En-Tact
The Shamen
1990
Album Summary
En-Tact is the fourth studio album by Scottish band the Shamen, released in 1990. It was the first Shamen album to feature Mr C, and the last to feature Will Sinnott (who died on 23 May 1991). It fused the band's past psychedelic rock sounds with the rave act it became, developing a style that represented multicultural dance music.
WikipediaListening to this record was like washing your dick in a sink after spending two weeks shagging the granny out of your own cat.
Absolute garbage. Repetitive, uninteresting, dated, meaningless new-agey-druggy lyrics, awful sound, terrible singing - tedious beyond belief. Not even close to being an essential album and nothing like the best example of its genre. Avoid, avoid, avoid.
I pride myself on being somewhat of a chameleon. And being able to adapt. But someone, anyone, get me out of this gay bar.
This album started with high hopes from me. A promise of mixing psychedelic rock and hardcore hip hop rhythms from Spotify's band description, however this was not what I expected. This is because this album actually comes from their acid house era which they became known for. This album started out with a bang, and soon became very samey to me. I know that's the case with this kind of music so maybe it needs a few more listens from me to get to grips with the subtleties of it, especially as i'm not really listening well when coding these days. To be honest this is a no from me dawg. 2 because I liked some tunes but mostly it's not my cup of tea.
Track 1: 9 seconds in and rapidly approaching "No." Track 2: "I'm SMOOOOTH - Like water from a fountain!" *ugh* Track 3: END
The Shaman were actually pretty good at one point, when Will Sinnott was still around and Mr C wasn't talking over the top of every track. This is probably their peak, when they were still mixing some of their psychedelic roots into a house sound, and before they lapsed into one dimensional rave party anthems.
I don't think I've ever listened to an album more reminiscent of the 90s than this one. Some decent melodies and occasional guitar work on here, but it's not enough to escape the LP's datedness or lack of forward momentum.
I don't know man, I am sure this is someones vibe. But as a person not alive in 1990 it feels super old. Like not aged super well, I could see it being like a new synth electronic thing. But man, It's so old, it feels kinda comedic to a certain point. And it's like crazy long. Felt like a slog to get through. to each their own, however this isn't mine.
Schwierig. Hat seine Momente. Über weite Strecken allerdings alles andere als abwechslungsreich. Mich nervt solche Art elektronischer Musik sehr leicht, da macht dieses Album keine Ausnahme.
I did not enjoy this even a little bit. I don't think I would enjoy this even if I was at a rave all hopped up on ecstasy. Nothing personal against The Shamen, I'm sure they are fine fellows, but it's just not my thing. 2 stars.
What the fuck is this shit now? I feel a hatred and rage of Joan Crawford proportions coming on. “NO ELECTRONICA!! NO ELECTRONICA EVEEEEERRRR!!!!!”
From the first song, I thought I would need to be wearing parachute pants to truly enjoy this album. But then Human NRG took a left turn and made me think I should have taken drugs to enjoy it. Maybe both were required and would have been epic. In the end, I made it to Hear Me and turned it off.
I am familiar with THE SHAMEN and the album EN-TACT, since I have it, but I haven’t listened to it to since the early 90’s, since the rave culture went out of fashion. After listening to EN-TACT, I knew I would like it at the beginning from what I remember from it, but I was rather surprised how well the album held up after repeated listening. I thought it would sound dated after a while but, no, it still sounds fresh and vibrant although the rave culture has subsided. I like EN-TACT more now than I did in the 90’s. I’m glad for this re-listen. In 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die, THE SHAMEN’s EN-TACT Is the only album listed. Rate Artist: THE SHAMEN (5.0) Rate Album (Year): EN-TACT (US 1991 Original) (5.0) Ranking of THE SHAMEN - EN-TACT songs No. Title Length Ranking 01. "Move Any Mountain" (Progen - Beatmasters 7") 3:28 10.0/10 02. "Human Nrg (Massey)" 4:39 10.0/10 03. "Possible Worlds: Deep PSI" 3:44 10.0/10 04. "Omega Amigo" 4:44 09.5/10 05. "Evil Is Even [Edit]" 4:23 10.0/10 - Instrumental 06. "Hyperreal Orbit" (Early Fade) 5:22 10.0/10 07. "Lightspan" 4:39 10.0/10 08. "Make It Mine" (v1.3 Lenny D Vox) 3:32 10.0/10 09. "Oxygen Restriction" 3:49 10.0/10 10. "Hear Me" (O My People) (Edit) Orbital 5:11 10.0/10 11. "666 Edit" (Move Any Mountain) 4:48 09.5/10 12. "Make It Minimal" 3:18 10.0/10 13. "Hyperreal Selector" (Edit) 4:01 10.0/10 14. "Lightspan Soundwave" (Edit) 4:19 10.0/10 15. "Progen 91 [I.R.P. in the Land of Oz]" 5:21 10.0/10 Original US 1991 Release 149.0/150 = 9.93 / 2 = 4.97
Somewhere in 1993 I discovered Boss Drum, The Shamen’s follow up album to En-Tact. I fell in love with the sound and enjoyed listening to that album. For whatever reason I never ventured any further into their catalog. I enjoyed this album as well. The opening track Move Any Mountain and the Pro Gen remix at the end are fantastic. The rest of the album was great. My raving days may be largely behind me, but this is a great high-energy choice for doing work around the house!
