play it religiously.keep it up brotha!!!!
wayne folk (metrarecords)
Apr 17, 2000
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Simply Brilliant. A fabulous mix of deep,acid and soulful house. A defenite recommendation for any house lover.
Davide Di Loreto
Apr 11, 2000
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sonidos espectaculares de abacus, lo mas
poppy manzanedo
Apr 10, 2000
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mane itss killerrrrrr
q-but
Mar 31, 2000
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have over the years been taken aback by past morsels that filter down to australia, "when i fall" takes all honour's as the most perfectly georgous bit so far....regards from down under, way down.....
aaron d leask
Mar 30, 2000
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Abacus has always been 'not-your-average' deep house producer. Apart from great groove-stuff (like the classic 'R for Revolution'), he has released rather peculiar tracks that mix electro-beats, deep-house grooves and a chilly atmosphere, like 'A Place in Time' (appeared on the FreeZone 2 compilation) or 'My Planet Rocks' (on Hi-Fidelity House Vol. 1). His debut album -sounds silly if you know that he has been around for several years now- reflects this duality. Chicago groovers like 'You make me feel like (peace & love & happines)' and 'Callin' U', together with sour-tasting pure emotions on 'synchronicity' and 'pluto'. To proove he is still with the game, 'oceans between us' throws in drum'n bass ryhtms. On the vocal side, Naomi N'Sembi has more than enough possibilities to make us want to eat three litres of chocolate ice cream upon hearing her voice ('Baghdad Cafe', 'near or far', 'Nice to see you again'). And the cross-over stuff doesn't end there. 'Soundtrack for life' is downbeat, stuffed with samples. 'Lazy, Hazy, Crazy Days' and 'Taxi Blues' give us more of the same dope shit. Like it. All in all, Abacus has gone way passed the club classics that are mentioned on the little promo label on the cd box. If this is your soundtrack for life, guess your life isn't boring for sure.outspan march00
Freestyle ( www.xyberweb.com/freestyle )
Mar 13, 2000
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Great sound, it shakes but it can really cool you down as well!
Ze Albergaria
Feb 16, 2000
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One of my favourite songs is "When I Fall in Love." I first heard this some 2 years ago...finally, I get to hear more from Axus. I love this cd...great.
anubis
Feb 14, 2000
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Oooh, I like it! Cool SOUL to the bone, for sure. I waited long for this release. When, where, what or why all becomes irrelevant when you listen to "Callin' you" or "When I fall", not to mention THE grand final on "Peace and Love and Happiness"... Thank YOU, Guidance!
DJ b-boy (sweden)
Feb 13, 2000
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A:xus is a huge local talent here in Tdot and on this debut he proves why. I especially loved the tempo changes mid-way through the album and the dusty electro breaks he drops on tracks like "My Planet Rocks," which reminds me of early 4Hero. The jungle-flavored "Oceans Between Us" is just plain dusty. Proper stuff Guidance.
John (JT) Turner
Feb 1, 2000
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This is great! Top tunes, top production, makes you feel warm all over. Nat King Cole has nothing on A'ba-cus. I wish this kind of music was all over the place. Some day, my brethren, some day...
Job de Wit
Jan 26, 2000
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This is music. Sweet soulfoul beats, jazzy house grooves and the sultry sounds of Naomi makes this album come alive! This is what I feel when asked to define house music. Classic tunes orchestrated by a master producer...and chicks (such as yours truly) will love it. Good call Guidance!
ackire tutu
Dec 31, 1999
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Now that's what I call music. Simply beautiful. and the chicks loves it too.
oyvind
Dec 13, 1999
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Had the pleasure of knowing Abacus for sometime now. I live in and DJ here in Toronto with him. I have been around for much part of the compiling of this record. And after listening to it, I believe that Abs has found a place among the masters of production. I call it 4 o'clock in the morning deep, with a little sass, and a lot of soul. Makes me groove no matter what mood im in. Damn fine beats.
Raeni
Nov 20, 1999
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This CD is in my opinion the very definition of deep house. Every single track on this cd will definitely apeal to anyone who enjoys the kind of deep house that makes you feel like your floating off into space. The vocals are just right; soulful and uplifting. And the beats are mellow , but not mellow enough to put you to sleep. Well done.
Rene Decquir
Nov 18, 1999
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A beautifully produced piece of music from a very creative and original composer. Stunning vocals, quality musicians and programming combine to create a cool, breezy and interesting CD. Hopefully this release will stay underground in Australia, as commercialisation can ruin a classy and rare CD. I look forward to ordering this one for the music store I work in.
ADAM MCCUE
Nov 9, 1999
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Bang On - Top to Bottom. Access to music like this is a gift. Enjoy..
The Woz
Nov 5, 1999
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