Beyond Skin

Decent enough listen but didn't really move the needle. Fairly uneventful

Well that was something.

**Beyond Skin** is the 1999 album by British-Indian musician and composer Nitin Sawhney. It stands as one of the defining works in his discography and a landmark album in the world music and electronica scene. Sawhney’s blend of classical Indian music with Western genres like jazz, drum and bass, and electronica creates a deeply resonant fusion of sounds that serve as the vehicle for his exploration of identity, politics, and culture. ## Overview ### Themes **Beyond Skin** is a politically charged album, with Sawhney grappling with issues like nuclear warfare, nationalism, identity, and the scars of colonialism. Released at the cusp of the new millennium, the album reflects both personal and global concerns. The title, "Beyond Skin," suggests that the album seeks to transcend superficial labels of race, nationality, and identity, addressing the deeper, more universal issues of humanity. ### Production and Musical Style Sawhney’s background in both Eastern and Western classical music is evident throughout the album. His use of live instrumentation—tabla, sitar, and various forms of percussion—alongside electronic programming gives the album a unique sonic depth. Sawhney’s knack for layering diverse sounds, from lush orchestral strings to intricate rhythms, is one of his key strengths as a producer. This eclecticism creates a cinematic soundscape, making **Beyond Skin** more than just an album but an immersive experience. ## Track-by-Track Analysis ### 1. **Broken Skin** The album opens with “Broken Skin,” a track featuring vocals by Tina Grace. The song begins with a gentle, ambient soundscape, slowly building into a blend of Indian classical instruments and Western beats. The lyrics explore themes of emotional fragility and identity, setting the tone for the rest of the album. Sawhney's use of sitar alongside electronic elements here is notable, creating a seamless integration of traditional and contemporary sounds. ### 2. **Letting Go** This track, featuring vocals by Alyssa Brigid, has a softer, more introspective feel. It delves into personal emotions, notably the act of releasing past pain. The minimalist production emphasizes the vocal performance, while Sawhney’s subtle use of tabla in the background gives the song an understated world music flair. The blend of electronica and acoustic instrumentation here is both haunting and poignant. ### 3. **Homelands** Perhaps the most famous track on the album, “Homelands” is a perfect example of Sawhney’s ability to blend Indian classical music with Western forms. The track features a prominent sitar line, played by Sawhney, alongside driving, pulsating rhythms. Lyrically, it touches on displacement, the search for identity, and the emotional scars left by colonialism and migration. The chant-like vocal phrases, combined with Sawhney's intricate percussion arrangements, create a hypnotic and emotionally charged piece. ### 4. **The Pilgrim** “The Pilgrim” features a more traditional Indian classical arrangement, with a focus on tabla and sitar. This instrumental track acts as a meditative interlude, allowing the listener to reflect on the broader themes of the album. Its placement within the album is strategic, providing a moment of calm and introspection before the heavier themes of the following tracks. ### 5. **Tides** “Tides” features a spoken-word sample of J. Robert Oppenheimer’s famous reflection on the atomic bomb (“I am become death, the destroyer of worlds”), which immediately sets a heavy, apocalyptic tone. The song is deeply atmospheric, with echoing beats and ambient textures. Sawhney explores the dangers of nuclear proliferation and the destruction of humanity’s moral fabric. The production here is dense, with layered vocal samples and instrumentation that evoke a sense of foreboding. This track is one of the more explicitly political pieces on the album. ### 6. **Nadia** “Nadia” is a standout track, a beautiful fusion of Indian classical vocals and Western string arrangements. The song features the voice of Indian singer Swati Natekar, whose haunting vocal performance adds an ethereal quality to the track. The minimalist production allows Natekar’s voice to shine, while the subtle beats and instrumentation provide a delicate backdrop. Lyrically, the song explores themes of loss and memory, with Natekar’s emotive performance capturing the sadness of a loved one lost. ### 7. **Immigrant** This track features an intense drum and bass rhythm mixed with Indian classical elements. It directly addresses the immigrant experience in the UK, confronting racism, xenophobia, and the feeling of otherness. The fast-paced beat contrasts with the slower, more introspective vocal lines, creating a feeling of tension that reflects the social struggles immigrants face. Sawhney’s use of tabla against the backdrop of drum and bass gives the track a sharp, confrontational edge. ### 8. **Serpents** “Serpents” returns to a more atmospheric, ambient sound, with slow, rolling beats and dark undertones. This track deals with the internal and external conflicts of life, with lyrics that evoke imagery of danger, deceit, and survival. Sawhney’s production on this track leans heavily into the electronic realm, with swirling synths and brooding basslines. The song’s cryptic nature adds a layer of mystery to the album’s narrative. ### 9. **Anthem Without Nation** This track is one of the most overtly political songs on the album. Sawhney critiques nationalism, borders, and the concept of identity as tied to the nation-state. Featuring a haunting piano melody and a mix of electronic and acoustic elements, the track builds gradually, with powerful vocal samples interspersed throughout. The production here is particularly striking, with Sawhney layering vocal samples, orchestral strings, and drums to create a sense of urgency and power. ### 10. **Beyond Skin** The title track serves as a summary of the album’s themes. With sparse production and a focus on atmospheric textures, “Beyond Skin” explores the idea of looking beyond race, nationality, and superficial differences to see the shared humanity beneath. Sawhney’s use of strings and subtle electronic elements creates a reflective, almost cinematic atmosphere. The track feels like a meditation, drawing the album’s narrative to a quiet yet profound conclusion. ## Themes and Influences One of the most striking elements of **Beyond Skin** is its exploration of identity. Sawhney, being of Indian descent and raised in Britain, uses the album to confront the complexities of his own dual identity. The blending of Eastern and Western musical traditions reflects this personal journey, with Sawhney seeking to transcend labels and categories. The album also deals heavily with the political landscape of the late 20th century. The nuclear threat, as symbolized by Oppenheimer’s quote in “Tides,” looms over the album as a reminder of humanity’s capacity for self-destruction. Sawhney also critiques nationalism and the divisive nature of borders in “Anthem Without Nation,” highlighting the need for global unity. Colonialism’s legacy is another recurring theme. Tracks like “Homelands” and “Immigrant” address the scars left by imperialism and the ongoing struggles of diasporic communities. These songs confront the feeling of displacement that many immigrants face, caught between the homeland they left behind and the new countries that often treat them as outsiders. Sawhney’s use of traditional Indian music is not simply a nod to his heritage but a reclamation of a cultural tradition that was suppressed during colonial rule. By blending these sounds with modern genres like electronica and drum and bass, Sawhney is asserting a new form of identity that is fluid, multifaceted, and resistant to simplistic categorization. ## Production From a production standpoint, **Beyond Skin** is masterfully crafted. Sawhney’s ability to blend live instrumentation with electronic elements is one of the album’s most significant achievements. Each track feels meticulously constructed, with a perfect balance between the organic and the synthetic. His use of live Indian instruments like tabla, sitar, and tanpura adds a layer of authenticity to the fusion, grounding the electronic elements in a rich cultural tradition. The album’s pacing is also noteworthy. Sawhney balances uptempo, rhythmically intense tracks like “Immigrant” and “Homelands” with softer, more introspective pieces like “Letting Go” and “Nadia.” This dynamic range keeps the album engaging throughout, with each track offering something new. Sawhney’s use of vocal samples, particularly in politically charged tracks like “Tides” and “Anthem Without Nation,” is another highlight. These samples add context and depth to the music, turning each song into a statement. The album feels more like a conversation or a political manifesto than a collection of songs, with Sawhney using music as a platform for larger social commentary. ## Pros and Cons ### Pros: 1. **Innovative Fusion of Genres**: Sawhney’s blending of Indian classical music with Western genres like electronica, jazz, and drum and bass is masterful. Few albums achieve such a seamless fusion of sounds from different cultures. 2. **Rich Thematic Content**: The album’s exploration of identity, politics, and humanity gives it significant depth. Sawhney tackles difficult subjects like nationalism, colonialism, and nuclear warfare with intelligence and sensitivity. 3. **Cohesive Production**: Every track on **Beyond Skin** feels meticulously crafted. Sawhney’s ability to balance live instrumentation with electronic production is remarkable, giving the album a distinct sound that is both cinematic and intimate. 4. **Emotional Resonance**: Tracks like “Nadia” and “Homelands” are deeply moving, with Sawhney’s use of melody and rhythm evoking powerful emotions. ### Cons: 1. **Occasional Over-reliance on Atmospherics**: While Sawhney’s atmospheric production is often a strength, there are moments where it feels like certain tracks rely too much on mood rather than substance. Some listeners may find these sections too abstract or slow-paced. 2. **Niche Appeal**: **Beyond Skin** is not a commercial album, and its fusion of world music and electronica may not appeal to mainstream audiences. The album requires patience and a willingness to engage with its complex themes, which may alienate some listeners. 3. **Dense Subject Matter**: The political and philosophical nature of the album’s themes can feel heavy at times. Tracks like “Tides” and “Anthem Without Nation” are powerful but may feel overwhelming or inaccessible to those seeking lighter fare. ## Conclusion **Beyond Skin** is a groundbreaking album that showcases Nitin Sawhney’s exceptional skill as a composer, producer, and thinker. It’s an album that pushes boundaries—both musically and thematically—challenging listeners to think deeply about identity, politics, and the human condition. While its complexity may not be for everyone, for those willing to engage with it, **Beyond Skin** offers a profound and rewarding listening experience. Its fusion of Eastern and Western sounds, combined with its exploration of timely political issues, ensures that it remains a relevant and influential work decades after its release.

