Supermodified

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Editorial reviews

Amazon.co.uk Review
Supermodified is the stunning fourth album from Amon Tobin. Hard-edged tracks like "Four Ton Mantis" and "Saboteur" are juxtaposed against melodic downbeat excursions like "Slowly", "Marine Machines" and "Natureland". "Deo" fuses a Brazilian guitar sample with razor sharp break-beats that sound like Egberto Gismonti jamming with Squarepusher. "Precursor" (a collaboration with Montreal beatboxer Quadraceptor) merges off-the-wall scat rhythms with jazzy guitar riffs. "Golfer Vs Boxer" sounds like the bastard child of Innerzone Orchestra's "Bug In The Bassbin". Supermodified is an album where generic conventions get turned on their heads, as Latin, drum 'n' bass, bossa nova and jazzy instrumentation collide with genetically modified oscillations and polyrhythms: break-beats have been sculpted from spitting and farting; bass sounds have materialised from motorbikes and tubas. This all adds weight to the fact that Amon Tobin is a truly experimental artist who has mutated caustic beats with sumptuous melodies to produce a hauntingly seductive album. --Terna Heuston-Jibo

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Customer reviews

review by: date: 2008-08-12 rating:
Featuring 'Quadraceptor' (!)
Laterally, 'Supermodified' is a mood piece, sound-scapes etc, but as a concept, I'm afraid it's off the rails. It doesn't draw the line, it's in over it's head - I get a disturbing feeling that it's something to be scared of.
The road Amon Tobin is walking, isn't gonna lead anywhere good.
'Supermodified' is extremely corrupt. Full of decadent ideas and whims all crammed up against each other like lemmings. It conjures up areas of mystery and sultry dynamics, readily striking maddening chords in reviewers, like yours truly, who vociferously decry 'rock' in all it's insidious forms, but hypocritically embrace it's very fundamentals at every opportunity.
'Supermodified' has as it's granddaddy, 23 Skidoo's epic 'Seven Songs' from way-back. It has the same granite intensity, the same uncompromising fluidity.
I know nothing about Amon Tobin, I'm non-plussed about his hap-hazard title, and I'm immediately suspicious of anything 'Featuring Quadraceptor' (what IS that!?) but you get the feeling he shouldn't be confined, plonking away in dank, dungeon-esque studio's. He should be out in the sunshine, floating over field and dale, invoking mind-imagery in a classical music sense. Film work surely beckons.
'Supermodified' is the angular, spiky world of 'electronic brush-strokes' to cosh a cliché, but it's surprisingly diverse, deceptively melodic and, after a good few spins, genuinely haunting.
Deconstructivist jollity aside, I was riveted by 'Supermodified' and I wouldn't mind more. I just wish I could be sure it was safe.

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review by: d.j.a. date: 2008-04-25 rating:
Moresome!
Amon Tobin is a class act... period!

Search out all his work, including Cujo, and you will never be disappointed whenever you play him in all your years to come.

Genius... the guy is an artistic genius.

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review by: date: 2005-10-27 rating:
You NEED this!!!
This guy is seriously cool, and incredibly talented.

As has been said numerous times already, Amon Tobin's music cannot be easily pigeon-holed into a particular genre. As a guide, just realise that Tobin is the biggest selling Ninja Tune artist. Given that, you will know to expect top-quality beats.

Part Drum & Bass, part breakbeat, part hip-hop beats, and always catchy, Supermodified has a bit of everything. This album, more than any of his others (except "Chaos Theory") really creates that oft described "cinematic" atmosphere. You can't listen to 'Four Ton Mantis' and it's steady build to crescendo without imaging it being the title track to some hi-tech thriller movie. The experience is recreated in many of the other tracks, such as 'Rhino Jockey'.

'Deo' is another standout track. Try listening to this slow-tempo number without waiting in anticipation for the chime-esque effect that occurs every so often during it. It's just brilliant.

'Slowly' again shows that Tobin can slow things down from his often break-neck speed beats. Cool jazz and some fresh beats has never sounded so good.

In conclusion: Perfect, absolutely perfect. Chill-out to it, get psyched-up by it, do anything with it on. It's just brilliant.

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review by: date: 2005-06-05 rating:
Take it "Slowly"..............
Oh boy! "slowly" that is such a gorgeous track.
Mr Tobin you were inspired when you recorded this.


review by: date: 2002-03-27 rating:
Unrhythmical and devoid of any melody
How this has received so many 5 star reviews is beyond me. This CD is devoid of any real rhythm or groove to make your head rock. Yes there are many various styles used but it doesn't add to the final product instead it sounds like a mish mash of a sampling machine and sound effects.

Most tracks immediately turn me off and despite wanting to get into this it will not be one of those CD's that I return to in a few weeks, months or years as it is going into the bin. All I can say is that if you do choose to buy this then it will be money poorly spent...

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