Herbert isn't trying to reinvent the genre; he's simply trying to add his own unique and playful vision to it. Still, it's nice to have a disc that both your mind and your body can appreciate.  Full text...

Originally released in 1996 and reissued now with a bonus disc, 100 Lbs gathers early 12"s from a time when Herbert was very much a "dance music" producer. It would be a while before he bedded down with domestic concerns (see Around the House and Bodily Functions, a brilliant dissection of a breakup with aching lyrics and pensive minimal grooves) and fancied himself foremost as a jazz/disco arranger (see Goodbye Swingtime by the Matthew Herbert Big Band and Scale, a 2006 album about the commutative properties of politics and heartbreak).  Full text...

Herbert has described 100 Lbs. as naive, but don't hold that against him. Within the context of his oeuvre, it can certainly be viewed that way. But as a house record, this debut easily stands the test of time, thanks in part to its wide-eyed simplicity. Though he would certainly make better and more ambitious records in his career, 100 Lbs. is a necessary step in his catalog, and a crucial look into the house-framed evolution of an artistic mind.  Full text...

100lbs was initially the product of 3 EPs that were merged together to create his debut album some 10 years ago. This release features the added bonus of a 2nd CD with exclusive tracks from the same era.  Full text...

At its best, 100 lbs combines heavy bass with melodies and phrases that sound light as air. In his commentary on the disc, Herbert correctly suggests that his slinky, sensual productions from this era work as counterpoint to the big-room muscle-flex of masculinity that was going on in so much house from the same era. Herbert offers a different kind of heaviness, one borne of the essentials, just enough to make the track swing.  Full text...

The re-release of 100 Lbs. is just as much about the music as it is about what was necessary to make that music.   Full text...