One of my best guy friends introduced me to the Xploding Plastix while visiting one day. Given his certain penchant for alternative rock, I was expecting much of the same, especially considering the name of the band. In actuality, the Plastix have discovered a formula to concoct a delightful blend of jazz and electonica--somewhat of a futuristic jazz, with many songs seeming apropo for a James Bond soundtrack.

The drums, cymbals, and heavy bass beats are truly reminiscent of a great classic jazz song, especially ones like "Sports, Not Heavy Crime." Others like "Tintinnamputation," though still identifiable as jazz, lay on synthesizer-esque sounds and sound completely new and different.

The entire disc is a perfect middle ground--satisfying for the traditional music lover, and modern and innovative enough for a listener with modern taste.

Like Bond, the Plastix are cool, unique, and always on the cutting-edge.

I have just started to listen to these guys having come to them through more Norwegian jazz, such as Nils Petter Molvaer, Food and Wibutee. XP have a somewhat more funky approach, but I just love them anyway. You have to listen to them, and listen to them a lot!

I want to warn everyone the track listing on Amazon is wrong for this CD. I ordered it expecting 14 songs, but there are only 10 on this version. Unfortunately, the original, 14-track version is rare and hard to find. There are also two tracks on this version that aren't included on the 14-track version, which is one plus, but it's a shame that six songs didn't make it onto here because those are excellent songs. Great music though.

Words can't even describe how wonderful this album is. My roommate who listens to what I consider very boring, mainstream, popular music loves this album too. Very bassy jazz, I can't see anyone dissapproving of this album that enjoys either jazz or electronic music.

Originally released as Amateur Girlfriends Go Proskirt Agents on Beatservice Records in 2001, re-released by Palm Beats in 2004, and (finally) re-discovered by me (with a helpful hand from a friend) in 2008, this acid jazzy, trip-hop infused, broken beat heavy debut album by Xploding Plastix is an absolute delight! I am instantly reminded by Amon Tobin's best tracks, and it's no surprise, since the albums are from the same era. Xploding Plastix is an Oslo (Norway) based duo comprising of Hallvard Wennersberg Hagen and Jens Petter Nilsen. The two producers are joined by Rita Augestad Knudsen under another alias, The Electones, to release a Summercloud LP on Inertia Records in 2002. The group is mostly known for their track (and debut 7" EP), Treat Me Mean, I Need the Reputation, released in 2000 on Beatservice Records and later repressed for Hospital Records. With nu-jazz fused keys, upright bass samples, scratches, and broken rhythms, the tracks on the debut album are fresh and groovy. If you love the sound of Amon Tobin's earlier and lighter works, Squarepusher's bass slaps with broken time signatures and The Herbaliser's UK-flavored instrumental hip-hop, then you'll surely fall in love with Xploding Plastix from your first listen. I know I did. Here's a great sentence from Norwegian Beatservice that I can't help but quote: "Xploding Plastix has a sound like irradiated neon washes; shimmering and pulse glowing accordingly disproportional to the flashy stuttering red lights, like cancerous cocktails; splintering with deranged delight. The cinematic, dirty film noir feel is mercilessly exploited. Xploding Plastix is the epicure of a gorgeous, jagged, murderous pulse." The last full length release by the group was The Donca Matic Singalongs, on Columbia Records in 2003. Besides the above mentioned, similar artists include Skalpel, Jaga Jazzist, Red Snapper, Nostalgia 77 and Bonobo.