Abductions and Reconstructions

Electronic · 1999 · 14 tracks

Abductions and Reconstructions

Thievery Corporation

Thievery Corporation's "Abductions and Reconstructions" is a deep dive into their signature downtempo and trip-hop sound, a collection of remixes where they transform diverse tracks into atmospheric,

April 20, 1999 · EFA

This album is the sonic equivalent of a dimly lit, velvet-lined lounge at 2 AM, where the air is thick with the scent of incense and quiet conversation. "Abductions and Reconstructions" showcases Thievery Corporation's masterful ability to take existing tracks and imbue them with their signature blend of dub-inflected basslines, intricate world percussion, and hazy, atmospheric synths. It's music that doesn't demand attention but rather invites immersion, creating a sophisticated backdrop for contemplation, unwinding, or simply existing in a state of cool, unhurried calm. Expect deep grooves, subtle shifts, and a pervasive sense of elegant chill.

Tracklist · 14 Tracks

01

Dance on Vaseline (Thievery Corporation remix)

5:36

02

I Will Follow You (Souka Nayo) (Thievery remix)

4:52

03

KC Doppler

4:41

04

Transmission Central (remixed by Thievery Corporation)

4:47

05

Tickertape of the Unconscious (Thievery Corporation remix)

4:11

06

Porno 3003 (Thievery Corporation remix)

4:21

07

Hijack (Reach for the Sky)

4:59

08

Ave Maria (Thievery Corporation remix)

4:06

10

Polyesterday (Thievery Corporation remix)

4:05

11

This Strange Effect (Thievery Corporation remix)

4:49

12

Sexelevatormuzik (Thievery Corporation remix)

5:16

13

Boof n' Baff n' Biff (Black Uhuru Meets the Thievery)

5:45

14

Savoir Faire (Thievery Corporation mix)

5:45

15

Closer to God (Thievery Corporation remix)

4:37

Moments Worth Listening For

The way a track often begins with a subtle, atmospheric hum or a distant percussive loop, slowly building layers of bass and synth until a full, immersive groove takes hold.

The unexpected introduction of a live instrument, like a muted trumpet or a gently strummed guitar, cutting through the electronic textures with organic warmth.

Moments where the beat drops out almost entirely, leaving only a shimmering synth pad or a reverb-drenched vocal sample, creating a brief, ethereal interlude before the rhythm returns.

The intricate interplay between a deep, resonant bassline and a complex, polyrhythmic percussion arrangement that drives the track forward with a hypnotic, unhurried momentum.

Reviews

Pitchfork

Where This Album Departs

How does Abductions and Reconstructions sound next to the rest of Thievery Corporation's catalogue?

Instrumental Only+2.0σ

The vocals lean far further into instrumental only than the rest of the catalogue.

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