Leftism

Why have I not heard of them before! Plenty of similarities to other EDM acts from the time (e.g. Faithless, Massive Attack, Chemical Brothers, FBS), but this still caught me - adding to my playlists 4/5

Clearly a seminal album of its time. Even more so now with hindsight although it felt pretty important even back then. I could listen to this all day long.

What a freaky coincidence, I’m going to see these guys in a couple of weeks. Which probably gives away my scoring intention. It’s just one of those defining albums from the development of 90s UK electronic music. This one for me kinda takes on the ambient dub style laid down by The Orb, and ramps up the pace with a lot more house and techno, but with the added twist of adding vocals and more traditional song writing structures. The number of different vocalists and styles just add to the albums amazing variety. It just makes it an album to be listened to anywhere, not just on the dance floor. Obvs kudos to Chemical Bros, Death in Vegas etc doing a similar job around the same time in their own styles. I miss those days… 5 stars all the way obvs. Burn Hollywood Burn…..

It's the genre, that's the problem. Dance music records often sound less like actual albums than coding outputs or abstract patterns. And they should definitely avoid vocals, especially lame ones, which are abundant here. A waste of a slot in this esteemed list.

Twchno

I’m more far right

Man hört die 90er aber nichtsdestotrotz ein gelungenes Album…9/10

I’m not usually one to write a short review. Take a look at my history for one minute and you’ll see that’s true. I try to find something interesting to say about each album. This was an exception. This was an electronic/club music album. It was exactly what you’d expect from such a record, except that it was too long and honestly boring at times. There were standout tracks, yes. But that doesn’t mean I loved the album. There were good grooves, and that’s what made them standouts to me. I’ve grown to have an appreciation of this genre of music through this project. While I don’t yet have the vocabulary and understanding necessary to articulate what makes for outstanding examples of this genre, I do know the good stuff when I hear. This wasn’t it for me. Two stars. Standout Tracks: Black Flute, Space Shanty, Inspection (Check One), Storm 3000

I’ve been aware of this record for most of my life, but I’m only just realising now that I’ve never actually heard any of it before. I assumed it was straight down the middle house music, but this has a lot of interesting layers and moods within it, and a real ebb and flow between the tracks. This is exactly my kind of jam as it turns out. I like the overall mood of the thing, but more importantly it still kicks some arse when the beat kicks in.

Wow, dansbaar, vernieuwend en nog steeds geweldig en fris!

What a fantastic electronic album from ‘95. This has tracks that will be immediately going on some special playlists. 10/10 perfect for listening as an album, perfect blends between tracks for DJing into a set. Love it!

Three stars for the music, 1 star for the vocals. Points for the art

Some interesting sounds and beats. Thought of dancing with a pole at Smart Bar.

A bit techy sounding. Not bad, sounds like a new-age 90's movie?

Stundtals riktigt bra.

3.5

This album really tried my patience. Too long and too repetitive.

absolutely loved it. old school EDM never fails to deliver. New artist unlocked!

90s electronic that's sort of cool and sort of very dated and hard to take seriously. More vocals than I was expecting. Not very memorable, but fine.

Loved it ! 3*

Not really for me.

Yep. More 90's niche techno.

Decent background music while working but I don't think I'll be coming back to it

Sounds like a million dollars, and some of the guest performances are great. My biggest issues are the length of most of the tracks, which seems to drag on beyond the date of expiry. Prodigy took notes, and manage to create radio friendly rave music with similar sounds, but more oooomph.

Nearly 30 years old, this. Which means it's the same distance in time from now as The Beatles' Revolver was from it when it was released. I'm probably over-familiar with the singles but the album tracks stand up today. Melt in particular. Original I always liked, besides having quite the crush on Toni Holliday out of Curve. Space Shanty is excellent, what are you talking about? Sure, some of the production and style is showing its age (shout out to the ragamuffins), but it's still great to listen to. The soundtrack to my uni days for sure. Rhythm and Stealth is probably just as good.

158/1001 🌕🌗🌑🌑🌑

Atmospheric African influenced rave music.

Not terrible but it all sounds the same. 90s dance club vibes

I will probably never listen to this again but it got me fired up for my workout.

it’s got a couple of bangers

if there’s one thing this journey has taught me, it’s that i really don’t like electronic music

Just okay techno. Sounds dated. 2/5

This was a lot of fun. I wish I had known of this when it came out. It’s very reminiscent of Massive Attack.

interesting album, enjoyed it quite a bit, good electronic sounds.

Some really good moments

Favourite tracks: melt; open up; release the pressure; black fruit

Meh

this is shit.

Bought this when ot was released. Still listen occasionally. Some good tracks.

Sykt bra lesemusikk

Mid 90s dance/house tracks. Good sound. Like the mix of tribal instruments and voices with Electronica

J’aime pas quand il chante, mais j’ai bien aimé ça en musique d’ambiance

Super fun electronic album. I am definitely adding it to my rotation for this sort of music.

Absolutely brilliant 90's dance album

Horrible

The review that said this was music from a PS2 racing game was correct, but in a good way. Also I'm pretty sure they sampled the Macarena on the first track.

I feel I must at least give it a 2 for popularizing the genre of progressive house and it’s influence on electronic blah blah blah whatever… This was a boring hour and I completely zoned out several times. Wish I could have zoned out the whole time but oh well.

