Track Listing

1. Jackals And Vipers In Envy Of Man
2. Jackals And Vipers In Envy Of Man
3. Jackals And Vipers In Envy Of Man
4. Jackals And Vipers In Envy Of Man
5. Jackals And Vipers In Envy Of Man
6. Jackals And Vipers In Envy Of Man
7. Jackals And Vipers In Envy Of Man
8. Jackals And Vipers In Envy Of Man
9. Jackals And Vipers In Envy Of Man
10. Jackals And Vipers In Envy Of Man
11. Jackals And Vipers In Envy Of Man
12. Jackals And Vipers In Envy Of Man
13. Jackals And Vipers In Envy Of Man

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #103552 in Music
• Released on: 2007-09-10
• Number of discs: 1

Customer Reviews

SIXTOO- Jackals and Vipers In Envy of Man review
Jackals and Vipers in Envy of Man (JVEM) is the second Ninja Tune album release for hip-hop instrumentalist Robert Squire aka Sixtoo (formerly CL S.C.A.R.R.). Canadian artist, Sixtoo grew to fame on the critically acclaimed Anticon label (home of Doseone and Odd Nosdam) and was a major contributor to the early 90's North American underground hip-hop movement which saw him flex a number of skills including MC'ing and producing as well as being a turntablist and graffiti artist. Beat making and producing have been his main commercial outlet resulting in 2004's respected and lauded `Chewing on Glass and Other Miracle Cures', a moody and cinematic instrumental soundscape featuring distinguished guests such as a Godspeed... strings player and Can's Damo Suzuki. 2007 see's Sixtoo back in action with a new one piece 38 minute instrumental (divided into 13 bite-size tracks for the I-pod generation) hip-hop outing.

From the very outset one can tell that this isn't the languid and half-hearted cut'n'paste work of a MC who is trying his hand at production. Instead, the listener is treated to a very complete and rich sounding instrumental soundtrack which breathes life to old-skool hip-hop beats and which does not need an MC to add that finishing touch. Immediately, it is evident that the sampling and layering ability is of a very high standard, however this ability is not just limited to beats. Sixtoo has a keen eye for melody as well as the aptitude to micro produce which results in a kaleidoscopic range of sounds, stylistically echoing artists as diverse as Amon Tobin, RJD2 and Herbaliser. The head-nodding `Part 2' is a great example of this and sees deep bass and submerged staccato beats collide in a dark, shifting and multi-layered future soundscape which features noir-ish melodies, sublime keys and industrial effects. This soundscape typifies the albums sound.

`Part 4' is a stand out piece which sounds like what Lavelle and Shadow would have been producing if they had continued united with their UNKLE project. It starts off with a staggered synth oscillation which gives the piece a `electro' touch and is then joined by welcome layers of keys, strings and low key beats. The track really kicks off about 1 minute in when dirty Entroducing...era DJ Shadow percussion enters the fray. Sixtoo plays around with the layers and the meandering melodies to create a real slice of moody contemporary urban cool.

The grimey, twinkly submerged melody on `Part 8' sounds like the bastard child of early Mobb Deep and recent Massive Attack and then morphs into a satisfying old-skool Herbaliser mash-up session. `Part 10' is another piece that suddenly jumps out of your speakers due to the attentively crafted breaks and beats which are complimented by tottering melodies and waves of echo. Dark, fluctuating and throbbing bass arrives unannounced half way through to inject real drive and energy into the piece (and the album).

Its nice to see Sixtoo playing around with beats and creating multi-layered and constantly shifting compositions which move from claustrophobic and foreboding pieces to mellow and stripped down melodies and then back again (with a bang). JVEM does indeed work as a whole however there is times when the music moves into the background yet it is reigned back immediately with a deftly crafted melody or a stomping industrial beat. Very nice indeed.

For fans of: Massive Attack, RJD2, DJ Shadow, MF Doom Instrumentals

Sixtoo-Jackals....Review (8/10)
Jackals and Vipers in Envy of Man (JVEM) is the second Ninja Tune album release for hip-hop instrumentalist Robert Squire aka Sixtoo (formerly CL S.C.A.R.R.). Canadian artist, Sixtoo grew to fame on the critically acclaimed Anticon label (home of Doseone and Odd Nosdam) and was a major contributor to the early 90's North American underground hip-hop movement which saw him flex a number of skills including MC'ing and producing as well as being a turntablist and graffiti artist. Beat making and producing have been his main commercial outlet resulting in 2004's respected and lauded `Chewing on Glass and Other Miracle Cures', a moody and cinematic instrumental soundscape featuring distinguished guests such as a Godspeed... strings player and Can's Damo Suzuki. 2007 see's Sixtoo back in action with a new one piece 38 minute instrumental, (divided into 13 bite-size tracks for the I-pod generation), hip-hop outing.

