Artist: The Forth
Title: Global Underground: Electric Calm V.3
Label: Global Underground
By: Simon Jones | 20 February 2006
Tracklist:

1. Trafik – Elegant Suite Parts 1 & 2
2. Derek Howell – Frijoles Frescos
3. SJ Eseau – Fat Cat (Way Out West Mix) (EC Reprise)
4. Stux – The Feeling
5. Trafik – Shades
   Spanna – Space Cadet
6. Andrew K – I See You've Found It
7. Kevin Swain – Dark Two
8. DJ MC D – I Know
9. The Forth – Dream
10. Adam Johnson – Hall Of Kings
11. Pako & Frederik - Organism
12. Kevin Swain – Globe Am
13. K Roxx – Live For Never
    Stux – The Beats
14. Kevin Swain – Never Be The Same
15. Dark Globe – Far Leys (Attic Window Mix)
16. Twisted Air - Mercury

The Forth "Global Underground: Electric Calm V.3"

The Forth's 'Electric Calm' series has thus far managed to present an "alternate" perspective of the Global Underground, with the inaugural volume in 2002 introducing us to the "art of calm". The follow up in 2003 built on those foundations nicely, and to this day still remains one of the finest albums in Global Underground's entire catalogue. Needless to say, a further volume has been long anticipated and almost two and a half years later, 'Electric Calm 3' is finally here, a more dynamic and complete body of music that is undoubtedly the finest album thus far in this excellent series.

From the moment the sweeping ambience of Trafik's opening track 'Elegant Suite Parts 1 & 2' catches the ear, the album takes no time in locking the listener in, with Derek Howell's 'Frijoles Frescos', a sublime broken beat excursion, the depth and musicality of which being one of the things by which the excellence of this album can be measured. Whilst the opening of this album is far more prolonged than previous volumes, the two aforementioned tracks set the mood perfectly.

From here on in, the album fluctuates from the moodiness of a reworked Way Out West interpretation of SJ Esau's 'Fat Cat' through to the more uptempo 'Shades' by Trafik, with Andrew K's 'I See You've Found It' exuding an optimistic presence that is soon changed by Kevin Swain's 'A Dark Mood', which brings a twisted and somewhat sinister vibe to the album. It's a mood that's heightened several times throughout the album, with Adam Johnson's 'Hall Of Kings' continuing to contort the mood, whilst The Forth's 'Dream' which preludes it soundtracks the feeling of uncertainty the middle of the album plays upon.

The final section of the album breaks free of this foreboding feeling, with both the K-Roxx track 'Life For Never' and the superb 'Never Be The Same' by Swain & Collingwood paving the way for the the grand finale, and Twisted Air's 'Mercury' brings the album to a close on an ethereal high, whilst managing to reflect upon the many moods that are triggered throughout the album.

'Electric Calm 3' is a major leap forward from its predecessors, a well mixed and carefully thought out album the depth of which lures the listener in and not only keeps them captivated but presents some brilliant and diverse music to them at the same time, and as such comes highly recommended.