Londinium

Released in 1996, Londinium is the debut studio album by Archive, a project then led by Darius Keeler and Danny Griffiths. While later Archive albums would lean heavily into progressive and alternative rock, their debut is a quintessential trip-hop document, albeit one with a much broader sonic palette than many of its contemporaries. The album features the distinct vocal pairing of Roya Arab, whose style incorporates Persian-influenced scales, and Rosko John, whose rapping provides a rhythmic and social counterpoint. The record is notable for its use of classical arrangements and church organs, most notably on 'Organ Song', which elevates the genre's standard 'street' aesthetic into something more liturgical and grand. Critically, it is often cited as a lost classic of the trip-hop era, praised for its ambition and its ability to capture the specific, cold beauty of its namesake city. The inclusion of a sample from Underworld’s 'Skyscraper I Love You' on the track 'Skyscraper' serves as a nod to the burgeoning electronic scene of the time.