Archive – Londinium

The first and the most beautiful album from Archive for me. The female voice fits perfectly with the light melodies. Some tracks adds rapping, however the matching is not bad at all.

Lots of people first mention "You All The Same To Me" when you're talking about Archive, but I think "Londinium" deserves more recognization since it is more cohesive and soulful.
The second half of "So Few Words” as well as the minute of pure bliss during “Londinium” between 3:23 and 4:30 are my favorite parts of the whole CD. This is just mindblowing, I can't honestly find other words to describe it.
I love the trippy sound that can be heard around the middle of “Darkroom”. I also love the drum pattern of “Nothing Else”. At last, “Skyscraper” is probably the most hip-hop sounding tune here and is as enjoyable as the rest of the album. The instrumental wouldn't be out of place in Nas's "Illmatic".

This is simply a record made to feel good. No need to add more. Buy it, listen and enjoy.

For quite a few years, Archive were best known for producing a trip-hop 'lost classic'; an album which often turned up in close quarters with words like 'underrated' and 'obscure' (despite its major label status). Londinium is that lost classic, and whilst the band has gone on to eclipse it in of the public eye - notably in - it still remains possibly their finest hour.

Whilst Portishead and Massive Attack will inevitably be brought up as comparison points, this album only bears the most surface of similarities. It is very much a London record - as its title suggests - with a cold electronic sheen that reflects that enormity of the country's capital and the lonely anonymity that can come with spending time there. None of the earthiness or retro noir sounds of trip-hop's big names is to be found here.

Iranian born chanteuse Roya Arab leads the way on vocals, with a phrasing that's both sultry and distant at the same time. Her melodies are exploratory without meandering, and her voice grounds all her own songs, whilst adding a softer touch to those led by rapper Rosko John. It's the contrast between the two vocalists that gives the album its real character, with Arab's more exotic tones matched by John's London twang. The pair weave the kind of images of isolation and natural decay that only come from living in a city like Londinium.

Darius Keeler and Danny Griffiths, a strong background in UK dance music with previous releases on various reputable labels, offer a strong backbone to the music, both varied but consistent. The Roland drum machines of 'All Time' sit comfortably alongside the rawer sound of songs like 'Beautiful World'. The mix of organ, electric piano and analogue synths present throughout would be a signature sound that remained with the band for many years to come, regardless of their stylistic exploration. A few guest musicians populate the album, most notably on the jazz-tinged 'Headspace', which features Underworld's Karl Hyde on guitar (Hyde later features in a less personal nature on 'Skyscraper', which samples Underworld's 'Mmm Skyscraper I Love You').

A few minutes' trim would probably benefit the album - 'Parvaneh (Butterfly)' and 'Organ Song' would likely not be missed - but otherwise, Archive manage to retain interest throughout the record's runtime. And whilst the music is very much a product of the 1990s, it has held up surprisingly well over the years.

Londinium can be described in many ways: a lost classic of the trip-hop years; an intriguing debut from a long-running band. But one thing it should very much be described as is simply an excellent album. One I return to regularly after all this time.

I most agree with the other two s, such a masterpiece, so soulful, relaxed and warm, it soothes the soul! The production follows the spirit and the lows really fill the room, with the atmospheric hues floating around, such beauty!!!!!!!!

Frankly, when this album was released, it was quite a shock to many of us as it reached an unprecedented level of quality and depth in sound, only approached by the best albums of Massive Attack, but with an even more trippy and burnt out sound. Nowadays, this album is still one of the very best Trip Hop album ever produced in History. Just perfect in my opinion.

As far as triphop goes, this has got to be one of the most underestimated albums ever! Right up there with Portishead's "dummy", Lamb's first album and Massive Attack.
It is a very strong combination of beautiful female vocals and a male hiphop vocalist. At first this causes friction, but after a few times you won't have it any other way.
Also the keyboard solos at the end of most tracks are overwhelming, reminding me of the best Pink Floyd stuff.
This album should have been a classic!
They also released a second album after having split up and then ing forces again, but it can't even stand in the shadow of "londinium". It clearly suffers from the "musical differences" that caused them to split up in the first place.