LOVE THIS ALBUM 😍😍😍

not for me

This is really hard to listen to

I’m surprised that I enjoyed this one. It’s very different but if nothing else, it’s nice background noise while focusing on something else.

This was pretty good. Interesting. Nothing amazing, but certainly well made. Indian trip hop, very mellow and thoughtful. Good for disco naps. 3/5

I haven't heard this album before. It was pretty good.

This was interesting to listen to -- love the Indian influence here.

Interesting album. Some things were a bit whiney, others were quite interesting and enjoyable.

Indian trip-hop. It wasn’t the worst I’ve listened to on the list, but it felt overly long. I made it through the whole thing because there were moments that sounded like Portishead.

fuckin fuck

Just awful. Has the potential to be a fantastic and compelling trip hop album. Instead it's a cheesy soundtrack to a 90s British Airways commercial. At best, dentist office music.

This was a pleasant surprise. For some unknown reason - probably musical prejudice - Ive always steered clear of Nitin. My mistake. There's some wonderful melodies fusing with music from all around the world. I didn't understand the thread that held it all together, but it did sound like a complete body of work, from start to finish. Off to investigate more.

Ah yes, the big years of the chillout/lounge craze. A moment in time that we didn't need to remember, let alone to go back to in a book supposed to be about the most essential albums of all time. This isn't essential, this is a gimmicky downtempo album that uses hindustani music to try to mask its blandness.

Can Downtempo make you angry? Turn this on and find out!

tHat'S OkaY, wE hAvE "wOrLd MuSic" oN tHe LiSt!

Not really my genre, but the vocals were nice.

Another one that I wouldn’t have sought on my own, and isn’t quite my cuppa, but I’m glad to have heard it. I will always be more receptive to niche genres and interesting misfires than competent-but-complacent albums on this list.

definitely feels like a more stripped back and less autotuned precursor of fka twigs. a mix of almost operatic ethereal indie folk and ambient electronica with stripped back 90s pop electronic breakbeats. the sound shifts from reggaeton to ethnic liquid dnb/breakbeat while still maintaining the relatively beautiful and yearning musical structure.

An interesting album with the backdrop of Indian nuclear proliferation. I liked it more than I expected.

There were bands at the time doing this same style, but much better. This was forgettable. I've never heard of this group before and literally forgot about them between the time I listened and the time I wrote this review.

Beyond Skin is all over the place stylistically. There are some beautiful moments that I like, good production and I like some of those foreign influences but it also drops like basically novelty songs in between with annoying parts. Maybe a solid EP in there but nothing more. 2.5 stars.

it's giving indian bjork

Guys. This one is a 2 or a 2.5. It sounds great- there’s nothing objectionable really on it— it combines a bunch of interesting sounds—- but - those alone do not equal greatness. It’s just fine. I expect more from the albums on this list.in a vacuum - if I was in a better mood MAYBE I’d give it three- but for this exercise - it’s a big 2. My least fav thus far. There’s clearly a lot of talent/technical work on here- but- it feels lifeless. Just like someone who likes massive attack and various hindustani music melded them seamlessly without thinking as far as why they were doing it.

I really enjoyed the way this album started off, but as the album wore on I don't know if I was feeling disconnected with the changing styles or if it was just going to far in areas that for the most part don't interest me. It is beautifully produced and I can see why some people would get something out of this. But for me after "Broken Skin", "Letting Go", "Homelands" and "Tides" nothing else quite reached me. After the first five tracks, I was aiming for a strong four, but after the Journey of the subsequent seven tracks, I'm landing on a (2.85) ★★½

I find the hindustani influences and the anti-nuclear weapons theme interesting, but I think triphop and downtempo are really boring genres, so overall not a fun listen

Lots of diverse sounds, but overall pretty sterile and dull. Much of it has the feel of a film score, where it work nicely in the background of a scene, but it's not interesting enough to be a standalone work of art. It's not bad, but it's not that great either. Light 3 stars.

3.5

First off a real eyesore album cover. Kind of like The Bends done in a drab Massive Attack 100th Window style. Music is actually a pretty cool mix of all sorts of stuff from soul ballads, trip hop, drum n bass, jazz, TV soundtracks, Hindistani rap and classical. A bit like Protection by Massive Attack but with the added Rubber Biscuit Hindustani rap and classical. Unfortunately it’s all bit soupy and generic sounding. Songs are not really that interesting and most of the styles except for the novel worldy bits have definitely been done better on other records. 2.5 stars

Nice and boring, like something that plays in a new age shop while you shop for crystals. 2.5 stars

This is definitely case where the album cover really does not reflect the music. I get it as there's a theme of nuclear war, and the image drives home the seriousness of that danger. But musically, you really expect something more dramatic and heavy than what we have here. But maybe it's more striking that way because it's not a heavy metal album, which often have an element of self-parody. As for the album itself, 'Beyond Skin' is a decent example of world music mixed with Western influence, especially drum n bass. It's similar to Talvin Singh's work, though it's a much more serious statement. There are two ways to listen to this, as background music in a trendy coffee shop, or as a serious contemplation of the fragility of the modern world. The former is easier, as it's tempting to ignore the subtle clues about the dark theme and just let the (somewhat Westernized) images of India wash over you. But then you suddenly hear Robert Oppenheimer's chilly words (quoting the Bhagavad Gita, tying things back to India). They end the album in stark contrast to the very light music. It rips you out of the comfort of your travel daydreams and urges you to listen to the whole album again, but paying more attention this time.