One or two tracks detract from a potential 5 star rating but overall it's a banger

### In-Depth Review of "Leftism" by Leftfield **Album Overview:** "Leftism," released in 1995, is the debut studio album by British electronic duo Leftfield, consisting of Neil Barnes and Paul Daley. It is widely regarded as one of the seminal works in electronic music, blending elements of house, dub, reggae, and techno with intricate production techniques and diverse vocal contributions. #### Lyrics **Pros:** 1. **Variety and Depth:** The album features a range of lyrical styles, from the political and socially conscious to the personal and introspective. This diversity adds layers to the listening experience. 2. **Memorable Phrases:** Tracks like "Open Up" contain iconic lines such as “Burn Hollywood burn,” delivered by John Lydon, which became a rallying cry against the superficiality of the entertainment industry. 3. **Collaborative Strengths:** The contributions from vocalists such as Toni Halliday on "Original" and Djum Djum on "Afro-Left" bring distinct flavors and help convey different themes effectively. **Cons:** 1. **Fragmented Lyrical Cohesion:** While the variety is a strength, it also means that the album lacks a unified lyrical theme, making it feel disjointed at times. 2. **Secondary Role of Lyrics:** In many tracks, the lyrics are secondary to the music, functioning more as an additional instrument rather than a central element. This can make the lyrical content feel less impactful. #### Music **Pros:** 1. **Genre Fusion:** "Leftism" excels in blending various genres seamlessly. The infusion of house, dub, techno, and reggae creates a unique soundscape that was pioneering at the time. 2. **Innovative Rhythms and Melodies:** Tracks like "Song of Life" and "Release the Pressure" showcase complex rhythms and infectious melodies that captivate listeners and encourage repeat plays. 3. **Dynamic Range:** The album’s ability to shift from high-energy tracks to more subdued, atmospheric pieces keeps the listening experience engaging and varied. **Cons:** 1. **Overwhelming for Casual Listeners:** The intricate layers and genre-blending might be overwhelming for those not accustomed to electronic music, potentially alienating casual listeners. 2. **Inconsistent Pacing:** Some listeners might find the transitions between high-energy and slower tracks jarring, affecting the album’s flow. #### Production **Pros:** 1. **High Production Standards:** "Leftism" is renowned for its pristine production quality. The meticulous attention to detail in the mixing and mastering processes ensures a crisp, clear sound that stands the test of time. 2. **Innovative Use of Technology:** The duo’s innovative use of sampling, drum machines, and synthesizers set new standards in electronic music production. The album’s production techniques influenced many subsequent artists and producers. 3. **Spatial Soundscapes:** Tracks like "Melt" and "Space Shanty" create expansive, immersive soundscapes that draw listeners into a different world, showcasing the duo's mastery in creating depth and atmosphere. **Cons:** 1. **Complexity Over Accessibility:** The intricate production may be too complex for some listeners, making the music feel less accessible to a broader audience. 2. **Occasional Overproduction:** In some tracks, the dense layers of sound can feel cluttered, potentially overwhelming the core elements of the music. #### Themes **Pros:** 1. **Diverse Themes:** The album covers a wide range of themes, from political and social commentary in "Open Up" and "Inspection (Check One)" to personal and emotional introspection in "Original." 2. **Cultural Fusion:** The incorporation of diverse cultural elements, such as the African rhythms in "Afro-Left," broadens the thematic scope and adds a global perspective. 3. **Exploration of Identity:** Themes of identity and belonging are subtly woven throughout the album, providing a deeper layer of meaning for attentive listeners. **Cons:** 1. **Lack of Thematic Cohesion:** The diversity in themes, while a strength, also results in a lack of a cohesive narrative thread, which can make the album feel scattered. 2. **Subtlety in Themes:** Some thematic elements are subtle and may not be immediately apparent to all listeners, requiring multiple listens to fully appreciate. #### Influence **Pros:** 1. **Pioneering Work:** "Leftism" is considered a groundbreaking album in the electronic music scene, influencing numerous artists and producers in the years following its release. 2. **Genre-Defining:** The album helped define and popularize the electronic genre, particularly in the UK, and paved the way for future developments in electronic and dance music. 3. **Cultural Impact:** The album’s innovative approach to music production and genre fusion has left a lasting impact on the music industry, inspiring a new generation of musicians. **Cons:** 1. **Overshadowed by Successors:** While influential, the album’s impact is sometimes overshadowed by later works from other artists who took its innovations further. 2. **Niche Appeal:** The specific blend of genres and the album’s experimental nature mean that its influence is more pronounced within certain music circles, limiting its broader cultural impact. ### Track-by-Track Analysis 1. **"Release the Pressure"** - **Lyrics:** Socially conscious, focusing on themes of liberation and resistance. - **Music:** Combines dub and reggae influences with electronic beats. - **Production:** Crisp production with deep bass lines and layered rhythms. 2. **"Afro-Left"** - **Lyrics:** Afro-centric themes, performed by Djum Djum. - **Music:** African rhythms blended with techno elements. - **Production:** Complex layering and intricate percussion. 3. **"Melt"** - **Lyrics:** Instrumental track. - **Music:** Atmospheric and ambient, showcasing a more subdued side of Leftfield. - **Production:** Emphasis on creating an expansive, immersive soundscape. 4. **"Song of Life"** - **Lyrics:** Minimal lyrics, focusing more on the music. - **Music:** Uplifting melodies and infectious rhythms. - **Production:** High energy with a polished, vibrant sound. 5. **"Original"** - **Lyrics:** Personal and introspective, performed by Toni Halliday. - **Music:** Melodic and emotional, with a strong vocal presence. - **Production:** Balanced and refined, highlighting the vocals. 6. **"Black Flute"** - **Lyrics:** Instrumental track. - **Music:** Darker, more experimental sounds. - **Production:** Intricate and atmospheric, with a focus on mood and texture. 7. **"Space Shanty"** - **Lyrics:** Minimal, repetitive phrases. - **Music:** Psychedelic and spacey, with a driving beat. - **Production:** Rich in texture, with a layered, expansive feel. 8. **"Inspection (Check One)"** - **Lyrics:** Political and social commentary. - **Music:** Combines reggae and techno elements. - **Production:** Sharp and clear, with a strong rhythmic foundation. 9. **"Storm 3000"** - **Lyrics:** Instrumental track. - **Music:** Intense and energetic, with a driving techno beat. - **Production:** High energy, with precise and powerful production. 10. **"Open Up"** - **Lyrics:** Iconic and politically charged, performed by John Lydon. - **Music:** Aggressive and intense, with a punk influence. - **Production:** Powerful and confrontational, with a raw edge. 11. **"21st Century Poem"** - **Lyrics:** Reflective and futuristic. - **Music:** Ambient and experimental, closing the album on a contemplative note. - **Production:** Subtle and layered, creating a reflective atmosphere. ### Pros and Cons Summary **Pros:** 1. **Innovative Genre Fusion:** Seamless blending of house, dub, reggae, and techno. 2. **High Production Quality:** Meticulous attention to detail in mixing and mastering. 3. **Diverse Themes and Styles:** Wide range of lyrical and musical styles. **Cons:** 1. **Lack of Cohesion:** The diversity in styles and themes can feel scattered. 2. **Complexity Over Accessibility:** Dense production and genre-blending may be overwhelming for some listeners. 3. **Secondary Role of Lyrics:** Lyrics often take a backseat to the music, reducing their impact. ### Conclusion "Leftism" by Leftfield is a landmark album in the electronic music genre, celebrated for its innovative production, genre-blending, and diverse themes. While its complexity and lack of cohesion may present challenges, its influence and high production standards make it a timeless piece of music history.

