Bentley Rhythm Ace

Actually, they could take a lesson from label mate and fan-fav Slim; the man knows the importance of a hook. His tunes may be simpler, but they’re more infectious. BRA are stuck in the middle, developing tracks with twisting, lively basslines, fluctuating beats- and not much else.

They come close a few times, and get it right with “Let There Be Flutes,” thanks to, er, flutes, and “On Her Majesty’s Secret Whistle,” featuring, uh, whistles. Kudos are in order for the madcap, justly named “Return of the Hardcore Jumble Carbootechnodisco Roadshow.” But the rest of the tracks make you wish they could have added that “something “ to make them rise up. Bentley Rhythm Ace deliver the groove but forget the flourishes.


Is this future music?   October 13, 2000
 4 out of 6 found this review helpful

Maybe 10 years ago someone would have listened to this and I presume would not have been able to catogorise it as any form of music, the fact that Bentley Rhythm Ace manage to combine some of the most quirky samples and nu-sound beats to create this album is quite amazing.

Just looking at the names of the the songs, you'd be forgiven for thinking that this is a joke album, and maybe this is true in the sense that the content of the music seems to be maybe 'tongue-in-cheek'. It is well worth sitting on your shelf though.

There are few words to be able to describe the music, without saying "this is a good song" et al. This is an album which deserves respect because of the experimental nature and darn it, the feeling that you're enjoying every song on there.

If someone can release an album with a track called 'ragtopskodacarchase', then surely you should reward them with a few pounds worth of a sale!


Gottogetalouderstereo to fullyappreciatethisone   November 24, 1999
 7 out of 8 found this review helpful

From the discovery of the control tape through to the warped psycadelic ending of carboottechno discoroadshow this album exemplifies what you can do with a few twisted basslines, a hefty dose of imagination and a whole load of tweakability. You cannot simply sit and listen to this album with your foot tapping on the coffee table of life, you HAVE to get up and jump spasmodically from room to room. Nowhere else will you witness the simplicity of "run on the spot" combined with the shave your head madness of ragtopskodacarchase, which is the track which should be played at a volume somewhere beyond the capabiltiy of your speakers, this may mean going out and buying a new system but you can always bust your ear drums listening on your discman as you wander around your hifi store, in fact, play the album in the shop at the desired volume to test the compatability of the speakers with your volumetric resonance.