As if Earth 1 was hard to trump, the second installation definitely gives the first Earth a run for it. Yes, this is indeed the trump card, and the presentation of this Earth classic is so majestically done, that the theme here is "evolved."

Check the introduction. Fictions is a nice downtempo tune that puts the wheels in motion. Uplifting funk and sampled horns brings the deep bassline that carries the tune. Bukem's journey via Cosmic Interlude is a nice long treat of uptempo, atmospheric elements similar to the Drum and Bass we all love, except it's not DnB at all. Piano breakdown is a must to carefully indulge. Nice track.

Odyssey takes a stab with a tightly produced DnB track, almost to a 720ish flavor. Next up, is hands down the best of Blame has ever done. To this date, J-Walkin is a masterpiece. If future jazz was ever a concept, then in 1997 we heard what it was like. This track attacks conventional wisdom and completely dilutes it to awe inspiring levels. A 6/4 track smothered with an elegant flute, rhodes and bassline.

Artemis and Intense of course bring their own first stabs at Earth. Artemis with his deep liking to funk brings forth a gorgeous experience, and Intense with a slower tempo deep-chilled with Molly Duncan at the helm with the sax.

Blu Mar Ten bring their own wickedness with a rollerish feel track that sounds like an undersea voyage complete with submarine radars, waves, and, oh yeah - a Miles Davis trumpet sample...Must have a knack for it or you miss the whole point. Still, if you do, one of the best tracks out there by the duo.

The closers are DJ Addiction and DJ Crystl to feed the DnB starved, and what a meal. Addiction fuses atmospheric eerie feel and blends it with slabs of funk, jazzy elements, and one of the coolest vocal samples out there. Crystl adds the drum and bass to uplifting, inspirational levels. "If you put your mind to it, you can be capable of anything." The epitome of Earth Volume 2 indeed.

This compilation is so staggeringly beautiful; every track is utterly breathtaking. Released in the midst of the dark ‘No U-Turn’ dominated winter of ’97, it really cut against the grain. The majority of tracks are down tempo and coupled with the fact that this LP was released to a drum and bass audience who, particularly at the time, were extremely wary of the perceived watering down of their sound, was a bold move on the part of Good Looking Records. The compilation, albeit not in the same malevolent vein as much of the music at the time, was no less experimental or indeed diluted. Feel the sense of foreboding on Intense’s ‘Flashback’ or the serene solitude in the forlorn ‘Adrift on Deep Water’ by Blu Mar Ten. Hear the drop-out midway on Bukem’s ‘Cosmic Interlude’ for a taste of sheer tranquillity; whilst the sublime ‘J-Walkin’ by Blame makes for a lesson in pure exploration of the drum & bass / breakbeat sound. So far for me, Volume 2 is by far and away the cream of the Earth series.