Product Description

BACK TO MINE is a consistently high-calibre series of mix discs made by the movers and shakers of the contemporary electronica scene. This one features picks and flawless sequencing from Lamb's Andy Barlow, whose choices are highly eclectic, yet amazingly of a piece. The enigmatic "Intro" by trip-hop diva Martina Topley-Bird sets the tone effectively, leading the listener into a thicket of tribal sounds ("Dinosaur'sLament" by African Headcharge), hoodoo voodoo ("I Walk on Gilded Splinters" by Dr. John), and club-ready snake-charmer meditations (a remix of "Shashkin" by Omar Faruk Tekbilek).
A dark, brooding, minor-key mood prevails, even on Chris Thomas King's cover of the Skip James classic "Hard Time Killing Floor Blues" (from the O BROTHER, WHERE ART THOU? soundtrack) and the remix of the mesmerising Nina Simone workout "See-Line Woman". Lamb's penchant for edgier breakbeat activity is acknowledged on "Sacred Space" by Hipoptimist (one ofBarlow's projects) and Drome's driving "Hoax (What Did You Got?)", before the album closes with a beautiful field recording from MALI MUSIC. Like other BACK TO MINE entries, Barlow's album is suited for chilled-out home listening, a party soundtrack, or almost any club or bar.

Track Listing

1. Martina Topley-Bird - Intro
2. African Headcharge - Dinosaur's Lament
3. Dr. John - I Walk On Guilded Splinters
4. Nina Simone - See-Line Woman (Masters At Work Remix)
5. Melaaz - Non Non Non
6. Nitin Sawhney - Prophesy
7. Hipoptimist - Sacred Space
8. Omar Faruk Tekbilek - Shashkin (Hefner Remix)
9. Drome - Hoax (What Did You Got?)
10. Chris Thomas King - Hard Time Killing Floor Blues
11. The Bug vs The Rootsman feat He-Man - Killer
12. Mali Music - Nabintou Diakité

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #51793 in Music
• Released on: 2004-07-05
• Number of discs: 1

Amazon.co.uk Review
Part 18 in the popular downbeat series, Back to Mine: the Voodoo Sessions comes from Lambproducer Andy Barlow. As ever the selection is eclectic and unusual with all manner of styles jostling for space.

The appropriately titled "Intro" by Martina Topley-Bird sets the voodoo mood well with her vocals sounding eerily ancient and rich in mysticism, which is the key to the hypnotic songs found here. The chanting world blues of Dr John's "I Walk on Guilded Splinters" maintains the atmosphere as things gently start to pick up with a deep, tribal MAW remix of Nina Simone's "See-Line Woman". The tempo really kicks in for Barlow's own "Sacred Space", world influenced progressive techno inspired by the Glastonbury stones. This pace continues until the closing few tracks, Chris Thomas King's version of "Hard Time Killing Floor Blues" bringing it back to a gentle acoustic level until Damon Albarn's Nabintou Diakite project ends things in a fittingly spiritual manner.

Back to Mine: the Voodoo Sessions is another great compilation in the series. The mixing is nothing to make a fuss of but the song selection and running order makes for a good way to spend an hour. --David Trueman

Album Description
On the 18th instalment of DMC's Back to Mine series, drum&bass pioneers Lamb present The Voodoo Sessions. It features a diverse mix of artists including Martina Topley-Bird, Nina Simone, Dr John, The Rootsman and Nitin Sawhney, plus remixes by Masters at Work and Hefner.

Customer Reviews

Grower - treat tenderly, water generously, enjoy the results
When I first heard this CD, I really wasn't sure what to think. It was too quirky, too odd, too dark. I gave it a second chance and realised how much I'd missed first time round. The Nina Simone remix on its own is awesome, but there's plenty more hanging around it. I think the problem I found was that I don't think Lamb go 'Back To Theirs' to unwind, but to continue a party, in a laid back sort of way. On the third listen, I had a little bug in my legs, by the fourth I was gliding round the house. Enjoy

quirky and uplifting yet mean and haunting
As usual for Lamb, they always come up with the most 'out-there' and beautiful music, and this contribution to the back to mine series is no exception!
from start to finish, this album takes you on a hypnotic journey throughout the world, flourishing with chilled out beats, ethnic instrumentation and twisted future sound of london-esque soundscapes, The contrast of each song links perfectly with the rest of the mix and all comes round full circle like one huge track.
It's a fun and quirky collection, but is also very deep and quite dark and brooding,
As an earlier review stated, this album is a little weird, but that's the beauty of it- There is nothing else like this,
Over a number of listens will bring a true understanding into what Lamb have done here, It's truly a masterpiece.

Hmm...
This certainly is an interesting album. I bought it about six months ago, and was initially very disappointed. It just seemed a little too wacky, lacked cohesion and changed genre with such aggression that it didn't work.

Sufice to say, this CD soon ended up on the bottom of my cd rack, far below the wonderful Air, Goldfrapp and Zero 7. Anyway, I don't know why but I picked it up and listened to it again. And again. And again. It started to grow on me, and the subtle nuances glimmered through... 'Guilded splinters' is superb, throaty almost with a strange eastern riff - totally different from the Paul Wellar version! 'Non non non' is a smoothy, if it were a piece of furniture it would definitely be a velvet chair!!! 'Seeline woman' is also a stand out track.

This album made the most sense in the summer, sitting around an open fire in the back garden, drinking wine and chatting about crap with good friends!

In conclusion, a grower but a goodie!