Although it appears to be a completely new release...this is actually a remix album of sorts....(at least 5-6 appeared in drastically remixed form, off the "Theory of Verticality" album), as well as a handful of new tracks....so far so normal, but the difference here is that `DJ Vadim' has chosen a Who's Who, of Ninja Tune / Trip-Hop Talent to provide the remixing & reinterpretations of each of the songs as well as Vadim remixing some of his own tracks. People brought in for this project include (The Herbaliser/DJ Krush/Techno Animal/Kid Koala/Clatterbox/Oval/Animals on Wheels...etc), and remarkably there's not a single bad tune on here...moving smoothly through the Ambient Breakbeat of "DJ Krush's - Variations in U.S.S.R.", the Funky Trip-Hop of "The Herbaliser's - Conquest Of The Irrational", and percussive Instrumentalism of "Kid Koala's - Vad Forgive Me"....here is a album not afraid of to push the boundaries of Experimentalism, and yet immediately accessible to Trip-Hop / Ninja Tune fans, although the quality of this release deserves a much wider audience than Breakbeat / Trip-Hop fans.

I snatched up USSR Repertoire (Theory of Verticality), right after I heard one of the tracks in a music store. I was truly amazed with the gentleness, all the laid-back and quiet beats aiding the music, not ruining it (like many other hip-hop albums). Very experimental, yet astonishing and exciting.

Then, USSR Reconstruction suddenly comes around. Several famous and outstanding artists have come together to make a groovy remix album of the groundbreaking debut by DJ Vadim. The Herbaliser, Kid Koala, Starving Artists, DJ Krush and Animals on Wheels are all represented on this CD. I'd agree with the fact that the beats are put more up front this time around. The sounds, details and ambient and groovy melodies are played a bit down, and the beats are put up a notch or two. Still, the same atmospheric and remarkable atmosphere from the Repertoire are here as well, making this album worth the while. Recommended to all true Vadim junkies, as well as other not that familiar with Vadim's outstanding work on the Ninja Tune label.

I picked up the 4 x 12" set for Reconstruction and really like it. Whereas Vadim's debut LP is very experimental, focussing less on beats than sounds, this album contains beats throughout, with audio experimentation as more of a garnish. It's still quiet ambient and moody, though.

This isn't so bad, however, since the beat-meisters mix it up: some tracks are very chill (Variations, Beyond Thought) and some verge on Drum and Bass (Who the Hell am I).

Note that if the above listing is correct for the CD, it is different from the 4 X 12":

CD has:

- The Breaks

- Variations In U.S.S.R. (3rd version)

Vinyl has:

- Who The Hell Am I (2nd version)

- Aural Prostitution

- Lord Forgive Me