I had this CD. God it’s boring. How did we love this stuff?

Needs to go even more left (2.5/5)

Enjoyable. This list has been my main exposure to English electronic artists of the 90s who primarily put out singles but then eventually thought, why not do a full length? This is probably the most successful one of these so far in terms of structure and scope.

This was mostly fun! It's not something I'd ever come across or reach for unprompted, but I enjoyed my time with it

I can’t see myself ever sitting down and just listening to an album of house music. This was okay, but it runs into the typical issue where it just keeps on going for no reason.

2.5, i was really feeling it the day i listened but i can't ever imagine listening again

This was fine, and approaching enjoyable, except that it made me feel like I was in like the mid 90s not getting invited to warehouse raves and instead listening to the closest thing I could find to EDM that came on CD at Best Buy. Which is probably a little influenced by reading the album blurb before listening, but what can you do. It was a little too down-tempo for me maybe and I liked the songs/parts with vocals most because then at least some more stuff was going on.

once again, this one falls into the trap that many albums of this genre do… music and effects are played in a loop and repeated. over and over. until it’s almost hypnotic. it’s really not my thing. having said that, it’s well produced and if i were a fan of this type of music, i would probably be into this album.

Meh. Not for me.

Felt like I was playing Rez, but without a draw to keep me interested for a full hour.

Opening track reminded me of early Massive Attack. Which made me wish I was listening to Massive Attack. So I liked this, but not as much as adjacent stuff that I like better.

I recently bought this album after watching some documentary about the night life in the 90's. I kinda forgot about this band but their music is still very good.

cool dance dark

Just terrible. If you want to spend an hour listening to random electronic noise, this is the ticket for you. I kept imagining Ross with his Casio working on his "music." Ross's was probably better.

Wow. Big surprise that this lost out to Portishead's Dummy for the 1995 Mercury Prize.

There were a few songs I enjoyed, but overall, the album fell flat for me.

I thought I would like this and then I found out it was house music. There were a couple more spacy songs which I liked but ultimately I couldnt really pay attention to it.

Some tracks p chill. Ended on a 👎 track: "21st Century Poem"

I rather liked this, it's great working music. I imagine it's also great doing drugs music but it's a weekday and it's day time soooooo. I particularly liked the more mellowed out tracks (Song of Life, Original, Melt). Overall this is pretty good. I do wonder if this was the first popular "progressive house" album, before that was a name of a subgenre. That would explain the inclusion on the list. Nothing earthshaking, but definitely a good album for clubs and repetitive tasks. The only thing track I actively disliked was "Open Up" and that was just because I didn't care for the endless vocal loop of "BURN HOLLYWOOD BURN".

Gave it an honest listen and it just faded into the background. I don't think there is anything of note here. Not bad, not great, not going in the playlist.

Yep, sounds like 90's electronica. But I do love some 90's electronica. I don't know that this fully wowed me and I found it hard to dance to maybe because the beat was often subtle, but I generally enjoyed this and it was not something that I'd ever heard of. For some reason the cover seems familiar. Maybe I've seen it on vinyl at a record shop and had no idea what it was. Glad to have checked it out.

I liked it at the time but it's really aged.

Nope. Generic and dull.

I refuse to listen to anymore dumbass electronica!!! Enough!!!

Not bad for house misoc

I, Mother of my House, vow to keep my f*cking mouth to myself

This was ok but I feel like it’s the kind of music you hear at a CBD store

I just noticed I've been getting a lot of UK electronic music lately. Luckily it's all been pretty alright so far.

Editing this over a year later to demote to 3. Upon revisiting it's still pretty good, but almost too minimal and boring to be equated to other electronic/ambient albums I've given a 4. Again, nothing wrong with it, but just doesn't wow me equivalently.

3.5

love this

I'm running out of ways to say I'm not a fan of most 90's electronica music.

tekno

This was pretty cool. Definitely mid 90's dance. It wasn't bad, in fact it seems like it would be in some like hacker movie or something.

