Customer Reviews
Satisfactory - But Uninspiring! - By: Music Lover, 17 Dec 2007 
Mantronix have been ill served by some of the 'Best of' compilations that have been issued over the years, & this collection doesn't exactly improve upon what has been seen before. Drawing predominantly on 'The Album' & 'Music Madness', there is only one track from 'In Full Effect' ('Simple Simon') & the now obligatory 'King Of The Beats', which appears on numerous compilations (Mastercuts 'Clasic Hip Hop' for example). There are also tracks from the ill fated move to Capitol Records ('Gotta Have Your Love' etc).
I suspect that the primary reason for this release was to prepare the market for the release of 'I Sing The Body Electro', which was scheduled to take place sometime soon after (although it was released it was not originally widely available). This would explain the inclusion of the two new tracks taken from the forthcoming album - & this appears to be confirmed by some interesting (but short) liner notes which feature a few words from Mantronik on why he 'left' music for a while.
If you are a fan & you own the albums already then there really isn't much included here to persuade you to buy this particular collection. The album 'I Sing The Body Electro' can (thankfully) now be bought from Amazon, although be aware that there are at least two alternative versions of the album, & as a fan you really ought to explore what is on offer there.
If there is good news it is that this album is available as a 180grm heavyweight vinyl release by Simply Vinyl, which would indicate that a fair degree of care would have lavished on the mastering & pressing process. For cd fans I would recommend taking a look at 'Music Madness', 'The Album' & (if possible) 'In Full Effect' (although this appears to be currently unavailable).
This 'Best Of' just fails too inspire, & will do little to inspire purchasers to explore the original duo's back catalogue further.
The King of 80's Dance - By: , 23 Oct 2003 
Mantronix are certainly the soundof the mid-late eighties dance scene. These guys ruled New York clubs. This compilation with classics like Got to have your love, Take Your Tme & Dont go Messing with my heart. Mantronix will be remembered as one of the best dance actsin recent memory with the likes of the CNC Music Factory....In case you did not know, one half of Mantronix became Groove Theory...check their album out!
King of the Beats on CD.......at last! - By: Richard Splash, 14 Oct 2002 I only bought this CD for this track as it was only released as a B side on the US import 12" of 'Join me please' which I bought new. I've been a fan of Mantronix from day one. First hearing Bassline on the Hacienda's dancefloor, I followed their sound into the early nineties, often listening to & buying their remixes of other artists, like Joyce Sims & the Kane Gang's 'Don't look any further'.
They were innovative & had a distinctive sound & this CD should give the listener an idea of what they were about.
Dig those sequencers! - By: Jason Parkes, 09 Oct 2002 I'm on my second copy of this compilation from 1999 already. Mantronix made some of the greatest dance music of the last two decades- fittingin with artists such as Afrika Baambaata (Planet Rock, of course), Cabaret Voltaire (Sensoria, Ghost Talk), AR Kane (A Love Song From Outer Space) & New Order (Bizarre Love Triangle, Thieves Like Us). Not enough people seem to be aware of them, which is a shame...
...But all this could change with the rather good cover/hit single of 1989's Got to Have Your Love by Liberty X (complete with Mantronix remix). The original still rules, up there with such great songs of that era as Everything Begins with an E & Fascinating Rhythm (though Liberty X fans should also enjoy tracks like Take Your Time & Don't Go Messin With My Heart). Kurtis M. made great pop songs- many of these are as great as those on Cabaret Voltaire's late period work that blended dance & pop (see Groovy, Laidback & Nasty & the Remixed cd). The recent Back to Mine by New Order also features the timeless Bassline- included herein its Stretched version, where MC Tee raps over some of the greatest electro grooves: "kickin command!". Then there's Needle to the Groove, very stop/start & sampled on Beck's excellent Where It's At.
Every track on this compilation is excellent, though the 1980's songs are the highlights. Further proof that contrary to common nostalgia, the 1980's were a place of musical revolution. Dig those sequencers!
For lovers of Hip Hop, Electro & Pop - By: sambickley2000@yahoo.co.uk, 20 Feb 2001 Brilliant CD, brings back memories of the early Hip Hop days, when Mantronix were raw. Takes you through to their more commerical house music from the early 90's. Classic CD for anybody who likes hip hop & house music.
