- Critic score
- Publication
- By date
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A work of intense drama but little importance.
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Tends more toward the "dance" elements of IDM than the "intelligent," reducing UNKLE's trip-hop origins and innovative beats to overdrawn synth wank-fests.
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BlenderThe pulse underscoring the album keeps it hopping when the songs meander. [Nov 2004, p.142]
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Compared to 'Psyence Fiction''s ruthlessly cut glass exterior, this is a rounded, more human record, considerably less calculated and therefore far more approachable.
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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.
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While the signature muffled beats of Shadow are missing, Land is so much more expansive, effortlessly melding electronica and Britpop.
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FilterNever, 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]
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MojoAt 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]
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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.
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Far from being either vindicating or enthralling.
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One of the finer electronic music albums of the past year.
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SpinShadow's bold beat-scaping is missed, but guests galore lace the esoterica with plenty of angsty personality. [Dec 2004, p.124]
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Never, Never, Land not only escapes the expectations and pitfalls that dogged Psyence Fiction, but succeeds on a new set of strengths.
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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.
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Lucky the men from UNKLE have such generous mates, without whom Never, Never, Land would tinkle and whoosh into oblivion.
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UncutA lush but unthrilling album. [Nov 2003, p.122]
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Under The RadarMost of the songs on this record float by, leaving little or no impression. [#7]
User score distribution:
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Positive: 13 out of 16
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Mixed: 3 out of 16
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Negative: 0 out of 16
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MilanGApr 17, 2005Wery refresing album...
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PoldoG.Jan 30, 2005Whaaat??!? Only one thing. This is by far one of the best CDs of the year 2003.
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Cybergroove.caJan 26, 2005