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| Electronic/dub superstars James Lavelle and DJ Shadow collaborate on stunning set with members of Radiohead, Beastie Boys, The Verve and more. |
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| 1 Guns Blazing (Drums of Death, Pt. 1) |
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| 2 UNKLE (Main Title Theme) |
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| 3 Bloodstain |
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| 4 Unreal |
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| 5 Lonely Soul |
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| 6 Getting Ahead in the Lucrative Field of Artist Management |
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| 7 Nursery Rhyme/Breather |
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| 8 Celestial Annihilation |
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| 9 The Knock (Drums of Death), Pt. 2 |
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| 10 Chaos |
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| 11 Rabbit in Your Headlights |
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| 12 Outro |
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Album Review
James Lavelle and DJ Shadow are unequal partners in U.N.K.L.E., with the former providing the concept and the latter providing music, which naturally overshadows the concept, since the only clear concept -- apart from futuristic sound effects, video game samples, and merging trip-hop with rock -- is collaborating with a variety of musicians, from superstars to cult favorites Kool G. Rap, Alice Temple, and Mark Hollis (who provides uncredited piano on "Chaos"). Since DJ Shadow's prime gift is for instrumentals, the prospect of him collaborating with vocalists is more intriguing than enticing, and "Psyence Fiction" is appropriately divided between brilliance and failed experiments. Shadow and Lavelle aren't breaking new territory here -- beneath the harder rock edge, full-fledged songs, and occasional melodicism, the album stays on the course "Endtroducing" set. Shadow isn't given room to run wild with his soundscapes, and only a couple of cuts, such as the explosive opener "Guns Blazing," equal the sonic collages of his debut. Initially, that may be a disappointment, but U.N.K.L.E. gains momentum on repeated listens. Portions of the record still sound a little awkward -- Mike D's contribution suffers primarily from recycled "Hello Nasty" rhyme schemes -- yet those moments are overshadowed by Shadow's imagination and unpredictable highlights, such as Temple's chilly "Bloodstain" or Badly Drawn Boy's claustrophobic "Nursery Rhyme," as well as the masterstrokes fronted by Richard Ashcroft (a sweeping, neo-symphonic "Lonely Soul") and Thom Yorke (the moody "Rabbit In Your Headlights"). These moments might not add up to an overpowering record, but in some ways "Psyence Fiction" is something better -- a superstar project that doesn't play it safe and actually has its share of rich, rewarding music. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
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• Biography
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