Keep It Unreal

Love it!! Don't buy this album if you expect every track to feel like the first.. or the second. Each track has it's own unique tone & feel. Once you get to the last third of the album, it's totally different. I like complicated 'thinking' music, you won't be dancing to this one. Put it in the car on a short trip and experience it the way the artist clearly intended.. as a journey.

Mr. Scruff takes us on a journey through dim rooms with people chilling on beanbags. With such standout tracks as Get A Move On, Midnight Feast, Honeydew, So Long, Blackpool Roll, and Fish this is one CD that won't be leaving your cd player/changer any time soon. Although most of this CD may be too abstract for wide audiences, seasoned downtempo veterans should be able to open their minds to the world of Mr. Scruff.

For the Mr. Scruff fans. Comical, whimsical, enjoyable.

Good, Good, music and fast service.This is a different kind of music but I love it. I like the cd cover also.

Right. This Mr.Scruf fellow is at the top of his game, pulling music from his back pocket instead of regurgitating the same nonsense that people are walking around calling music. Something fresh and new, I say.

I like much this type of music. I believe that it is musical for persons who need to make attention great in his(her,your) work or they need music that does not distract them of his(her,your) activities. It is excellent.

Not so great. Only one good song on the CD. Disappointing. Had to order it online as it wasn't available in stores.

This is the 1999 release - Mr. Scruff's Keep it Unreal. I remember in 99', Keep a Move on was big in the cafe's, etc. Heck, my first exposure to the cut was on a Hotel Costes cd. However over the past year or so, the advertising execs **discovered** the cut and probably figured the jazzs amples in the cut mixed in with the electronica and beat would be the perfect way to promote the luxury division of Ford, Lincoln, to the new and old school and emphasis the class. I don't know why, but I always get a little disappointed to hear some cuts I like pop up on some commercials like that, but so be it. That's how a lot of others get turned onto the music - if not for the product they're being used for. ("Bossa Per Due", "Rennaisance Affair", "Porcelain", etc.)But... who can blame Lincoln? It's true! That's what the cd really is - another look into nu-jazz as done by Mr. Scruff. But don't think that that's the only cool track on this release. You have a light intro, followed up with Get a Move On. But Midnight Feast is a solid cut, Honeystew has a pretty fly beat to it, and my favorite cut is the total coolness of "So Long", which is really why I picked this one up. The keyboards and xylophone are great - reminds me of two opposites a London night, or a sun-drenched day lounging at the beach. It's followed up by another sweet nostalgic track with the touch of spunk needed for it's title: "Chipmunk".So pick this one up! I didn't fall for every track - some of the end songs just didn't grab me. But I'd have to say if you're a fan of Jaffa's Elevator cd, you'll probably dig this one too.

Probably one of the least atmospheric recordings I have heard for a long time. Good dynamic range but the almost total lack of channel balance, sound stage and atmosphere created by a “naive” mix make this a very disappointing recording and listening experience. This is a shame as the music is so good.I have not set out to write reviews of the music content as “beauty is in the ears of the listener”. These reviews are about the quality (or not) of the recorded sound. To read about how the reviews are done please see my profile. • Clarity – clear no muddiness • Channel separation – do not seem to be used, very like a mono recording, all centre. Very little left and right channel definition • Channel balance – Almost non existent, all centre, almost mono. • Sound Stage – lack of channel balance means that the recording is all centre i.e. virtually no sound stage, lacks any feeling of spaciousness. Would be OK in a chill-out lounge with indifferent speakers in say the ceiling • Distortion – non audible • Compression – non audible • Atmosphere – almost non existent, the poor mix and lack of channels means that this is like listening to a 78 rpm recording • Bass – low frequencies – punchy tight well defined • Treble – high frequencies - adequate • Vocals - OKAs a general rule of thumb recordings from the 1960’s, 70’s and 80’s are nearly always better on the original vinyl. Remasters often fail to please as it’s just not possible to make a silk purse from a sows ear, i.e. the original recording lacks the necessary detail to be processed digitally and show an audible improvement. Indeed such processing can make the sound worse.Modern recordings which have been processed digitally from start to finish can be as good as vinyl. CD’s are often unfairly criticised for being poor quality. This is not the case, it is the original recording or the process which is to blame. Modern “remasters” can both enhance and degrade a recording. The statement GIGO (Garbage In Garbage Out) is the limiting factor. Ignore this at your cost.

Mr Scruff (known as Andy Carthy to his mum) is a multi talented DJ producer who is very difficult to pigeon hole (good the way I like it) - his productions on Keep It Unreal are dreamy and very funky, with crazy samples from children's TV of the 50s and 60s.The finest moment on here for me is Midnight Feast with it's delightful xylophone and jazzy feel, this is a good one for when you want to drift to sleep, and could probably be fun if you're a DJ cutting between tracks - or for scratchin'. Another favourite of mine is Get A Move On, with the sample of an old country record - it's bluesy yet jazz based melody is just fun and can get anyone dancing like a loon.Altogether this is an excellent album to chill out to late night, to enjoy before bedtime and just to get in the mood to sleep, Scruff's usage of samples and melodies is just amazing and makes his work so enjoyable. This, to me is his finest work, but his other albums are well worth listening to.

I am a newcomer to the Mr. Scruff universe since I was first introduced to his music through windows 7 (One of the music examples is "Kalimba" from "Ninja Tuna"). This made me instantly want more and through a little research I decided to go with Keep It Unreal.This album is a great mix of soul soothing tunes (Honeydew, Travelogue, So long) over to the more "move your body" (Spandex man, Get a move on, Blackfoot roll) and last but not least the straight up wierd tunes (Shanty town, Fish). It is electronic music at its finest and you owe it to your self and your album collection to atleast check this one out.Oh, and you get an extra CD with this anniversary release that includes some really awesome tunes, highly recommended.

I lost my copy of this iconic album which I was lucky enough to actually play on.

Excellent