Reviews (page 2 of 8)
Good
How I feel about this album is how Joey felt about Rachel's meat trifle in Friends. I like it
fun!
Memories
I thought this would be awful. And it kind of is but in a charming way I actually like a lot.
So 90s! Vocals remind me of EMF and I like it.
Vraiment fun j’aime trop le vieux electo
Made to dance to and good for that.
These guys must've wrote the book on early 90s EDM. Good stuff! 7/10
Wasn’t familiar with them but really enjoyed this
Thick heavy sounds! Okay the vocals are pretty dated and I guess there are plenty of small cues in the beats that feel pretty dated. But also this is some beastly electronic music from a time when electronic music production was clean and tight in a beautiful satisfying way. I don't know how I would have found this without this project but I'm glad I know it now.
Enjoyed this. Old school style dance music. I can taste the ecstacy. Listening in very hot Italy and it suits the blistering surroundings.
This was a groove, though it did drag at some points
I enjoyed what I heard. I would love to hear the original album but I heard enough to know that I still like 90s dance music and The Shamen were a short-lived but good part of that scene. 'Move Any Mountain' may well be a classic Shamen dance track but it's not on the original album you Spotify dip-shits so why is it the opening track on your stream? If I select an album on your wank streaming platform I want to hear that album - not what you fuckers think I 'should' hear. Thank you.
Fine stuff
Just some proper early 90s dance music
At first I did not like this that much. I thought the instrument choices, loops, and vocals were super dated and tired. But as the album went on I started to appreciate it more. I thought they ditched the more obvious choices in the front half for more interesting and eclectic ones in the back half. I think the album is at its best on 666 Edit. Realistically this is a 3.5 imo, but I’m gonna round up because they really turned me into a believer after solidly disliking the opening couple tracks.
Listened to this one on a night drive through Dallas. Loved it. Such a cool record.
Note: I listened to the original UK release not the US version. OK so it hasn’t aged particularly well in terms of its production but these guys along with 808 State, Orbital and NJoi were the first to prove that you could do dance music as a live band not just DJing, and I don’t think The Shamen get anything like the credit they should (the Synergy live show was groundbreaking). Their ‘peace love and unity’ message was seen as new-age hippy druggy bullshit, but honestly I’d rather listen to uplifting positivity than yet another West Coast rapper bang on about guns money and hoes. The Shamen were way ahead of their time, Progen, Hyperreal and Make It Mine are all time classics.
This was good, much better than expected! I usually like italo disco, eurodance, stuff that tends to exist as singles rather than full albums. But this was a good consistent listen even as just an album! Interesting to see this, in 1990, as a blueprint for the 90s electronic music scene. Favorites: 'Hyperreal Orbit' 'Hear Me'
Feels simultaneously ahead of its time and dated. But dated in a way that takes me back. A bit bummed out to see the overall negative reaction to this one. It's not absolutely amazing, and there's some stuff in the middle that's a bit too repetitive. But for the most part, it has me fondly thinking about those ads telling me that I wouldn't download a car.
yeah ok
This has less punch than the Chemical Brothers, less soul than Screamadelica, less tunes than KLF, and yet somehow remains highly enjoyable. In fact, I enjoyed it way more than I probably should have. That's notwithstanding the fact they play their strongest card first with the bona fide rave classic 'Move Any Mountain'. Sure the rap is like a drunk Uncle and a bit clunky; but overall a superb track. Surprisingly it holds up across the album. 'Human NRG' sounds a bit like XTC set to beats, with great bass and synth hooks and pleasant harmonies. 'Possible Worlds' has all these elements again. It does tail off towards the end (listening to the UK version), with weaker tracks to finish; and the vocals can sometimes smack of someone trying to jump on the rap bandwagon. But overall, I was raving about it.
The beats were great! Not a huge fan of the vocals, kind of cheesey, but the beats were awesome!
Honestly, it's a bit hard for me to distinguish albums that are heavily electronic-based, but there are some tasty hooks and melodies here.
Fun time at the club
Yep that sure is an early 90"s dance album. Basically sounds like every ministry of sound released over a 15 year period. The first song "move any mountain" is the one with a 7 figure play count but the second one "Human NRG" is a better track. So are the next few tracks, actually. The deeper I get the more I think the biggest track is the weakest one. This album is sweet as fuck! I also feel like I have heard a few of these tracks sampled plenty of times. Clear influential. Album is well.produced, the songs flow into each other effortlessly, which I suppose is necessary for the genre.
So 90s! How have I never heard of them?
fine, good electronic music
Great early electronica effort that was notably recorded by every eventually famous British electronica engineer. The last track is rather weak due to the dated cringy rap. Otherwise, brilliant.
OK, It's a bit dated but it's dark, atmospheric and loaded with dirty, dirty bass. Not as long or repetitive as the worst of the acid house and its highs are right up there with the likes of KLF, Primal Scream and Stereo MCs etc. Maybe it helps that I was listening to this kind of stuff in the early-90s but this one is new to me and I'm on board.
Tremendoooo me pareció super buenas vibras.
good lock-in album
Super vibey
Experimental, a lot of tracks remind me of the trance era of eletronic music
A bit duller than I expected, but more electronica should be featured on the list as it is the least present genre. Too much acoustic folk indie dream pop shoegaze shit as it stands that I'm giving out inflated scores to other genres simply because they are here at all.
I liked this! And no one is more surprised than me based on others' reviews and the fact that this is never going to be my favorite type of music. Catchy and fun.
unreal.
At first I thought, oh god another electro beat UK trash record..then I found myself really digging it. Melodic, upbeat and overall a pretty fun listen.
Groovy. Funky. Upbeat. Strange. Hypnotic. I like it.
hype!
"En-Tact" is the fourth album by Scottish band the Shamen. Electronic is the lone-listed Wiki-listed genre. The music "fused the band's past psychedelic rock sounds with rave to create multicultural dance music." It was their first album to feature rapper Mr. C and the last to feature core members Will Sinnott. The primary core bandmembers were Colin Angus (vocals, bass, guitar) and Will Sinnott (vocals, keyboards, bass). Other contributors included rapper Mr. C (Richard West), vocalist Plauka Lonich and various remixers and producers. Commercially, the album reached #31 in the UK and #138 on the US Billboard 200 and had mostly favorable reviews. Note: the US 1991 issue of the album was listened to. The album opens with "Move Any Mountain (Pro-gen 91')." (The Beatmasters' remix). Dual synths. Quick beats. A funky infectious groove. It's hypnotic. It's poppy. Angus on lead vocals and Mr. C rapping. The power of belief. The first single "Omega Amigo" has alternating fluttering, glossy and shimmering synths. Electronic beats sounding very 80's New Order-ish. Layered chanting vocals. And robotic Max Headroom-like vocals. I guess 1990 had A.I. issues as well. "Hyperreal Orbit (Real Fade)" gets it going and kicks it up a notch. The remix by William Orbit. A deeper bass synth. Echoing and dreamy synths. A more aggressive beat. There's an edge to this song. Lonich on backing vocals. Do I even need to say it? Sure. Ah, ecstasy. "Make It Mine" the remix by Lenny Dee) adds a fuzzy guitar to the the 80's synth pop. Hypnotic. There's rapping. It's loud. The music on this album started out with poppy synths and dance beats in the forefront. Well, it's OK, somewhere between 80's synth-pop and New Order. It's catchy but kind of lightweight. Then right about songs five and six, the beats get harder, the synths get lower and guitars are thrown in. Now, they sound like their contemporaries the Happy Mondays and even early Ministry. I really started to like the album. I attribute this change to different producers and remixers. There's multiple remix versions of the same song on the album. The lyrics are about optimism and drugs; they keep it simple. This is definitely an album to listen to if you are a techno, electronic music or rave fan. It demands repeated listens for the different song versions which I will continue to check out.
