Released 24 years ago this October
True Colours
High Contrast · 2002
126 min · 23 tracks · drum and bass
A vibrant fusion of soulful melodies and energetic drum patterns that defines the liquid drum and bass soundscape of the early 2000s.
Top tracks — play these first
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True Colors — This title track encapsulates the album's essence with its uplifting vocals and lush production, exemplifying High Contrast's signature style.
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Music Is Everything — An anthemic track that combines heartfelt lyrics with infectious rhythms, showcasing High Contrast's ability to marry emotion with dancefloor energy.
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Global Love — This track stands out for its international influences and melodic richness, reflecting the global reach of drum and bass culture during this era.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases strong production and composition but suffers from a lack of cohesion due to its length and track repetition.
What we noticed
- The album features a consistent use of lush synth pads layered over intricate drum patterns, creating a rich soundscape.
- Several tracks incorporate vocal samples that are manipulated and looped, adding texture without dominating the mix.
- The first half of the album maintains a high energy level with danceable beats, while the latter half introduces more atmospheric and introspective pieces.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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4/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
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
- long, immersive listening sessions
- dynamic emotional journeys
- atmospheric background focus
- gradual builds and payoffs
Where this album fits
- Career context
- True Colours is High Contrast's debut studio album, released in 2002, following a series of successful singles that had already established his reputation in the drum and bass scene. At this point, he was transitioning from being a promising producer to a key figure in electronic music, particularly with the rise of the liquid drum and bass subgenre.
- Stylistic neighbors
- London Elektricity· Netsky· Calibre
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
Disc 1
- 1 Return of Forever 8:19
- 2 Music Is Everything 7:29
- 3 True Colors 6:08
- 4 Global Love 6:11
- 5 Exposé 6:20
- 6 Passion 5:48
- 7 Make It Tonight 6:25
- 8 Remember When 7:17
- 9 Savoir Faire 6:10
- 10 Fools Gold 6:46
- 11 Mermaid Scar 7:22
Disc 2
- 1 Music is Everything 4:27
- 2 Global Love 2:13
- 3 Savoir Faire 2:57
- 4 Suddenly 2:57
- 5 Remember When 3:41
- 6 Passion 2:13
- 7 True Colors 5:21
- 8 Mermaid Scar 4:54
- 9 Return of Forever 7:01
- 10 Exposé 3:53
- 11 Full Intention 5:55
- 12 Make it Tonight 6:36
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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