Prodigy, The

I don't think any group manage to blend rave music with a punk image like Prodigy has. They're simply untouchable.

The Prodigy is possibly the greatest electronic dance music act in history. Apart from staying on the level even with new tracks, they showed that the amount of energy they bring live on their gigs is uncomparable to any other EDM band as I know it. And I'm not the one who sits at home listening to the music that should be danced to. I've been on their concerts in 1995, 2005 and 2009 and all I can say they're actually getting better and better over the time. I'm their hardcore fan because they simply stood the test of time, and because Liam is constantly inovating, and he also likes to bring some old-skool beats and vibes again.

The Prodigy's first demo tape to XL Records in 1990 contained 5 tracks: "Evil Minds", "Dr. Zupan", "Oz", "Lift Me" and "Charly" (Remix '91). XL also have a floppy disk containing "Death Of The Prodigy Dancer" (Studio Version) [1992], which is different to the version found on "The Experience" album because the album version was recorded live with Keith MCing.

1) - "Evil Minds" - Breakbeat, with grimey bass line and ravey synths. "What's wrong with you man? - He's crazy" is a vocal sample used over parts of the song, mostly cut to just "What's wrong with you man?". On this tape, "Evil Minds" and "Lift Me" are my joint favourite tracks.

2) "Dr. Zupan" - Acid House with a slight electro feel to it on the percussion. To me this tracks sounds dated and a bit simple, but I can imagine in it's day being pretty good. On The tape it is my least favourite.

3) "Oz" - Breakbeat with a guitar sample. The guitar sample; in my opinion gives a feeling of the Middle East and Arabian nights. It sounds quite fresh and up-to-date, like the music from "The Fat Of The Land Album", or the soundtrack to the motion picture "The Matrix". I wasn't fond of this track when I first heard it but has grown on me a lot.

4) "Lift Me" - Very typically Old Skool music - if your a fan of the Rave sound i'd strongly suggest trying to find this. It's not fast, but the bass line is definitely grimey! Also the "Woo-hoo" sample you may recognise; as The Prodigy used it again in the track "Your Love".

5) "Charly" (Remix '91) - Breakbeat laiden Rave / Hardcore. Sounds quite similar to the Original Mix, only there are little differences like sound effects, the way the song is constructed, extra pads, different introduction and different outro.

6) "Death Of The Prodigy Dancer" (Studio Version) - just the same as what you can hear on the album, only without the MCing, and marginally clearer. The distortion on the album is also on the Studio Version in places which makes me think that was the sound Liam was trying to create. As the track fades out you can hear "Everybody Into The Place" (155 And Rising) fading up, which makes me think this was the next track Liam wanted on the album, only it was all re-arranged when they couldn't fit all the tracks on.

With exception to "Charly" (Remix '91) and "Death Of The Prodigy Dancer" (Studio Version) most of the tracks are quite slow compared to their Hardcore/Rave/Techno tracks some may expect from their singles and albums released between 1991-1995.

Old Skool Hardcore fans should check out "Evil Minds", "Lift Me" and "Death Of The Prodigy Dancer" (Studio Version). I found them on The Prodigy's official website in 2007, but now the site is being updated and I don't know if these tracks will be included on their home page again. Good luck finding them!
Really XL should just release everything they have they have kept back from us over the years, and we wouldn't have to settle with poorer quality sound over the internet.

The Prodigy have managed to stay on the fringes of electronic music styles since their start in the early ninties. They began with 'Experience', a unique blend of old-skool jungle, breakbeat and hardcore techno. They only hit the world wide stage with the release of 'Music for the Jilted Generation' which demonstrated the diversity of music styles they were able to achieve.

Many people think that the third albulm 'Fat of the Land' was a sell out, but personally I think it was a move back to Liam's preferred style, an elctro/punk clash which bought them world-wide fame.

Prodigy is the band that really got me into techno music. The first song I heard by them was "Breathe" and I was absolutely amazed by the amount of energy it contained. Later I've discovered "Music For The Jilted Generation" - the album that I consider as one of the greatest things ever happened to electronic music. And it's really amazing that it's only one guy who's doing all the producing - a genius of techno music, Liam Howlett.