why is Archive's "Londinium" so PERFECT!

Hey everyone, this is Skip from the band Beauty's Confusion (a newly formed trip-hop group... we're on this website, huge thanks to Stefan!). I have been into trip-hop since I first heard Dummy way back in 1994. Didn't get into writing trip-hop until fall of 2000, after getting heavily into Moby's "Play" CD, and the few songs on it that really stood out like "Rushing", "If Things Were Perfect", etc.

So in September of 2001, I was ordering so much trip-hop, because I got a job at a small record store and I could find a lot of the albums listed on this site, for pretty cheap (I always want to have the original album, not mp3's of it... I love the artwork and production info). I've definitely downloaded my share of trip-hop from the net, but it's cool having originals. So anyway...

I ordered Archive's "Londinium". Didn't even listen to the soundclips on the site, just went from Stefan's praise on the original Archive bio (it has since changed, on this site). So I pop it in and literally, two years later, I can't stop listening to it at least 5 or more times a week. It's that inspiring, and that impressive. Why is it so fucking good!!!

Portishead's "Dummy" used to be my favorite trip-hop record. Then I heard Londinium and it easily took first place in my favorites. I have studied this album inside and out, and still it amazes me. I know how to play the keyboard and organ parts on every single song on the album, and yet... still amazed.

My only hope, as a fairly new trip-hop producer/band guy, is to create a masterpiece someday, such as this.

I know all of you who are into Archive will agree that Londinium is basically the only Archive CD you need. The newest one is decent but nothing is as thought-provoking, beautiful, intelligent, perfectly-produced, and flat out JAW DROPPING, as this album.

Some of my other favorite trip-hop albums.... which I feel are perfect in every way:

CANIDAS - Golden

CRUSTATION - Bloom

SOMA SONIC - Future

SPYLAB - This Utopia

THE DINING ROOMS - Numero Deux

SARU - Downtempo Dojo

ESTHERO - Breath From Another

PORTISHEAD - Dummy (of course)

PORTISHEAD - Portishead (of course)

DJ SHADOW - Endtroducing

EMILIANA TORRINI - Love In The Time Of Science

EVERYTHING by Jay Jay Johanson

SNEAKER PIMPS - Becoming X

AIRLOCK - Drystar

BAXTER - About This

BOWERY ELECTRIC - Lush Life and Beat

HOOVERPHONIC - The Magnificent Tree

LO-FI - Nano

OLIVE - Extra Virgin and Trickle (especially Trickle, and the song "Smile")

everything by POMEGRANATE

PURACANE - Things You Should Leave Alone

PASSION FLOWER - Shine In Your Own Light

Would love to hear everyone's opinions on Londinium and the albums I mentioned above! :)

-Skip from BEAUTY'S CONFUSION
http://beautysconfusion.net