I'm not really understanding the hate for this one. Seems like a specific type of 90's techno, but it's by far not the worst thing on here. I enjoyed it while knocking out some work spreadsheets. 4/5
Fun club music that I'm probably not high enough to appreciate
I enjoyed this! No “Ebenezer Goode” which is their best song and is a “tuuuune!” But a bit of nostalgiac fun. I feel like they sounded dated AT THE TIME somehow. But I never heard the album, only the singles, and it’s better when the tracks have no vocals, as is often the case with the album tracks. Anyway, it sent me off on a bit of a late eighties / early nineties dance rabbit hole which I enjoyed. Sorted! Wicked! Etc!
So cheesy at times, but I find it endearing. This album makes me nostalgic for the time in my life when I listened to lots of Stone Roses. 8/10
Surprisingly easy to listen to even though it's not my usual genre
Fun album, was really getting into it most of the way through. Some of the songs were a bit too repetitive for my liking but for the most part this was an enjoyable listen.
Another video game soundtrack album for me. Need for speed and other racing games from the PS2 instilled within me an attraction to that strange and sometimes corny mid 90s to early 2000s sound. The fact that it came out in 1990 impressed me too. Seems a bit before the times. Paving the way for edm/dance.
What a treat! A snapshot of electronic music right at the very early days of the 1990’s. There’s a bounciness and a general fun vibe to this. The genre hadn’t been drowned in heroin chic and dank basement darkness yet. It reminds me of Underworld in their lighter moments. I think a couple of these songs will sit nicely in my 1990 year playlist. I love finds like this.
"En-Tact" was part of the rock and dance hybrid genre that emerged in the early 90s in the UK, alongside bands like The Happy Mondays and Primal Scream. The Shamen had embraced rave culture following their time as a psychedelic rock band. The various versions of the album feature remixes by some major names in the early British techno scene, like Orbital, Paul Oakenfold (fresh from working with the Happy Mondays), 808 State, William Orbit, and Jack Dangers of Meat Beat Manifesto. It absolutely marks a very specific place and time. While I didn't live through that era myself, I did once become interested in it and so there's some secondhand nostalgia for me here. There are some good songs, as well, most notably "Move Any Mountain". It captures a bit more of the rave side of the movement as well. However, I don't think it's the best representation of the era. To start with, it's sort of a remix album, so a lot of the sound is coming from other artists. For the rock/dance sound, other entries on this list did it better. For rave culture, they could done better by selecting early works from someone like Moby or Orbital (both on the list, but from later eras). It's a very generous 4 stars from me. It deserves 3, I know, but I found it fun to revisit this kind of album.
Surprising jam just at the right moment in life
Dug it
Surprisingly enjoyable.
Do tańca i do różańca Puśćcie mi go w klubie i będę tuptać Puśćcie podczas pracy i będę w full skupieniu Byłam cały czas jak w transie, loveee it
Good
A little repetitive, but the songs are infectious and a great backdrop to keep me pumped during a sewing project.
it's peak!
a mix of pop beats/music/refrains with rap verses. pretty catchy stuff. some wannabe-futuristic sounds (best way I can explain it). Some psychedelic and jam riffs, which is usually my vibe. 4/5
Det här svängde mycket mer än jag trodde det skulle göra. Bra gym-musik! Svag fyra.
Classic early 90s sounding album. Move any mountain is the best track on the album
Great 90's rave energy. Enjoyable and will have to check out more of their catalog.
This was fun and ... interesting. 4/5 stars.
A wild combination of psychedelic rock and sampling that in theory uses hip hop beats but sounds almost like gessafelstein or some modern mid-tempo IDM/ bass
Nice beats, 80s electronic sound mixed with new wave vocals, kinda cheesy at times, a precursor to a lot of 90s electronic (think EMF “Unbelievable”), NIN-esque, 7.1/10
Hatade det från början. Blev bättre och bättre. Techno-aktig grej. Lite soft.
Like being in a very cool alt dance club in 1990.
Люблю психоделический рок
4/5
82% Best: Move Any Mountain; Possible Worlds: Deep PSI; Omega Amigo; Make It Mine Must-Hear? Sure. Bonus points for being the first electronic album I have heard on this list so far to not have a single song 6 minutes or longer.
So stell ich mer d musig vo zwei teens ide 90er jahr vor die grad ihres neue elektronisch musig gadget ide garage vode eltere usprobieret und dur biz pröble und Fiele usversehe paar club bangers produzieret. S ganz album schreit mer regelrecht “DAS SIND D 90ER JAHR DU WIXXER” is Ohr. Was mich aber bekanntlich ned stört: Goetschmann Tranceport het freut. Biz elektronische Kläng chund dere Liste vo 1001 Albe also sehr guet und obwohl mer ned all leider gliich guet gfalle hend hets de eint oder ander bangerito dinne gha. Us freud es elektronischs album z geh gits ufgrundete 4 Roland303 für de gspass
genau so stelli mir vor hetts ih de 90s tönt spikey hair, windows 95 und alles ih de fish eye perspektive das album het es paar tolli sache druf gha und ich denk dasi mir das teil sicher namal geh mues vorallem isches au chli es längers album und mis serotonin fokusierte brain chunt da mengisch nöd so mit drum chlöpfi 4 mal gege de bildschirm und hoffe das gwallt no immer de schlüssel zu allem isch
noah is back (again) – heds mi verbronchitist scusi für die längeri abweseheit <3 en-tact: überraschend & guet! aber absoluti bangers sinds au nöd han nöd alles glost willi vill ufzhole han & 1 std 7 min lid da leider nöd dinne
With memories of Ebeneezer Goode and some godawful hippy musings, I was dreading this, and...it was surprisingly great! I kept thinking "this is a bit like Orbital...now this one is a bit like William Orbit, this one's like 808 State" only to check the wiki and find out that they had done the production/remix of that track. It's not perfect - the cod-mysticism and Mr C's hacky white rapping are a bit off, but considering it's from 1990 is sounds like it should be several years later. Definitely worth a listen alongside the best of early 90s dance, and in places it's beautifully chilled out and dub-like. Strong 3/weak 4, just pushed into the 4 level by some of the later remixes.
