Quantic – The 5th Exotic

I love the way this man makes a drum loop. Silky smooth with a heavy jazz influence, this album makes for an interesting listen. Definitely a bit repetitive at times, but there’s enough variation to keep the songs fresh. Something I would put on late at night while driving with me, myself and my thoughts.

Based on the jazz-funk inspired, break-beat looping, movie-sampling template of 1990s trip hop, Quantic's debut album took the genre forward by using a wider range of orchestral instruments, a richly layered, organic-sounding production, more diverse breakbeat styles and tempos (from fast broken beat to slow downtempo) and sophisticated quirkiness. This mature take on trip hop is all the more astonishing given that it was written, produced and arranged by a mere 21 year-old.

The melodies (arguably the catchiest of any Quantic album) and drums shine throughout, with the energetic title-track and beautiful "Time Is The Enemy" standing out. It's excellent background music, with perhaps only a couple of stronger melodies / vocals needed for it to have achieved 'classic album' status.

Whilst Quantic's sound was to become increasingly mainstream and diverse on subsequent albums, "Trouble From The River" (2002) and the "Mishaps Happening" title-track (2004) are two exceptions that keep the 5th Exotic spirit alive. (8)

A brilliant album. I came across Quantic after liking his remix of the Bonobo song "The Plug". Turns out that Quantic and Bonobo are on the same label, and they both produce music in a similar vein. The 5th exotic is a very catchy record, but still has depth on repeated listenings. The songs don't get repetitive at all, and they don't tire with repeated listenings. I think this album is superior to Quantic's followup, Apricot Morning, because i think this one was produced before Quantic made it big, so less flash and bad vocalists, and more laid-back beats and chilled instrumentals. My favourites are "Life in the rain" and "Snakes in the Grass"