All the cool kids listened to this. If you went to a party at someone's house in 95/96 this would be playing. I didn't listen to it, because I was insufferable, and convinced that if there weren't guitars, bass etc, then it wasn't PROPER music. Naturally I was wrong. Whilst this also led to a load of bang-average UK electronica around the same time, this undoubtedly changed the music scene. And John Lydon snarling his way through "Open Up" as well.

-first time getting an electronic album on this website -I enjoy this one -it's cohesive -its a BIIIT longer than I would take it, but I will go with it -I also like the album cover -it aged quite well -favorite songs: Afro Left, Song Of Life (<3), Original, Space Shanty, Open Up (<3) -least favorite song: 21st Century Poem

While I don’t enjoy this music typically, there was something about this I enjoyed more than most in this genre. I could hear a melody occasionally. But really, it’s so repetitious and not something I’d go back to. Most of this music I’ve done 1 star…this is better, so 2.

I just don't like this kind of music and the British make the worst version of it.

Somehow both retro and futuristic at the same time

Really enjoyed this one, it’s right up my alley.

This was a solid album to throw on in the background while you’re doing other stuff. I liked the beats & I liked the vibes!

1st couple tracks were great

High points: great production/engineering. Good vocals on the tracks that have them. Low points: length. Far too long. Also another album I'd need drugs to fully appreciate. Dude, I'm pregnant, why do you keep doing this to me?

Progressive house with subtle hints of Faith No More-esque samples. Very vibrant.

Omg what an album!

Great

Great stuff, i get people dont like it, but its good

Some good ones 2/5

An hour and nine minutes of generic repetitive elevator music. Again. I don't get how one country could pump out souch of this crap in the 90s. How did any of this turn a profit?

At first I thought it was alright, but it's way too long. I got bored halfway. Favorite song: Black flute

Middle of the road electronics house music. Some cool beats, but got a little fatigue as it’s all pretty similar tempo. Great background music, and mixed very well

2.5. For what it is (not my style) It isn't bad

A bit strange. A bit muddy. A bit too long.

Though it definitely dips into some experiments that don't always work for me, overall the work solidly hits a vibe for me. It is the style of electronic that i really enjoy if they can get that vibe right and then decorate it to keep it interesting. This was a complete surprise and really really enjoyed it.

Decent tunes, but not something I would choose to sit down and listen to. Sadly my clubbing days are behind me. Open Up remains a right old banger

si boh ciao

I don’t typically listen to this type of music but this one really is an awesome album!

Leftism is the debut album from the English duo Leftfield. Their work has been described as progressive house, but that label doesn't seem to be broad enough to describe what Leftfield is doing. It is very danceable house music, but they have expanded the range of the melodies, samples, and supporting elements that can be included in danceable house music. This is a great album of very danceable tracks, and a timelessness that comes from inventive electronic music.

This WAS NOT an album I needed to hear before I die. What a waste of thought.

Sporadically interesting but often uninspired 90s electronica, the kind that might have introed a cracked game for my Amiga 500. -->---,-`-.> 5h0ut 0u7z 2 RaZoR 1911 4nD Fa1rL1Gh7 d00dz! <.-`-.---<--

Hmm - not my music. But I have not skipped between the tracks. Funny. Therefore 3 stars!

I already loved "Original* but didn't knew the album. I love esp. the 2nd half.

Not my thing.

Straight out of the UK with yet another unknown album that simulates other more popular acts of the period. Only, this time I liked it. A lot. 90s electronic music can boring real easily and when I stepped in to this album and saw 1+ hour of music ahead I dreaded it. I was impressed by the first track and hooked by the second. This is a great background music album. 3.5/5

Excellent. Best tracks are still Release The Pressure and Song Of Life 4/5

I didn't really consider myself a fan of house music, but if this is progressive house, I'm a fan. I loved the album and I've just bought it.

Dance music to me has been stuff like Band of Gold, Saturday Night Fever or even the Birdie Song none of which I particularly like (especially the last one) but that’s what I heard when I frequented dance establishments a long time ago and only hear now (thankfully) at weddings. That said I have always been intrigued by the big anthemic anthems I used to hear on Radio 1 each Saturday night. Things by Darude, Eric Prydz, Scooter (a particular favourite)etc. I loved the way samples of tunes I liked were woven into big synth melodies with massive climaxes and fall offs. This album does not quite live up to that but nevertheless was a whole lot better than I expected. I don’t know what passes for dance music nowerdays but I don’t hear anything like the anthems I liked passing along the airwaves when I occasionally listen. Nothing I hear measures up to this album. In the absence of any Scooter album coming up on this list I place this as an admirable substitution. 3/5 28/5/24

Never heard of this band, but I actually like them!!

Alright, it's pretty decent.

Not my style of music, I couldn’t finish it.

Mixing reggae with techno sounds like it might work. This doesn't.

Song of life absolute banger Overall pretty good some not as good as others 1995 electronic

This is the soundtrack the next time I play Clank! In Space!

Enveloping

Paar gute Banger dabei. 3-4

Decent dance album - more accessible and more tunes I know than I expected.

Okay good

Release the Pressure - 3 Afro Left - 3.5 Melt - 2 Song of Life - 3.5 Original - 3.5 Black Flute - 3.5 Space Shanty - 3.5 Inspection - 3.5 Storm 3000 - 3.5 Open Up - 3.5 21st Century Poem - 2

Leftism by Leftfield Wednesday 6/12/2024 10:20 A Tier————————— Release The Pressure Space Shanty B Tier————————— Melt Song of Life Afro Left Storm 3000 Inspection Original C Tier————————— 21st Century Poem Black Flute Open Up

This would be EXTREMELY fun live, idk how it translates to an album, but I see the appeal

1001 Albums a Secondary Character in a Club Scene from a Shitty British Movie from 1995 Must Hear Before the Title Card.

This would be good for an overnight stretch of a road trip, keeps ya awake. Liked the track 'Melt'

umm...