First 3 songs are pretty good everything else was garbage

Música étnica, árabe, flamenco, house, no sé, un popurrí.

Not bad, just not for me

En sjov omgang. En masse som lyder ultra generisk, og nærmest moderne, men så er det lige krydret med bollywood lyde, og en indisk Scatman John. Homeland, og Serpents var især sjove. Tides var ret fin og stemningsfuld, og god kontrast til det skraldet rap forsøg der var inden. Jeg nød det meste, grinede højt af flere sange. - The confessor, er lyden af knallert! Altså hvis en døv skulle gengive den.👌- Albummet er en 4er, men fordi den også er ufrivillige komisk, så ender jeg på 3.

Noget af det er interessant. Jeg får sådan lidt nogle vibes af indisk trip-hop. Men pladen kan ikke holde min interesse fast hele vejen igennem

Interesting non American offering. Mindful

Cheesy listening, but quite pleasant overall. Nothing groundbreaking.

Beyond Skin is an album from Nitin Sawhney, a British musician that has won a number of awards. This is an odd collection of songs, with downtempo electronic backgrounds, and elements of Indian influence throughout the work. There are odd ballads, "Anthem without Nation," poorly executed rap, "Pilgrim," rhythmic exercises, "The Conference," and even near-pop songs, "Nostalgia." Some of the tracks are interesting, but the scattered collection is enough to dampen any interest.

This album is all over the place. I think that adds some charm to its record, though.

Bit all over the place, parts were okay but other tracks I really disliked

But boring at times, great at others. Really a middle-of-the-road album.

This is a solid "meh" from me. Some of the tracks are pretty groovy, but others just aren't my jam. I definitely disagree with the shocking amount of 1s this has received because there's FAR worse albums on this list. It's pretty all over the place and kinda boring for some tracks. It sounds like something I'd hear in a small coffee shop that charges $15 for a coffee with mandatory tips. 4/10 Would I listen again? Nah

5/5

My favorite part of 1001 Albums Generator is finding new artists, and Nitin Sawhney is a great discovery. Thanks!

Interesting accent flavor but the track with no words (Tides?) sounded like standard hotel lounge music - smooth and relaxing with waves. Serpent was... crazy.

The mix of Indian and electronic was an interesting change of pace. Outside of a few tracks, it was consistently good overall.

This was great. Clean musicianship and recording. Grabbed my interest from the get go and held it. Sometimes jazz, sometimes electronica, sometimes tabla and indian influence, other times more western trad.

Cool

Soul, RnB, indian world, Rap, 1999 -> 3

Stunning, a classical approach to electronic music composition with breathtaking scope in concept and themes. Will return to this.

Weird

it felt quite unusual, it is not something id listen to on the regular but it was quite interesting

I don't know what this was, how to categorize it, or what I expected. But it was ridiculously more enjoyable than I thought it could be.

Solid background music.

Won me over a bit with the scatting. Some of it gave me the heebie jeebies, not sure why!

Ok this is a cool album that I'd expect to see in a list like this. Very interesting, I enjoy the nuclear weapon themes throughout. Musically very cool downtempo with Indian and I'm sure many other influences. Fan of this.

Some interesting stuff but also some stuff that is not what I want to listen to

I'm actually glad we got this, very different and right up my alley. I love Indian/Pakistani music, and some moments in this album I really liked. My issue is that for every great thing on here there was something that made me skip the song. Nadia, for example, had fantastic lyrics that I immediately feel for but then the beats and clicks were way too fast for the music. Others similar to that prevented me from keeping many I would have because I know if they came up in the playlist I'd like them for a bit and then skip. I felt like the guy on the cover, fully absorbing but also turning to stone.

Here's a shot out of left field! Departures are always welcome, especially when it means something not from the US/UK. Oops, wait a minute, it's an English artist. But it's got a world music feel, Indian influence I believe. Apparently it's all about nuclear weapons, and I got that only with the Oppenheimer quote at the end. Aside from that though, a couple neat tracks, especially the hectic vocal performance on "The Conference," that's incredible. Worth the price of admission for sure. Wish I could say there was more that registered with me, but a good bit of it is just wafty jazz-type music, and not the exploratory, challenging jazz that I love. Favorite tracks: THE CONFERENCE, Letting Go, Tides. Album art: Horrifying, haunting. Plaster cast of a guy from the shoulders up, wailing in agony from what it looks like. Immediately distinct and memorable. 3/5

I did struggle with it, yet I remember liking it a lot more when it came out, felt a bit of its time

Weird as fuck. Half of this is cheeks but some is good. Ez 3 for being different.

Interesting concept, often boring but some flashes of greatness in there. A unique addition to this list.

Very interesting

Another one that is better than expected

8/10. I'm going to be honest here: Prior to listening to this album, I surfed through its negative reviews. I was expecting myself to really hate it. I honestly really enjoyed listening to this album. Perhaps I would have liked it less if I had higher expectations. There was a lot of nice variety in here. It was cool. :)

Really unusual combination of different beats, melodies and arrangements. Clearly influenced by non-western music. I am not able to put it in any category of music. but I guess that was the intention of the artist. Its not an album for the background. It's something to sit down and listen too. Favourite song: Pilgrim

Wasn’t for me

Really liked the beginning but it slowed down and became monotonous

Gear: Focal Clear (ZMFed) Artwork: 😱 Mix: 👏 Musik: 🥱 Wertung: ☢️☢️/5

Classic trip hop.

Very interesting. I like the instrumentation and the vocals are pleasant.

It is was weird and interesting, and I'm not really sure why it's on this list.

Pretty piano Chill beats, uplifting presence With spiritual feel

I really liked the Indian music and Hindi themes, but I did not enjoy the singing.

Not bad for background music, but kind of all over the place.

I appreciated how different this felt. Obviously it’s a very intentional work. But I mostly found myself being pushed away rather than drawn in. There’s a part of me that think on a relisten there would be a deeper appreciation. The unfortunate reality is that I have no desire to revisit this. 2.5/5

Some interesting instrumentals but boring and forgettable. 1.5

Culturally, political beats to impend doom to. 8/10

i dont really understand the hate i was seeing from other reviewers. i wouldnt listen to this every day but i found this to be really awesome and very interesting

That’s was actually really fun

This was a completely new one to me! The album starts with the series of nuclear weapons tests carried out by India and explores issues of identity and religion against a backdrop of international tension. Musically, it’s a mix of trip hop electronica and traditional Indian instrumentation and voices, and is an enchanting listen, despite the grim and thought provoking subject matter. It finishes with Oppenheimer’s infamous quote from the Bhagavad Gita.

The trip hop bits are OK, it's nice to hear another language than English, but it lacks some coherence, sometimes it's a bit bloated, and sometimes it sounds too much as cheap R'n'B. Or worst, like Immigrant that sounds like a Disney musical. A bit more of coherence and a bit less of bad bits, it might have got 3 stars.

Gave me some Nostalgia of when I was in India. I was just a Pilgrim riding the Tides of the winds. Letting Go.

