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Do Androids Dream of Electric Beats is a 3-CD set released by the British musical outfit UNKLE (stylised as U.N.K.L.E. or UNKLE, and occasionally known as UNKLE Sounds). It was initially released in the UK as a limited run of 300 copies for the Mo Wax label. The album features a continuous loop of great beats and samples, including clips of the Blade Runner theme (Vangelis) and the Stones' Sympathy for the Devil. It also includes remixes of UNKLE's original tracks, such as Lonely Soul and Rabbit in Your Headlights. The mix was later re-edited and released as a 2-CD mix entitled Do Androids Dream of Essential Beats, which was broadcast on UK Radio 1's Essential Mix.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Artist | UNKLE (also stylised as U.N.K.L.E. or UNKLE Sounds) |
| Genre | Trip hop, techno, house, electronic |
| Format | 3-CD set |
| Year | 2001 |
| Notable tracks | Shin, Lonely Soul-Rabbit in Your Headlights-Nursery Rhyme, Sympathy for the Devil, The Chain |
| Similar releases | Psyence Fiction, FABRICLIVE.01 |
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What You'll Learn
- UNKLE's 'Do Androids Dream of Electric Beats' was initially released as a limited run of 300 copies
- The album features samples from various sources, including movies and other artists' music
- Remixes and bootlegs of the album are available
- The album was released by the British musical group UNKLE, founded in 1992 by James Lavelle
- The album has a repetitive, rhythm-oriented sound with movie dialogues
UNKLE's 'Do Androids Dream of Electric Beats' was initially released as a limited run of 300 copies
UNKLE, often stylised as U.N.K.L.E. or UNKLE, is a British musical outfit founded in 1992 by James Lavelle. Their release "Do Androids Dream of Electric Beats" is an outstanding and diverse mix, described as "one continuous loop of great beats and samples". The mix was initially released as a limited run of 300 copies for the Mo Wax label in the UK. It was not a mass-released bootleg, as the original does not have a barcode on its outer slipcase.
The mix was later re-released as a cut-down and re-edited 2CD mix entitled "Do Androids Dream of Essential Beats", which was broadcast on the Essential Mix at UK radio station Radio 1. The original release was limited to 500 copies, but there was a second release, still under the 'for promotional use only' tag, with a barcode on the top side of the slip. This second release was not an official commercial release due to the licensing of certain tracks, but it was also not a bootleg as it was widely distributed to shops.
"Do Androids Dream of Electric Beats" is similar to James Lavelle's FABRICLIVE.01, as if he mixed the original and then compressed it down to make FABRICLIVE.01. Of the 23 tracks on FABRICLIVE.01, 16 are on this release, and nearly all follow the same playing order. The mix was first recorded for a Japanese radio show called Radio Ape and was presented in a picture box with CDs packaged in a custom card wallet. Each CD is one continuous track with no track listing on the CDs, sleeves, or box.
The mix features an unknown artist in the Tai Mix (Star Wars Theme) – Slave One's "Bantha Trax", a 200-piece 7" released in 1999. There is also no credit for Whitney Houston on the track listing for Tai, and no credit for James Caviezel for the sample from "The Thin Red Line" during Medway's Release in the Gi mix.
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The album features samples from various sources, including movies and other artists' music
Do Androids Dream of Electric Beats is an album by the British musical outfit UNKLE, founded in 1992 by James Lavelle. The album features an array of samples from various sources, including movies and other artists' music.
The album was initially released as a limited run of approximately 300 copies for the Mo Wax label in the UK. It consists of three CDs, each containing a continuous loop of beats and samples, some familiar and others less so. One notable sample is the "Blade Runner" theme by Vangelis, capturing the experimental and escapist nature of the album.
UNKLE's Do Androids Dream of Electric Beats showcases the group's eclectic style, blending elements of trip-hop, techno, and house. The album includes samples from various artists, such as the Rolling Stones' "Sympathy for the Devil" and Fleetwood Mac's "The Chain." These samples create a collage of sounds, showcasing UNKLE's unique style.
In addition to music samples, the album also incorporates movie dialogues, adding to the atmospheric and immersive nature of the mix. The inclusion of movie samples, such as the Star Wars theme in the Tai Mix, further showcases the diverse range of influences and references in UNKLE's work.
