New Forms
{{use British English|date=July 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{for|the sculpture by Tony Cragg|New Forms (sculpture){{!}}New Forms (sculpture)}}
{{Infobox album
| name = New Forms
| type = studio
| artist = Roni Size & Reprazent
| cover = New Forms album cover.png
| alt =
| released = {{Start date|df=yes|1997|06|23}}
| recorded =
| venue =
| studio =
| genre = Drum and bass
| length = 139:54
| label = {{hlist|Talkin' Loud|Mercury|Universal}}
| producer =
| next_title = In the Mode
| next_year = 2000
| misc = {{Singles
| name = New Forms
| type = studio
| single1 = Share the Fall
| single1date = 19 May 1997
| single2 = Heroes
| single2date = 11 September 1997
| single3 = Brown Paper Bag
| single3date = 27 October 1997
| single4 = Watching Windows
| single4date = 28 April 1998
}}
}}
New Forms is the debut studio album by British drum and bass group Roni Size & Reprazent. It was released on 23 June 1997 through Talkin' Loud, and later re-released by Mercury Records and Universal Music Group. The album was released to critical and commercial success, winning the 1997 Mercury Prize, certifying platinum in the UK, and often being cited as their magnum opus.{{cite web|title=RA: Roni Size biography|url=http://www.residentadvisor.net/dj/ronisize/biography|publisher=Resident Advisor|accessdate=22 May 2013}}
New Forms was promoted by the release of its four singles, "Share the Fall", "Heroes", "Brown Paper Bag" and "Watching Windows", all of which entered the UK singles chart and featured vocals from Onallee. The album features production credits from Roni Size, Krust, DJ Die and Suv.
Release
New Forms was preceded by a 1996 EP named Reasons for Sharing containing "Share the Fall", "Down", "Trust Me", and "Sounds Fresh", the former three of which were featured on the album.{{cite AV media notes|others=Roni Size & Reprazent|title=Reasons for Sharing|year=1996|type=Liner notes|author=Talkin' Loud|publisher=Talkin' Loud}} On 19 May 1997, the album's lead single was released, "Share the Fall", which reached number 37 in the UK singles chart in June that year. The album was released on 23 June 1997 and charted on the UK Albums Chart for 46 weeks, peaking at number 8. Following the album, three singles were released "Heroes", "Brown Paper Bag" and "Watching Windows", all charting at positions 31, 20 and 28 respectively, with "Brown Paper Bag" remaining the group's highest-charting single.{{cite web|title=Roni Size Reprazent – Full Official Chart History|publisher=Official Charts Company|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/6190/roni-size-reprazent/|accessdate=5 June 2019}}
The album was released in various formats, all with differing track lists. The original album release was a two disc CD, though single disc editions only containing disc one were later released.{{cite AV media notes|others=Roni Size & Reprazent|title=New Forms (Single Disc)|year=1997|type=Liner notes|author=Talkin' Loud|publisher=Talkin' Loud}} 534 934-2 The cassette version comprised the first disc of the CD.{{cite AV media notes|others=Roni Size & Reprazent|title=New Forms (Cassette)|year=1997|type=Liner notes|author=Talkin' Loud|publisher=Talkin' Loud}} 534 933-4 Two vinyl versions were released, a 5x and 4x LP. Of the two vinyl versions, the most common pressing is the 4LP version comprising most of the first CD; the 5×LP set includes tracks from the second CD, replacing "Intro" with "Heroes" and "Digital", which are appended to the end. In the US, only the 2CD version was released, which contained the bonus track "Electricks".
A remake of the original album, New Forms², was released in April 2008. Roni Size has described it as having a "new coat of armour added to the original tracks".{{cite web |url=http://www.bandweblogs.com/blog/2008/03/25/roni-sizereprazent-new-forms-2-release-dont-hold-back-single/ |title=Roni Size/Reprazent: New Forms 2 release + "Don't Hold Back" single |publisher=Band Weblogs |date=25 March 2008 |accessdate=3 March 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120214145253/http://bandweblogs.com/blog/2008/03/25/roni-sizereprazent-new-forms-2-release-dont-hold-back-single/ |archivedate=14 February 2012 }} The album contains four new songs: "Heart to Heart", "Less is More", "Don't Hold Back" and "Encore", while omitting several of the songs from the original album.
