Artist: Fila Brazillia Album: Mess

Year: 1996
Duration: 1:07:23

Going on a Musical Adventure with Fila Brazillia's Mess Album

Fila Brazillia is a British electronic music duo consisting of Steve Cobby and David McSherry, which gained fame in the 90s and early 2000s. Their music is an amalgamation of multiple genres like trip-hop, downtempo, and chillout. The Mess album, released in 1996, was a massive hit among the music lovers of that time. The album is a perfect representation of their musical craftsmanship. In this blog post, we will take a critical review of the Mess album, explore its history and genre, identify the best songs, and dissect the unique and most innovative parts of the album.

The Mess album belongs to the downtempo and ambient genre, which emerged in the early 90s. Downtempo music is a sub-genre of electronic music, which is characterized by its relaxed and slow beats, but still imparting the essence of a rich and warm soundscape. The Mess album is a representation of these features with eight tracks that have a slow and mellow tempo that creates a calm and meditative ambiance. It is a mix of genres like acid jazz, reggae, trip-hop and some jazzy electronic elements.

The album's best tracks are We Build Arks, Soft Music Under the Stars, and A Zed and Two L's. We Build Arks is a perfect example of Fila Brazillia's ear for catchy melodies that will stick in your head for hours. Soft Music Under the Stars uses electronic saxophone samples that add a soothing quality to the track's overall ambiance. Finally, A Zed and Two L's shows off some reggae influence in the percussion, and the overall track has a groovy and upbeat feel.

One aspect that makes the Mess album stand out is its sampling and layering techniques used to produce the songs. The duo's mastery of sampling is evident in how they can blend different sounds to create an intricate and unique sound that is all their own. It's no wonder that they have been cited as a massive influence by many contemporary artists like Bonobo, The Orb and Thievery Corporation.

However, in my opinion, the album's tracks lack cohesion, and they all seem to live separately from one another. While the tracks are still individually great, they don't flow in a way that creates a unified album listening experience. It could have used a bit more song transitions; it kind of feels like each song is a chapter in a book rather than an entire book that creates a whole story.

In conclusion, Fila Brazillia's Mess album is an excellent example of their musical mastery, skillfully blending genres to create something new and original. While the album may not have a unified quality, each track's individual merits make it a valuable addition to any music lover's collection. It's a trip down memory lane for those who remember the 90s electronic scene and a fantastic entry point for those new to downtempo and ambient music. So, dive into the mess and discover the magic of Fila Brazillia.