A surprise hit for, 3.75

One of the best things this list has done for me is show me things in music I have never seen before. And retroactively, it has made me more open to things I would have never experienced if not for this. I have not had the best track record with world music. Specifically the traditional Hindustani classical variety. I also haven’t had the best track record with electronic music. Now, those two worlds have collided in a manner I didn’t know possible. That form of classical music mixed with down tempo, similar to what you might hear on a Massive Attack or a Portishead album. It seems like this was received decently well from a critical standpoint. But it also doesn’t seem to be that well known. I’ve definitely never heard of this artist. But I fully respect what he did here. A genuinely unique artist with unique fusions of ideas is hard to come by. The subject matter of this album is also important. It centers around the theme of nuclear weapons, and even uses sampled conversations regarding the India-Pakistan nuclear situation. I think this theme is cool. And I appreciated the use of Oppenheimer quoting the Bhagavad Gita on the last song. Until they used the same sample again at the end of the same song. Kind of spoiled it a bit. The singing on many of these songs is really beautiful. And I love how fleshed out the drums feel with the keys and strings backing them. I’m not sure why he started rapping on Pilgrim, but it sort of made me cringe. Thankfully that’s the only time he does it. This got off to a strong start, but unfortunately fizzled out around the half way point and became far less interesting. Bottom line is, this album is cool. It’s not perfect, but people trying new things is always commendable. Rating: 5/10

Nah.

В отличие от других ревьюверов, я не вижу, каким образом этот альбом - *высокая* музыка для интеллектуалов и крупных специалистов. По большей части это безликая электроника, разбавленная восточным колоритом. Прямо как другой альбом в списке: Talvin Singh - OK. Погодите-ка, выглядит так, будто здесь уже два альбома, схожих тематически, выпущенных приблизительно в одно время, использующих схожие музыкальные идеи и подходы?.. И вот прямо оба НУЖНО слушать в этой жизни? Лучшая песня - Homelands.

Sehr ruhig….

I didn't know what to make of this! Total fusion. I try to remain open minded, particularly of international/non western music that we're all so readily accustomed too.. but this weren't my bag. Didn't love. Soz.

This was quite interesting, a bit all over the place in genre but it was good background music.

Interesting. Diverse influences and types of songs. Sounds so "of the late 90s/early 2000s" - kind of triphop but kind of electronic with some sampling too

Beyond excruciating

Okay

Released in 1999, the album aims to explore identity and culture through a blend of Eastern and Western music. Unfortunately, the album falls short, resulting in a disjointed and unsatisfying experience. The fusion of classical Indian instruments with electronic beats often feels forced and jarring, lacking cohesion. Vocally, the album is inconsistent, with guest performances varying in quality. The spoken word segments, like in "Broken Skin," come across as pretentious rather than profound. The lyrical content strives for depth but ends up heavy-handed and unsubtle. Production is another weak point, with traditional instruments undermined by synthetic electronic elements, resulting in a sterile sound. Few tracks leave a lasting impression, and the ambitious soundscapes meander without direction. Overall, Beyond Skin is a well-intentioned but flawed endeavor, failing to deliver a memorable or cohesive musical experience.

This was very fucking weird, and I dont know if I really liked it, I guess just some songs. Beyond Skin is a very original and particular album, that combines electronic music with alternative and indian music. This weird mix is what you can found in Beyond the skin, and sometimes its good, but other times it sounds like Indian Geometry Dash music. The main flaw of this is its inconsistency, because it has some renarkable moments, and some awful ones. Lets start with the things I liked. The first tracks of the record are great, they have some beautiful vocals, very interesting production and peaceful guitars and even violin. The album haves a very strong message against the India vs Pakistan conflict, and the nuclear tests that were realized during it. It explores loneliness, inmigration, nostalgia and desolation; and I think its very well-explored the theme throughout the album, and the final song "Beyond the Skin" ends with that famous quote by Oppenheimer "Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds", and really sums up all of what Sawhney is trying to talk about. Now, let's go with the bad points; first of all, the inconsistency make the album hard to listen as a whole, because some tracks were truly unbearable to me, or at least boring. The downfall starts with "Pilgrim" which sounds like a minecraft villager rapping, "Nadia" sounds like Indian Geonetry Dash music, and Serpent follows the same line, but its more disturbing. "Anthem without a Nation" its an indian guy whimpering for almost 6 minutes, and "The conference" its and indian guy mumbling for 3 minutes. Other tracks were just boring like "The inmigrant" or "Tides" (I liked the waves sound though). Overall, I think its an album which is honestly difficult to listen, but that has some very memorable moments that sadly are just the same number as the bad ones. I think Sawhney develops very good what he's trying to say, which is remarkable considering most songs were 90% mumbling/instrumentals and 10% lyrics.

Nitin Sawnhey rhymes with 'Not for me' An eclectic mix of hip hop beat songs, imams screeching, arabs ululating, indians warboffling, piano pieces. When I say mix, I mean hotch potch ITs a 2

The blend of pop music with South Asian sounds was pretty interesting, but nothing really stuck with me.

W̶a̶s̶h̶e̶d̶-̶u̶p̶ ̶T̶h̶e̶ ̶B̶e̶n̶d̶s̶ ̶f̶r̶o̶m̶ ̶a̶n̶ ̶a̶l̶t̶e̶r̶n̶a̶t̶e̶ ̶u̶n̶i̶v̶e̶r̶s̶e̶ ̶w̶i̶t̶h̶ ̶t̶o̶o̶ ̶m̶u̶c̶h̶ ̶'̶r̶a̶d̶i̶o̶'̶ ̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶t̶o̶o̶ ̶l̶i̶t̶t̶l̶e̶ ̶'̶h̶e̶a̶d̶.̶'̶ — Another really weird album; feverish. The genre was meant to be jazz? Allegedly? It sounds like something you'd hear in a shampoo commercial. I couldn't finish the whole thing. The album made me really uncomfortable. The vocalist's vocals were really obnoxious. That makes it thrice I said the word "really."

How to describe the cultural and musical impact that Nitin Sawhney’s “Beyond Skin” has had in the 25 years since it was released? *checks notes* None. Oh, okay. None. In 2001-02 I was home from school studying for exams on my parents’ computer, which had a program like Windows media player or something similar that had around five sample songs that came with the program. I didn’t have any CDs or other music readily accessible and I think I was probably depressed, so I didn’t go to the effort of finding any other way to listen to music and just listened to the five sample songs that came with that program over and over, 5-6 hours a day for around two weeks straight. They were fine songs. Generic, bland trip-hoppy and forgettable. Good to study to because they had almost nothing about them that stood out. This album sounds exactly like those Windows media player (or similar program) sample songs 90% of the time. The other 10% was Indian music.

man i was ready to say it caught me on a good day and give it a three MAYBE EVEN A FOUR but as it kept going it got more and more tiresome. Serpents was the nail in the coffin. nostalgia was cool

Dilemma. Was all that jazzy electronica triphop stuff just bland and I didn't know and realize? Or is this project serving up the most boring examples of it, that I had every reason to not listen to around that time? Bar the Indian bits, I feel like I've heard it all before and I find nothing that would make it stand out. Rather on the contrary. And no, garnishing your music with some somber samples does not make deep art. I don't hate it, at all (for the most parts), but this is extremely whatever. [...] Next day. Skipped through the tracks again. It's alright. Why not.

meh

Interesting

How can you even call this art

Definitely not my music - sorry!

