New Forms
Roni Size
1997
Album Summary
New Forms is the debut studio album by British drum and bass group Roni Size & Reprazent. It was originally released on 23 June 1997 through Talkin' Loud, and later re-released by Mercury Records and Universal Music Group. The album was released to critical and commercial success, winning the 1997 Mercury Prize, certifying platinum in the UK, and often being cited as their magnum opus.New Forms was promoted by the release of its four singles, "Share the Fall", "Heroes", "Brown Paper Bag" and "Watching Windows", all landing on the UK Singles Chart and featuring vocals from Onallee. The album features production credits from Roni Size, Krust, DJ Die and Suv.
WikipediaThis is one that really shows the UK bias in this list. I don't think anyone (non-UK people, anyway) outside of drum and bass or DJ culture would consider this any kind of essential album - it's cultural relevance is pretty niche in the rest of the world - so I don't know how much it belongs here. That said, giving it a fair hearing, I didn't enjoy it too much. I could get into some of the beats but the overall style and production sounds very dated and I found most of the vocals kind of embarrassing.
Listening to this entire album felt like having a panic attack in the back row of an international flight. 2
Very rare for an electronic/dance music album to win the Mercury Music Prize but it is completely unprecedented for a drum and bass album. I'd be surprised if it will ever happen again. This is one of the albums that put drum & bass on the mainstream music map. It's a wicked album, super pioneering, blending lots of different influences, particularly jazz and hiphop. You've also got to factor in the timing of it, artist-led d&b albums were not common in 1997. And it still sounds fresh! "In The Mode" might edge "New Forms" for tunage, but it is nowhere near as groundbreaking or influential. 10/10
Was a really tough call between a 4 and a 5. On the one hand it’s a seminal album that has influenced a lot of the music that I like nowadays, with some classic d&b tracks in there. On the other, I felt it dragged a bit and some of the tracks went by without really making an impact. I’m also not sure I’d listen to this as a full album all that regularly, which should rule it out as a 5. But it’s difficult to ignore it’s legacy and influence. This is the most torn I’ve been about my scoring of an album yet.
A classic. This album was one of the first DnB albums I heard and definitely helped send me down the path.
When the drums started I was like "alright this is not bad." Hip hop but sorta jungle electronica-ish? Not bad to have on in the background while working (which I am doing now). I like New Forms... uh huh, uh huh, uh huh. Reminds me a bit of DJ Shadow, there's a darkness here that I like. Oh shit this is the 2hr album. I did enjoy it, but Jungle/DnB is very draining lol, but I was working and trying to stay awake so it worked well. 3.5 up to 4.
There is no universe or reality in which this is an essential album. It does nothing well and is not unique or memorable. 78 minutes of the same mediocre d&b beat over and over again.
Yeah, I'm definitely biased for this one. I'm a British guy who loves a lot of electronic music and was introduced to Drum and Bass at a young age. I can only imagine the effect it had at release, winning the 1997 Mercury Prize and likely being one of the seminal albums that brought DnB to a mainstream audience. It's impossible for me not to love this album. I just wish more DnB songs utilised a double bass. Favourite: Brown Paper Bag
Familiar with the full vocal remix of Brown Paper Bag from an MTV comp called AMP2. Fondly remember watching AMP late at night and am generally a fan of this era of electronic music. 1 cd alone can hold an indulgent amount of music in 70+ mins but a double cd is alot to take in. Had to listen in two separate sessions. Though drum n bass is very "meaty" as far as electronic music goes, the higher BPMs over the course of a double cd can be exhausting if you're not on drugs. Like the upright bass sound. I think I prefer the 2nd disc from "Intro" on. Its more instrumental/atmospheric and has a wider range of moods.
Without a doubt it’s a classic of the genre however drum & bass is now considered quite niche and has stepped in and out of fashion since its late 90’s heyday. New Forms is up there with Timeless & Modus Operandi and is maybe a bit more accessible, Heroes & Watching Windows being big singles. It’s the likes of Brown Paper Bag, Hot Stuff & Down where the surgically produced bass come to the fore. Hadn’t listened to this in a while and to be honest picked out a few tracks for the review. Still stands up!
I remember this sounding like the future when it came out. It still sounds fresh, but time has tamed it. Runs out of steam and becomes irritating in places.
Every song was easily a minute or two too long. I have a lot of drum n' bass, but the songs either need to ba shortened or another theme needs to be put in there. They were getting tedious. I appreciated him for what he was trying to do, but... man.
The drum and bass feels pretty dated. But they do some interesting stuff with it.
Very conflicted here. I like this - some of it very much - but it just goes on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on...
This is outrageous, this is contagious. This is outrageous, this is contagious. So futile.
power of the what now?! foreskin? no thank u champ. am i gonna be able to listen to this whole thing?! really not feeling it
Yes. I remember a couple of these tracks from release, and enjoyed at the time. Listening back now I'm pleasantly surprised at how cohesive, catchy and just plain good this album is. Gets five stars for freshness, even after 25 years.
