Here we get a taste of the more downtempo / hip-hop flavor from the veterans at GLR, starting off with the massive Constellations with DRS at the helm. Here is where we get to hear DRS's true approach to Hip-Hop lyricism, and I must say, it's rather quite the trump card over the loved vet MC Conrad. Let's not forget LTJ's uplifting sounds with much funk, deep bassline, and some Japanese flute / ambient element all in one. Critical listen: "I don't care if it's escapism."

Tayla's Stargazing is a fine entry in to the Earth series and I must say one of the best releases from him. Smooth bongo, flutes, and bassline that rolls throughout the track seamlessly.

Intense and Molly Duncan hits next with Jammin' In My Head, an instrumental filler approach by the band and a tribute to the Logical Progression 3. Molly Duncan rips up the sax in his solo as well as Sidwell on the trombone. Definitely for the Jazz enthusiast with a new school feel.

The W2BH collective is featured here with Conrad taking a slab at funky lyrics with Add Ill on the scratches. Conrad's lyrical approach is very different here and much well received, as this is where we get to see his style focus more on musical principles than just lyrics. Great tune.

Bjorn as well as Longers and Forces of Nature provide downtempo slices with heavy beats and spaced out synths...Blu Mar Ten then take the piss out of the GLR documentary with Ir On Ig which is surprisingly a catchy tune regardless how wacky it sounds in the beginning...

Mr. Nice makes his debut with 10:25 of funked out beats and something to look forward to in the future. This track is massive, with everything to bongos, smooth keys and crisp production, the breakdown is cool. This track also introduces Bud's style of re-climaxing tunes near the end when you think they're done. A style he sticks through for a while in GLR...

The closers are Artemis and Blame. Artemis' fascination with funk is clearly heard with First Light almost paying tribute to late 70's style funk with live sounding bass and organ keys. Latitude by Blame is a step down from his massive Jay Walkin', but none of the less a nice and closing track. Once again Blame works with a different key signature instead of the typical 4/4. 5/4 drum and bass feel of a track that has jazz guitar as well as the already-famous Blame rhodes.

As it happens, my copy of this LP (not the promo) is numbered at 8000 and something...so I guess the theory about there being 10,000 copies may be right.

Either way it doesn't really matter, it's still a great album (although I personally feel one of the weaker Earth LP's) which is still by no means an insult. You just have to look at the quality of the other albums to get a perspective on just how good a weaker one could still be!

Worth tracking down a copy, even if just to complete your Earth collection.

The label on the front of the full release boxset claims it is limited to 5000 copies. So does the label on the front of the promo copy. I wonder if it was actually 10,000 in total, 5000 of them being promos and the other 5000 being full release. It has been noted that serials as high as 6838 exist. Just a thought.

Technically exactly the same as the eventual full vinyl edition, just released previously as a promotional item.