Tripping the Lights Fantastic on Jacob’s Stairway

On the 4Hero - Parallel Universe share Tierra del Fuego Frenz Diego sez:
     "A remarkable but obscure record, Good stuff yeah. At this stage 4h were becoming Jacob's Optical Stairway". 

 

Great segue to some more fantastic music. Jacob’s Optical Stairway’s self-titled release is often thought of as Parallel Universe 2.

Carrying the science-fiction theme of 4hero's Parallel Universe over to their Jacob's Optical Stairway side-project, Dego & Marc Mac crafted an album of understated breakbeats with high strings, heavy synthwork, in addition to vocals by a soul inspired Samantha Powell. The duo also enlisted Detroit hero Juan Atkins ("the original pioneer of Detroit techno") as well as raver & electronica star Josh Wink to work on two tracks: "The Fusion Formula" & "The Naphosisous Wars," respectively. Jacob's Optical Stairway is, if possible, an even more streamlined, lush drum'n'bass project for the duo than previous releases.

I chose to share the Reinforced Rcords 2021 reissue because of the bonus 7"... 

 

Jacob's Optical Stairway - self-titled 2xLP+7“. Reinforced Records RIVETLP25, 2021.
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Side A -
Fragments of a Lost Language
The Naphosisous Wars featuring Josh Wink

Side B -
The Chase the Escape
The Fusion Formula (The Metamorphosis) featuring Juan Atkins
Majestic 12

Side C -
Solar Feelings featuring Samantha Powell
Jacob's Optical Illusion
Harsh Realitys

Side D -
The Engulfing Whirlpool
Quatrain 72 (Red Horizon)
20 Degrees of Taurus

RIVETLP025-07 -
That Side -
Solar Reprise
This Side -
Twenty Four Steps

 

Enjoy,
NØ

They Came from a Parallel Universe

 

Parallel Universe is the album that opened the door to what Jungle/D’n’B was capable of in the full-length medium. Marc & Dego of 4 Hero fused their futuristic breakbeat programming, synthesised string-work, experimental sampling with a great knowledge of early Soul-Jazz Fusion to make this classic. 

Parallel Universe is one of the most definitivly influential albums of the early electronica era. It inspired other artists of the genre to follow with concept albums rather than just making 'tracks'. Released in 1994, it is the album that marked the transition from Jungle to Drum & Bass.

This is the 2xCD 2021 reissue.

4 Hero - Parallel Universe 2xCD expanded reissue, 

Reinforced Records RIVET CDLP 042021, 2021.
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CD1 -
Universal Love
No Imitation
Parallel Universe
Talk Around Town
Follow Your Heart (Part One)
Wrinkles in Time
Terraforming
People Always Criticise Us
Follow Your Heart (Part Two)
Shadow Run
Sunspots
Sounds from the Black Hole
Power to Move the Stars
Solar Emissions

CD2 -
In the Shadow (Sundown)
Our Final Hour
Evacuation Plan
Universal Love (single version)
Better Place (original version)
Golden Age (Nu Era version)
Garden of My Mind (original version)
In the Shadow Part III (The Stalker)
Universal Love (Dubstars Internal Affairs mix)
The Paranormal in 4 Forms

 

 

Enjoy,
NØ