Critical reception
{{Music ratings
| rev1 = AllMusic
| rev1score = {{Rating|5|5}}{{cite web|last=Bush|first=John|title=New Forms – Roni Size / Roni Size & Reprazent|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/new-forms-mw0000028036|website=AllMusic|accessdate=22 May 2013}}
| rev2 = Entertainment Weekly
| rev2score = A{{cite magazine|last=Sakharow|first=Anya|title=New Forms|url=https://www.ew.com/article/1997/10/31/album-review-new-forms|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=31 October 1997|accessdate=14 June 2016}}
| rev3 = The Guardian
| rev3score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite news|last=Bennun|first=David|title=Roni Size: New Forms (Talkin' Loud)|work=The Guardian|date=4 July 1997}}
| rev4 = Los Angeles Times
| rev4score = {{Rating|3|4}}{{cite news|last=Hochman|first=Steve|title=Roni Size/Reprazent, 'New Forms,' Talkin' Loud/Mercury|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-nov-23-ca-56717-story.html|work=Los Angeles Times|date=23 November 1997|access-date=14 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160810181133/http://articles.latimes.com/1997/nov/23/entertainment/ca-56717|archive-date=10 August 2016|url-status=live}}
| rev5 = Muzik
| rev5score = 10/10{{cite magazine|last=Newsome|first=Rachel|title=Reprazent Featuring Roni Size: New Forms (Talkin' Loud)|magazine=Muzik|issue=26|date=July 1997|page=119}}
| rev6 = NME
| rev6score = 9/10{{cite magazine|last=Newsome|first=Rachel|title=Roni Size/Reprazent – New Forms|url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/reviews/19980101000933reviews.html|magazine=NME|accessdate=14 June 2016|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20000817183405/http://www.nme.com/reviews/reviews/19980101000933reviews.html|archivedate=17 August 2000|url-status=dead}}
| rev7 = Pitchfork
| rev8 = Q
| rev8score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite magazine|last=Howe|first=Rupert|title=Roni Size/Reprazent: New Forms|magazine=Q|issue=379|date=December 2017|page=115}}
| rev9 = Rolling Stone
| rev9score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{cite magazine|last=Fricke|first=David|author-link=David Fricke|title=Roni Size and Reprazent: New Forms|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/artists/ronisizeandreprazent/albums/album/220084/review/5940519/new_forms|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=16 December 1997|accessdate=14 June 2016|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080605235529/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/ronisizeandreprazent/albums/album/220084/review/5940519/new_forms|archivedate=5 June 2008|url-status=dead}}
| rev10 = Spin
}}
New Forms was released to favourable reviews. AllMusic described the album as "the major statement on drum'n'bass", rating it five stars out of five, while in 2010 BBC Music noted that it "carved a mainstream niche for drum and bass like no album before it".{{cite web|last=Diver|first=Mike|title=BBC – Music – Review of Roni Size & Reprazent – New Forms|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/jh6m|publisher=BBC Music|date=25 October 2010|accessdate=22 May 2013}} Entertainment Weekly noted the album's "caffeinated drum beat and blissful bass reverb". Pitchfork{{'}}s Ryan Schreiber was less generous, commenting that the album "doesn't really get decent until the second half of disc one".
Track listing
The original CD release contains both discs, though a single disc version containing only disc 1 was additionally released in the UK.
{{track listing
| headline = Disc 1 / Cassette
| title1 = Railing
| writer1 = {{hlist|Ryan Williams|Dominic Smith}}
| length1 = 2:05
| title2 = Brown Paper Bag
| length2 = 9:03
| writer2 = Williams
| title3 = New Forms
| note3 = featuring Bahamadia
| writer3 = {{hlist|Williams|Antonia Reed|Paul Southey}}
| length3 = 7:45
| title4 = Let's Get It On
| length4 = 6:57
| writer4 = Williams
| title5 = Digital
| writer5 = {{hlist|Williams|Onallee}}
| length5 = 9:05
| title6 = Matter of Fact
| writer6 = Williams
| length6 = 4:05
| title7 = Mad Cat
| writer7 = Williams
| length7 = 4:56
| title8 = Heroes
| writer8 = {{hlist|Williams|Onallee}}
| length8 = 6:35
| title9 = Share the Fall
| note9 = Full Vocal Mix
| writer9 = {{hlist|Williams|Onallee|Daniel Kausman|Kirk Thompson}}
| length9 = 6:13
| title10 = Watching Windows