It was fun
I reviewed the US version as I think it's better than the original UK release. The album makes an immediate start with the bouncy Beatmasters version of 'Move Any Mountain' which has more energy that the original mix and less Mr C rapping, which can only be a good thing. The Massey (of 808 state) mix of 'Human NRG' is also superior to the original, mainly because it sounds like an 808 State track (the drums are straight out of 'Cubik'), whilst also still being fairly similar to the original. Next up is 'Possible Worlds: Deep PSI'. I prefer the original mix of this, mainly because it has more of a song structure and more of the guitar, which I think is the strongest element of the track, but this isn't a bad mix. 'Omega Amigo' has wisely been left untouched, this was the flyer single for the album and is perhaps the most conventionally 'pop' song on here, well produced by Steve Osbourne. 'Evil is Even' is irritating, the vocal samples are ill fitting and it is the weakest track on the album. 'Hyperreal Orbit' is William Orbit's remix which I think edges it slightly, though I find this track quite dated compared to some of the others. 'Lightspan' is, I think, the Renegade Soundwave mix, hard to tell as they are all quite similar , but the production is slightly clearer. A pretty enough tune, but inessential. 'Make it Mine' is again a better remix as it dumps the rubbish Rhyme & Reason rap from the original, quite a jolly, catchy number. 'Oxygen Restriction' is a sleeper hit, a slinky, slightly menacing tune. 'Hear Me O My People' is an Orbital track, rather than a Shamen one. It's great though, and slightly deeper than the rest of the tracks. In summary, this is a good remix album rather than artist album, but kudos to The Shamen for their production tastes.
Loved this album. Great jams, had a real sense of time and place. Saved a ton of songs and will be relistening for sure.
Love these sort of sounds and rhythms, and Move Any Mountain is just a great track. I got a bit bored in one or two tracks, but they're not really made for a dull, grey Wednesday afternoon on the sofa. Tracks from this and Boss Drum will remain on my dance playlist for ever more.
I love it when groups just totally change their sound. The Shamen did this moving (as noted in their bio) from psychedelic rock to 'rave'. Sometimes you can see this as changing with the times. But this album feels like people who simply wanted to make more electronic based music. And that ain't that far from electronic anyway.
Solid nineties electronic dance music.
Getting a good laugh out of all the negative reviews on this site. Sure, it's nowhere near the best electronic/EDM music I've ever listened to.. but the beats are solid, with fun layering, and when listening I feel transported back to a rave club in the early 90s. With a tab of acid I'm sure it'd be even better.
Vibe with this a lot. Haven’t heard a ton of dance music from 90s and added a couple songs.
En-Tact was a pretty surprisingly enjoyable album for what it was. For some reason, i have an odd affinity with this type of weird electronic music and this album really showed me just how much i have it. The beats were super catchy in a lot of the songs and many of them had cool enough elements that i didn't get bored of it, even with a 65 minute runtime. Granted, not all of the songs are perfect as some of them have elements that i just didn't really like which made me wish the album cut them out. There was not a single song i really hated though so this album remains a really good one in my eyes. Best Song: 666 Edit Worst Song: Lightspan Soundwave
Coming off the high point of the late 80s acid house movement, The Shamen wanted to ensure that the feeling remained intact over the course of an hour and they largely succeed with flying colors. En-Tact maintains the balance of psychedelia and electronica without falling into unnecessary cliches, even though the quality would dip at times. While not an essential classic of the times, it is a plentiful listen. Favorites: Move Any Mountain, Human NRG, Possible Worlds, Evil is Even, Hyperreal Orbit, Make It Mine, 666 Edit, Make It Minimal, Hyperreal Selector.
4.1 - I was dreading this after reading a bit about it, but this really surprised me. Some really good songs and found I wanted to relisten
It’s a little silly, and definitely dated, but it made me nostalgic for this era of Hi-Energy dance where everything didn’t need to be so serious, divided, technical, and picked-apart.
Hell yeah
Fun notes
I really enjoyed this. Reminded me a bit of Stereo MCs.
Nos-Talgia. I enjoyed this album. Now I feel dirty.
ezer good. Unlike ebeneezer goode
En-Tact is the fourth album from the Shamen, a Scottish band that evolved from a psychedelic guitar band into an electronic, dance club band. Frontman Colin Angus combined house and techno elements to create the band's danceable tracks. En-Tact features "Move Any Mountain," one of the band's biggest songs. It has become one of the early "classics" of industrial house. The simple, catchy lyrics run with the driving bass to make one of the most frequently remixed dance club songs in history.
Like this way more than I thought I would 4/5
some classic tunes
Now this was a vibe, it sounded like if Tears For Fears had a love baby with Wham! Do with that information what you will.
I know I’ve heard this album before but I have no idea where. Good early house.
I get the feeling he can move any mountain
Apparently the tracklist listed on the book is the vinyl tracklist, which is different from the 1990 CD tracklist, which is also different from the newer 1991 USA tracklist (which is also the one on Spotify)? I was gonna give it a 3 mainly because it's too long and filled with fluff, but considering the vinyl tracklist I guess I'm changing it to a 4 Favorites: "Omega Amigo", "Hyperreal Orbit", "Make It Mine", "666 Edit"
I enjoyed it.
good eletronic album
It’s got a good beat
cool!
3.75, mainly for nostalgia
Electronic, 1989. Animado y no cansino.
Interesting as a precursor to EDM - especially enjoyed 1 Possible worlds 2 Hear me
Enjoyed it WAY more than expected. Some late 80s electronic. Its like New Wave meets Nine Inch Nails meets something i dont even know how to identify. Maybe because i went in with such low expectations, but was pleasantly surprised. Would listen again, not daily, but again
En daar zijn ze weer, de beatjes en de samples. Wel grappig dat dit iets jonger klinkt dan het is, ze waren hun tijd enigzins vooruit. En ow, wat waren ze net als iedereen blij met de van de tv opgenomen stemmetjes die in hun computer stonden en te pas en te onpas ertussen konden mikken. Zoals bekend is voor mij de achilleshiel van dit soort platen de elektronische leegheid en de eindeloze herhaling. Die vallen hier mee. Ik word er eigenlijk best vrolijk van, dus vooruit maar weer.
This is really good music to listen to while going on a caffeine fueled cleaning rampage
приколдесно
Ну прикол. Не знал что шаман бывает таким! Очень разнообразная электронщина. До 5 не хватало чуть больше вещей, которые взорвали мозг, поэтому 4++ Алкоальбом: бар в подвале без меню и где ты заказываешь по ощущениям
Как обычно, бритиши набухались, накололись и ушли из психодела в эсид. Смешное. Местами база, местами чёт необычное.
I've been an Electronica hater on here but I actually liked this one. It's not as plodding and repetitive as other albums in the genre I've heard. It was pretty groovy.
I learned of The Shamen after the re-release of "Move Any Mountain" in 1991. I never came around to listen to this album, but I loved their next one, "Boss Drum", released in 1992. "En-Tact" foreshadows what "The Shamen" would transform into. It is a bit rough at the edges, but still full of positive energy.
Pretty good early 90s dj album
love the beats, vocals a little odd but I can get into it saved move any mountain, omega amigo, hyperreal selector evil is even is so trippy
The bad reviews on this one I think are reacting to the sometimes corny rap lyrics, but the music itself is fucking awesome.
I liked this record. Interesting beats, positive lyrics.
Good electronica / trance
Happily surprised by this. Some tracks sounded ahead of their time. Some were hit and miss.
Loved!
