The Shamen – Boss Drum

Librae Solidi Denari , This sounds like a new order song but i can't think which one.

Not aged well, has it? Only 2 things that aren't super-cringe here. 'Scientas' has something going for it in an ambient/chillout way, while 'Phorever Dub' is a decent summary of the more palatable electronic sounds of the early 90s.

Not a disappointing release, but would never match the brilliance of En-Tact, especially the original 90' UK release. The loss of Will Sin had quite a bit of an impact - IMO.

Well done production with clean beats and dub sections. Some may not like the mono tone rapping in the songs but in context that was what was in during that time and Boss Drum is a classic forever in my eyes. I think En-Tact was a much better album but this deserves it's place right up there with ground breaking records of the early 90's.

Varied album from a Shamen valiently keeping the faith after the death of Will Sin the previous year and them being catapulted into the public eye by "Move Any Mountain" hitting the top 5. The album would have benefitted from a heavyweight remix and - in my opinion - the removal of Mr. C from the majority of its tracks. Title track "Boss Drum" is classic Shamen, recalling earlier incarnations c. "In Gorbachev We Trust" with haunting guitar and fabulous whooshing sounds. "LSI," with vocals by the lovely Jhelisa Anderson, is a great pop tune, but wrecked like so many Shamen singles by those flipping Beatmasters - go instead for the Shamen's own version on the CD single. Next up, "Spacetime" - a beautiful song about Will's death completely stomped on by one of Mr. C's worst raps. Then on to "Librae Solidi Dinari" (LSD - Geddit?) which is utterly forgettable and then the glory that is "Ebeneezer Goode" - a track so trashy that the Beatmasters mix goes down a treat. Many drunken student nights were wasted singing the chorus of this one. Side two kicks off with the dreadful "Comin' on Strong" with the worst attempt at cod-Jamaican you're likely to hear - Sting come back, all is forgiven. And just as you're about to give up, you get "Phorever People" which is the Shamen's best pop number of all - sheer bliss, with cheesy vocals and a message so hopelessly positive, it's really very convincing. The haunting "Fatman" follows hot on its heels, again a good tune wrecked by Mr. C and then we're into wibbly psychedelic territory with the ambient "Scientas" complete with rainsticks, panpipes and Steve Hillage on third-eye guitar. End track is "Re:Evolution" which is possibly one of the oddest records ever to hit the pop charts - a gorgeous, eerie backing track which keeps speeding up and slowing down whilst Terrence McKenna - psychedelic visionary with a hypnotising voice - babbles on about the end of the world, psychedelics, shamanism and all manner of oddness. A strange mix of a record which almost works.