Epitomises a genre I love and that was uniquely British in its inception despite obvious influences from hip-hop, jazz etc.
Yes, this is great! I already know and love this album. Drum and bass is a style of electronic music I'm not massively familiar with. I guess it's mostly a singles-oriented club genre - but this one is an ambitious, fully-realised album that also makes you want to get on a dancefloor. I love the cerebral ambient moments combined with thumping energy. I love the basslines, which I guess are often being sampled from jazz/funk/soul records? I actually think the shorter version (which was originally the 1CD/cassette release) works amazingly in a single sitting, but I'm not opposed to hearing the whole 140-minute double album anytime! 5*
Forgot how much I loved the songs on this album - reminder of the 90’s and whilst at Uni
4.5 stars. Probably not the first drum'n'bass record to have heavy jazz sounds and influences, but certainly the landmark album (and a 2CD behemoth at that!) establishing what is still a very active subgenre and world of music. Classic.
Excellent drum & bass album. It felt rather repetitive at first, but I got into it once the more familiar tracks kicked in, and on the second listen it all fell into place nicely.
This album on computer speakers: 2* This album on headphones: 5* and that's the way I first listened to it at the time, so I go with the 5*
Boom! Yes! As a child of 90s Britain, time was that you couldn't adjust your stereo without landing on a pirate drum n bass station. I'm sure the purists will hate this album but in the genre they don't come bigger than Roni Size. Iconic
Cool vibes, a little on the experimental side for me, but would be good background jams for a hangout.
Like this, much stronger at the start than the end where it gets a bit non descript. Nice nostalgia
Was between a 3 and a 4 but have rounded up for the Ket song, which I’ll now be sneaking into playlists at appropriate times 😏 a classic album which has grown on me over the years
Seminal, timeless, silky smooth d&b bangers. A few of the tracks did feel a bit samey
It's between a 4 and 5 for me and it's such and inspiring album for me. But i'm going with a 4 because I know that there are albums that have influenced me even more than this. Buuuuut it is amazing and on top of it I can hear how a lot of of stuff is made and even had (and still have) some of the same vintage synths and samplers that it sounds like have been used on it - which adds to it for me.
Classic. Songs a little overlong at times though, with not quite enough progression and development. Worthy album on the 1,000 list just for ‘Brown Paper Bag’ alone.
Al principio del disco me vino a la mente "Las chicas superpoderosas", jaja, pero pues fluyó bien, me gustó la energía que emana y yo creo que sirve tanto para drogarse como para estar trabajando chill sin tener que ponerle mucha atención a la música. Canciones fav: "New Forms", "Mad Cat", "Heroes". 8/10
Gorgeous. Just so, so gorgeous. Beautiful melodies. Flawless beats. Like making sweet, sweet love to a box fresh sex doll.
good. dead long, very out of place sat at my desk on a wednesday afternoon.
Intense, du bon electro comme tout les albums sur cette liste. Ca doit etre bon pour courrir franchement, mais pour travailler. Un peu intense. 4.15
I am extremely surprised to see a DnB/Jungle album on here. The sound is a little dated now but I still love it. I’m probably eating this higher than normal since I love DnB
I used to love drum and bass but never really saw the point in Dance Music that you don’t dance to. This album bridges the gap somewhat with more hip hop influenced vocals, jazzy double bass and skittery live drums. I mostly enjoyed the half time triphop stuff like Watching Windows. It didn’t get nearly as much acclaim but Roni Size and DJ Die worked together again a few years later on Breakbeat Era, which I think really nails this style of more “listenable” D&B.
This outdated raver stuff from the 90s brought back memories and put me on a carousel of nostalgia that I didn't want to get off of.
Didn’t think I liked D&B but this is great chilled and upbeat at the same time!
Big Roni Size fan but had not heard this album end-to-end. I really enjoyed it and will probably revisit. This artist sent me down a big drum n bass rabbit hole back in the 90s that I still dive into from time to time. Love the jazz and (light) reggae influences, and the vocals, while not always my cup of tea, aren't overly distracting and in the case of "watching windows" really add to it.
omg, this album makes me anxious Almost 5 stars but -1 because the songs are too long.
This is why I signed up for the album a day club--to discover different types of music that I wasn't familiar about and learning about how they fit into the story of their genre. I enjoyed this one immensely.