Sounds like a gay reggae club

One of the best albums in this genre, revolutionary shit

Awesome. Pure 90s dance music.

6.5/10

Ekki minn tebolli.

Not really my vibe, but it's ok

Some of the music is alright, especially if you are drugged up in a club in the 90s. Vocals ruin it a bit though.

Good but I didn't give it a thouough listen. Will give it another shot.

2/5

Fun electronic music with lots of cool influences. Very much so the kind of music I like to listen to while focusing on work.

Pretty good, but nothing too great. It was listenable but boring

Listenable, but not something I would want to revisit. My favorite song was probably Song of Life.

Okay

I don't know who or what this is. It's layered and frenetic sounding, not elaborate or especially technical tho. I think I admire it's ambition but I'm not enjoying it. 1 stars.

First time listen and I love it. So many good tracks, doesn’t get repetitive, Lots of changes to the sound as you go through the album. Favourite song: The Pressure and Inspection Least favourite: All good Album artwork: No idea what that is suppossed to be.

That was wonderful, such goood music! Makes me nostalgic for a scene I am to young to have ever been part of. I would never have looked for or found this on my own (I’m more Buddy Holly or Prince Buster, and generally I need lyrics) But give me a glow stick I want to go raving !

Good background music

Not bad electronic dance type music. I really liked "Inspection (Check One)" it has a really nice beat. I had never heard of them before today. Overall not real memorable but I wouldn't be opposed to listening to it at work or as background music for other activities.

Struggled through the first couple of songs on an 8am dog walk. Had a great time powering through the rest of the album in the last hour of work. It would have been great Uber Eats music, but now it makes for great coding music.

Well. That was definitely techno.

Interesting. Not bad considering how poorly electronic music ages.

It's house music. Everything gets repeated or looped about 418 times, so the interesting stuff becomes boring and the bad moments become a nuisance. I just don't like this style or genre, and nearly quit listening to it.

Another album cover I'm familiar with from the wracks in Our Price and Virgin Megastore in the 90s. Until now I had no idea what the music it contains would sound like. I wish I could get 69 minutes of my life back and still not know. Incredibly dated, extremely 90s, chilled house/trip hop. Way too long and way too dull. Rating: 1.5/5 Playlist track: Original Date listened: 29/04/24

I'll give the artist credit, they at least tried to make EDM interesting. Still failed of course, but the effort was commendable. Top tracks: Original, Inspection (Check One)

dark atmospheric

1 hour of GarageBand loops.

Same-ism.

not my style at all

I never understood what "house" music was before I listened to this album. Now I know.

boring electronic music from 90s. exactly what it says on the tin. not bad, but i constantly wished i was listening to something at least a bit more exciting NNN

decent album with some fun tracks, space shanty was a good song, songs were a bit long though, most of them were 7 minutes long, 5-6/10

I rather like this album. I don't think I had ever heard of it before, but I really dig it. The more I listen to it, the more I like it! Solid.

A very good electronic record - albeit a bit long. Yes fine there is a lot of hippie cliche from the era this album was released- but to be honest it’s quite in earnest and hopeful - so it’s forgiveable.

Raging lefty here but this musical leftism isn’t for me

Not really my thing but on this occasion it hit right

It’s the 90’s. Dance music has become huge. You’ve released a couple of club bangers. Record label reckons you should make an album. Rehash a couple of 12” singles, cobble together some songs and add some guests. It’s a 90’s dance album that your mum won’t mind having on in the car.

House noise: don't focus too much on it—an album for multi-tasking.

no

- a 2 hour British electronic album does not excite me - it was decent for what it was but not my cup of tea

Nope!

Genuinely surprised by this one. I was able to put it on in the background and it never demanded too much of my attention. Less dance album and more ambient, but that's not a bad thing in this case.

2.5* Fine enough, never really got the hype with these even back in the day. Remember seeing them on the Rhythm & Stealth tour in 2000 or so and they were LOUD

An album from my teenage years that I've never heard of. As it's on this site that means there's a 90% chance it's British. Let's have a peek and of course it is. Ok, lets have a listen. Oh, oh God NO. Make it stop. This is the sort of music to enjoy when you're off your tits on drugs. Unfortunately I don't think there's enough drugs in the world to get me to like this.

Definitely feels like some 90's club music. The songs are alright and are actually a little trippy/have some good general beats and hooks but they're a little long. Overall a nice electronic record but the only thing that's missing for me is something that distinguishes this album/group overall. Daft punk had the robotic disco future style, Chemical Brothers had more big beat/acid tecno influences, Aphex twin had the beautiful ambient/IDM mixes. nothing about this (to me) feels as distinct as the other groups.

More house rave music, pretty good? Definitely felt of its time but if I was at a club playing these I’d probably have a good time (if it was the early 2000’s) 2.7

Wub wub wub

Of all the many, many 90s dance/electronica albums on the list, this one seems to be the most interesting. Each track is actually distinct from the others and none are terribly repetitive. Toni Halliday’s and John Lydon’s guest vocals are stand-outs.

No.

Not my cup of tea

EDM, but not much bass. Kinda dragged on

Intermittently groovy and better than much dance music, but really not all that interesting in the end. Displays all the usual issues with dance music – excessive repetition, dullness and no sense of arrival, beyond cascading sort of denouments through which the music is just programmed. One can see (hear) the appeal without thinking it belongs in this list. The editorial entry in the book suggests there might have been an affirmative action policy in play, with some allotted slots for dance music. It must also be noted that dance music, along with grunge and nu-metal and much, much tedious hip-hop, is what made the '90s a failed decade for music.

