Ninja Tune

Sad to see the comments over the past decade, although also oddly comforting to see that I am not alone in my opinions. For me Ninja Tune has always been more about its history and the cultural moment behind its creation then about it's actual output, although there have certainly been some bangers, er... nodders over the years. I also feel Ninja Tune has always been more about the sum of its parts, as evidenced on the many excellent, groundbreaking mixes produced over Solid Steel's history (particularly '93 - '97, for my tastes), some of which have been captured as official releases on the label.

Whatever the case, the label decidedly took a turn in the late 90s and they never went back. I have not kept on top of their output in recent years, but when I do check in, the catalogue is reflective of a different cultural moment than the one that endeared them to me. Not necessarily a bad thing, but then there's a vapidness and affluence to today's "alternative" clubgoers that seems to contrast with the early 90s UK rave and chillout scene. But maybe I'm just nostalgic for a time I didn't experience.

it's such a shame that this label become like everything else, just mainstream normie generic samey sounding rubbish.

Like others have said, a once genuinely groundbreaking label that has been releasing nondescript "Electronic Dance Music" for years now. Ninja should have stuck doing jazzy downtempo breaks and the likes, which they excelled at, rather than sheepishly following the latest trends.

When Ninja Tune started to change their face with their Ninja Tune XX box I was like "Well, they can't do NuJazz for the rest of their time. They have to evolve and try something new." So I stayed curious. But listening to them now is not what I expected to happen. Ninja Tune became commercial radio. Apart from the statistically expected exceptions there is hardly any distinction. Even their sublabels are nothing more than mediocre (at best). This strategy might have saved them financially to be fair. But, well... I wish there would have been alternative paths to stroll along. I mean, even Amon Tobin has left the ship now!

Seems like most stuff released on Ninja Tune these days is mediocre to poor. Even from established artists that are in their prime like Max Graef, and i recently heard sample from Bicep´s track "Aura" from their forthcoming LP due to release in September. Pretty crap in my opinion.
Whenever i see Ninja Tune releases these days, i swiftly avoid them..
Once a glorious label, today a flawed tarnished gem and a embarrassment..

Is it just me or are the vinyl pressings always bad?
I have all of the fog wax and they sound like crap and skip.

Since Matt Black & Jonathan More gave the label scepter to some other guys, the label is dying away more and more! So sad, was one of my favorite lebels... Instead of superb releases like the early Bonobo stuff, Cinematic Orchestra, Amon Tobin or Wagon Christ and countless other talented fresh people like Homelife or Super Numeri, we nowadays just get a lot of crap in my opinion. When they began to release rubbish like Zero DB, the Quemist and the Bug in 2006, it was the beginning of the end for me. And look at the label today!? Is there only one good, talented new artist on the label (except the residents like Tobin ect.)? Clearly NOPE! Really sad to see sush a good label going pop shit.

Nobody will even talk about the label in 5 years! Or dose somebody today? Bye Ninja!

Ninjitsu-ass-kickin' stuff from one of the most solid, original and just plain brilliant labels ever! I have never heard of a bad tune from any one of their releases. Big beats, blarin' bass and twisted tunes! When I see the Ninja Tune label I buy it! No foolin' round!

Quality artists releasing quality work - not because they're out to make a fast buck or get their cute mug/arse splashed all over the media, but because there's a real ion for doing something different, groundbreaking. Why can't all labels be like Ninja?

My opinion is that Ninja used to be a great label . Jazz Breaks series are exceptional. Unfortunately the recent releases (with the exception of Mr.Tobin and Wagon Christ) recycle the same Ideas.