01) Move Any Mountain (Progen - Beatmasters 7") - 10,0 02) Human Nrg (Massey) - 8,0 03) Possible Worlds: Deep PSI - 8,5 04) Omega Amigo - 8,0 05) Evil Is Even [Edit] - 7,0 06) Hyperreal Orbit (Early Fade) - 8,0 07) Lightspan - 7,5 08) Make It Mine (v1.3 Lenny D Vox) - 8,0 09) Oxygen Restriction - 7,5 10) Hear Me (O My People) (Edit) - 7,0 11) 666 Edit (Move Any Mountain) - 6,5 12) Make It Minimal - 6,5 13) Hyperreal Selector (Edit) - 7,0 14) Lightspan Soundwave (Edit) - 7,5 15) Progen 91 [I.R.P. in the Land of Oz] - 8,5 TOTAL: 7,70 (77/100) I love me some 90's dance music. Very refreshing after all that 70's rock. "Move Any Mountain" is definitely the hit that opened the road for "Ebeneezer Goode", "LSI", "Boss Drum" and other hits from the next album. It is maybe a bit too long for my taste, but never the less, it's a good dance album and great representation of the mighty 90's.
I had never heard of this band before, but the music was a lot of fun.
Some excellent tune - a nice discovery
Really fun listen. Standouts: Move any Mountain, Make it Mine, Possible Worlds, Omega Amigo, 666 (edit), Make it Minimal, Progen 91 Singles: --------------------- Omega Amigo Pro-Gen Make It Mine Hyperreal Move Any Mountain
Really enjoyed!
This was the most late 80's/early 90's album I've ever heard.
Good. A bit repetitive.
Electronic, 1989. Animado y no cansino.
Охохо, какие низкие у альбома оценки! А мне так зашло)) какой-то лютый микс всего: рок, поп, евро денс, электроника... Странные повторяющиеся мотивационные тексты, странные ремиксы в конце. Да, возможно этот альбом плохо "постарел" и сейчас слушается страшно старомодным, но мне понравился!
I went into this completely blind and am very surprised by how much I enjoy it. I'll say it does seem to wane a bit on the back half but over all it's very good.
Was so unexpectedly good. Such a good vibe switch up. I would have loved it in the 90s!
Fun fun fun! It was like dance and hip hop. Enjoyed this a lot!
this was a very fun album, I enjoyed it!
So I already had some experience with this band because I listened to boss drum whenbterrence McKenna mentioned he recorded with them on their album. I love this kinda stuff. One of my regrets is that I wasn't born during the 90s when the rave scene first started so I could go to a rave that was still rooted in the psychedelic revolution. This kinda dance music is so much fun and I wish it had more of a place in today's club landscape. Maybe it does and I'm just not that in touch. Also possible. Either way this music is making a new genre and is good and does what it sets out to so it's gotta be respected.
I'm adding this album to my Spotify library, because I like listening to music like this but I never put it on!
Great album. Not my favorite genre.
Some cool electronica on this but it does get a bit samey and is overly long. I'll admit I am partly giving this a 4 to balance out a harsh average for this one.
I’m glad I didn’t know about this in the 90s. I would have thought it awful and everything I hated about music. Now in the 20s I can hear it and respect it. Was happy to have this one on the list.
Better than I remember it
Groovy and pop-y. Good bopping your head music.
An interesting curio from the time before techno became mass-marketed and saturated. The music is interesting and experimental, the lyrics are absolutely awful and sound like they were written on a cigarette packet at 3 AM. "Move Any Mountain" shows up three times on the album, which is a shame (n) because it overshadows some of the better instrumental tracks here.
Whilst this is far from my favourite music. The more I progressed in the trance, the more I got pulled into it. I started to appreciate if more and more along the way. It’s a nice album especially when it gets melodic! 8 out of 10
Quite liked this
I liked this for some reason
Liked the first song the most (great wake up dance song). But the rest of the album had a lot of great vibes.
Not bad! Worth coming back to at some point. Overall, it’s probably close to a 3.5, but I’ll go with 4.
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.
great for an old one
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.
Electronic, 1989. Animado y no cansino. 4
I'm digging these 90s dance vibes.
This is like listening to a REALLY good video game sound track
Better than expected
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
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.
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.
Good techno sound
Not sure at the start, ended up kinda digging it.
Very good, cool early electronic album. Very Trainspotting coded 👍
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.
Pioneering stuff!
“A humping great tower block of a hugely infectious dance chorus.”
This is like a proto-NiN...
-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
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.
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.
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.
great music
Really good!
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. :)
Wow! Not my Sudhakar style but liked it
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.
90s hacker movie soundtrack. Good workout music.
Very fun, will put on at a party
Not as bad as I feared. But if I wanted to go raving, I know of much and much better music. Overall, the album was mildly boring—and it went on for over an hour. I don't need to listen to that again. 3/5
If you know how Electronica, or Techno albums are, you will be good(bonus if it's from the UK). It's over an hour long, becomes repetitive, it has very few lyrics, and often sounds like Nintendo 64 menu music. Favorite Track: "Possible Worlds".
Het is op zich wel een prima house-plaat, maar er valt ook nog genoeg op aan te merken. Vooral de vocals op dit album waren een beetje cringe. Soms voelde het ook een beetje alsof de samples werden ingezet als een beginnende dj die de airhorn knop heeft gevonden. Dit hele album heeft de vocals ook niet echt nodig gehad, maar de artiest dirfde het toch niet aan om een album zonder vocals te maken. De beats vond ik vaak wel heel leuk, maar het ging niet altijd ergens heen dan miste ik het idee.
Wel vermakelijk, de beginselen van de dance. Je kan goed horen waar het is begonnen. Er zitten wel grappige dingen en er word ontzettend veel geprobeerd/geexpirimenteerd met wisselend succes. De zang is een beetje irritant en het is erg veroudert, productioneel wat primitief. Meer geschiednis dan nu nog relevant voor mij.
613/1089 - This is perfectly fine electronic music. A lot more sonically interesting than the Let's Get Killed from a bit ago but not as tight form-wise as stuff like Screamadelica or the Pet Shop Boys albums.
