Is Carboot Soul a good place to start with Nightmares on Wax?

Yes, Carboot Soul is recommended as a starting point for new Nightmares on Wax listeners. An eclectic blend of downtempo grooves, soulful melodies, and rich samples that evokes a laid-back yet vibrant atmosphere. Carboot Soul is Nightmares on Wax's third studio album, released in 1999 following the critically acclaimed album Smokers Delight. At this point in their career, they were solidifying their reputation in the electronic music scene, particularly within the trip hop genre, showcasing a matured sound that built upon their earlier works.

Who is Carboot Soul for?

Carboot Soul works well if you're into wave-like pacing for relaxation, lush auditory landscape exploration and soulful samples for introspection.

How many songs are on Carboot Soul?

Carboot Soul has 10 tracks, running approximately 50 minutes.

Carboot Soul

Nightmares on Wax · 1999

50 min · 10 tracks · electronic music

An eclectic blend of downtempo grooves, soulful melodies, and rich samples that evokes a laid-back yet vibrant atmosphere.

Spotify Apple Music

YouTube Music YouTube Deezer Bandcamp SoundCloud

Own it: Amazon eBay

Top tracks — play these first

→
Les Nuits Start here — The opening track sets the tone for the entire album with its lush instrumentation and smooth vocal samples, encapsulating the signature sound of Nightmares on Wax.
→
Ease Jimi — This track stands out for its seamless blend of jazz elements and electronic beats, creating an immersive listening experience that exemplifies the artistic vision of the album.
→
Survival — With its poignant lyrics and compelling rhythm, this track captures themes of resilience and perseverance, making it a memorable highlight within the album's narrative.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

Instrumental

64 /100

Treeline

Higher than 79% of albums we've rated

The album blends genres effectively, creating a cohesive chill-out experience with strong production quality.

What we noticed

The album opens with a smooth, extended track that sets a mellow tone, followed by a series of tracks that maintain a consistent downtempo groove.
Each track features layered samples and instrumental textures, often incorporating elements from jazz and soul music.
Several tracks utilize vocal samples sparingly, enhancing the instrumental focus without dominating the sound.

Composition 25% of the score: 7/10
Craft 20% of the score: 8/10
Durability 25% of the score: 7/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 6/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 8/10

Influence 6/10

Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

wave-like pacing for relaxation
lush auditory landscape exploration
soulful samples for introspection
dynamic journey with varied intensity
ideal for late-night unwinding

Maybe skip if you

prefer instant gratification tracks
seek high-energy party anthems

Where this album fits

In the catalog: Breakthrough — This album solidified their reputation and defined the trip hop sound of the late '90s.
Themes: late-night grooves· soulful sampling
Career context: Carboot Soul is Nightmares on Wax's third studio album, released in 1999 following the critically acclaimed album Smokers Delight. At this point in their career, they were solidifying their reputation in the electronic music scene, particularly within the trip hop genre, showcasing a matured sound that built upon their earlier works.
Stylistic neighbors: Bonobo· Thievery Corporation· Air