This album has a really nice dance/trance feel. I'm a little surprised that I haven't heard it before, as it came out around the time when I would have been getting into it. This style isn't my go-to anymore, but the album is a solid 4 stars.
I liked that pretty well! I didn’t really know what to expect, but it was pretty good listening for doing the dishes and such. :)
Pretty decent, liked all the songs. Super ravey and varied and interesting, and not like anything I've heard before. If I gave it a little more time to appreciate it I could probably upgrade it to a 5.
Very inspiring lyrics. I got a warmer sound from this than what I hear of today's electronic dance music. Some cool guitar on make it mine. There's plenty of interesting artistic moments/choices made that deviate from the same old regular dance track.
36. En-Tact - The Shamen 15 tracks. What a brilliant blast from the past this was. A little more raw than some of their other stuff but it was a great listen. Not far off a 5/5. 4/5.
-Probably one of the best electronic-type albums I've heard. Always upbeat and fast-paced with interesting and developing beats. -Nothing really stood out, but I still enjoyed listening
Huh. Wasn't hopeful from the cover but this is actually pretty interesting. Good backing track for my life today. I'm glad to have listened.
How is it that the hardest dance beats in the club have cured into the perfect chill out grooves? I still love this but for none of the reasons I loved it the first time.
Pretty good first listen with a lot to digest first time around. A bit of a shock to the system with the stylistics and general theme of the album but altogether a nice piece. Particularly enjoy the themes of centerpiece song "Move Every Mountain" being smattered throughout the tracklist, though it can get a little repetitive.
pretty fun didn’t really sound too special imo, all EDM kinda sounds the same to me but still, it was a good listen - 8/10
For my first listen, I was driving in the car with the volume kind of low as my passenger tried to sleep. So, it was a bit underwhelming, but I sensed that it was some proper dance/trance music. Later, I listened with earbuds as I rode in the passenger's seat. You know, it somehow wasn't as good as I imagined it would be when I was kind of making up the details I couldn't hear all that well on my first listen. Good, though.
The Shaman was a band that a friend of mine used to play a lot so I kind of knew what to expect going in. The first 4 or 5 tracks were a good a listen with “Omega Amigo” being a favorite but there is a lot of filler on here too. All in all when you look at what else was coming out in electronic music in 1990 they were somewhat ahead of their time. Cut about 30 minutes off of the album and it would have been awesome.
Enjoyable, surprisingly catchy and positive hooks, makes you want to get up and dance. Feels like I should be on speed in a 90s office. Or tripping balls at a house party. Very little in between. Much of it melts into each other although you shouldn't be sober enough to realize it any way. Standout Tracks: Move Any Mountain, Possible Worlds, Omega Amigo, Evil Is Even
Not the worst thing I’ve ever listened to. Most songs were pretty catchy, but it definitely reminded me of the band they form in Revenge of the Nerds.
electronica, Psychedelic rock + Rave, könnte Soundtrack für einen Film sein, starke 3
Hyvää settiä, sopii hyvin työskentelyyn taustamusaksi :) semmosia 80 luvun synakikkailun jälkimaininkeja, itselleni tuntematon bändi ja levy etupeltoon.