Not for me

I liked Broken skin, letting go tides, nostalgia, but the rest I found very annoying..

probably the most variety of sounds i’ve heard in one album. But the song writing really isn’t up there with the production.

Couldn't wait for that to be over

Wow, I really wasn't expecting this to be here. I bought this at release, but don't know anyone else in my friend/family circle that had heard of it. The nuclear testing themes and quotes scattered through the album are genuinely unnerving and there were a few points that reminded of a Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan track that I love from the Natural Born Killers soundtrack. The frenetic Qawwali style is intense, and the association with NBK that it raises for me serve to deepen the tension. I really enjoyed listening to this again.

It's a 3 because it's mid, but the annoying, uninspired insertions of random oriental music brought it down to a 2.

Really relaxing music and interesting Indian vibes

1.5/5. It's different, but that does not make it good. I found this difficult to listen to. I feel like this album is more a collection of sounds and voices than music... Things sound very off at points.

3.75-4 tough to say, beautiful blend of international sounds in an extremely creative way, however some tracks personally fell short from me, while others were extremely powerful

A very unique blend of genres for a concept album and I dig it.

Anti nuclear concept album from the millenium change.

2,5

Definitely an important album. Not really my jam.

A truly unique listen. A bit haunting at times but give the subject matter that’s expected. Fav songs: Homelands, Immigrant, & Beyond Skin.

Love the variety of musical styles

Boa batidas para não passar totalmente despercebido.

This was sort of hit or miss for me. Some of it I kinda of enjoyed, but other tracks really fell flat for me.

Phantastic crossover album. Too heavy for me.

Not for me

Quite interesting, but also distracting while at work

Wtf

It's not bad, but I would never actually want to listen to this again.

As a sucker for experimental genre blending this was a really interesting listen, especially for an album that came out in 1999. There's some excellent musicianship here and a unique concept throughout. Not ever track is needed though and a few go on too long, but otherwise this was a good find.

Loved this album! Sick indian samples and the vocal percussion moments made me lose my mind. Can't get enough of pilgrim. Warrants a fat discog dive, thanks for the music nitin

This has to be near the bottom of albums on this list, like 998.

Not for me

Found this surprisingly enjoyable. I liked the nuclear bomb / Oppenheimer theme and the music was relaxing without being boring

Really enjoyed this, nice chilled album. Not enough for 5 stars but still really good and worth another listen.

Some of the songs were alright, but overall, I wasn't a fan of most it

I liked this, no idea what to expect but it's good. It feels like what OK by Talvin Singh could have been if it was good.

I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed listening to this album. The weird cover art and lack of any genre indicators in the Wikipedia passage made me assume it would be too arty for me to find it accessible. The fact that it's about nuclear weapons made me assume it would be a depressing listen. But in the end it was just weird enough to be refreshing. I probably wouldn't listen to it again but it made for nice background music while I got some work done

Wikipedia classes Nitin as Asian underground, which upon further research, makes sense.... Asian underground is a term associated with Asian musicians (in this case, British Indian) who fuse traditional Asian music with Western underground dance music, like trip hop or drum and bass styles. Favourite songs: Immigrant, Broken Skin, Nostalgia Least favourite songs: Nadia 3/5

När jag läste alla negativa reviews så var jag beredd på något coolt. Det var dock bara indisk musik blandat med pyttelite electronica och 90-tals pop. Jag blev lite besviken. Ingen låt var superbra, vissa var dock intressanta.

Listened Before? N Nice! An apocalyptic concept album! I am a sucker for things like this and this one is no exception. I wish a bit more of it was in English, but it makes sense not to be. I enjoyed almost all tracks, but Homelands is a standout. Added to Library? N Songs added to playlist: Homelands

who listens to this Like sure, some of the jazzier stuff is fine, but tell me anyone’s favorite song is ‘Nadia’ or ‘Serpents’. None of this is artistically bankrupt or anything, but it seems like the artist put no effort into actually making this something people want to listen to. This made me feel nothing, and unlike other albums I could say that to, I really see no appeal to this. Probably the 1 star album I have the least hatred of, but who is this for?

Best song: Letting Go

Mostly electronic, this was interesting and varied throughout. Stand-out: Nostalgia

It’s ok. Slow, vibing music with an Indian flare.

Very hard album to rate. Each song is from a completely different story, entirely different genre, but at the same time they all are pretty solid. I think it deserves a good note just on the fact how varied this record is. Plus, of course, the meaning behind the lyrics and the story from the tracks. Very solid album.

I appreciate it's something different, but I just didn't really connect

I think we studied this at school. Didn’t like it then either!

you wouldn’t think that mostly middle eastern inspired music mixed with dance music would work, yet here we are. not really my thing normally, but interesting album that i might use for background music.

Some of these songs are just really beautiful, but others do nothing for me. I'll give it a 4 for creativity and these awesome piano parts

Interesting album with lots of variety and some themes that I mulled over a bit. Tides, Pilgrim, and Nostalgia stood out to me

i heard sinead o connor's faith and courage here.. apparently he did not produce on that album but they were flatmates for time (!!). I'm convinced he did some sneaky work on it. Cool to know about this guy even though I didn't love listening that much

Ja det var väl sådär. Lite soft men också trist. Homeland var kanske lite bra. Tides var riktigt usel. The Conference. Skjut mig!

Fuck you! Jag lyssnade på annan musik i högtalarna hemma. När jag satte på denna skrek Kajsa från andra rummet, "stäng av!". Jag kände samma, men sa att vi nu måste kämpa oss igenom. Tillsammans är vi starka! Jag ville verkligen inte lyssna klart. Detta är första gången det tagit emot. Förstår inte skivan. Det är en kaotisk blandning, inget är bra. Blandningen av modernt och "världsmusik" är botten. Känns som ett konstprojekt. Blev däremot påmind om nusrat fateh ali khan, som är bra!

I grova drag så tycker jag att den började ganska bra, lite skön trip hop och Massive Attack-feeling, för att successivt bara bli sämre och sämre i takt med att den blev mer och mer experimentell och pretentiös.

I love it & will check out more of his music. The cat meowing in Nostalgia made me laugh because some people brought a cat to my work location, and it would get into the ceiling space. You could hear it meowing as it wandered around and eventually, management said the cat couldn't be here so the person who brought it, took it home. While listening to the song, I thought they had brought the cat back, so I paused the music to see if I could hear the cat. Nothing, so I restarted the music and later realized THAT's where the meowing was from.

Hmm... I like the idea... I dislike the execution

Hat mich nicht abgeholt, war aber auch nicht unerträglich. Werde es in 2 Tagen vergessen haben.

Will gar nicht zu viel schreiben, fand es insgesamt ziemlich anstrengend. Rating: 2/5

- War ziemlich spannend - Man hört sehr stark einen scorigen bzw, filmusikalischen Charakter in seinen Songs. Außerdem gefällt mir der teils asiatische Einfluss sehr. - Für Hintergrund oder als Material für Kreativarbeit sehr geil. - Bis auf Nadia und Beyond Skin sind jetzt aber keine markanten Stücke hängen geblieben. 2,75/5

This is like new age Indian electro pop, good for a couple of songs then the tedium set in

Interesting.