# En-Tact by The Shamen: A Critical Review Released in 1990, *En-Tact* marked a pivotal moment for The Shamen, capturing a Scottish psychedelic rock band in the midst of a radical transformation into one of Britain's most forward-thinking electronic acts. It was the first Shamen album to feature rapper Mr. C and the last to feature bassist Will Sinnott, whose death in May 1991 lent the album an unintended poignancy. As a document of early British rave culture and a collision of psychedelic utopianism with club rhythms, *En-Tact* remains a fascinating artifact — though one that divides listeners to this day. ## Context and Musical Direction The Shamen formed in Aberdeen in the mid-1980s as a psychedelic indie rock band, but by the late '80s, founder Colin Angus had become increasingly drawn to sampling, beats, and the emerging acid house scene. The addition of Will Sinnott in 1987 accelerated this shift, and after relocating to London and connecting with figures like Paul Oakenfold and the nascent rave scene, the group released the transitional *Phorward* EP before fully embracing electronic music on *En-Tact*. The album emerged from a remarkable convergence of talent. Production and remix work involved an extraordinary roster: Paul Oakenfold, William Orbit, Graham Massey (808 State), Orbital, Evil Eddie Richards, Meat Beat Manifesto, Joey Beltram, and The Irresistible Force, among others. This collaborative density gives *En-Tact* a diverse sonic palette that reflects the breadth of early '90s British dance music. ## Music and Production Musically, *En-Tact* operates at the intersection of house, techno, acid, and ambient, with flourishes of hip-hop and the band's residual psychedelic instincts. The production is dense with samples, loops, and layered synthesizers — hallmarks of the era — creating a soundscape that is simultaneously euphoric and disorienting. The album's strongest moments harness this density into coherent, transcendent tracks. "Move Any Mountain" (the remixed single version of "Progen") is an undeniable anthem, its infectious chorus and driving beat making it the most accessible entry point. "Omega Amigo" has been described as an early ambient classic, offering a more meditative counterpoint to the album's more frenetic passages. "Make It Mine" and "Hyperreal Orbit" showcase the band's ability to blend rapped vocals with euphoric synth textures. However, the album's ambition often exceeds its coherence. *Entertainment Weekly* noted that the "unrelenting speed is sometimes so flickering and flat" and that the album "can't quite pull you through the looking glass". Individual tracks contain compelling ideas — a haunting vocal snippet, a striking synth line — but these elements don't always cohere into satisfying songs. Several tracks, particularly in the album's middle section, feel like extended sketches rather than fully realized compositions. ## Lyrics and Themes The lyrical content of *En-Tact* is steeped in the psychedelic-utopian vocabulary of early rave culture. Lines about "human energy," "power and serenity," and "visions of eternity" reflect a sincere, almost naively optimistic belief in technology, community, and expanded consciousness. The album's very title — a play on "intact" and "en-tact" — suggests a preoccupation with wholeness and connection, themes that permeate the record. The band's earlier political instincts hadn't entirely vanished. The previous album *In Gorbachev We Trust* had been explicitly engaged with contemporary geopolitics, and traces of that engagement linger in *En-Tact*'s more abstract calls for collective awakening. But the politics here are more spiritual than material, more about consciousness than policy. This utopianism is both the album's charm and its limitation. In 2024, the unironic embrace of "human NRG" and virtual reality as liberatory forces can feel dated, even quaint. Yet it also captures a genuine historical moment — the pre-crash optimism of rave culture before commercialization and cynicism set in. ## Influence and Historical Significance *En-Tact* holds a significant place in British electronic music history. It is included in the book *1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die*, and it helped establish the template for indie-dance crossovers that would proliferate in the early '90s. Alongside acts like 808 State and The KLF, The Shamen demonstrated that rock bands could successfully reinvent themselves as electronic acts without losing their identity. The album also paved the way for The Shamen's subsequent mainstream success. *Boss Drum* (1992) would become a massive hit, but *En-Tact* is often regarded by fans as the more artistically adventurous record — the moment before the band became a pop phenomenon. The tragic death of Will Sinnott shortly after the album's release adds a layer of historical weight; his drowning during the filming of the "Move Any Mountain" video lent the song's euphoric chorus an indelible sadness. ## Pros and Cons **Pros:** - **Historical significance**: A key document of early British rave culture and the indie-dance crossover moment - **Collaborative richness**: Features contributions from an extraordinary roster of electronic music talent - **Genre-blending ambition**: Successfully fuses psychedelic rock instincts with house, techno, and ambient textures - **Standout tracks**: "Move Any Mountain," "Omega Amigo," and "Make It Mine" remain genuinely compelling - **Utopian sincerity**: The album's belief in music as a transformative force feels earnest rather than cynical **Cons:** - **Inconsistent quality**: Several tracks feel underdeveloped or meandering - **Dated production**: The acid house sounds and sample-heavy approach have not aged gracefully for all listeners - **Lyrical naivety**: The spiritual-utopian rhetoric can feel vague and overly earnest - **Multiple versions**: The existence of significantly different "original" and "update" versions of the album creates confusion for listeners - **Coherence issues**: The album struggles to maintain momentum across its full runtime, with the middle section particularly sagging ## Verdict *En-Tact* is best understood as a transitional album that captures a specific cultural moment with all its excitement and excess. It is not a flawless record — its inconsistencies and dated elements are real — but its historical importance and the strength of its best tracks make it essential listening for anyone interested in the evolution of British electronic music. For those approaching it fresh, the "updated" version featuring "Move Any Mountain" is the more accessible entry point, though purists often prefer the original 1990 tracklist for its rawer, more experimental character.
Well I enjoyed this in the end…. Move any mountain is clearly brilliant and then I got a bit worried as it fell away quite quickly but by the end I was fully back in. 666 Edit was new to me but was magnificent
Had some solid grooves, but the repetitive lyrics weren't always my favorite. Still one of the better Techno/DnB/Electronic/House (or whatever genre this falls under) albums on the list.
Not bad, but rave music is very much background music for me.
Intact.
I enjoyed this more than I expected for trance electro pop or whatever this is considered. It had enough going on to keep my interest.
Dit album begint met de bekende hit "Move Any Mountain". De rest is ook wel relaxed (ambient), maar dus veel minder poppy dan de hit. ***
Dance isn't usually my genre of choice, but I can get behind Scottish psychedelic. I don't love the vocals, but I like the groove.
This was an ok album! It was pretty standard sounding electro -music lol but it wasn't bad
Reviews made me expect this album was going to be horrible but it was mid, just music you can turn off your brain and play in the background and for what it is it’s alright
achei uma vibe!
The review that Roon surfaced for this album seems to think it’s important and rated it highly. I didn’t dislike what I heard, but 65 minutes overstayed its welcome. It was a bit bland and unforgettable overall. 6/10 Pretty Good
This was ok, I mean I didn't hate it...actually I hated Evil is Even. It was ok in the background
Yeah this was alright maybe
Groovy record
I'd never heard of this group. If you like dance music that sounds somewhat 80s style, this is your jam. Not really sure it's an album that everyone should hear before they die, but I think most albums on this list are like that.
Good dance-y album. Like the synths.
This was a fun album reflecting the EDM evolution from pop to true EDM in the early 1990s. It was less commercial than Erasure or OMD, and it wasn’t entirely techno like Kraftwerk. I liked how songs like Make It Mine added in rap/hip hop elements, kind of like what C+C was doing but with more subtly. Then there were more meditational tracks like Oxygen. My key track was Lifespan, with the only complaint that it was too short. I got a lot of work done so I will probably throw this on again some time. It’s like audio Adderall!
This definitely sounds like it was released in 1990. Occasionally it sounds like 1990 in a good way, but usually sounds like 1990 in a corny way. This album did not age well. How many drugs would I have to take to enjoy this album?
A little more interesting than most other electronic music on the list. But not much.
Pleasant while I worked. Nothing I’m going to want to revisit.
26. avgust 2026. 15.53h onestli zvuči kao naši izvođači 90ih i 2000ih it was okej, it was boppy ali nešto mi je danas makar bilo naporno da ga slušam, ovaj zvuk/žanr uvijek ima twinge of sadness best: hyperreal orbit, 666 edit, make it minimal, lightspan soundwave
Its cool. Sounds a bit dated but makes my head bop.
This is a time machine back to the 90s! Fun listen and this was a new band for me but I don't think I'll ever listen to it again.
Not awful?!
A little one-note as a whole but enjoyable enough Playlist add: "Hyperreal Selector"
Fun dancy stuff...a bit repetitive by the end, though. 3.4
I thought I would hate it but wasn't that bad. Too electronic and repetitive but not horrible.
