Music for Babies

Last updated

Music for Babies
Music for Babies.jpg
Studio album by
Released1996
Genre Electronic
Label Polydor [1]
Island Independent [2]
Producer Howie B
Howie B chronology
Music for Babies
(1996)
Turn the Dark Off
(1997)

Music for Babies is the debut album by the Scottish musician Howie B, released in 1996. [3] [4] It is about becoming a father. [5] [6]

Contents

Run Wrake produced an animated short to accompany the album. [7]

Production

The album was produced by Howie B. It incorporates strands of trip-hop, jazz, ambient house, and dub. [8]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [9]
Robert Christgau D [10]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [1]
The Guardian Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [11]
MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide Star full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [12]
Muzik Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [13]

The Irish Times wrote that "the opening two tracks, beatless and bereft of rhythm, are gorgeous examples of extra chilled head music." [14] The Guardian called the album "superb," writing that it "is imbued throughout with a funky, chilled-out ambience." [11]

The Independent determined that the album "may well provide a softly comforting soundtrack to his new daughter's life, but the slowly modulated electronic tones and textures of Howie B's album struggle to offer any more substantial value." [15] Robert Christgau concluded that the musician "takes the aimless vapidity of ambient another step toward total stasis." [10]

AllMusic wrote that, "though Music for Babies is one step ahead of most fill-in-the-dots trip-hop, its sleepy mood is a bit too infantile." [9] The Sunday Times deemed it "sweet but overrated." [16]

Track listing

No.TitleLength
1."Music for Babies" 
2."Cry" 
3."Shag" 
4."Allergy" 
5."Away Again" 
6."How to Suckle" 
7."Here Comes the Tooth" 
8."On the Way" 

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References

  1. 1 2 Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 1. MUZE. p. 336.
  2. "Dance Top 25". CMJ New Music Monthly. No. 40. December 1996. p. 52.
  3. "Howie B Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic.
  4. Ngaire-Ruth (20 April 1996). "Albums — Music for Babies by Howie B". Melody Maker. Vol. 73, no. 16. p. 38.
  5. DeRogatis, Jim (1 January 2003). Turn on Your Mind: Four Decades of Great Psychedelic Rock. Hal Leonard Corporation.
  6. Kaufman, Gil. "Howie B Kicks Depression with Atmospheric New Album". MTV News. Archived from the original on 8 January 2022.
  7. Robinson, Chris (3 June 2010). Animators Unearthed: A Guide to the Best of Contemporary Animation. A&C Black.
  8. Carter, David (January 2012). "'Reich remixed': Minimalism and DJ culture". Context: Journal of Music Research (37): 39.
  9. 1 2 "Music for Babies". AllMusic.
  10. 1 2 "Howie B". Robert Christgau. Retrieved 8 January 2022.
  11. 1 2 Martin, James (15 March 1996). "This week's pop cd releases". The Guardian. p. T10.
  12. MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1999. p. 56.
  13. Barnes, Jake (April 1996). "Howie B: Music For Babies" (PDF). Muzik . p. 104. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 April 2022. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  14. Carroll, Jim (29 March 1996). "Dance". Sound & Vision. The Irish Times. p. 10.
  15. Gill, Andy (15 March 1996). "It may well provide a softly comforting...". Pop Music. The Independent. p. 12.
  16. Smith, Andrew (27 July 1997). "Rock – On Record". Culture. The Sunday Times. p. 18.