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The ninjas have been telling us for years that 'a ninja must be zen'. Now all that's changed 'cos this ninja is now TEN. To celebrate their tenth anniversary and to generally make the completists part with more cash the Ninja Tune people have released a triple CD, 4 or 6 LP compilation of new tracks, single tracks and rare or slept on tracks from their history. The CD's are split nice and handily into easy pigeonholable labels. The first is more of a hiphop ting, it's got excerpts from Big Dada artists (including the excellent 'big dada sound' posse cut) plus ninja artists with guest MCs and forthcoming artists to the expanding ninja roster including female MC T-Love and that Quannum lot having jumped ship from Mowax. CD1 also features an intro by Steinski cutting up past ninja samples, and assorted more traditional ninja t**p-hop style tracks. CD2, the 'new' CD is very jazzy. Coming along as something Giles Petterson could put on his radio show and leave on for an hour, it's leftfield jazz breakbeat and lots of other things, it has a common feel but it's all pretty unique and stands apart in style from the first CD. depending on how broad your musical horizons are you'll either appreciate this CD or not give a damn. Likewise with the 3rd CD. If you're a ninja completist then you'll have some of it already, and it's the weakest of the trio. More musical boundary breaking with Saul Williams and Roots Manuva nesstling alongside Vadim, Coldcut, Squarepusher and Fourtet. Saul Williams track 'Twice The First Time' is still fucking excellent but most of us own the vinyl already (don't we?!), but there's a new version of 'Movements' by Roots Manuva. Ninja Tune have never been straight up hiphop, though in recent years the MCing aspect has certainly become more prominent both in the main label and through Big Dada. If you're a broadminded head with a feel for good music encompassing global styles then this compilation is a good'un. Across 46 tracks there's hopefully going to be something for everyone, and if you couldn't track down the ultra-limited Big Dada Sound 'showtime' 7" then this is the only way you're going to get it now. For the wax fiends the 6-vinyl (count 'em) box set is something to look good on your shelf and impress your mates with and will provide you with hours of enjoyment for years to come. Watch out for being ripped off though 'cos i've seen prices for this set range from £14 to £20+ for the same thing, so shop around. Happy 10th to the ninja's, may they remain stealthy for many more years to come.
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