This review will be based on the 1991 version released to the United States. The Shamen are certainly one of the interesting bands to include in the 1001 Books. They started as a psychedelia band out of Scotland in the 1980s, until frontman Colin Angus and bassist Will Sinnot got a taste of the London acid house movement. They met vocalist/keyboardist Richard West aka Mr. C and DJ "Evil" Eddie Richards, and they all worked together to transition the group into the rave scene. That transition would be made apparent with the release of En-Tact. This album really does feel like it only could have come out of the blossoming UK acid house scene in 1990. While there are traces of the band's earlier psychedelic sound, like with the occasional guitar line on "Human NRG (Massey)", the core of this sound is the four-on-the-floor drum machine beat, the squelching synthesizers, ambient textures, and Colin's effortless delivery opposite Mr. C's braggadocious faux-rapping and Plavka Lonich's sensual vocals. This style was certainly implemented well on a bouncing single like "Move Any Mountain", the lush Latin-infused guitar rollick amidst the tinging beats on "Possible Worlds", the pensive quiet storm with the prominent upward electronic keyboard line on "Omega Amigo", and the slightest sample of the record-scratch from Herbie Hancock's "Rockit" in the transitions on "Lightspan". All the while, the lyrics are largely abstract yet maintain a positive outlook, only ever overt with the sampling of an anti-apartheid speech on "Hear Me (O My People)". It certainly made for the kind of dance music I would imagine was going on in the UK underground clubs at the time, and I can vibe with that for a bit. But then came along "666 Edit", where I started hearing the familiar refrain of "Move Any Mountain", and I had a sinking feeling. As it turns out, the album ends with remixes of earlier songs. I wouldn't have minded it if these were bonus tracks, but there is nothing to indicate that they were. So by the time I got to the third rendition of "Move Any Mountain" with "Progen 91 [I.R.P. in the Land of Oz]", I was feeling admittedly fatigued from the repetition. Honestly, if this record ended with "Hear Me (O My People)", it would have been viewed in a better light. I will commend the inclusion of multiple electronic groups and DJs, including the likes of "Evil" Eddie, Orbital, Lenny Dee, and 808 State for providing their remixes, but at some point, we have to trim the fat. Overall, I get the vibe of a record like En-Tact. It's certainly a fun house record in the moment before the fatigue crept in, and I can applaud The Shamen for making the transition. Sadly, though, the group would split by the end of the decade, as members focused more on their solo projects. Still, they had made their impression at the right place and the right time.
Not too bad. ★★★
Moving Mountains is a good track on its own. It's a good album, probably best listened to somewhere other than a desk though.
I'm not a big techno fan, but I dug this enough to get back around to it on occasion. Solid effort for a genre I am not a big fan of.
good 90s stuff 3.5/5
🌕🌕🌗🌑🌑 (rounded up because hey, I was vibing) I had no knowledge whatsoever of The Shamen (Shamen like shaman? Shamen like shame-men?) and went in with absolutely no expectations other than, as many reviews said, “gay bar” music. Well, I don’t think it was gay enough. Was sort of vibing with “Move any Mountain” until the halfassed rap started, which was the case for many of these. I think this had many endearing qualities, i.e. being deeply indebted to Depeche Mode, earnestly corny new millennium ahh lyrics, and dare I say a touch of 60s Brian Wilson-ness in the harmonies on “Omega Amigo,” which I might even revisit alongside “Evil is Even,” “Lightspan” and “Make it Mine.” That sounds like a lot of these songs were likable for a 2.5, but I dunno man, it just got to be violently repetitive after a while—not something I was down with for an hour. 1: Bad | 2: Okay, No Desire to Revisit | 3: Good, Conditionally (OR Inconsistent Mix of Qualities) | 4: Great (OR Technically amazing but missing the sauce emotionally) | 5: Amazing
Had some fun production stuff after the first half of the album. Hear me and Make It Minimal had some cool moments and were the songs that stood out to me the most. Pretty decent album
En-Tact The Shamen 1990 Genres: Electronica Styles: Techno, Ambient, Acid House, Synth Pop, Ambient House 1. Move Any Mountain (★★★☆☆) -Contexto: Un himno de la cultura rave sobre superar límites personales, creer en el potencial humano y alcanzar un estado de liberación colectiva a través de la música, la unión y la energía compartida. 2. Human NRG (★★★⯨☆) -Contexto: Celebra la energía vital de las personas y el poder casi espiritual que surge cuando una multitud conecta en una pista de baile. La repetición funciona como un mantra de exaltación. 3. Possible Worlds (★★⯨☆☆) -Contexto: Reflexiona sobre la existencia de múltiples realidades y la capacidad de la mente para imaginar universos alternativos, mezclando ciencia, filosofía y psicodelia. 4. Omega Amigo (★★★⯨☆) -Contexto: Una pieza contemplativa que transmite un viaje interior de calma, introspección y expansión de la conciencia, con muy pocas palabras y gran protagonismo de la atmósfera. 5. Evil Is Even (★★⯨☆☆) -Contexto: Explora la dualidad entre el bien y el mal, sugiriendo que ambos forman parte del equilibrio de la naturaleza humana y de la experiencia cotidiana. 6. Hyperreal Orbit (★★★☆☆) -Contexto: Inspirada en el concepto de la hiperrealidad, describe un estado donde la tecnología, la percepción, la música y la conciencia alterada terminan mezclándose hasta borrar la frontera con la realidad. 7. Lightspan (★★⯨☆☆) -Contexto: Evoca una expansión mental mediante imágenes de luz, sonido y espacio, buscando transmitir sensaciones más que contar una historia concreta. 8. Make It Mine (★★★⯨☆) -Contexto: Habla de apropiarse del propio destino, convertir los deseos en acciones y tomar el control de la propia vida con una actitud positiva. 9. Oxygen Restriction (★★☆☆☆) -Contexto: Usa la metáfora de la falta de oxígeno para representar estados alterados de conciencia, transformación física y cambios en la percepción. 10. Hear Me (★⯨☆☆☆) -Contexto: Una invitación a escuchar un mensaje de unión, empatía y apertura mental, con un tono casi ceremonial que recuerda a un llamado colectivo. 11. 666 Edit (★★⯨☆☆) -Contexto: Reinterpretación más oscura de "Move Any Mountain", utilizando el simbolismo del número 666 como recurso provocador y estético, sin desarrollar un mensaje religioso o satánico. 12. Make It Minimal (★★⯨☆☆) -Contexto: Reduce la composición a sus elementos esenciales para enfatizar el ritmo hipnótico y la repetición, reforzando la idea del trance electrónico. 13. Hyperreal Selector (★★★☆☆) -Contexto: Variante orientada al club de "Hyperreal", enfocada en la inmersión, la intensidad del baile y la sensación de perderse dentro del sonido. 14. Lightspan Soundwave (★★⯨☆☆) -Contexto: Expande las ideas de "Lightspan" en una experiencia más ambiental, donde las texturas sonoras importan más que la narrativa. 15. Progen 91 (I.R.P. In The Land Of Oz) (★★★★☆) -Contexto: Uno de los grandes himnos del acid house británico. Presenta un viaje psicodélico inspirado en la expansión de la conciencia y en la sensación de descubrir un mundo nuevo, usando "Oz" como metáfora de ese estado mental. -TOTAL = ★★⯨☆☆ (2,80)
The three singles are great but there is so much filler on this. A lot of the tracks are just reworkings of these three songs plus some less interesting stuff. Average at best
Sounds of its time a bit repetitive - low 3
So much stuff I recognize from later, but not quite my jam.
