ESL wisely reissues this classic release from the vaults after a very impressive year for Thievery Corporation. For the newly converted let us set the scene: Underworld and Leftfield were teaching us to dance to future sounds. Meat Beat Manifesto released albums on a major label. LTJ Bukem is flooring us with his “intelligent” drum and bass. Portishead is storming the US college radio scene, and Acid Jazz is fading as the Big Beat scene starts to rear its crunchy head.

1. A Warning (dub)(feat. Hutchy)
2. 2001 Spliff Odyssey
3. Shaolin Satellite
4. Transcendence
5. Universal Highness
6. Incident At Gate 7
7. Scene At The Open Air Market
8. The Glass Bead Game
9. Encounter In Bahia
10. The Foundation
11. Interlude
12. The Oscillator
13. Assault On Babylon (feat. See-I)
14. .38.45 (A Thievery Number)(feat. See-I)
15. One
16. Sun, Moon, And Stars
17. Sleeper Car

So to have an album arrive with no connection to any big scene that immediately proves Thievery's impeccable taste was and still is noteworthy, and a refreshing look at the time it was released in that should keep our heads bowed in reverence and the naysayers tight-lipped. No one at the time could have predicted what an impact this release would make.

The Acid Jazz movement had touched on some of the themes of Dub, Bossa, Hip Hop and Jazz but always ended up sounding like snippets cut and pasted into modern grooves. Thievery sounded like Thievery and really set the bar for downtempo music. Ten years later, tracks like "2001 Spliff Odyssey", "Incident at Gate 7", "38.45(A Thievery Number)" still sound freshly relevant and just as motivating.

By borrowing (hence the band name) the best parts of each genre, Thievery made a strong album that stands the test of time and works alongside The Cosmic Game in defining the whole ESL Music label. As a bonus, "Sun, Moon, and Stars" and "Sleeper Car" have been added as two additional tracks that are in no way b-sides, making it well worth your while to replace the worn out copy of Sounds From The Thievery Hi-Fi you bought the first time around.

~ Dedric Moore

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