"The Contino Sessions" is the second studio album by English electronic music band Death in Vegas. Released in 1999, the album marked a significant stylistic pivot into a more rock-oriented sound compared to the group's primarily electronic debut. The band members, Richard Fearless and Tim Holmes, were pivotal in delivering an innovative and avant-garde take on their existing music approach.
"The Contino Sessions" is an eclectic fusion of genres - it brings together echos of psychedelic rock, electronica, and trip-hop. The album is highly acclaimed for its incorporation of guest vocalists: Bobby Gillespie of Primal Scream, Iggy Pop, and Jim Reid of The Jesus and Mary Chain, among others.
Featuring six tracks, the album's most notable song is "Aisha". This song became both commercially successful and critically acclaimed for its unique mix of rock, electronica, and aggression. It can be said that the song is a microcosm of the album itself, reflecting its overall mood and style. Artificially sweetened with electronic noises, buzzing guitars, and guest vocals—a tone that's at once modern and a throwback to the classic rock era—"Aisha" instantly became a fan-favourite.
The reception of "The Contino Sessions" was positive, with it earning a nomination for the 2000 Mercury Music Prize. Overall, the album stands as a significant release in the late '90s electronic music scene, pushing the possibilities of genre fusion and reestablishing Death in Vegas as eclectic musical pioneers.