"Move Any Mountain" is the only song I know off of this. And because I was a teenager in 1990, I still remember most of the words. I've never listened to the whole album before and overall it was fine. "666 Edit" and "Make It Minimal" were kinda annoying, but other than that it was good background music. Not something I need to revisit.
This is a new one to me. I think I've heard some of these tracks in mixtapes and such, but I haven't heard of this group. This kind of early/proto rave music is really fun, so I'm glad to know about this one now. Its really got that early 90s rave positivity. Some of the vocal tracks overstay their welcome. I enjoyed "Evil is Even" into "Hyperreal Orbit". Very fun stuff. The album does what it needs to, and I can tell it was influential. I did get a little bored though. This must have been a blast when listened to in a tape deck, driving around in the UK. Three stars
had never heard of this group before. I enjoyed the acid house and psych elements to it. a lot of the tracks I found intriguing and had at least 1 or 2 odd/compelling elements, but afterwards didn't really stick with me. cool to hear some of the distorted guitar mixed with dance music that would appear to greater effect later in 1990 with Happy Mondays. certainly of its time, and there were a couple tracks at the beginning and towards the end that I was into and would put on again. 75% of the album tho I just felt like was better than average, but there are stronger options for this kind of music at our fingertips.
This really grew on me, after the 1st couple of trax, I thought, no, but I continued my journey and really enjoyed all the trax- even downloaded a couple
The Good: This hasn’t been touched! The Bad: We were dupped by shamens… it has been touched… The Ugly: All the touchy feely on this album… Electronica isn’t my thing… but it serves a purpose every now and again… like, during walks when you need to think about nothing… Did I enjoy it? No. Did it help with the walk? Yes. Shall we shoot down the middle on this one? 3*
It's an okay album. I'm not too big on House music. It's one of the earlier House albums. It has some good songs on there, but I'm just not a huge fan. I would probably give it a 3.5 if I were able to because I don't dislike it to the point where it's a 3 for me, but I don't like it to the point where it's a 4. It's a pretty decent album, I guess.
Generic 90s electro with a little bit of GameCube water graphics mixed with some trendy clothing store vibes.
Liked it more than I expected I would. I found the stuttery, skipping in “666 Edit” annoying but it grew on me. Progen 91 was the stand out for me.
Closer to something like LFO or 808 State than their latter pop-house hits might lead you to expect. Wasn't familiar with this particular album but fans of squelchy acid house should get plenty out of this. Somewhat derided as a band for being a bit of a novelty act while also being quite seriously underrated for their crossover innovation. Pretty cool really, even if sitting more towards the Cheesy Quaver end of the spectrum.
While I do like the later more straightforward rave version of The Shamen as prefigured by "Move Any Mountain" here, I don't think they're a particularly essential band. I guess an argument can be made that they mainstreamed House music in the UK, but if you want to include House in your list of albums to hear before you die, I think several performers of colour based around Chicago have a much better claim than a bunch of white guys from Scotland.
I'd only heard Ebenezer Goode before this popped up in the list. This electronic dance music is OK as far as it goes, but it really pales through 69 minutes. I suspect you need to be on the right 'medication' to find this unstoppable dance music.
I expected more - this was fine but I thought I would recognise more of the tracks.
I’m not gonna claim En-Tact is the greatest album of the 90s. I’m not even gonna claim it’s the best dance music album of 1990! I will however say that the reason for the terrible score it has from 1001 reviewers is disappointing. Practically every 1* review I have read screams laziness. “Agh electronic music…pure shit…I switched it off before the first song ended…why are we being forced to listen to crap like this?” Etc. etc. No one is forcing you to listen to anything, and why bother doing this 1001 thing if you’re gonna tune out the moment the generator throws you something outside of your comfort zone? The Shamen paid some dues and embraced a new sound and made sure they weren’t releasing a substandard version of the style because they were from a rock background. They go all in on En-Tact and though it might sound dated, it is technology based music made at the birth of a genre, of course it’s going to sound dated. Personally, having listened to them since a couple of albums before they embraced dance so thoroughly, I think En-Tact might just capture them at their peak. The follow-up ‘Boss Drum’ probably embraced the cheese a little too much, but on this album there are a lot of bangers and little cheese. They had dropped the political lyrics and settled on a new age positivity vibe and it suited the music and the drugs of the time. Like I said at the start, it’s no classic and it trails off a bit in the second half (and tbh I don’t really think it belongs in the 1001) but I enjoy it every time I give it a spin. I think The Shamen deserved the success they eventually gained having successfully reinvented themselves from unlikely outside contenders to unlikely full-scale pop stars.
Kind of fun music at times but some of the electronic parts get to repetitive for me. Even the best songs were middle of the road and not something I would search up to listen to when I feel like I have heard much better in the genre before.
Many years ago, when I was about to listen to Screamadelica for the first time, someone told me it sounded like acid house meets psychedelic rock. That was a lie. This is acid house meets psychedelic rock, and while my expectations were thoroughly met here, I feel like this would be a full 5 if I was dancing to this in an English field at midnight.
90s Indie/electronic - good beats, not annoying
Move any mountain is a good old school rave banger. Rest of the album was surprisingly laidback - orbital lite. Was expecting something a bit more in your face/ heavier - but this was very nice to work to in the heatwave. Apart from the opener nothing jumped out but could happily had it on in the background for hours.
Very 90s sounding electronic dance music. I found this to be a bit of a mixed bag. It’s nearly 70 minutes long, so I felt a lot could have been cut. There are some really interesting moments on this, and some straight bangers like Omega Amigo, but also a lot I felt indifferent about.
An interesting but slightly bloated piece of early 90s electronica. It would be interesting to hear the original LP version rather what id now on streaming services. Move Any Mountain was defenitely a classic of its time.
Pretty good. Nostalgic, but not amazing.
Is this crap? Yes. Do I kinda like it as background noise while working? Also yes. 3/5
czym dalej tym gorzej doslownie jakbym caly czas slucgala tego samego
This is exactly the kind of music I associate with doing Jump Rope for Heart in elementary school in the early 2000s, because our school hadn’t received anything new since at least that far back. There’s a lot of interesting sampling going on and the musical value is very clear, but in 2026 it’s very hard to connect with the kind of human optimism that motivated this album. I think my failure to really enjoy this is a “me” problem nevertheless. I have no real critique that isn’t predicated on my individual experience. Good album, i’m just a grouch lol.
Pretty good, honestly. Not anything super captivating, but I can appreciate what the lads were up to with this one.
Very indicative of early 90's Euro-Electronic
super fun to listen to at first; reminded me of the stuff i used to download on napster and blast in my room as a teenager. gets old & repetitive pretty quickly though. good to put a song or two in a nostalgia playlist (even though i don't think i actually knew any of the specific songs), but i'm probably not going to listen to the entire thing again
This was like if Happy Monday, Pet Shop Boys, and Daft Punk had a threesome on acid and MDMA. Felt a bit dated but some songs had a serious groove to them. The album was too top heavy, but I was interested throughout despite its length.