This is not my style of music and I've never been into synth beats and house music. Listened to a bit of it but could not maintain my interest. I"ll give it 2 stars from me but certainly not indicative of a real rating of the album.

3.5

Han inte lyssna så noggrant men det jag han höra lät bra och intressant så jag får lyssna igen när jag är mer inne på elektroniskt.

Progressive house, Electronic, EDM, it all fits here. Excellent production, a wide variety of styles. Works in the background as well as listening intensely with headphones. Some tracks reminded me of Massive Attack, Faithless, and similar acts of that decade.

DNF Aggravating Annoying Crap 1 star is generous

3.1

Generic background music for a movie scene that takes place in a club. Don’t know why it is included on the list… maybe it invented that sound or something?

Wow bad just bad...

Day71 - so this is terrible. i know everyone has different tastes in music but who’s listening to this at work or in the car ?

3.5

I felt swaddled in the bosom of this droney electronica ❤️

this was a cool album. i think my dad likes these guys. you definitely need to be in the right headspace to receive copious amounts of 90s british electronica, but if you are this is some good shit. favorites: release the pressure, melt, original, space shanty, open up

Great electronic album. This album you can focus and zone out on anywhere and still enjoy it.

Yes!! Loved this back in the day, love it now. So much going on. Best listened to very loud

1995, Progressive house Debut album by Leftism (England) Singles: --------------------------- Song of Life (#59 UK, #1 Dance) Open Up (#13 UK, #1 Dance) Original (#18 UK, #11 Dance) Afro-Left (#22 UK ) Release the Pressure (#13 UK) Standouts: Release the Pressure, Afro-Left, Song of Life, Open Up, Others: Melt, Original, Black Flute, 4/5

I don't know why but it made me anxious. Like there's build-up without release. 1.5.

I had this when it came out, but haven't listened to it in decades. It holds up better than I remembered.

Etched into my eardrums, Brixton 1996. No complaints.

To the left, to the left.

right on

standard house music, fine as background music but very boring to pay attention to. doesn't hit as hard as most good modern electronic music does now

Actually quite like this, will definitely give it a second listen at some point but first impressions are surprisingly positive.

Definitely could've went without listening to this. This genre just isn't for me, don't see the appeal whatsoever.

I think my music taste is broken because I actually really enjoyed this. Listened to this a few times. Reminds me of old school playstation 1 racing music which was weirdly nostalgic for me.

Almost quit during first two tracks, the party/dancing electronic stuff is so shit and im proud to endure 14 min of it . BUT THEN the party stuff was over and the great music came in. FOR TWO TRACKS ONLY and the rest was meh.

My reviews of electronic dance music typically fall well below whatever the average is for the genre. However, this album has, for the most part, replaced the annoying, repetitive, thump...thump...thump...of the bass with interesting, diverse, interpretations of what rhythm is and how it can be presented. Can't say I will ever dance to this but at least I won't reach for knitting needles to poke out my ear drums if I ever hear it again.

3.5

The trouble with house is its boring as just a listen. Reggae affectations dont reslly help. Probably tight if on molly at uk rave but thsts a low bar. The african language one was ok

Covers more ground than I thought it would upon start, and some interesting soundscapes, but still found my mind wandering (a lot). "Melt" and "Inspection (Check One)" held my interest the longest.

Initially liked the 2nd half more than the first half. Listened to the first two songs in the car and liked them on the second play more I think. There's also a Leftism 22 album with remixes that I want to listen to. overall this was fun to learn about.

I'm just not a techno dance music kind of guy

now THIS is my type of house music

Usually the thing that saves these sorts of "choose your car!' 90s albums for me is the vocal performances, as they usually have one or two tracks that save the album from complete monotony, despite all of their insistent needs to be over an hour long. Not this album though, all the vocal performances are so dull, or even straight up suck, and it makes every song suffer when they are there. It doesn't mean the instrumental tracks are much better. They're just as forgettable and robotic as every other house album from the decade. It just all feels so cold, not in the good way, and I fail to have a single thought worth writing here as I listen. Its all just so tedious, and when you've listened to quite a few of these now, it really makes the whole genre look worse.

- I appreciate that this is one of the first albums I have had that seems to have some heavy non-white influences. Somewhat annoyed when I found out that the duo is indeed white, though. - Found the first half more engaging than the second half. I do not feel like I have a good read on electronic music. Nothing was bad. But nothing stood out either.

Interesting music. Like a combination of European club music mixed with a Black Panther soundtrack.

Poor jumbled tecno

Heard before. Listened to this while doing some work. Had some interesting songs that got me moving. My sister said some songs remind her of Uncharted, so that's a win :D

It was okay.

Vorläufer der House und Club Musik, wer es mag... aber für mich gewiss nicht unter den 1000 Alben, die man gehört haben sollte..., für mich Zeitverschwendung

Anstrengender Proggressive House.

Wel origineel opzich. Maar duurde te lang dus ben snel afgehaakt. Afro nummer wel heel dik

Ja, wat kan je erover zeggen. Origineel. Beetje techno, niet mis. Ik weet niet helemaal wat ik ervan moet maken

Okay i didn’t mind this I’ve decided. I thought that a lot of the album sounded the same but the core of the album was in the groovy chords and dance beats. This is where I found the most enjoyment. Not bad.

Techno pop dance music with heavy percussion. I’m surprised I liked it generally but can’t listen to a whole album of it.

Not keen on electronic music in general, some is better than others, I didn't listen to the all of this album due to time or lack of it

A bit underwhelmed by this. I like the genre mix but it never really takes off. I sit there nodding along to the beats but it doesn’t get me pumped, nor is it interesting enough for headphone-sessions.

creepy fish eye camera cover but music is like a new age bob marley so far which is nice. Actually a good mix of pop, new age, electronic, wordless etc. Almost a 5! but today is a sad day personally.

