I figured I should post about my favorite group of all time, Hybrid. Thanks to John Rabbit's Underworld post for providing a good template idea for this!
HYBRID
Who are Hybrid?
Currently, Hybrid is comprised of Mike Truman, Chris Healings and Charlotte James on vocals. They are well known for their epic orchestral tracks, all pretty much using a real orchestra. Their tracks range from breaks to house to trance and even movie scores over the years. They are also pretty well known for doing a lot of remixes.
How have they changed over the years with their albums?
They have had a whole bunch of small lineup changes/additions over the years with each album, as well as genere changes:
Album 1, Wide Angle (1999) (Dark, orchestral breaks): Mike Truman, Chris Healings and Lee Mullin. Heavy vocals from Julee Cruise and a track with Chrissie Hynde.
Album 2, Morning Sci-Fi (2003) (A bit more "rock"): Mike Truman, Chris Healings with Adam Taylor on vocals and Peter Hook (yes, the New Order one) on bass.
Album 2, I Choose Noise (2006) (A bit more "house"): Mike Truman, Chris Healings and composer Harry Gregson-Williams. Guests vocalists include Perry Farrell, John Graham (Quivver), Judie Tzuke and Kirsty Hawksahw.
Album 4, Disappear Here (2010) (A bit more "film score"): Mike Truman, Chris Healings and Charlotte James on vocals.
Also note that two albums have two CD expanded editions released later (like "Wide Angle" becoming "Wider Angle" and "Disappear Here" becoming "Disappear Here: Widescreen Edition").
What else have they done, besides the main four albums?
They have released two compilations of their remixes, "Remix And Additional Production By..." in 2001 and "Hybrid RE_MIXED" in 2007.
They have two DJ mix albums, "Hybrid Present: Y4K" in 2004 and "Soundsystem 01" in 2008.
They have released one mega best-of compilation in 2012 called "Classics" which can be found in 1, 4 or 5 CD versions.
They have also contributed to film scores, some with Harry Gregson-Williams (and a lot of Tony Scott movies), such as "Man On Fire", "Domino", "Deja Vu", "Catacombs", "The Chronicles Of Narnia: Prince Caspian", "X-Men Origins: Wolverine", "Fast Five", "Cowboys & Aliens", "Total Recall" and a whole lot more. Game credits include "Lotus Challenge" and "Ghost Recon: Future Soldier"
And finally, they have released tons of remixes, as you can see here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Songs_remixed_by_Hybrid
Now, on to the music, going backwards in time:
DISAPPEAR HERE (2010)
Break My Soul:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xptIEkCHTZ4 - One of my favorite tracks by them, and a great starting point.
Can You Hear Me:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEQIE2gs4Qs
Disappear Here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=puQTB-mdeQk
The Forumla Of Fear:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-EOCEHhaR_w
I CHOOSE NOISE (2006)
Dogstar:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xB-6ATu4EUw - Featuring Perry Farrell
Keep It In The Family:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFtzTb8uhdI
Just For Today:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJrmm5P5WSw
Until Tomorrow:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FnL38PaYiKg
MORNING SCI-FI (2003)
True To Form:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4L0YW0tqd_4
Higher Than A Skyscraper:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ia80dt6pNeY
I'm Still Awake:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7SmyVeTS9g
Blackout:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0DkUN15WrZk
WIDE ANGLE (1999)
Finished Symphony:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_oeslAqeTEc - Famous for being used in the game "SSX Tricky", for you gamers.
If I Survive:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WbOW2H9sBnk
Theme From Wide Angle:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJkvOB8eN-M
I Know:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMIGJmYqNDw
Some famous remixes:
Radiohead - Everything In It's Right Place:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=of5Mi9FbrOU
Filter - Take A Picture:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JaCRT-uq8d0
Sarah McLachlan - Fear:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=db1ktFOaZio
Andreas Johnson - Glorious:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLkKGxSqmwU
Other tracks:
Kid 2000 ("Wide Angle" sort-of-B-Side):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xTYkzs8LFw - with Chrissie Hynde
Blind Side (pre-"Disappear Here" track):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDKyg02o0Mw
Enjoy The Silence ("Classics" album cover):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RW-Ai2jdZR8
Man On Fire (from the movie of the same name):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6mt0dDFmfQ
Okay, I really like what I'm hearing, where do I start?
You can't go wrong with the 1 CD edition of "Classics" which compiles most of the tracks from above! Then go for the albums of course
Delving deeper, the other discs of "Classics" are great to branch out with too:
Disc 2 is "Orchestral" and is full of pure orchestral versions of a bunch of songs.
Disc 3 is "Instrumental + Remixes" and has some previously unreleased instrumentals (note: They often have instrumental versions of most of their tracks to buy online) as well as some unreleased VIP mixes and the crown jewel, a song from "Wide Angle" that was never put on, "Experiment IV".
Disc 4 is "Cinematic Soundscape" and highlights tracks used in movie scores, games and more "ambient" tracks.
After that, the two remix albums, especially "Remix And Additional Production By..." are good places to start with their remixes, and the two mix CDs are good if you are into that.
Any final words?
Just enjoy the music! It's a lot to take in, especially with the whole mess of remixes out there!
A great website to start is
http://www.breakbeatpolice.com/, a fan site detailing just about every released and unreleased track there is, including links on where to buy them.
Of course their official website is a great place to keep an eye on:
http://www.hybridsoundsystem.com/. They often have some free tracks to download, such as "Blind Side", a track that was made before the album "Disappear Here".