The Vitals:

Label: Distinct'ive Records
Genre: Progressive Breaks, Chill-out
Number of Tracks: 11
How to Obtain: www.distinctiverecords.com

Factor Scores:

Production Quality: 7.8
Programming and Arrangement: 8.0
Entertainment Quality: 8.5
Total: 8.1 – Great

Brian's Take:

Wow… Hybrid has done it again. The Welsh breaks duo composed of Mike Truman and Chris Healing is back with their third full-length LP, entitled "I Choose Noise". This record is 67 solid minutes of mind-opening and beautifully written dance music (primarily breaks). The moods range from late-night floor-fillers to casual in-home chill music. The group also kept things interesting by inviting a wide variety of singers in to cut vocals for the album: Perry Farrell, Judie Tzuke, John Graham, and Kirsty Hawkshaw.

My personal favorites from this record include "Dogstar", "Keep It In The Family", and "Just For Today". However other listeners may find they prefer the more outside-influenced sounds, like those in "Choke" or "Hooligan Spirit". Above all, Hybrid broke more of their own personal boundaries than ever this time, adapting new sounds reminiscent of groups like Radiohead and even Nine Inch Nails. As a listener, one can always count on Hybrid to rarely recycle old or played sounds, never producing the same record twice.

Obviously there's something barring this album from being upwards of a perfect "10", and that is simply the lack of supreme quality with which their classic, debut album "Wide Angle" was made. Don't be mistaken. All the tracks on "I Choose Noise" were made well, and a few even reach breathtaking heights; however, in the end, there's a certain unspoken demeanor that "I Choose Noise" simply doesn't account for. However, don't let that statement stop you from checking out this release… it's worth listening, and for many, it will be worth buying.