The White Room / Justified & Ancient

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Editorial reviews

Amazon.com
A crazy experiment in music-industry manipulation, the KLF remain one of dance's more groundbreaking acts. Having already scored hits as the Jams and the Timelords, Bill Drummond and Jimi Cauty christened the KLF with Who Killed the Jams? Though they were originally considered part of England's acid-house scene, the KLF's high-energy mix of disco-diva vocals, rapping, breaks, and samples was truly club-friendly pop. The White Room contains three of the group's greatest moments, the top 10 hits "What Time Is Love?," "Last Train to Transcentral," and "3 A.M. Eternal." Amid their success, Drummond and Cauty retired from the music industry, deleting their back catalogue in the process. The White Room is a fitting (if somewhat short) epitaph that stands the test of time. Its futuristic musical themes are somewhat silly, but genuine musicianship makes the songs themselves quality fun. --Liisa Ladouceur

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Customer reviews

review by: Nicholas Computer date: 2008-06-21 rating:
A bit strange and silly but lots of innovative fun!
The KLF had a brief career yet extremely high-impact on the dance music scene during the late 1980s and early 1990s. With their innovative use of stadium crowd sound effects, their music could very well be a form of "stadium house". Their 1991 album "The White Room" is the soundtrack to a film of the same name, a film I have yet to see. Yet despite all that, "The White Room" is simply among the most magnificent,spectacular and innovative albums of the early 1990s, or ever for that matter. For some reason, this band always ranted about something called the Justified Ancients of Mu Mu which eludes me as of writing this review.

Note: This review is on the nine-track American version of this album.

"What Time is Love" begins with a cold-breeze sound effect intro that merges into the bluesy ambience of a track called "Justified Ancient" but then the J&A is suddenly interrupted by a slamming door echo effect, followed by a stadium crowd with a guy on the microphone screaming that then erupts into an intense and high-energy techno track featuring intense rhymes and powerful techno beats. "Make It Rain" is arguably among my favorite tracks featuring a high-speed techno hip-hop rhythm and an eerie melodic backdrop. "3am Eternal" is their hallmark track that beigns with the sound of a propaganda radio program that erupts into an intense track featuring a concert recording of a live performance of the track. This is NOT the original version. There is an earlier version done a few years that sounds very different. This is a revamped version featuring a `stadium crowd' noise, great rhythm drum beats, and an echoing keyboard in the background. The "3 ayayaya Am.....Eternal Oh Whoa Oh Whoa!" Vocals are great to listen to. I often view this song as a crowd facing potential doomsday yet take it as another good time. In fact, the video to the track is awesome.

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review by: Reformed Music Addict date: 2008-01-30 rating:
3 AM Eternal
KLF was one of the oddest bands in music history, a British project between Bill Drummond and Jimi Cauty that crerated as much hype as they created controversy. They were known as the Jams/Timelords and lastly KLF and their speciality was ripping off classics and making dance remixes of them that would go on becoming mega hits. Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Gary Glitter and Abba were some of their victims but they got sued by ABBA and the in order to convince them they went to Sweden, but when they didn't find them they burned all copies on a field instead, keeping just a few and selling them as bootlegs. However, Bill Drummond had been around in the music business since the 70's Punk scene and exprimented with all kinds of genres. He released a solo album in 1987 that was a farewell to the music business but only 6 months after the retirement he met Jim Cauty and decided to make a Hip Hop record with him. The result was the formation of the Jams and the album "1987" that was a hybrid of Hip Hop, Electronica and major Samples to the point that Diddy actually looked quite creative. Thie big break however was their UK #1 hit from 1988, "Doctorin the Tardis" that samples Gary Glitter's "Rock N Roll" (among others) and the band known as the Timelords back then bacame the pioneers for Acid House, a very popular sub genre of the late 80's. However, it would be shortlived cause 2 years later they changed direction again when they once again became pioneers and released one of the first ever Ambient Dance albums Chill Out, although it was sample heavy it's now considered a classic and proves the importance of studio tecnique. Cauty also went on founding The Orb one year later. The most important record they ever made was "The White Room" a back to back record to Acid House and fullpacked with single-hits.

This time around they were so well known that they could afford hiring guest artists instead of sampling them, the most famous example was country singer Tammy Wynette on their single "Justified and Ancient". The album starts with a trademark, "What Time Is Love" that feature a rap from Isaac Bello, Electro-dance beats in fast pace and backing vocals from a woman. It's all part of a expriment of sounds and if you like this one you're gonna like the rest. Another good example of Acid House is "Make it Rain" with a woman singing backed by electro beats and saxophone in a rather slow pace this time. "3 AM Eternal" their biggest hit reached #1 in the UK and #5 in the US, quite un-ordinary that songs like this become hits in US that is not exactly known for their dance scene. This song is simular to the first song, but with more female vocals and In my opinion is also their all time best. "Church of KLF" could have been longer and feels more closer to ambient with a dreamy sound. "Last Train to Trancentral" is more hard hittin Electro beats, rap from Ricardo Da Force and this time robotic backround voices. It reached #2 in the UK and is a hell of a party song. "Built a Fire" is the slowest song a sounds like country meets Ambient, it's also instrumental. The title track is also slow and not much singing here either but beautiful sound, good example of their talent and ditto with "No More Tears" with a somewhat reggae sound mixed with Ambient, check the piano playing in the end. The aformentioned "Justified and Ancient" closes the album, however on the album you have a guy singing the vocals instead. It's a slow song with sing-a-long melody and doesn't sound much like the other songs.

Overall, This album was their creative and commercial peak and made KLF superstars over a night. But instead of a continuation of their music they did their best to create more controversy at the Brit Awards when they performed their song "3 AM Eternal" with a metal band making it unlistanable. After this they deleted their entire catalogue and declared that they wouldn't be back before there was world peace and KLF kept their promise cause this was their last album ever. As crazy as it all was, they still get credit for this album which is a dance classic that few other bands have been able to create with the wonderful hybrid of sounds that it got. If you want some quality dance music on one album that is both cohenrant, beautiful and exprimental, look no further. 5 stars.

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review by: a date: 2007-12-19 rating:
Transition from 1980s to 1990s
The KLF I first heard with a neighbor back in 1999. I wanted to hear some screaming music and my neighbor recommended this album. I love the songs "What Time is Love?" and "3AM Eternal." Some of the songs sound techno and other just like 80s rock. A loud but great upbeat album.

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review by: Piggy's Girl date: 2007-11-30 rating:
3 A.M. IS STILL ETERNAL
I am still listening to this CD 16 years after the initial release date. The beats are smooth and never dissapoint. Love it!


review by: horba date: 2007-05-16 rating:
Great Band
This has always been one of my most favorite CDs. I was leaving in France when it came out. I was always disappointed that it was not as popular here in the states.

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