'Digital Tenderness'
What The Critics Say
Terranova has always been one of the more versatile groups to rise to the top of the electronica pile. Peace Is Tough again proves this point, masterfully making its way through patois-accented hip-hop, conventional downtempo, and gritty techno -- all within the first three cuts of the album. But while Terranova never seems to look for style, the band obviously came up a bit short on content, with only five original tracks finding their way onto the album. The rest is made up of new versions of previous vinyl releases. But then again, the infinite cycle of sampling and remixing found in modern electronic music has proven that a song need not be entirely novel in order to be effective. Hence the gritty Björk sound of "When in Rome..." still gets the blood pumping while "99 Percent" and "Get on It" feel totally 1985 and totally 1995 at the same time. And for all the retreading, you can still sense the group moving in a particular direction with each release. Peace Is Tough is an edgier album than its predecessor, but in an invigorating way, proving once again that a good beat is a good beat -- and that a good time can still be found within familiar electronic forms. ~ Joshua Glazer, All Music Guide
'Hitchhiking Non-Stop With No Particular Destination'
What The Critics Say
Hitchhiking Non-Stop With No Particular Destination is as difficult to keep track of as the name of the band itself. Adjusting the name to Edition Terranova, the trio of Mastermind Fetisch, Meister, and Shapemod come up with a diverse batch of work that covers quite a bit of ground: trip-hop, hip-hop, and big beat. The German group is joined by Cath Coffey of Stereo MC's (on Shuggie Otis' "Out of My Head," while her voice is electronically modified on "Breath"), vocalist Mike Ladd (who raps on "Sublime" and "Heroes"), and Ariane of the Slits (on "Mongril"). "Equal Rights" explores political and social ideas and "Women Beat Their Men" samples "The Dominatrix Sleeps Tonight," which at one point is slowed down to such a slow pace that it sounds like little more than clicking. Mostly though, the original influence of hip-hop and the Stereo MC's is felt throughout the album. Not mind-blowing, but gratifyingly eclectic nonetheless. ~ Kenyon Hopkin, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
For the abbreviated history types, it was only when the Berlin Wall came down that Germany's trance scene was born. As the country went from mechanical depression to Ecstasy-fueled anthems, there were some that respected this new revitalization, but still found its glowstick-obsessed cries for "tunes!" a bit lacking. Terranova fit into this iconoclastic hole. Instead of embracing the waving arms of their comrades, they sought to re-balance this shift by first releasing their Mean Streets-inspired installment in the DJ Kicks series and then following it up with a debut album full of even more aberrant intoxication and escapist hip-hop. Horizontal listening is the real name of this band's tune. Encompassing a mix from dark intonations and engine squeals ("Plastic Stress") to Tricky-inspired numbness ("Bombing Bastards"), Close the Door creates an alternate German reality where E had little impact on the revolution and instead desolate trip-hop tumbled down the Wall with just one cold stare. There aren't many moments of derivative excess either -- "X-Files" is unintentionally cartoony and "Never" might sound like a beaten up Depeche Mode -- as these faults are mild. Everything else adds up to an atmospheric world of downtempo hip-hop that surprisingly rivals just about anything coming from a gang of New York. Indeed, as far as musical abnormalities go, Terranova is a band that already seems fully and completely in control. ~ Dean Carlson, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Berlin's DJ-producer outfit has their say in the DJ-Kicks series and it's a muggy, city-strolling, claustrophobic tour through the band's modus operandi. Unlike many of the other labors in the DJ-Kicks line, Terranova manages to create a mix that stays away from both numbing ambient indifference as well as tedious "moody" slow beats. This sucker just grooves. Maybe it's because while many other Bristol-influenced musicians often fail to acknowledge the hip-hop in their trip-hop, Terranova never hides behind such a mistake. They lead listeners down streets pumping with underground rap outfits like Priest, the East Flatbush Project, and Peanut Butter Wolf. Take them to the nightclubs blaring with frenetic breakbeats by BFC or their own "Tokyo Tower." And like David Holmes' Bow Down to the Exit Sign, it all sounds like a local is guiding you through a bunch of dense street ambience, Japanese-tinged hip-hop, and porn-sampling jazz while occasionally playing some tape-recorded samples next to your ear. It's fun, in a cool, head-nodding sort of way. Which shows that Terranova knows how to walk the streets with not only a case full of good records, but with a strong sense of character as well. ~ Dean Carlson, All Music Guide
