Music for Babies

Music for Babies
Studio album by
Howie B
Released1996
GenreElectronic
LabelPolydor[1]
Island Independent[2]
ProducerHowie 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]

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[9]
Robert ChristgauD[10]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music[1]
The Guardian[11]
MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide[12]
Muzik[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" 

References

  1. ^ a b 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. ^ a b "Music for Babies". AllMusic.
  10. ^ a b "Howie B". Robert Christgau. Retrieved 8 January 2022.
  11. ^ a b 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.