This is crazy. A bunch of cool electronic beats over some unique vocals and melodies

Fantastic and not someone who has ever crossed my path. A real gift of this challenge. Beautiful production, big themes, bold choices throughout. It felt current but it was two decades old.

I don’t know why I like The Conference so much. I feel like I need to do some serious introspection.

I thought this album was awesome. It’s like the Asian Fusion of trip-hop. I’ve just never heard anything like this before and some of those songs were incredible and unique. There were a few songs that were a tad annoying, but overall the experiments on the album worked very well. I’m looking forward to returning to this at some point and think it has potential to change my perspective and tastes in music long term

Kind of shit. It’s a melting pot of a bunch of different sounds that just didn’t seem to work too well. For example, Pilgrim was a HORRIBLE song. Some troll songs but not enough to get a spot on this list IMO

Ret specielt elektronisk, fusionsjazz, ok til baggrund

Overall pretty boring. Some interesting parts Standout songs: Tides Nostalgia

This was a strange and enchanting album. The only song I didn't care for was "Pilgrim."

Very technically interesting. Wasn’t exactly what I was in the mood for but I appreciate the artistry

Basically good, I guess. Kinda boring for me

Tides by itself would be enough to make this a five star album. So many beautiful atmospheric songs while still maintaining melodic interest. Masterfully done.

It had an interesting start, but fairly quickly I realized that this was an album that couldn't decide what it wanted to be, as it felt like there were a few different styles of music on there. This can definitely be fine in general, but on this record it didn't work for me. I have to give it some plus points for being different though, and for some very nice vocal landscapes. Still, couldn't really single out a song that I liked in particular.

Was really enjoying it until I realised that for some reason spotify was just repeating the first few tracks which happened to be the strongest in my opinion. Liked the drum'N'base and RnB influences but the tail end of the album moved in a different direction and to one I enjoyed a lot less.

Interesting. Maybe a little too "International" for my taste, but enough good sounds to keep me engaged.

Definitely enjoyed this Indian album, nuclear testing references and beautiful singing and style

3.5 stars. Really pretty and well-produced Indian influenced down tempo drum & bass. "The Conference" really fun speed-singing/chanting. Standout is "Homelands".

Good stuff! Really digging the poly rhythms and vocals.

This album is terrific! I wish I had discovered it when it was released, because I’d have listened to it a ton. It’s a very unique, eclectic mix of sounds redolent of the best Trip Hop of the era - a sound that I was consistently searching for at the time. There’s some R&B flavor, traditional Indian sounds, a healthy amount of ethereal vocals, the requisite undercurrent of electronic beats, and an overall ambiance that, if you’re a fan of Portishead, Sneaker Pumps, Massive Attack, or Morcheeba, you’re sure to enjoy. I knew fairly early that this was a 4-star album, and briefly flirted with whether I should make it a 5 star. Then I realized that I’m scrolling through Apple Music looking for more of his albums. It’s that good. If a 25-year-old album holds up well enough that you're desperate for more music from the artist, that's a nailed on 5 stars. What an album.

Was this list required to provide a westernized Indian album because if this was the best possible option then I guess there is still more learning that needs to be done. The first song was kind of okay. Then emit just went to shit and everything else was pretty much a mess. There were two songs I had to skip, which I usually don’t do. This could’ve been a two star album if it stayed like the first song. 2.0/10

Very distinct middle eastern influence and style. The sound remains dynamic as it incorporates some other wordly genre elements and styles, with the most prominent and forward being R&B and flamenco rhythm. This album is so unique and cool, very much worth listening to for a global music perspective. Big soulquarian vibe on this album.

I really enjoyed this. Honestly, way more than I should’ve or thought I would. There was an insane amount of range, some would say too much, I say, just right. Every song slapped in my opinion. Seems like a hot take, but this fucks. Sue me. 4/5

Proficient in every genre it tackles. Unfortunately, I don't care for enough of the genres to fully love it. I can still respect the hell out of what I heard, but it's missing a lot.

Beyond Dull. A late-to-the-game take on mid-90’s international flavored groove like Moodswings and Transglobal Underground. Nothing to really stand out.

me gustó bastante lo que me sorprendió igual por ahí se iba de mambo paraaaaa. 7,5/10

pretty good though subdued, nice blend of genres

Album cover doesn’t match the type of music that comes to mind. Each song is so different, middle eastern notes, Indian, a few tracks that sound a bit rappish.

Nice mix of different cultures enjoyed it

Such a weird mix of music I really like and music I find completely unlistenable.

interesting but don't know if i'd revisit

You can't put curry on everything. It felt that many of the songs Sawhney forced a lot of things into his songs, and sometimes ... it just doesn't work. "Immigrant" is one of the songs that comes to mind, where the woman is singing and there's the Indian singing along with it. The two just didn't mesh for me. The first two songs felt. like they were the same tempos and drums, I almost thought it was the same song. Sampling Oppenheimer as well? It just felt very much like he was throwing everything possible into some of the music. And putting every spice into a food is just... overwhelming.

Didn't mind it. It felt like a variety of hip-hop, soul, R&B, and electronica - of course with Indian backdrops. I think I liked the non hip-hop songs better (like Letting Go, Nadia, or Anthem without Nation), and the less singing the better (like Homelands, Tides, or Beyond Skin). Serpents and The Conference were both a little strange - wonderful and annoying at the same time. I could see myself letting this play in the background but it didn't quite get me out of my seat.

Excellent

Pour du drumm and bass c'était bien mieux que la majorité des autres albums du genre que j'ai eu. Ça aidait que l'instrumentation ne reposait pas entièrement sur le beat. Le fait que la majorité des pièces avaient des voix intéressantes aidait aussi. Le mélange d'influence était très respectable et généralement bien exécuté. Je n'ai pas été complètement séduit, mais je peux reconnaître l'effort. 6/10

There is something familiar about this album cover, but perhaps I’m thinking of that creepy viral video from a few years back where that was a girl made of ice cream eating her own head. Yeah, I think that’s what I’m thinking of. Let’s listen! Songs I already knew: Broken Skin Favourites: Broken Skin, Homelands, Nadia I’m not sure why I recognised Broken Skin, but it was definitely familiar. This album is such a perfect mishmash of music from around the world. It is music that I wouldn’t expect to work, but it sounds pretty amazing. Obviously, a lot of the non-English lyrics are lost on me, but I enjoyed this album a lot.

I was fully prepared to write a wrecking ball of a review after the first track. But I'm glad I stayed my pen because most of the rest of this album is wildly good. "Homelands" in particular is just fantastic from every angle. I wanted to give this a 5-star review but, unfortunately, every track isn't a winner. "Broken Skin" and "Immigrant" in particular didn't push any buttons for me. They both felt very generic - especially when compared to the tracks around them.

Interesting album will get another listen

Ok, but not for me

Though there were some songs that I found compelling, the high pitched dinging on some pieces goes right through me and hits the annoyance center if my brainstem. Happy to have heard this, but I'm not going to seek it out again.

Hell yeah, lo-fi, trip-hop style beats. Good ethereal singing, good instrumentation. And now he's rapping... and now some drum n bass. I'm really on-board with this first half or so. It definitely falls off in the second half and that brings the score down unfortunately, but I'm still on board overall. I get that people are annoyed by some of these tracks, but slightly bewildered by the barrage of 1 star reviews. 3.5 rounded down

This was a bit of a weird album, definitely for background music in movies and not just for listening for fun. There were a couple of interesting songs, which is why this doesn't get 1 star, but a little bit of a confusing album that has a very niche audience, I guess.