The album has seen multiple releases, with the original limited-edition version lacking a barcode and the subsequent promotional release featuring a barcode to distinguish it. The varying releases contribute to the intrigue surrounding this album, with some fans expressing confusion over the different versions available.
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Remixes and bootlegs of the album are available
The second release was still under the 'for promotional use only' tag, with a few thousand copies. This version features a barcode on the top side of the slip. People have argued that these barcoded copies are bootlegs, but some have pointed out that it would be a lot of effort for a bootlegger to produce and distribute these copies to lots of shops.
The album includes remixes of original UNKLE tracks like Lonely Soul, Rabbit in Your Headlights, and Nursery Rhyme. It also includes samples from other artists' songs, such as the "Blade Runner" theme by Vangelis, Sympathy for the Devil by the Rolling Stones, and The Chain by Fleetwood Mac.
In 2006, Global Underground released Self Defence: Never, Never, Land Reconstructed and Bonus Beats, a 4-CD box set of remixes and bonus tracks from the Never, Never, Land sessions. In 2011, UNKLE performed a DJ set at the Reading and Leeds Festivals, playing songs from their back catalogue alongside remixes of other artists' songs and their own material.
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The album was released by the British musical group UNKLE, founded in 1992 by James Lavelle
The album "Do Androids Dream of Electric Beats?" was released by the British musical group UNKLE (stylised as U.N.K.L.E., UNKLE, or UNKLE Sounds). The group was founded in 1992 by James Lavelle, who has been with the group since its inception and handles production and instruments.
Originally categorised as trip-hop, UNKLE has employed a variety of guest artists and producers over the years. The first release credited to the group was a remix for United Future Organization, included on their 1992 "Loud Minority" single. Lavelle was joined by Masayuki Kudo and Toshio Nakanishi of the Japanese hip-hop crew Major Force (later Major Force West).
For their debut album, Lavelle drafted in DJ Shadow, and the duo essentially discarded all previously recorded material. They released "Psyence Fiction" in 1998 to mixed critical responses. The album included collaborations with Thom Yorke (Radiohead), Mark Hollis (Talk Talk), and Mike D, among others.
"Do Androids Dream of Electric Beats?" is a 3-CD set that showcases UNKLE's diverse range, from slower psychedelic hip-hop to traditional techno and house. It is described as an expressive collage of sound with great beats and samples, some familiar and some new. The album includes clips of the "Blade Runner" theme (Vangelis) and closes with Fleetwood Mac's "The Chain." It is considered a must-buy for fans of trip-hop and abstract house.
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The album has a repetitive, rhythm-oriented sound with movie dialogues
Do Androids Dream of Electric Beats is an album by the British musical outfit UNKLE, founded in 1992 by James Lavelle. The album has a repetitive, rhythm-oriented sound with movie dialogues. It is an experimental and expressive collage of sound, with diverse beats and samples, some familiar and some unfamiliar. The album is not a tightly packaged collection of songs but rather one continuous loop of music.
The album was first released in a limited run of 500 copies under the 'for promotional use only' tag. However, there was a subsequent wider release with a barcode on the slip, leading some to believe that these copies were bootlegs. The original release lacked the barcode and "CMB 50" catalogue number. The album was first recorded for a Japanese radio show called Radio Ape and was presented as a continuous track with no tracklisting.
The music on the album is diverse, with clips ranging from the "Blade Runner" theme (Vangelis) to the Rolling Stones' "Sympathy for the Devil" and Fleetwood Mac's "The Chain". It is similar to James Lavelle's FABRICLIVE.01, a mix of 23 tracks, 16 of which are on Do Androids Dream of Electric Beats, following a similar playing order.
The album has been described as "outstanding" and a "diverse mix" that most electronic fans will enjoy. It includes remixes of original UNKLE tracks like "Lonely Soul" and "Rabbit in Your Headlights".
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Frequently asked questions
It is an album by the British musical outfit UNKLE, founded in 1992 by James Lavelle.
The album is a mix of trip-hop, techno, house, and hip-hop.
Artists such as DJ Shadow, Thom Yorke (Radiohead), Mark Hollis (Talk Talk), and Mike D have collaborated with UNKLE on this album.
The first release was limited to 500 copies, but a second release was made under the 'for promotional use only' tag, with a few thousand copies.
You can listen to the album on music streaming platforms such as Spotify, Apple Music, or Amazon Music.
