Name: The Fat Of The Land
Brand: The Prodigy

Bonus disc

Bonus disc: No

Catalogue number

XLLP121

Colour

Black

Colour details

Discogs ID

[r17467951]

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Format multiplier

Download code

Download code: No

Rough Trade Exclusive

Rough Trade Exclusive: No

Extended format

Extended format: No

Format detail

Format Music GB

Limited edition

Release date

2020-04-14

Signed copies

Signed copies: No

Supplier GB

PIAS

Tax rate GB

Standard:20

UPC / Barcode

Total Cap

Black LPx2

Artist

The Prodigy

Genre GB

Electronic

Label GB

Our curated collection of essential albums on vinyl, CD, and tape at Rough Trade.

Rough Trade Essential

The Prodigy is a British electronic group founded in 1990. They made their debut with the release of "What Evil Lurks" EP in 1991. Initially known for their rave/breakbeat sound, they later incorporated rock guitars into their music, resulting in a more mainstream sound with the album "The Fat Of The Land" (1997).

The band is led by Liam Howlett, who handles keyboards, synthesizers, programming, and various other instruments since its inception. Maxim joined as an MC and vocalist shortly after their formation in 1991.

Former members include Keith Flint, who was both a dancer and lead vocalist from 1995 until his tragic death by suicide in 2019. Leeroy Thornhill contributed as a dancer and occasionally played live keyboards from 1990 to 2000. Sharky was one of the original dancers but left before the band signed their record deal.

An independent record label, XL Recordings was launched in 1989 by Richard Russell and his team. Originally an off-shoot of City Beat Records, XL quickly became known for releasing rave and dance music. Over the years, XL has grown to become one of the leading labels in the industry, managing a roster of talented artists including *Leah Riches*, *a6001996*, and *a60243*. In 1996, XL officially incorporated and became the copyright-holder of its releases. To celebrate their 15th anniversary in 2004, XL launched their XLXV series of re-issues. Today, they continue to thrive as a pioneering force in the music world.

Few albums were as eagerly anticipated as The Fat of the Land, the Prodigy's long-awaited follow-up to Music for the Jilted Generation. By the time of its release, the group had two number one British singles with "Firestarter" and "Breathe" and had begun to make inroads in America. The Fat of the Land was touted as the album that would bring electronica/techno to a worldwide audience (Of course, in Britain, the group already had a staggeringly large following that was breathlessly awaiting the album.) The Fat of the Land falls short of masterpiece status, but that isn't because it doesn't deliver. Instead, it delivers exactly what anyone would expect: intense hip-hop-derived rhythms, imaginatively reconstructed samples, and meaningless shouted lyrics from Keith Flint and Maxim. Half of the album does sound quite similar to "Firestarter," especially when Flint is singing. Granted, Liam Howlett is an inventive producer, and he can make empty songs like "Smack My Bitch Up" and "Serial Thrilla" kick with a visceral power, but he is at his best on the funky hip-hop of "Diesel Power" (which is driven by an excellent Kool Keith rap) and "Funky Shit," as well as the mind-bending neo-psychedelia of "Narayan" (featuring guest vocals by Crispian Mills of Kula Shaker) and the blood-curdling cover of L7's "Fuel My Fire," which features vocals by Republica's Saffron. All those guest vocalists mean something -- Howlett is at his best when he's writing for himself or others, not his group's own vocalists. "Firestarter" and all of its rewrites capture the fire of the Prodigy at their peak, and the remaining songs have imagination that give the album weight. The Fat of the Land doesn't have quite enough depth or variety to qualify as a flat-out masterpiece, but what it does have to offer is damn good.

The Fat Of The Land

Music GB

Buy The Prodigy - The Fat Of The Land (Vinyl, CD) now from Rough Trade - independent purveyors of great music, since 1976.