One the finest downtempo/chill electronica artists out there. If you want consistency then these guys are your men. Ever since their first album in 96 'Sounds from the Thievery Hi-Fi', they have released astoundingly good downtempo albums with an array of fantastic singles. They mix up world music influences, notably Jamaican Dub, Latin, Bosa Nova & Brazilian sounds to perfection,against a backdrop of superb beats. Chill meisters & for my money they have created one of the best albums of 2005, with one of the best songs of this year as well; album - 'The Cosmic Game', single - feat. David Byrne 'The Heart's a Lonely Hunter' - go seek and thou shall be rewarded!

It's true that the Thievery sound from back in the days has gone. Their sounds had that trademark beat to them - a good example is The Assassination - found on the Shaolin Sattelite 12". But in my opnion their style has changed in a credible way - the follow up albums had purpose and massage - and particularly The Richest Man shows evidence of greater depth - even without killer beats. I am looking forward to the new album!

Just compare Thievery's development to that of Glen Bigga Bush (ex Rockers Hi-fi) then and now or that of Dj Cam - not to mention the sickening Moby's.....

All of Thievery Corporation's releases up until the "Lebanese Blonde" 12" and the "Abductions & Reconstructions" remix album are vital for all the downtempo fans out there. And although they weren't the first ones at the game, the fact is that "Sounds From The Thievery Hi-Fi" is an album that set a template for much of the downtempo/lounge/chill-out music that came after. A template that has been rarely (if not never) equaled, because songs like "38.45", "Shaolin Satellite", "The Foundation" et al have a certain something that makes them seem more than fine at any given time. In two words: perennial classics.
"The Mirror Conspiracy", although avoiding the dreaded sophomore slump, doesn't really live up to the expectations, sounding already like the formula is wearing thin. And that is what "The Richest Man In Babylon" really sounds: a project stuck in a rut and, more importantly, making music that does not stand in the pack of many-a-below-average projects in an already over-saturated style. Let's just hope they see the error of their ways...