From the very outset one can tell that this isn't the languid and half-hearted cut'n'paste work of a MC who is trying his hand at production. Instead, the listener is treated to a very complete and rich sounding instrumental soundtrack which breathes life to old-skool hip-hop beats and which does not need an MC to add that finishing touch. Immediately, it is evident that the sampling and layering ability is of a very high standard, however this ability is not just limited to beats. Sixtoo has a keen eye for melody as well as the aptitude to micro produce which results in a kaleidoscopic range of sounds, stylistically echoing artists as diverse as Amon Tobin, RJD2 and Herbaliser. The head-nodding `Part 2' is a great example of this and sees deep bass and submerged staccato beats collide in a dark, shifting and multi-layered future soundscape which features noir-ish melodies, sublime keys and industrial effects. This soundscape typifies the albums sound.

`Part 4' is a stand out piece which sounds like what Lavelle and Shadow would have been producing if they had continued united with their UNKLE project. It starts off with a staggered synth oscillation which gives the piece a `electro' touch and is then joined by welcome layers of keys, strings and low key beats. The track really kicks off about 1 minute in when dirty Entroducing...era DJ Shadow percussion enters the fray. Sixtoo plays around with the layers and the meandering melodies to create a real slice of moody contemporary urban cool.

The grimey, twinkly submerged melody on `Part 8' sounds like the bastard child of early Mobb Deep and recent Massive Attack and then morphs into a satisfying old-skool Herbaliser mash-up session. `Part 10' is another piece that suddenly jumps out of your speakers due to the attentively crafted breaks and beats which are complimented by tottering melodies and waves of echo. Dark, fluctuating and throbbing bass arrives unannounced half way through to inject real drive and energy into the piece (and the album).

Its nice to see Sixtoo playing around with beats and creating multi-layered and constantly shifting compositions which move from claustrophobic and foreboding pieces to mellow and stripped down melodies and then back again (with a bang). JVEM does indeed work as a whole however there is times when the music moves into the background yet it is reigned back immediately with a deftly crafted melody or a stomping industrial beat. Very nice indeed. (AM)

For fans of: Massive Attack, RJD2, DJ Shadow, MF Doom Instrumentals

SIXTOO- Jackals and Vipers in Envy of Man Review
Jackals and Vipers in Envy of Man (JVEM) is the second Ninja Tune album release for hip-hop instrumentalist Robert Squire aka Sixtoo (formerly CL S.C.A.R.R.). Canadian artist, Sixtoo grew to fame on the critically acclaimed Anticon label (home of Doseone and Odd Nosdam) and was a major contributor to the early 90's North American underground hip-hop movement which saw him flex a number of skills including MC'ing and producing as well as being a turntablist and graffiti artist. Beat making and producing have been his main commercial outlet resulting in 2004's respected and lauded `Chewing on Glass and Other Miracle Cures', a moody and cinematic instrumental soundscape featuring distinguished guests such as a Godspeed... strings player and Can's Damo Suzuki. 2007 see's Sixtoo back in action with a new one piece 38 minute instrumental (divided into 13 bite-size tracks for the I-pod generation) hip-hop outing.

From the very outset one can tell that this isn't the languid and half-hearted cut'n'paste work of a MC who is trying his hand at production. Instead, the listener is treated to a very complete and rich sounding instrumental soundtrack which breathes life to old-skool hip-hop beats and which does not need an MC to add that finishing touch. Immediately, it is evident that the sampling and layering ability is of a very high standard, however this ability is not just limited to beats. Sixtoo has a keen eye for melody as well as the aptitude to micro produce which results in a kaleidoscopic range of sounds, stylistically echoing artists as diverse as Amon Tobin, RJD2 and Herbaliser. The head-nodding `Part 2' is a great example of this and sees deep bass and submerged staccato beats collide in a dark, shifting and multi-layered future soundscape which features noir-ish melodies, sublime keys and industrial effects. This soundscape typifies the albums sound.

`Part 4' is a stand out piece which sounds like what Lavelle and Shadow would have been producing if they had continued united with their UNKLE project. It starts off with a staggered synth oscillation which gives the piece a `electro' touch and is then joined by welcome layers of keys, strings and low key beats. The track really kicks off about 1 minute in when dirty Entroducing...era DJ Shadow percussion enters the fray. Sixtoo plays around with the layers and the meandering melodies to create a real slice of moody contemporary urban cool.

The grimey, twinkly submerged melody on `Part 8' sounds like the bastard child of early Mobb Deep and recent Massive Attack and then morphs into a satisfying old-skool Herbaliser mash-up session. `Part 10' is another piece that suddenly jumps out of your speakers due to the attentively crafted breaks and beats which are complimented by tottering melodies and waves of echo. Dark, fluctuating and throbbing bass arrives unannounced half way through to inject real drive and energy into the piece (and the album).

Its nice to see Sixtoo playing around with beats and creating multi-layered and constantly shifting compositions which move from claustrophobic and foreboding pieces to mellow and stripped down melodies and then back again (with a bang). JVEM does indeed work as a whole however there is times when the music moves into the background yet it is reigned back immediately with a deftly crafted melody or a stomping industrial beat. Very nice indeed.


For fans of: Massive Attack, RJD2, DJ Shadow, MF Doom Instrumentals