The deeper you get into the list the more you realized how UK-skewed it is. Also the commitment to a diverse array of music can be great but also a big negative at points. I think I need to start viewing this list as just "1001 random albums" and not the best 1001 of all time. "Pilgrim" was brutal to get through with its weak spoken-word. I feel like I've heard most of these songs in a wannabe trendy hotel lobby before. This album is all over the place, and not in a good way, with no cohesiveness from song to song. 3/10 (1.5/5)

Nope

Very interesting album. Genuinely not sure if I liked it or not!

Honestly, when this started, it was a 2 at best. But through the listen, it grew on me. Thematically, there is a lot of interesting material here. Musically, it fluctuates. The diversity helped it from growing stale, though. Still, it sounded a little bit 90's, and not in a nostalgic way. Something about it feels outdated. I think it would grow on me with repeated listens, but, meh.

Happy to get introduced to some new music, but this is taking up a space that should probably belong to Bob Seger.

Better than I thought it would be. Gave it several listens all the way through and it got better each time.

Largely forgettable mid music. Works fine as background music. Shoutout to the last track for the Oppenheimer samples.

Shock-factored me into a 2. I actually really liked the first song, so I was looking forward to this album, but oh boy. This was the wildest, craziest, weirdest shit I have heard in a while, and I can't say I particularly enjoyed it.

1. broken zkin - 1.5 2. letting go - 1.5 3. homelandz - 1 4. pilgrim - 0 5. tidez - 1 6. nadia - 2 7. immigrant - 1 8. zerpentz - 1 9. anthem - 1.5 10. noztalgia - 1.5 11. conference - 0 12. beyond zkin - 2

This reminds me of a middle eastern Massive Attack. I recognize that it’s good but it’s just not my thing

alright this is pretty chill. Not blowing me away but easy to listen to and a fun twist on what I had expected given the little summary. Fair minimal electronic hip hop with a lillllll hint of indian influence. I had a crazy work day so I only got through a few songs and the rest of this week is poised to be the same but I can't imagine this getting anything other than a 3 from me

Well, it’s certainly ambitious. But perhaps the album is not the best format one could choose to expound on nuclear proliferation. There’s some pretty nice sounding stuff in here but it was buried in what almost felt like college reading. The Conference was interesting.

This was surprising and very cool. I don’t always get fusion but this worked really well

Don't really know how to describe this but it was an interesting mix of jazzy sounds with traditional Indian music blended in. Have never heard of this artist and not likely I will listen again, but better than hearing another lame britpop record.

I have absolutely no context for this but I think it was well put together. It seamlessly mixed Indian music with jazz and electronica which is cool, but I don’t think I’d ever need to hear it again.

I love trip hop. It's a real niche genre (at least in the US where I am), and it's a subtle sound to master. Beyond Skin is a fantastic example of how unique the subgenre is.

+1 for sounding incredibly modern. This could have been released in 2024 and I would not have questioned it -1 for it just not being that good. The instrumental tracks were good, just too few of them Top tracks: Tides, Nadia

like i’m sure it’s good but this simply isn’t made for me. actually really liked Tides

7.5/10 Nice album Excellent musicianship and production Lush instrumentation Loads of the songs are 75% of the way to brilliant But the album lacks a top gear that it can shift into and become brilliant The breakbeats stuff was the best So ultimately it is more of a background than foreground album Best: Nadia

Love all the trash reviews of this album. I didn't like the first song but I did enjoy the next two: Letting Go and Homelands, so when I first started taking notes I was inclined to make a case for the album. But every song after Homelands has been a downhill slide and now I'm just waiting for this to end. Pilgrim is too precise in its syllable count, like a child reciting a poem; Tides is elevator music; and another reviewer was spot on when they said Immigrant was a Disney song. My main critique is that a lot of the tracks start out interesting, but they all go on far too long and whatever was interesting about them fades into a repetitive drum beat. This album is a smidge better than a lot of the other boring trip-hop we've gotten here, but only because of the Indian/diaspora musical influence.

Excellent UK trip hop inspired by India and atomic war. Lightly heady, Greta pace, nice rhythm. Music to help get stuff done

Very different fare. Reminiscent of Dead Can't Dance with the mix of rhythms and cultures used. Not bad

Some weird. Some awesome. What genre is this???

I'm really liking this album...granted, I'm working so it's background music at this point. I'll have to sit down and soak up the content at another time.

Couldn't get behind it. Only giving it two because the instrumental portions were actually kind of interesting, but the rest was not something I could get into. I'm curious if this was included mostly for a cultural impact it had that I'm not aware of or don't have context to appreciate?

Right, know nothing about this! Can't pick the genre from the cover. 1999. Hmmmm. Ambient? Avant jazz? Wow, first track is very affecting, and dark. Didn't expect Indian fusion jazz trip hoppy drum and bass. Love it. Cold and warm at once The whole album is a real journey. Immigrant my least favourite track, sounding a bit like a Disney song.

2 this was one weird album. Very repetitive and the songs were way too long

Ugh. This is standard turn of the century stuff that had some guardian reviewer named Tim, or Ben or Miles getting semi hard for on its way to the Mercury Prize and hipster end of year polls. The music drifts between acoustic down tempo pop, Bhangra beats and female vocals that could’ve been Morcheeba, Sneaker Pimps or countless others. Unremarkable

I have gotten slightly weary of some of the downtempo electronic albums that have been offered in this project over 900 albums in. At first I was not excited about this. However, this one got better and better and got my attention as a stand out. It has a strong connecting message along with a great variety of very different sounding tracks. The South Asian sounds woven throughout are only a plus for me.

Just when I thought I was getting the groove of this album, it would throw me something a little different, but still in the flow. I like that, bunches!

A striking blend of styles. Lovely and poignant. This is one I wouldn't have ever sought out but I'm so glad to have heard it.

A Hindu-tinged album about nuclear war that ends with Oppenheimer quoting the Bhagavad Gita? Go on… I’m listening. Glad to have heard this before I died. Utterly riveting - so much so I’ve listened to it three times.

Didn't listen.

uhhhh really not for me. giving kratom bar vibes. LEAST favorite songs Pilgrim - this is what it feels like when ur on a first date and the dude asks to freestyle for you Did not end up finishing this album

Ok so I don't know how this album has made this list. Frequently bored out of my mind listening to it. GREAT background music but feels like I'm in a white washed movie about colonialism ? Like it's a attempt at fusing electronica-east asian just settles itself in the pit between where it sucks all around// The concept behind this album is supposed to be a time-line running from the India-Pakistan nuclear situation to Oppie quoting "I am become death... yada yada" Cool fucking idea. So so poorly executed. Yeah samples are taken but again just make this sound lazy and as many have said...BORING. Wieners: Homeland...I guess? It is the most popular and the only song I could get through without grimacing Losers: All.

Couldn’t decide whether I was indifferent or loved it. My head was all over the place but I am loving the variety. It’s probably a 3.5 but I’m boosting it because I listened to it twice and actually want to listen to it again.

A bit disjointed. The song Immigrant hurt my ears and The Conference made my question my sanity.

