hollowman   

Massive Attack style broody stalking sexiness - another highlight
Mixmag

DJ Magazine Out there global soundscaping - At his best Holroyd is Massive Attack, Mogwai, Simon Fisher Turner, David Toop and Future Sounds of London in an intelligent globally-tinged reflective collaboration. Electronics flutter and strings caress our emotions without it descending into self indulgent sentimentalism. 4/5

Phil Meadley - UK's top world music journalist "Bob Holroyd has never been one to follow the pack. Having been known for his exemplary global tinged ambient and percussive masterpieces such as Adrift In Kerala and African Drug, one could be forgiven for thinking that his new album Hollow Man would follow suit. However this is quite a departure, more influenced by the likes of David Sylvian, Sigur Ros, and Massive Attack. The sound of fuzzy guitar and heavily condensed slow motion breaks pervade some tracks, as do heartbreak vocals and haunting Eno'esque ambient electronica. It's a departure indeed, but a welcome one."

DJ Azibi " A perfect room soundtrack "

Alternate Music Press

Anything Goze 2006 As Holroyd's prolific output has evolved over the years, more of the inner nature of his unique sound is continually being revealed in each new offering. Intricate patterns of drone, classic trip-hop , exotic samples, ethnic instruments, ethereal voices,and other natural acoustic sound have been woven together to form an aural tapestry both real and imaginary.

With the subtle backdrop of haunting textures and drones to engulf and redefine one's perceptions of this beautiful soundscape, and the shifting intensity of soft ambient spaces and brighter atmospheres, a delicate balance is found.

The dazzling aspect of Hollow Man is how Holroyd extracts the space between the grooves and explores it from all sides, holding both sound worlds with equal ease and grace. This latest offering takes the listener on a journey overflowing with sonic combustion, cinematic overtones, shifting rhythms and ponderous grooves, ...definitely a rewarding experience for those who make the trip.

In summary, Hollow Man is powerful, engrossing electronic music from one of the UK's most dynamic composers. Highly recommended.
Review by Ben Kettlewell

Properlychilled.com Get it: Bob Holroyd shows his years of experience in recording what is billed as "ambient/global fusion/chillout music". To use these descriptions in the general sense is a dis-service to his style as well as the lovely music produced. More than ambient, I would call it quiet music that has a lot of layers working together to form a mood.

Tracks: Play All
Will You
Hollow Man
Autumn Leaves
Become Life
Overland
Butterfly
Najaf
Approaching Silence
After The Past Remains
The Release
Absence

An added element is the layered guitars that give a more ominous feeling to tracks like "Hollow Man". Comparisons to Massive Attack are accurate but Holroyd isn't copying them as much as using the idea of menace that Massive Attack uses so well. Even if Holroyd may be copying a little bit, who cares when the track is as cool as this one. "Overland" is another track that takes a while to build but pays off with a Thievery bounce and a nice use of acoustic guitars to drive the beat. "Najaf" is a nice eastern-tinged track that is minimal but deceivingly so. "After" is representative of the album as a whole, taking its time to build and only bringing in new sounds when the time is right. I will have to admit I dismissed the album the first two listens.

I found this isn't an album for a casual listen, because it wasn't until the third try that I started noticing what I'd missed, and really appreciated what was going on in the mix. There are a couple moments that get a little to "world music/ambient" for me but they are few and far between. Hollow Man is quite rewarding after a few patient listens.

Tim Quigley - overxposure " A fantastic release "

Chuck Van Zyl Bob Holroyd's pluralistic approach to music takes the listener to many corners of the world as well as to the sensitive interior regions of being. Hollow Man (49'05") is an album that dwells in the ambient elsewhere somewhere between the classic trip-hop of Mezzanine by Massive Attack and the cerebral pop of Music For Films by Brian Eno. The dramatic arrangements and shifting intensity of the more cutting pieces provide an expected aggressive stance - which is periodically softened by brief smooth areas of sincere ambient-inspired contemplation. This enticing sound includes the gritty drum loops, rumbling bass lines and squelchy guitar riffs found on more established dance oriented releases; but Holroyd makes this music his own by adding in exotic samples, ethnic instruments, ethereal voices, surprising digital manipulations and an uncluttered cinematic character. Hollow Man runs hot and cool, with glowing miniature soundscapes of reverberant piano keys, strumming acoustic guitar and fluid synth pads, placed strategically to chill the listening experience. What remains constant throughout this CD is its forlorn disposition. Somewhere in the midst of the music technology, Holroyd has found a way to express the nuanced human condition of yearning, and, by album's end, hope. - Chuck van Zyl/STAR'S END 17 July 2006

DJ Jazzy Lounge " Bob Holroyd is a truely great talent "

Chillout 2 New York " Another outstanding release "

DJ Neerav "Hollow Man" is a very satisfying musical journey, from beginning to end. It never tries too hard, simply allowing the experience to unfold for the listener. The mood is sultry, deep, and evocative; and there is much interplay between sounds (piano sounds and reverbed guitar riffs for example). What few vocals there are are excellent and engaging, as are the sampled instruments, and world sounds.

Each song manages to be a surprise (not an easy thing to accomplish in this day and age of 'mix and match' music making), and the feeling is always fresh, yet slightly haunting. If you're looking for a gentle, yet engaging ambient musical experience, look no further than this release. Every single time I play this cd it's like weaving down a river in some exotic location on a bamboo raft, and just watching the scenery float by. I just kick back and let it all unfold on the screen in my mind. Brian Eno & Harold Budd meets Toires...