You Don’t Know – Ninja Cuts – DJ Food’s 1000 Mask mix

Label:    Ninja Tune
Catalog#:    ZENCD 150 X
Format:    CD, Mixed
Country:    UK
Released:    Mar 2008
Genre:   ………………………
Style:     ………………………
Credits:  DJ Food

Release Note:

"Don’t be fooled by me, my surface is my mask. Don’t be fooled by the face I wear, for I wear a thousand masks… and none of them are me."
This sample closes the mix and it sums up the label as I see it perfectly whilst referencing the Ninja of folklore that it takes it’s name from. One of the reasons for this compilation is to give the public at large an overview of the label and it’s current roster in 2008. Of course the hardcore fans know what’s going on but to many casual listeners Ninja is still a by-word for blunted downtempo ‘trip hop’ or smokey jazz beats. While they still have their place, look behind this mask and you’ll hear that that is far from their current spot on the musical map.
There are now so many different artists on the label as well as it’s sister labels, Big Dada and Counter, that it is impossible to sum it all up in one musical category. This has always been the case but it can also be problematic – people like categories – and why not? They’re useful, they define our world, making it easier to organise and describe the everyday. But with artists this diverse, from countries all over the world, each with their own agenda, categories are redundant. So what better than to round them all up and make our own one-off category called ‘Ninja Cuts: You Don’t Know’ to show them off?
This compilation is long overdue, the last one was way back in 2000 and the only label overview since has been 2006′s Zen TV which was more of a retrospective look back than a current mission statement. There’s still the Hip Hop, Jazz, Turntablism and Electronica the label became know for. But It’s time to see what’s behind the Ninja mask NOW – you’ll hear drum n bass, folk, dubstep, glam rock, techno and a thousand other styles, none of which sum up the label completely.
Strictly Kev – February 2008.

QueBiLe Note:

老有人问，就你喜欢那忍者猴儿那厂牌，他们是玩儿数么风格的？
下回谁再问，我就把这张给他听。
另外，经我听了一遍之后，我发现这张功效还不少。你听的时候，同时还可以工作、跳舞、收拾屋子、睡觉、洗脚……效率都会有提高。

Buy it @ NinjaShop

Tracks List:

1    -    Kid Koala    -    Slew Test 2
2    -    TheDeathSet    -    Around The World
3    -    DJ Kentaro*    -    Enter The Newground
4    -    Qemists, The    -    Drop Audio
5    -    Roots Manuva    -    Seat Yourself
6    -    DJ Shadow    -    Bring Madlib Up
7    -    Sixtoo    -    Part 10
8    -    King Geedorah*    -    Next Levels
9    -    Ammoncontact    -    Infinity Of Rhythm Instrumental
10    -    RJD2    -    True Confessions
11    -    Diplo    -    Epistemology Suite 1: Don’t Fall
12    -    Bug, The    -    Poison Dart
13    -    Coldcut    -    Just For The Kick (Original Version)
14    -    Hexstatic    -    Distorted Minds (Zero dB Vox Remix)
15    -    Ghislain Poirier    -    Blazin’ (Modeselector Remix)
16    -    Two Fingers    -    Have It Like That
17    -    Wiley    -    No Qualms (Re-Vox)
18    -    Coldcut    -    Atomic Moog 2006 (The Qemists Remix)
19    -    Daedelus    -    Fairweather Friends
20    -    Roots Manuva    -    Chin High (Manuvadelics Version)
21    -    Bonobo    -    Nitelite (Zero dB Vox Remix)
22    -    Ammoncontact    -    Infinity Of Rhythm Instrumental
23    -    Loka    -    Beginingless
24    -    Fink    -    Pretty Little Thing
25    -    Pop Levi    -    Dita Dimoné
26    -    Heavy, The    -    Coleen
27    -    Cinematic Orchestra, The    -    Rites Of Spring (Live At The Barbican)
28    -    Bigg Jus    -    Say Goodbye
29    -    Yppah    -    Again With The Subtitles
30    -    Ty    -    Wait A Minute (Dwele Remix)
31    -    Cadence Weapon    -    In Search Of The Youth Crew
32    -    TTC    -    Travailler (Orgasmic Remix)
33    -    Spank Rock    -    Bump (Switch Remix)
34    -    Pest    -    Pat Pong (Switch Remix)
35    -    Coldcut    -    Walk A Mile In My Shoes (Tiga Remix)
36    -    Homelife    -    Seedpod
37    -    Jaga*    -    Swedenborgske Rom
38    -    Cinematic Orchestra, The    -    Breathe (Susumu Yokota Remix)
39    -    Amon Tobin    -    Bloodstone