This album is a lot of fun, and it was really nice to do my job while listening to it. That said, who names a song "Omega Amigo". Basically a stupid fun album, but I'm glad I found it. It sort of lost its charm by the end; too repetitive.
Do you get bonus points in the list for being Scottish? What makes these guys so memorable must be diluted by the passing of time. I do remember their biggest hit that was massive at the time "Ebeneezer Goode" but it's not on this album. Second biggest hit "Move any Mountain" is here and I also remember that, but it doesn’t seem that noteworthy, perhaps bagpipes? The rest of the album doesn't stand out for me but decent enough rave music? The Move any mountain refrain keeps coming back through the album which makes it all seem like variations on the same theme. Undecided 2/3.
Not bad but not really my thing. 3
Middle of the road electronic music, which is generally a genre I enjoy more than most. But this was kinda meh
I like when they don't sing.
Never listened. Expectations: None - Verdict: Good - This album sounds very much of its time. I don't think that is always a bad thing and although I was at first slightly underwhelmed, the album grew on me during the listen. By the end I found that I had enjoyed it quite a bit. I can see this being an easy album to throw on when I'm unsure what I want to listen to. Good stuff.
It's not horrible, but it sounds very, very dated..
It can be quite good without the lyrics and vocals, its just jarring every few songs. 2.9/5
Sadly, I know I listened to it, but it just didn't leave a big impression. Again, didn't hate it, just didn't grab my attention.
really grew on me had a good time with this. Aberdeen grass fed techno
Best of breed of the genre, but this is a fairly boring genre in my view. Thumpy bass dance tracks beginning to end. Music to do chores to.
Funky
Cool!
It's OK, some of the tracks go on a bit too long. Wouldn't be my choice of something to listen to generally.
Good
It’s fine
good background music
Pretty crazy, but good
Scottish
Bit of a long sit-through. I can understand why this has such a low average rating, but I liked it. It was a bit boring at times, but there were a number of nice and groovy songs on here that I actually enjoyed. You can't really hear the Psychedelic influence they started with on here anymore. Such a trailblazer too, kind of hard to imagine this came out in 1990.
It sounds like rave music for people that don't like going to raves.... Like rave lite. That being said, several moments here can be pointed to as jumping off pointers for songs that later became standards in certain corners edm community. Not overly great, but just good enough not to be absolutely terrible.
This is aight
fun 3/5
Argh, kinda torn, this is one where I wish there was a 10 point scale. It’s not worth a 4 but it’s better than a 3. May be mostly a nostalgia vote though because I have memories of listening to this on my Walkman lol. It definitely is very much of its time, maybe you had to be there
I was prepared to pan this based on the review, but I didn't find much to hate. The lyrics are quite vapid, but the music upbeat and quite fun. Reminds me a bit of Cut Copy. Don't know if I'll return, but didn't hate it
Demasiado ácido house para mi
Very very 90s.
I don't think I'll ever put this on again but the snapshot of a burgeoning sound/scene was interesting to listen to. There were some genuinely good tracks, but overall it did feel pretty dated.
This album started off pretty strong. For a dance record from the early 90's, the instrumentation and quality was fairly high. However, as the album goes on, it becomes more repetitive and cookie-cutter, and ultimately just kind of boring.
I'm starting to like this genre and I don't like it
Fairly decent, listenable electronic tunes, although very 90’s
This is my second techno album in three days. Never been a fan of the art. Been to a bunch of raves but that was mostly for something to do I suppose? It was the mid-90's and all my friends were going. Devoid of the atmosphere I usually find that stuff lacking but this was pretty good. Nicely varied and the tracks were defined and not overlong.
This is #day598 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and… did you know the term "rave" was used as far back as the '50s in London to describe local wild bohemian parties? I find it fun to know. This record is very much a product of its time, taking you back to the late '80s-early '90s rave parties, the Second Summer of Love, with a bit of New Beat along the way. If you're into music history, like I am, you can hear a thread running through this and albums like Screamadelica, Pills 'n' Thrills..., Technique, the Hacienda scene… Psychedelic, spaced-out electronics, the kind that makes you wish those mornings never come. I'm giving it a 3 out of 5. Looking forward to #day599.
Bouncy, dialed a notch or two above ambient, but still pretty chilled out, great synths, energetic beats - a few tracks are full acid house ala Happy Mondays - but it's mostly loungey wallpaper stuff. Good fun though.
Some good tracks and cool ideas on here Some songs kind of drift past but Move Any Mountain is a banger
It proved very difficult to find this album with its original track listing. Thanks, streaming re-releases! Surprisingly enjoyable.
Pretty good? Not the most remarkable but enjoyable
Nja... Inte dåligt men inte jättebra heller... Det blir väldigt likriktat när man lyssnar på albumet i ett svep men några låtar sticker ut: 666 Edit, Lightspan soundwave och move any mountain. Helt ok, men inte mer för min del.
The first track has a Streets of Rage vibe about it, which I'm here for. Like most people from the UK, I'm familiar with The Shamen because of Ebeneezer Goode, but nothing springs to mind beyond that. There's a couple of standout tracks on here which bring the album up, but it does suffer from sounding rather dated these days. I can imagine it was a a fun album at the time, mind.
Many renditions on move any mountain, the story about the band was pretty interesting to read.
This is classic rave era music. An enjoyable enough romp but this type of music does eventually just give me a headache. Recognised the singles and presume that for those who went to raves this was a quality band. Like that they're from Aberdeen as innovating from there in this era would not have been easy.
The ’90s rave scene is one I’m keenly interested in, and reading that this is a Scottish band piqued my interest even more. Unfortunately, I found it to be rather plain and quite dated. The lyrics in particular were poor - uninspired, cheesy, and steeped in hollow acid-house spiritualism.
My wife hated this. I found it OK to work to in the background but not as something I sit and study.
sadly im not listening to this in a nightclub 3.5/5
nothing about this stood out. it was just ok
Good, fun dance music! Never heard of ‘em.
Cool
It does the job, couldn't tell you the name of a single song.
If I were to attempt to move any mountain I would seek out the services of a team of civil engineers equipped with massive earth-moving machinery rather than a couple of mashed-up ravers. That said I thought this was alright. The last track Hear Me had hints of Bicep, who are probably my favourite electronic act of the last few years.
Sikke en fest fra morgenstunden. Havde aldrig hørt om Shamen. Meget nice, egentlig, på en meget 90'er-agtig måde. Kommer nok ikke til at sætte det på igen lige foreløbig ... Men meget catchy dance.
ugh me equivoqué y el rant pasado era el rant de este álbum, anyways, lo disfrute, volveré a una que otra canción, pero no al álbum como tal
Not psyched about dance music but this was tolerable
Hmmm this was well done (I think) but not really my cup of tea.
Don’t know the history of electronic music but this one sounded dated, pretty repetitive and rudimentary… but it was okay. Felt overlong, as an album as a whole but also each track slightly overstaying its welcome. That being said, there were some cool sounds and probably some nice samples to be found here
This was fun! Ordinarily I might rate this album lower, because it does carry on its fairly similar and dated sound throughout its hour-long runtime, and there are definitely highlights and lowlights. However, the overall sound of acid house is a nostalgia shot to the veins for me (I blame Super Monkey Ball for that, that game has a killer soundtrack), so I ended up rating it a 7/10 even so.