Man... I don't know. The stuff that was good didn't strike me as that interesting, and there were many other moments that were downright unenjoyable. I've heard lots of Arabic music in my lifetime (mom's Lebanese, after all), and there was something forced about that material, along with the other foreign language tracks. I couldn't bear a few of them. So, A for effort, I guess, but this was actively unsettling me enough that it dipped below a 3.

Pretty bizarre album, effortlessly spanning several genres. having said that, i had no idea who this artist was going into this listen and still none afterwards. a pleasant enough listen, but not sure it's one I'll be returning to any time soon.

The 1st song was annoying, a very "standard" R&B/Gospel voice; I just personally don't like that voice, it is just boring/ordinary. "Homelands" and "Nadia" where good.

I really wanted to like this, but, I found it waaaaay too arty for me. It went on a journey but I was not pleased to be on it.

Never heard of this artist. The cover disturbs me. After listening: a couple good songs. Hip hop and rap are not my style 2 Stars

Very diverse, i guess its good music but not my thing 2/5

Tapped out at the scatting

innocuous

All over the place, from chill soundscapes to drum n bass, hip hop, worldbeat and something that could have been in a Disney movie (Immigrant). Letting Go was good as well as the instrumental Tides with lively piano over ocean noises. At other times, was tough to get through.

First track only good track

Extremely dull. I have zero desire to ever listen to this album again.

I would never listen to this ever. I don’t like these weird albums. If you make an album it’s a project and often a description of that artists life. But at the end of the day it’s still suppose to be music. And this is not my kind

An interesting collection of politically charged lyrics. Likely needs a return spin to dive deeper.

Forgettable music.

Interesting. Kind of all over the place. There's some things I dig (middle eastern westernized pop) and things I don't (western pop).

It's interesting, and I appreciate the representation of some non-Western ideas, but... eh.

Interesting and challenging album, glad I listened but not one ill come back to.

Them: Here's 1001 Albums you should listen to before you die. Me: (praying for death so I don't have to listen to another electronic British album)

Buen disco

The wikipedia page for this album promised me drum and bass. I did not get any drum and bass. It's not the album's fault that someone somewhere mislabeled it. But. I don't go to electronic music for vocal performances and I wish that this album had about 50% of the *words* as it did. It was a good downtempo album to listen to, and the concept was strong.

I enjoyed this! Would I listen again? I don't know. But the entire time it was playing, there was never a moment when I was wondering when it would end. I thought it was interesting how the album ended around the same place it began. I just was kind of vibing the whole time.

the only way i think i can describe this is music for a modern dance performance you would stumble into at a museum

I don't think I had enough attention to devote to this today. It sounds fresher and more futuristic than 1999.

I've never heard of this artist, looking forward to something new. Really interesting trip-hop/rock... hard to pin this down in a genre. Apparently Nitin Sawhney is also a composer and producer. I will have to try and check out more of his work. A lot of this is really good, especially for background music while working, but it's not my favorite. 3/5

cohesive album ig but was bored the whole listen and not really any stand outs to me 3/10

Definitely interesting, Certainly some very cool parts, but wasn't particularly enjoyable - 6/10

Some interesting moments but kinda weird. Like the nuclear test voiceover and the female singing seemed kind of random. Also my 200th review.

Shits ass 3/10

Honestly I dig. It got way better when I put my headphones on. Kinda long I guess but a fun listen… cool stereo effects. The Conference goes crazy. 8/10

3/10 - I liked Tides but the rest were not enjoyable in my opinion.

I expected it to be terrible with the name beyond skin but it wasnt too bad. It started pretty good but the last couple songs were kinda annoying 5/10

Not good enough to be an hour long 3.5/10

A good listen, I've never heard of them, but i didn't feel like skipping. I don't think I'd normally seek them out though, so that's why i went with a 3

Relaxed R&B, but not really my thing. Interesting Indian vibe / instrumentation. Letting Go - half decent Homeland - nice music Pilgrim - shite Nadia - very Indian. Actually liked it Serpents - yeah, gets inside you. A 4 cos it's both different and enjoyi

Good eclectic mix of sounds there all arranged around some unnecessary political intros but good none the same.

Indian dub step and yacht rock. I was not expecting that. Wildly diverse album.

a few really nice songs, although there's also some trash

Album #666 2nd 90s British electronic album with a grey, screaming face on the cover this month. Unlike the Prodigy… well it’s pretty much nothing like the Prodigy. A bold celebration of disparate music styles, AND a meditation on nuclear weapons. Hard to believe the piano jazz of “Immigrant” and the scatting in “The Conference” are part of the same project. Though I didn’t enjoy every track, there’s something to be said about an album that resists comparison so strongly. HL: “Tides”, “Nadia”, “Anthem Without Nation”, “Homelands”

This album needs to make up its damn mind. Is it a house album? Jungle? Hindi? Neo-Soul? Spoken word? Too many flavors that don’t mix well.

Damn what was this album? A mix of modern and what i think is Indian music came together in a really cohesive experience. Favorite track was tides.

Such a well thought out, unique album. Reminds me of massive attack (created a new trip hopish playlist because of it)

Cool stuff with good soundscape. Certainly feels like it's from the 90s but I thought it was well done and provocative.

I've never heard of this album or artist before, but I tend to enjoy electronica, so I had decently high hopes for it. The album's overall theme of nuclear proliferation was interesting, and I liked how the songs started with the present day (well, 1999, but present day for the album's release), and then worked backwards. It worked well, in that it had a sense of "well, this is where we are, but how did we exactly arrive here?" The songs that dealt with Indian diaspora felt a tad out of place, but I did like that they tied back to the first song, and how India was now in a new phase as a nation, having developed nuclear weaponry. I really loved "Tides" and the way it used water sounds while discussing the French island nuclear tests. "Immigrant" was great too, and had the best melodies and vocals of the whole album. Conversely, "Pilgrim" was my least favorite track to listen to; its song-spoken chorus was just really grating and annoying, and it felt like it made up about 75% of the song. Overall, this album does just enough to distinguish itself from its peers. Sometimes that's a good thing, other times, it's not such a good thing. There was so much electronica music coming out at the time, and what this album did thematically and lyrically makes it stand out, but musically, it really doesn't set itself apart. Sure, the arrangements are pleasant to listen to, but I feel like I can say that about a lot of this album's peers. I would be down to listen to this album when I just want something nice to listen to, but there are so many other albums that I'd rather throw on.

Boring background music, I could list hundreds of albums that could be in its place and probably aren’t on this list. [0123/1001]

Interessant

Wank

Beautifully produced, expansive electronica, enriched and lifted by its South East Asian influences.

A collective mix. Tends to drift into different directions and makes it hard listen.

The first half was some pretty cool trip hop but the second half was pretty dull

Something I wouldn’t choose myself, but surprisingly enjoyable.

Extremely impressive album. I happened to watch Oppenheimer a few days before listening, which definitely felt uncanny at times. Will be saving for future listenings.

(3) I like what this album was going for conceptually more than I like the execution. I think the synthesis of trip-hop, jazz piano, and Indian music is really interesting at times, and overall the production is very polished, but I found some of the songs to be hit or miss. Last track went hard, though.

Not for me

I really enjoyed the first 2 songs. Went downhill from there.

Did not listen. Album cover turned me off immediately! 0⭐

I agree first two songs were good, but then wow wtf happened.

interesting, havent listened to anything like this before

Good background music. Glad I heard it.

Really weird but not my music

Boring. Not influential. Lyrics have a superiority complex.