View Larger
Rate it!
Avg: 3.0 (8 ratings)
- Date Released: September 14, 1999
- Genre: Hip-Hop/R&B
- Label: Ninja Tune / PIAS Digital
Russian turntablist goes eclectic, drops an underground hip-hop classic.
-
We Say...
Previously known for death-bed trip-hop and beats that felt like trudging through molasses, on USSR Life from the Other Side, Russian émigré DJ Vadim shakes his rigor mortis to produce one of the best underground hip-hop records ever. Vadim’s inventive approach to sound is still evident, however, and this album alludes to everything from the Stooges to John Cage’s prepared piano to Special Request’s “Salsa Smurph.” Vadim’s constructivist beats are blessed by such emissaries of the underground as Company Flow and Dilated Peoples, but the highlight is undoubtedly poetess Sarah Jones’ skewering of hip-hop sexism.
-
They Say...
DJ Vadim's debut introduced one of the world's best producers in abstract underground rap, a minimalist hip-hopper able to weave a funky break around the slightest piece of noise detritus. After recording a solid remix album (U.S.S.R. Reconstruction), Vadim returned in late 1999 with the sophomore-slump-breaking U.S.S.R.: Life From the Other Side. Whereas with his first album Vadim worked on a miniature scale, constructing breaks and beats out of abstract noise, here the sound is more upfront and swaggering, much closer to the commercial rap world than before. (Of course, thanks to producers like Timbaland and Swizz Beatz, the commercial rap world had moved much closer to Vadim, as well.) Since he's working with rappers on more than half of the tracks here, Vadim transforms himself from a solo turntablist into a genuine rap trackmaster with catchier riffs and tighter beats than most in Britain's instrumental hip-hop underground. Two tracks, "Viagra" (with El-P from Company Flow) and "English Breakfast" (with Swollen Members), display this excellent fusion by blending the hard-hitting, stutter-stepped style of production perfected by DJ Premier with just a few of the paranoid breaks and hostile atmospheres of Vadim's debut. On a similarly high level as landmarks like Dr. Octagon and Company Flow's Funcrusher Plus, U.S.S.R.: Life From the Other Side proves Vadim is not only one of the most creative turntablist/producers, but he is also one of the most talented trackmasters in the healthy rap underground.
“ The indie iTunes — Hardcore music fans are migrating to eMusic, the iTunes Music Store's cheaper, cooler cousin.”
Rolling Stone
eMusic Tip
Paid downloads are counted towards an album discount but free downloads are not.
COMPLETE FOR FREE!
You can download the rest of the tracks from this album for free! Just click the Complete Album button.
We’re sorry this album can only be downloaded using paid subscription download credits.
We recommend you Save it for Later by clicking the Save for Later button shown just above this message. For a list of related albums you can download right now, check out these recommendations.
We'll give you 25 additional free credits to download this album and start your paid subscription.
Get 25 bonus credits on us if you download this album. Sweet!
| 01. |
Getting Friendly |
0:42 |
|
|
| 02. |  |
Viagra
|
2:58 |
|
| 03. | |
My Favourite Letter |
1:11 |
|
| 04. | |
Life From The Itchy Side
|
3:28 |
|
| 05. | |
English Breakfast
|
3:41 |
|
| 06. | |
Building Tension In 2 Dimensions |
4:01 |
|
| 07. | |
Dig Yourself Baby! |
1:13 |
|
| 08. | |
Are You Sure |
1:27 |
|
| 09. | |
The Pact |
4:39 |
|
| 10. |
Outerschmoodles |
0:29 |
|
|
| 11. | |
Your Revolution
|
4:11 |
|
| 12. | |
It's Obvious
|
5:05 |
|
| 13. | |
The Piano Song |
2:45 |
|
| 14. |
Pauses For Repetition |
0:42 |
|
|
| 15. | |
Truly & Really
|
3:47 |
|
| 16. | |
Ponmelo duro
|
3:18 |
|
| 17. | |
The Terrorist
|
4:51 |
|
| 18. | |
The Larry Chatsworth Theme |
0:50 |
|
| 19. | |
From Russia With Love
|
4:16 |
|
| 20. | |
Shikko- The Affirmers Of The New Art |
3:31 |
|
| 21. | |
Micro Course In Russian |
1:48 |
|
| 22. | |
Friction
|
4:15 |
|
| 23. |
A 110 DSP- Acquiring The Taste |
0:42 |
|
|
| 24. | |
How To Exercise The Turntable Record Player
|
7:50 |
|
| 25. | |
Strength & Understanding For Young Lovers |
1:51 |
|
25 Total Tracks, 73:31 Total Length
Loading...
Playlists If you like DJ Vadim, check out these member playlists
Explore music recommended by DJ Vadim fans
Choose from over 7 million
music downloadseMusic features legendary and emerging artists in every genre: classic rock to classical,indie to international, soundtracks to spiritual, jazz to country and many more.
MP3 downloads work on any digital media player
With eMusic, you OWN your music without any restrictions. Burn music to a CD, play it on your computer, mobile phone or any digital media player - including iPod®, Zune® and Walkman®.
Songs available for 50¢ or less
eMusic subscriptions start at just $11.99 a month for 24 downloads - that's just 50¢ per song! And it gets better from there - our plans go as low as 42¢ per song!
Music Discovery
eMusic is about discovery. We make finding new music fun again with music recommendations from our award-winning team of music experts, member playlists and new music features.
Cancel anytime
With all the great music and site features we're pretty sure you will love eMusic. If not, no problem. You can cancel at any time and keep the music you have downloaded.
© 1992 - 2009 All Media Guide, LLC