A Ring Of Saturn

Those who look at this album-length "EP" as the next bold step in the evolution of the ever-progressing Goldie will be disappointed, simply because that's not what it's supposed to be. As Goldie himself admits, his musical passions and creativity experienced a rebirth in the making of SATURNZ RETURN, and the cuts here offer remixes of tracks from that recording, presenting an intriguing alternate view of the album. Ethereal vocal samples mix with deftly manipulated breakbeats, orchestral stabs, exotic-sounding percussion and naked electronics to create a sonic landscape that's alternately frenetic and soothing, inviting and tumultuous. Over an hour in length, RING OF SATURN seems to stretch the traditional time barrier of EPs, but that's the way Goldie wants this recording to be percieved, not as a free-standing artistic statement, but as a bridge between his third and fourth albums. As such, it's entirely successful on its own terms.|

After the negative response to his two-disc sophomore album SaturnzReturn, Goldie's next major release was (thankfully) an EP, albeit a ten-track, 60-minute EP. Fortunately, Ring of Saturn returns the producer to exactly what made his reputation: the tightest breakbeats and most original effects around. Ring of Saturn begins with a VIP remix of "Mother" -- a track whose album version was over an hour long -- that drastically improves the original simply by trimming the endless wash of swirling orchestration that began and closed the track in its original incarnation. Signs of Goldie's particular affinity for excess (read: super-slick jazz-fusion) are still noticeable; the emphasis single is a cover of Bobby Caldwell's quiet-storm chestnut "What You Won't Do for Love" with longtime Goldie collaborator Diane Charlemagne on vocals. The other unreleased tracks however, are leaner and much more tied to underground jungle than anything on SaturnzReturn, and it's a much better release. Rounding out the EP are remixes -- by Optical and Grooverider -- of the Noel Gallagher collaboration "Temper Temper," and both are excellent examples of twisted industrial tech-step. ~ John Bush