Track Listing

1. Guns Blazing
2. UNKLE
3. Bloodstain
4. Unreal
5. Lonely Soul
6. Getting Ahead In The Lucrative Field Of Artist Management
7. Nursery Rhyme
8. Celestial Annihilation
9. Knock
10. Chaos
11. Rabbit In Your Headlights
12. Be There

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #54890 in Music
• Released on: 2003-06-16
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .12 pounds

Amazon.co.uk Review
Psyence Fiction is the epic brainchild of Mo' Wax boss James Lavelle and hip-hop auteur DJ Shadow. Seldom before had a project of such scope and such lofty ambition been attempted. But over three years of gestation, Psyence Fiction became hip-hop mythology, complete with a cast of international players; Thom Yorke of Radiohead, Richard Ashcroft of The Verve and Mike D of the Beastie Boys all offer vocal contributions.

Psyence Fiction was blighted by its vast hype but still sounds like a box-- office blockbuster of an album. Shadow's deft orchestral mixing provides a wide-screen backdrop for Yorke's mournful delivery on "Rabbit In Your Headlights" but he proves equally capable of providing scene-stealing instrumentals with the likes of "Unreal" and "Celestial Annihilation". Indeed, sometimes the collaborations seem slightly mismatched; Ashcroft's take on "Lonely Soul" and Mike D's uncharacteristically poor rapping on "The Knock" prove low points on an otherwise fine album. --Louis Pattison

CD Description
In the UK, where both electronica and brash guitar rock arebigger chart-toppers than in the US, artists are a lot freer about mixing the two styles. Hence UNKLE, the project of James Lavelle and illbient hero DJ Shadow. The duo puts theirsampling/looping expertise to work in the service of a project that blends the best of Britrock and electronica, without sacrificing the integrity of either style. Towards this end, they're assisted by some talented friends. Radiohead singer Thom Yorke cowrote and sings "Rabbit in Your Headlights",which takes his band's sound and runs a little further afield. The Verve's Richard Ashcroft is on hand for "Lonely Soul", which links syncopated drum loops, midtempo rock, and extended orchestral sections. PSYENCE FICTION is a fresh-sounding effort that pushes the boundaries of both rock and electronica in a way that will appeal to fans of both genres.

Customer Reviews

Fantastic!
Could only sum up this album with that one word. Bought it on the basis of it being the only thom yorke-related music i didnt own and i wasn't disappointed. Being slightly biased i think 'rabbit in your headlights' is the best track on there, though slightly disturbing when accompanied by the strange promotional video for the single.
Richard Ashcroft-endorsed 'lonely soul' is another standout as he proves he can lend his voice to any style of music. For further proof check out 'the test' with the chemical brothers!Anyone a fan of the top ten smash hit (note the sarcasm) 'be there' (feat ian brown) would not be disappointed by purchasing this album! Rocking in places ('nursey rhyme'), hip hop/dance in others ('main title theme') and in parts extremely chilled out ('chaos').
I love my rock but if all dance music sounded like this i think id consider switching my alliances!

one kick ass album!
a good blend of hip hop, trip hop and mellow sounds with a loud of DJ Shadow weird samples, a must for any DJ Shadow or trip hop fan.

If you even like the idea of it, add this to your collection
The massive hype claimed to surround this record must have been confined to within the industry itself, as this outside of the 'John Peel' zone, (in my experience at least) few people have heard or are aware of it. You might not love every single track, the great thing is that your 'skip' track could be someone elses anthem.

As for the take on Verve mans contribution (personally my favourite track, despite not being a fan of said band), perhaps the person knocking it is from the same collective that told us all Carter USM were so great (which I think they are!) and then told us they had lost it when the larger public couldn't take their uncompromising music?

The dark overtones with occasional humour style actually make this record more appealing, and its one I can play time and time again.