Fairly repetitive. I'm sure it would be great in a club, but for me it wasn't great listening.

Creative. New and interesting sound.

I wanna say this album had flashes of brilliance among a sea of dullness, but if we're being honest they were more like flickers of fineness. Inspection was the best song. 💥💥

i'm sure this is really important to uk house music and the 90s rave scene or whatever but in any context outside of the club it's woefully boring. i really don't think i needed to hear 70 minutes of background music from a c-tier euro-exclusive playstation 1 racing game before i die.

Wish we cud give it a ZERO!

What a nice surprise

House/techno music is usually difficult for me to digest. I just can't stand the pulsating beat for long periods of time. It just causes some intense ear fatigue. To this album's credit, they do change it up a bit on some songs. I heard some hip hop, breakbeat, and dub influences, which I appreciated. However, this album is over an hour long. It just wore me out listening to it. Maybe it was a "you had to be there" thing. I was born in the early 2000s so I obviously missed the whole rave scene of the 90s. Electronic music never really gained prominence in the same way since then, so I'm glad I'm getting some exposure to it through this list.

electr., dance, 1995 -> 1

It's good, but not quite the legendary thing some people think it is. I got a little bored around the middle, but then it picks up massively at the end. I think it relies on the quality of the guests a bit, in that my favourite Left field tracks sound like PiL, or Roots Manuva, or Sleaford Mods (more recently)

Nein. Nichts für mich. So gar nicht.

Ovo je meni jedan od najboljih elektronskih albuma devedesetih. Svaka stvar je neki drugi žanr i svaka je prejebena

This album was so much more interesting than I expected! It's easy or an electronica album to become dated because of the extreme innovation in this genre, but for the most part, this one held up. I recognized one of the vocalists! And they quoted it from the first album by The Orb. I loved the vocals on the second track. Just wild. Would definitely listen again.

Kind of forgettable over the past 30 years, but still completely listenable if you turn off your brain.

Well, that one came out of left field. Ok, ok. But actually, it really did. It at first seemed like a random mid-90s techno album, but I was quickly convinced that it belonged. Well, not too quickly. The first track was boring - I wasn’t wild about the vocals, and then the second half almost felt like “The Macarena” was about to kick in. But starting with the second song things got more interesting, and “Leftism” takes off from there and never lets up. This was not, in fact, a random mid-90s techno album. And it’s on the list because it’s a groundbreaking and influential banger. “Storm 3000” was familiar, but I couldn’t place if I had heard it before or just similar things it inspired. It’s interesting that “Open Up” was the biggest hit of the album, because I think it’s the worst song on the album. Love the Sex Pistols, but Johnny Rotten’s vocals on “Open Up” don’t work. The end of the song gets back to the vibe that makes the record memorable.

There is a lot to like about this album but ultimately it never rose above background music for me unless it was for a negative reason that took me out of the flow (looking at you incessant beeping in Original). Solid 3.5 but probably wont be revisiting since there are other triphop albums I would pull up first when in that mood.

Dude, I’d drop some giggle pig and go dance to these guys at the club. Solid house/trance album. If this were 20 years ago, I’d rate it higher, but house/trance is t really my thing.

Boring background music

This is art class music. Probably nothing that I would listen to intently, but great background music for a creative activity

Wasn't anything I could get into. Ended up skipping through several tracks

This isn't as bad as the rating makes it seem. It's a style of music I don't enjoy, and drones on for way too long. A few of the songs I can understand how people might enjoy, even if I don't.

The hardest part about an electronic album is making a cohesive statement or piece that isn’t just “Here’s an hour of songs that are like the ones on the single.” Leftfield does a good job of at least creating a little bit of intrigue with a smattering of influence and genres. Very much a sampling of the 90’s rave scene, this album never stays in one place for too long. Sequencing wise it felt like a reasonably paced album with highs and lows dispersed throughout.

Is this... EDM? Right off the bat, I have no idea what to make of this. Good as background music, but I have a hard time with EDM as something I'd listen to with the same intentional ear that I do other stuff. I'm not against it, though. The more I listen, the more I think of 90s EDM in general, I'm getting Darude - Sandstorm vibes, which apparently came out well after this album. I really dig the track "Original". Space Shanty is also incredible. Okay, this album grew on me a lot as it went on.

I’ll never come back to this

There's some pockets that I can get into, but house is just not for me.

Now I know where video game background music comes from.

This is so terrible. I wish I could give minus stars here...

Could not finish it. May only be listenable in clubs and if intoxicated.

I thought it was okay, but it's missing something to be danceable.

Enjoyable electronic album, good songs

Too techno for me

Honestly went into this expecting to hate it, so was surprised I comfortably made it through the album. Was very unmemorable though ... nothing really piqued my interest that much

Good record - I enjoyed it!

Enjoying this a lot. The Wikipedia articles may be my favorite feature of this site. They inevitably make me appreciate an album even more. 4

This is a top 25, maybe top 10 album for me. It’s so ahead of its time!

Bit slow, too long, but not too bad.

It was okay.

All very samey. High points are very cool but overall it bored me for the most part.

New age club music. A song or two are ok but an entire album is exhausting. Not as boring as some of the other electronic albums on this list.

Not sure if my memory serves me right, but I remember this cover being quite the ubiquitous sight in people's record crates back then and me expecting to hear some greatness on there, because of that. And how it fell flat? A safe, rather boring and just sufficiently pleasant version of *other* UK electronic music of that time. At least that's what I feel today.

