• Record Label: Mo Wax
  • Release Date: Oct 26, 2004
Metascore
66

Generally favorable reviews - based on 17 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 17
  2. Negative: 1 out of 17
  1. Never, Never, Land exposes Lavelle and File as, surprisingly, excellent songwriters with an ear for a good chorus and a knack to fitting performers and material together.
  2. While the signature muffled beats of Shadow are missing, Land is so much more expansive, effortlessly melding electronica and Britpop.
  3. Never, Never, Land not only escapes the expectations and pitfalls that dogged Psyence Fiction, but succeeds on a new set of strengths.
  4. At 60 minutes plus, it’s too long, and neither Cocker and Eno’s ambient doodle nor 3D’s ‘Invasion’ work. But, nonetheless, ‘Never...’ is sleek, deep and full of ideas.
  5. While it’s tempting to disregard ‘Never, Never, Land’ as a frantic attempt to usurp its predecessor in the celebrity stakes, the big-name guests this time around are infinitely more suited to the mood.
  6. Spin
    75
    Shadow's bold beat-scaping is missed, but guests galore lace the esoterica with plenty of angsty personality. [Dec 2004, p.124]
  7. Mojo
    70
    At points UNKLE verge on Moby car advert territory, but judicious sampling and that deadpan sci-fi spirit keep the album the right side of experimental. [Sep 2003, p.113]
  8. Filter
    70
    Never, Never Land doesn't have a single track that comes close to Fiction's epochal "Lonely Soul" or the eerie "Rabbit In Your Headlights," but overall it works more as an album of equal bombast and grandeur. [#13, p.94]
  9. Compared to 'Psyence Fiction''s ruthlessly cut glass exterior, this is a rounded, more human record, considerably less calculated and therefore far more approachable.
  10. One of the finer electronic music albums of the past year.
User Score
8.1

Universal acclaim- based on 16 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 16
  2. Negative: 0 out of 16
  1. MilanG
    Apr 17, 2005
    8
    Wery refresing album...
  2. PoldoG.
    Jan 30, 2005
    10
    Whaaat??!? Only one thing. This is by far one of the best CDs of the year 2003.
  3. Cybergroove.ca
    Jan 26, 2005
    7
    DJ Spooky´s getting in a Peter Pan mood but respects the overall sound production quality of an ambiant CD. This is not a commercial DJ Spooky´s getting in a Peter Pan mood but respects the overall sound production quality of an ambiant CD. This is not a commercial album but any song that could merge into Ozzy's ''Changes'' is the genius of the month ! The most exquisite song on the album is definitly GLOW. Full Review »