I have been reading a lot of posts on both this forum and nekos, one thing i have noticed is people seem to dislike a lot of how prodigy's production style has changed 2002-2009, with the introduction of software based synths, samplers, sequencers.

I am gonna throw this question out there, cause there are some fans who dislike this era of prodigy and prefer the 1990-1997 era better (I like both). So what do you think? Do you reckon if Liam used the older hardware based production style on AONO for example, would the music be better, or do you believe that its not the tools that matter its the result?

My view is that all electronic bands have faced the same problem and have to update gear to keep with the times, maybe its the corporations like korg, roland, etc that seem to shape a kind of "sound" thats why people may prefer stuff made in the 1990's compared to now. Maybe because its so easy now to make music that people believe quality has went down as far as electronic artists go.

Everyone seems to use similar programs to make music big and small, where back in the day artists had their own sound due to not only their influences but their equipment as well.

I have a funny feeling The Big Gundown was recorded using the old skool equipment then mastered in the modern way. Big Gundown has that MFTJG vibe, you know.

that's an interesting question.
i really love IMD and how it's produced and all. but sometimes i miss those deep pounding bassdrums from the jilted-fotl era. you know like in diesel power or narayan. when you listen to narayan today and compare it to TMTTH you can hear the difference. narayan sounds - i don't know how to say this - clearer (?), much simpler yet pounding and heavy when it comes to the bass. it's an ace production but so is IMD. the tracks on IMD sound much more complex. in the new era every prodigy track has some kind of distorted instruments like the basslines or synths. on AONO the distortion of the beats was simply too much, everything sounded like a mess. IMD sounds perfectly produced. but i really miss the times when there was less bassline and much more simple bassdrum pounding..
if that makes sense..

Good topic. and where the fuck is the legendary 808 bassdrum? I miss it!! I swear Liam hasn't used it since TFOTL or it could be how the more recent tunes have been mixed?

Nearly all the Experience era tunes he used it. On the Jilted album i instantly think of Their Law, Voodoo People and Poison.

TFOTL = SMBU, Funky Shit, Mindfields, Firestarter.

I don't think it was used at all on AONO, maybe on Wake Up Call...

im not quite sure what liam used back then, being 'rave' music, Im guessing it was an amiga/atari or somthing and a couple of akai samplers? anyway, obviously the old samplers had memory storage limits (sample time) so liam had to be very very creative with the limitations of the old stuff and that's why i love is first stuff. very creative, and you can tell just by listening, scraping the pan clean for any more sounds he could possibly make usefull. I hope my wording makes sense here.

Limits sometimes makes you better. When Liam did the experience-album, he wasnt fully skilled inn the art of producing music. He was a very very talented guy who was still learning. The 2nd album is a perfect example of what Liam could do with his w 30's, a few synths, some akai samplers, and alot of samples in his private collection.

When he made The Fat Of The Land, his was finaly fully skilled in everything about making music (inkludning using cubase on a computer). And that why Fat is the best produced album IMO.. I still think MFTJG is a bit more creative.. But Fat has the best production and overall sound.

But back to the main question.. Do I think Liam should go back to he old ways of making music? No I dont thing so. Liam as moved on the other, more modern ways of producing. More moders synths, new software (reason, albelton, pro-tools, ect). If would try to make music like in 95-97 again, I would sound like he tried to do something over again. And thats a good way to make music without soul and life..

I miss the real drums sound

I miss the 'One Love' sound.

I love the new album, but i still feel Jilted and Fat had a bit of more soul.
Mabye its because im older and it not as easy to look up to music then as some kind of god / life style.
I use to walk for miles / driving in buses listening to prodigy, chemical, daft punk, orbital... Those albums reminds me of just living without thinking of tomorrow...
I remember buying Experience, jilted, fat + wipeout 2097, exit planet dust, dig your own hole.. I bought all these album in like two weeks, you could do that then..There was so much good music to be discovered.. Today i wait like 5 years for one good album!
It was great times.
I'm kind of reliving it these weeks, IMD, LOST BEATS, IMD NOISIA REMIX..
Man so much good music. I really hope it will inspire other bands...

Sorry a bit off topic. To get back to it, i think its cool enough to make music on computers, i do however think there's more creativity if you have limited resources (music, graphics.. what ever..).
I just wish if Liam do things quicker, he let us hear it quicker, put it up on the site, make us (the fans) listen to it via a special site link... I think if he threw us a bone once in a while people wouldn't be so judgemental if a track is a bit off. Cause its only a track not like a wholy grail .
I listen to that "machine gun" loop on the site for hours, it wasn't a hole track but something new, it was great!

(I use to walk for miles / driving in buses .. he he sounds like i had a great time right! )

I miss the old Firestarter...When I hear the new mix,it just ins't right.

Sounds really weak and not diabolical and wicked as it used to sound back b4 2000.

i agree with you there mate, i would do anything to go back to those times in the 90's, i used to listen to prodigy on my walkman in those days, walking about, happy with no worries. so many regrets now...

Yep, back when TFOTL was released, I was at college, and discovering marajuana, beer, and shagging lots of women for the first time! It was a great time in my life!

Now, 12 years on, I work in a shit job for a shit company, with an expensive mortgage on a shitty house. But IMD takes me back to those glory days, and has inspired me to change my life for the better!

Oh, I think you mean the 909 Bassdrum... Well, I haven't heard it on IMD, but he used other sounds of it like the Crash Cymbals very often.
By the way on Fighter Beat the really distorted beat is entirely 808 sounds.