Music for Babies
| Music for Babies | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1996 | |||
| Genre | Electronic | |||
| Label | Polydor[1] Island Independent[2] | |||
| Producer | Howie B | |||
| Howie B chronology | ||||
| ||||
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[edit]
The album was produced by Howie B. It incorporates strands of trip-hop, jazz, ambient house, and dub.[8]
Critical reception[edit]
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [9] |
| Robert Christgau | D[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[edit]
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 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[edit]
- ^ a b Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 1. MUZE. p. 336.
- ^ "Dance Top 25". CMJ New Music Monthly. No. 40. December 1996. p. 52.
- ^ "Howie B Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic.
- ^ Ngaire-Ruth (20 April 1996). "Albums — Music for Babies by Howie B". Melody Maker. Vol. 73, no. 16. p. 38.
- ^ DeRogatis, Jim (1 January 2003). Turn on Your Mind: Four Decades of Great Psychedelic Rock. Hal Leonard Corporation.
- ^ Kaufman, Gil. "Howie B Kicks Depression with Atmospheric New Album". MTV News.
- ^ Robinson, Chris (3 June 2010). Animators Unearthed: A Guide to the Best of Contemporary Animation. A&C Black.
- ^ Carter, David (January 2012). "'Reich remixed': Minimalism and DJ culture". Context: Journal of Music Research (37): 39.
- ^ a b "Music for Babies". AllMusic.
- ^ a b "Howie B". Robert Christgau. Retrieved 8 January 2022.
- ^ a b Martin, James (15 March 1996). "This week's pop cd releases". The Guardian. p. T10.
- ^ MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1999. p. 56.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Carroll, Jim (29 March 1996). "Dance". Sound & Vision. The Irish Times. p. 10.
- ^ Gill, Andy (15 March 1996). "It may well provide a softly comforting...". Pop Music. The Independent. p. 12.
- ^ Smith, Andrew (27 July 1997). "Rock – On Record". Culture. The Sunday Times. p. 18.