Brown Paper Bag is a stone cold classic and was one of several massive tunes from the end of that decade to facilitate the beginnings of a crossover to the mainstream for late-90s Jungle/D&B. A lot of the tracks are on the minimally-orchestrated/barebones side, and some are actually tosh, but some of them are standout and have a huge vibe to them. Definitely worth checking the 20th anniversary edition over the original release, as it includes hours of extra singles releases, B-sides and alternative mixes. Best tracks: Brown Paper Bag (the full vocal remix is better IMHO), Matter of Fact, Heroes (and the 2017 remix), Hi-Potent (originally released as the B-side to Brown Paper Bag 12" single, and you'll notice the iconic double bass sample in a less chopped up form), Trust Me (simple but brutally effective dancefloor classic!) (and the 2017 remix), Share The Fall (for those who like their jazzy beats chopped and sliced), Jazz, Ballet Dance (very Paradox/Seba/Fanu/Equinox/Pieter K/PFM/LTJ Bukem style), Western (which uses the classic "Let a Woman Be a Woman" break) (and the 2017 remix)... yeah, this is a solid slab of Bristol-infused Drum & Bass from Roni Size, Die, Krust and Suv from the late 90s, with some fresher takes on some of the tunes from the last decade. It's not a 5 star album, but it's a strong 4-star contender -- if only for the amount of newcomers it brought in to the genre, thanks to its accessible style and pop-infused sensibilities, which were still not as prevalent in the late 90s (most D&B back then was quite dark and moody).
JUNGLE IS MASSIVE. Excellent former dnb producer that managed to shapeshift the sound in the 90s with legendary producer like Goldie.
Not bad, but not the best house/jungle/rythym-n-bass album I've heard either. Also, way, way, too long.
90's electronic. chill dnb and jazz vibes. I actually digged this album even though im not the biggest dnb fan. A good album for ambient sound
Good fun drum and bass. Long run time. Consequently, a little repetitive by the second CD.
Ok Roni, we both know I didn’t listen to the full thing, so let’s just shake hands on a 3
Drum and bass, but jazzy enough to enjoy without the full bass experience. Some of the 7-9 minute tracks did drag on
interesting. album art screams 1997 to me haha. its longggggg. first thought: radiohead music but some dude rapping on top instead of toms pitiful singing lol. it's been like 40 minutes and i've liked everything minus that first track. i dont have a lot to say i simply like this type of music. but it also wasnt the absolute best. just pretty cool.
I didn’t find this enjoyable, but I can recognize that it’s good. Because it wasn’t my thing I skipped through a lot of tracks after the first minute or so. I really thought I would enjoy some songs based off of their opening riffs, but found they were lacking.
I'd give this album a 4-star rating if the songs were shorter. It's 139 minutes, over two hours of music, which is not necessarily bad, but this kind of compositions can get very repetitive very quickly, even though it's some pretty outstanding, classic drum'n'bass. "Lo bueno, si poco, mejor".
Encyclopedic, a little repetitive (not within tracks but in the tracklist, too, and in neither place self-referential), long but driving toward its telos. That destination feels a bit hollow, but the music does not: Parts of it are positively live.
I can appreciate that this was somewhat either ground-breaking or genre-defining, but DNB isn't really for me. And the vocals didn't make up for anything. A good album, well produced.
i feel like this one suffers from the general musical malaise of the late 90s...but it's still interesting, in its way. it holds on hard to the old jungle beats - from back when that term wasn't as problematic as it is now - which i enjoy, since it's such an insect-in-amber thing. but overall, it's just not for me. didn't like it then, don't really care about it now.
Hard to rate. Probably the best drum and bass album ever but it isn't a genre that suits albums. Brown Paper Bag is still amazing
Probably amongst the worst things from the house of darkness malarkey. I might need to get some drugs in.
Pretty cool, but ran out of steam and interest very quickly. Probably belongs on this list but not one to return to much.
In general, I find listening to double albums a chore, and this album is a good representation of that. I was ready to be done at the end of the first album, and then here is a full other album for me to listen to. I thought I was going to like this more. I'm a fan of DnB in general, and I remember listening to some of these songs when I was younger, but it didn't really do anything for me this time around. Part of the problem may be that I prefer more modern DnB, and this is pretty true to the roots of the genre 3/5
So 1001 provides multiple listings for hardcore and grunge, but only one for drum and bass - and this is it. I'm not an aficionada of D&B, but I'd say Roni is more melodic and less minimalist than most of what I've heard. The addition of Onallee on vocals is a big plus. Heroes and the other tracks she's involved in are standouts IMO. It would be nice to condense the best stuff down to a single LP.
Fand ich 1997 langweiliger als heute, und ich mochte Drum'n'Bass damals sehr. Heute trotzdem spannender, was ja nichts schlechtes ist. Vom Hocker reisst es mich aber auch nicht.
Schiebt von Beginn gut an, hievt mit „Brown Paper Bag“ gleich mal die Latte hoch, hält ein unfassbar jazzy-grooviges, dichtes Niveau und franst vielleicht aufgrund der Länge zum Ende hin ein wenig aus. (Auf Kopfhörern seltsamer Weise etwas dünner als im Auto, wobei die Stereo-Spielereien erst damit bemerkbar werden) Goulish 3.4