Rating:
Genre:
Electronica
Release Date: 06/20/2006
With the assistance of
Detroit techno juggernauts
Carl Craig,
Shake, and
Kenny Dixon, Jr.,
Sherard Ingram (aka
Urban Tribe) crafted what could be considered one of the most underrated treasures in all of
electronic music:
The Collapse of Modern Culture, on the esteemed
Mo 'Wax imprint in 1998. And while its commercial success was overshadowed by other
Mo Wax ongoings at the time (see:
UNKLE), many critics and beatheads alike were taken aback by the sensitivity and beauty of the album, from its shimmering opening moments to its dark conclusion. So when the announcement of a new
Urban Tribe record hit the blogs and music press, people awaited with great anticipation to see where
Ingram would take the project next. Right from
Authorized Clinical Trials opener
"Polar Molecule," it's clear that the melodies and textures of
Collapse were disposed of; replaced by hard, clinical
electro beats that are textbook Detroit
electro (taking a page from
UR aquanauts
Drexciya isn't surprising, as
Ingram was the DJ arm of the project under the name
DJ Stingray). At some points
Ingram takes the best of
Kraftwerk and the best of
The New Dance Show (a popular dance program in Detroit during the '80s and '90s) and makes hard, clinical
electro-
funk that's meant for partying and jitting (a popular Detroit dance) more than paranoid contemplation. So while it may not be a victory for those looking for a follow-up along the same lines of
Collapse of Modern Culture, it's still a wonderful slice of Detroit
electro for those who still thirst for
Drexciyan-inspired beats and melodies.
~Rob Theakston, All Music Guide