This album was out of LeftField for sure. An early introduction to techno, the genre of this album is considered progressive house. "Release the Pressure" is the first track and is probably the best track. As the album progresses, each new song seems out of place following its predecessor. A strange amalgamation of songs. This was probably a very impressive feat of music for the time but has grown irrelevant. This is a credit to how far EDM music has progressed over the years.

I remembered liking it much more when it came out.

Well this album sure came out of the dugout…. Anyway this was one of those days where I had to crowbar in an hour of my day to listen to this when I wanted to do other things which made it difficult for me to fully enjoy it, especially after getting a similar ambient electronica album yesterday. Fortunately I found bright spots on tracks like the original but this prog house stuff doesn’t work for me the same way that electronica can.

Didn't get it initially but appreciated it more later om, not something i'd normally listen to

An album that was always on my radar but that I never actually bought or heard all of; now I have and it's great!

Standard electronic house music, nothing special of exciting about it. It was decent background music for working, Space Shanty stood out as being different from the other tracks, overall it was ok

It's another post apocalyptic orgy for me! I didn't think much of this tbh. It didn't quite get me. It wasn't terrible I just didn't get into the groove. Even as a socialist lefthander

Generally just thought it was nonsense. I guess it's not really made for me to be listening to at work sitting at my desk, but that being said, I'm not really interested in being wherever it was made for.

My favorite album, ever ever ever

I liked the general vibe, cohesivity was good but maybe a bit too much, couldn't really hear the difference between the sound of most songs. Gave me some much needed dance breaks during my deep flow work sesh this morning! Unremarkable in every other way but generally enjoyable, would potentially use Song of Life in an ecstatic dance set

wide mix of electronica tunes hard to summarise as one album; "Release the pressure" didn't enjoy at all "Afro left" was a banger "Melt" such a chill out "Song of life" some great vocal samples "Original" slow but great progression, very 90's speaking vocals "Black flute" Mostly house style - not a fan "Space Shanty" Nice Piano but core sample too repetitive "inspection" Had a chance to be a banger but again was too slow a beat "Storm 3000" The pattern of how songs are laid out is now very clear, still enjoying though "Open up" Hate John Lydon "21st Century Poem" Trying to be deep, offers nothing Overall it's a 3.1. Could have been 4 with more out and out bangers on the album, but too samey and loop based as the album progressed

enjoyable, albeit a bit repetitive in the second disc

Goes hard. It's very rare to find IDM where the tracks are not carried by a couple hits. It's mostly house, followed by techno and ambient, then jungle in tracks like "Storm 3000". The first half is very strong. Only part I didn't like was the first half of "Afroleaf", but it picked up. "Melt" is an ambient track almost as good as Aphex Twin. "Song of Life" and "Original" are my favorite tracks on the record. The 2nd half is still great, all the tracks stand out and feel complete yet are tied together. "Open Up" is the only song on the second half that can compete, and that's mostly because of Johnny Rotten's vocals, but I also really love that second half finish. The record should have ended there to be honest, or at least cut "21st Century Poem" by half cause it's not very entertaining even as an ambient piece.

Chill but dull, I owned this cd back in the day because you were supposed to, not enough piano happy house bangers for me. All a bit samey

Hard pass! [0098/1001]

Great album, one I own.

Overly long. Not terribly interesting.

surprisingly good electronic

Not the kind of album you put on after a long stressful day with a smooth barrel-aged imperial stout in hand. Luckily for me, I had to code for a few hours at work, and this was the near perfect record for that.

Usually not my preferred genre(s), but Leftism still had a lot to offer. From deep progressive house to danceable jungle beats featuring none other than Johnny Rotten himself this a great ride. I think it easily too long and there are moments where I simply lose focus. Maybe I’m meant to? But when I notice that I’m losing focus it’s rarely a plus.

Techno things bleah

Miellyttävä 2010s kokemus on aina 5 star.... rima alhaalla mutteivät rakkaat lamppaat paljoa sitä hypi verrattain meikäpojan unilähtölaskentojen,,,, prkl laskee laskee ja laskee ja vieläkin lasketaan..... T Heh albumissa ei paljoa tartte laskeskella.. voi antaa musiikin soida kunnes ei soi..

In a nutshell: prime candidate for a film or game soundtrack. Early 90s house with a song played on chillout radio ad nausea ("Original"). Overall: 3/10

I liked this one more than I thought I would. I’ve never heard of Leftfield, but the music reminded me of a modernized version of the mid-90s group, Enigma. I actually found myself tapping my foot at times.

I enjoyed, like being in the club but the club is now my kitchen.

I was really hoping for something more inspired from an album called "leftism."

There's really no album quite like this. There was a move in the 90s for dance music to get more serious. Artists like Underworld and Faithless were making albums that worked equally well in a club or in your bedroom with headphones on. A catchy beat wasn't enough, you needed more complex production, interesting lyrics and engaging art. Leftfield were definitely part of that corner of the music scene, but took it in a different direction. This is a very eclectic collection, covering all different styles of music. It's all over the place but fits together perfectly. Who ever would have thought that getting Johnny Rotten to sing on a techno song would work so well?

Progressive house.

The 90's seems to be the decade for house, trance and tribal music, Leftfield was one of those band that seemed to pave the way for some of the bigger names like Prodigy, Underworld, Chemical Brothers, etc. There are a few songs on this album I remember mainly from the Hackers OST. This was never my style of music, but I loved Hackers so I played that OST all the time (that orbital song is my fav). This is classified as progressive house, I think because some of these songs are more tribal, trance and even dub. While I know this was influential in the electronic genres, I think I prefer some of the more innovative artists that came after Leftfield. Standouts: Song of Life, Original, Open Up

I turned it off after 3 songs. Music doesn't need to be weird and annoying to be good.

Fun club music, but not very memorable.