Ninja Cuts: Flexistentialism

The Ninja Tune label is synonymous with smoky, organic hip-hop beats, and this 1996 compilation was a precursor to the onslaught of "chillout" music that would eventually flood the electronic music market. However, what sets Flexistentialism apart from the rest of those aforementioned compilations (aside from sheer quality of the music itself) is the level of innovation and diversity from artist to artist, while the selections still somehow manage to retain the label's signature sound. The first disc is a showcase for many of those artists who would eventually go on to greater things. While Luke Vibert, German downtempo masters Kruder & Dorfmeister, as well as Herbaliser and DJ Food make noteworthy contributions, it's the classic "Atomic Moog 2000" that is easily the crown jewel of both discs. And while disc one is geared more toward people who enjoy songs, disc two is strictly for the beatheads. A nonstop turntable-happy exercise in beat juggling, "Scratchmological Waxplotation" isn't exactly an essential listen for anyone other than Ninja Tune's already established audience; disc one is definitely where the fun lies for casual listeners. While not an essential purchase or a thorough survey of Ninja Tune's catalog (for that, fans should seek out the outstanding Xen Cuts compilation), this is a fun listen and one that shows just how ahead of its time the label truly is. ~ Rob Theakston