Raveros no enteros, acid house y techno rock y algo de ambient, a la altura de los primeros Primal Scream.
This is fine… some interesting sounds going on here and there I guess. I just…do not understand the appeal of listening to music like this outside the context of a club or a car chase scene in an action movie or something lol
A high energy ball of fun. A little one note and very early 90s dance but I still enjoyed it. Vocals were meh.
Good album for working out. I’m not sure how often I’d listen to it on my own, but it’s decent. I especially like Omega Amigo!
Bit of nostalgia, couple of really good tracks but the rest haven’t aged so well.
I had a sister who was a couple of years older than me (still is in fact) and so I used to hear some of these tunes blasting from her bedroom. Pure 90's dance. Best Tracks: Move Any Mountain, Omega Amigo, 666 Edit
I noticed that the opening track & lead single “Move Any Mountain” was not on the original UK release, which is great IMO because it sounds like Stereo MCs and I’m not a fan of thin, indie type vocals trying to sound high-energy over-top of dance music. I prefer the tracks with vocal effects vs singing. It adds cred that up and coming DJ producers of the era (Oakenfold, Orbital, 808 State) remixed a number of them. The series that starts with “Hyperreal Orbit” is good. The synths set the mood and I like the effects (though they’re dated now). I was going to give it a 4 but the last track was a re-rub of the first….
I'm travelling so I didn't have a lot of time to spend listening to this. Move Any Mountain is full of energy and fun beats so grabs your attention at the start. Hyperreal Orbit is a better song imo better but surprisingly has over 90% fewer listens on Spotify. Ditto Lightspan. Generally speaking, I prefer music with lyrics but the lyrics on Human NRG and Omega Amigo don't add much so I would rather they left them aside. I like the vocals on Possible Worlds but, having said that, I'm not 100% sure they are vocals as opposed to synths. Regardless, I like that track too. This was an interesting listen. I like more trucks than I dislike for sure but still not sure.
80's new wave, but i don't remember it, and the first 2 songs weren't interesting
i've tried so hard to like these guys. they have one track that's an absolute standout for me (destination eschaton - all-time favorite, no question), but no matter where i look, i only find that track is just unlike most of their work. this album was fine, don't get me wrong - and a huge statement for 1990, for sure - but it really wasn't what i love about them.
Full of recognisable hits, this was a major transition for the Shamen from a previous incarnation as yet another goth psych band into a fully fledged rave dance act. The album sounds a little dated now, and production, while good, lacks the punch of later dance releases. Possibly also down to the relentless chase to overcompress and maximise the volume that has been a common feature of electronic dance music for the last 20 years. Top tracks: Move Any Mountain, Omega Amigo, Hyperreal Orbit
This has a very 1990 sound... some 80s, some 90s, some elements of music not yet to come. I thought it was fine, but not too enjoyable.
Upbeat house/dance music. Not my normal type of thing, but not bad. Vocals perhaps a little lacking.
It sounded like dated late 80s/early 90s dance music but it did sound like the pre-cursor to a lot of music that I have enjoyed.
Fun collection of some big beats/remixes. Probably you really have to be in a dancing mood to enjoy this, in which case it’s pretty good. But outside of that environment this becomes a pretty tough listen. It verges on trance music at times with how repetitive it is, but I have to say I am impressed that it’s 30+ years old. 6/10
Ohh yeah! Part of the soundtrack for the 90’s indie/techno rave parties Nice flash back!
This gives me Night At The Roxbury vibes. Pretty good NGL though very dated sounding
It's very 1990. It's not the best album ever, it's very of its time. The best thing about it was that Ebeneezer Goode played once it ended. There's some great moments on there, but a lot of it is overlong - 2 minute ideas spread over 5. It wasn't unenjoyable, but definitely isn't a classic. Obviously meant to be enjoyed on a couple of pingers, after which I'm sure it sounds like deep heat for the soul.
Pas un style que je connais beaucoup, mais j'entend plein de chose que j'ai entendu plus tard dans d'autres album. C'est pas égale, mais il y a des éléments que j'aime bien. Pas un disque que j'écouterais régulièrement, mais je suis content de l'avoir écouté.
My first impression was a pretty negative one. But after two or three tracks it started growing on me (or maybe they started off with their worst). Still not an album I'd actively listen to. But absolutely fine for background in the right mood.