| writer10 = {{hlist|Williams|Onallee}}
| length10 = 5:33
| title11 = Beatbox
| writer11 = {{hlist|Williams|Southey}}
| length11 = 1:09
| title12 = Morse Code
| writer12 = Williams
| length12 = 6:58
| title13 = Destination
| writer13 = {{hlist|Williams|Onallee|Ben Watt|Tracey Thorn}}
| length13 = 8:12
}}
{{track listing
| headline = Disc 2
| writer1 = Williams
| title1 = Intro
| length1 = 0:54
| title2 = Hi-Potent
| writer2 = Williams
| length2 = 6:53
| title3 = Trust Me
| writer3 = Williams
| length3 = 6:26
| title4 = Change My Life
| writer4 = Williams
| length4 = 8:27
| title5 = Share the Fall
| writer5 = {{hlist|Williams|Onallee|Kausman|Thompson}}
| length5 = 6:26
| title6 = Down
| writer6 = {{hlist|Williams|Kausman}}
| length6 = 6:51
| title7 = Jazz
| writer7 = {{hlist|Williams|Southey}}
| length7 = 6:04
| title8 = Hot Stuff
| writer8 = {{hlist|Williams|Thompson}}
| length8 = 6:32
| title9 = Ballet Dance
| writer9 = {{hlist|Williams|Kausman}}
| length9 = 6:41
| total_length = 139:54
}}
{{track listing
| headline = US disc 2 bonus track
| title10 = Electricks
| writer10 = Williams
| length10 = 6:17
}}
{{track listing
| headline = 4x vinyl
| title3 = Railing
| writer3 = {{hlist|Williams|Smith}}
| length3 = 2:05
| title1 = Brown Paper Bag
| length1 = 9:03
| writer1 = Williams
| title2 = New Forms
| note2 = featuring Bahamadia
| writer2 = {{hlist|Williams|Reed|Southey}}
| length2 = 7:45
| title4 = Let's Get It On
| length4 = 6:57
| writer4 = Williams
| title6 = Matter of Fact
| writer6 = Williams
| length6 = 4:05
| title7 = Mad Cat
| writer7 = Williams
| length7 = 4:56
| title5 = Share the Fall
| note5 = Full Vocal Mix
| writer5 = {{hlist|Williams|Onallee|Kausman|Thompson}}
| length5 = 6:13
| title9 = Beatbox
| writer9 = {{hlist|Williams|Southey}}
| length9 = 1:09
| title8 = Morse Code
| writer8 = Williams
| length8 = 6:58
| title10 = Destination
| writer10 = {{hlist|Williams|Onallee|Watt|Thorn}}
| length10 = 8:12
}}
{{track listing
| headline = 5× vinyl
| title1 = Hi-Potent
| writer1 = Williams
| length1 = 6:53
| title2 = Trust Me
| writer2 = Williams
| length2 = 6:26
| title3 = Change My Life
| writer3 = Williams
| length3 = 8:27
| title4 = Share the Fall
| writer4 = {{hlist|Williams|Onallee|Kausman|Thompson}}
| length4 = 6:26
| title5 = Down
| writer5 = {{hlist|Williams|Kausman}}
| length5 = 6:51
| title6 = Jazz
| writer6 = {{hlist|Williams|Southey}}
| length6 = 6:04
| title7 = Hot Stuff
| writer7 = {{hlist|Williams|Thompson}}
| length7 = 6:32
| title8 = Ballet Dance
| writer8 = {{hlist|Williams|Kausman}}
| length8 = 6:41
| title9 = Heroes
| note9 = Album Version
| writer9 = {{hlist|Williams|Onallee}}
| length9 = 6:35
| title10 = Digital
| writer10 = {{hlist|Williams|Onallee}}
| length10 = 9:05
}}
{{track listing
| headline = New Forms²
| title1 = Railings
| writer1 = {{hlist|Williams|Smith}}
| length1 = 2:05
| title2 = Brown Paper Bag
| writer2 = Williams
| length2 = 3:46
| title3 = New Forms
| writer3 = {{hlist|Williams|Reed|Suv}}
| length3 = 4:47
| title4 = Let's Get It On
| writer4 = Williams
| length4 = 1:41
| title5 = Trust Me
| writer5 = Williams
| length5 = 5:03
| title6 = Digital
| writer6 = {{hlist|Williams|Onallee}}
| length6 = 6:35
| title7 = Matter of Fact
| writer7 = Williams
| length7 = 3:57
| title8 = Heroes
| writer8 = {{hlist|Williams|Onallee}}
| length8 = 4:14
| title9 = Share the Fall
| note9 = Full Vocal Mix
| writer9 = {{hlist|Williams|Onallee|Kausman|Thompson}}
| length9 = 6:09
| title10 = Heart to Heart
| writer10 = {{hlist|Williams|Onallee}}
| length10 = 4:51
| title11 = Less Is More
| writer11 = {{hlist|Williams|Southey}}
| length11 = 6:15
| title12 = Down
| writer12 = {{hlist|Williams|Kausman}}
| length12 = 5:12
| title13 = Hi-Potent
| writer13 = Williams
| length13 = 5:08
| title14 = Don't Hold Back
| writer14 = {{hlist|Williams|Smith}}
| length14 = 2:57
| title15 = Beatbox
| writer15 = {{hlist|Williams|Southey}}
| length15 = 1:09
| title16 = Encore
| writer16 = Williams
| length16 = 4:31
| title17 = Destination
| writer17 = {{hlist|Williams|Onallee|Watt|Thorn}}
| length17 = 3:51
}}
Personnel
Adapted from the liner notes.{{cite AV media notes|others=Roni Size & Reprazent|title=New Forms|year=1997|type=Liner notes|author=Talkin' Loud|publisher=Talkin' Loud}}
{{Div col}}
- Roni Size (Ryan Williams) – writing, production, keyboards
- Onallee (Tracey Bowen) – vocals, writing
- Dynamite MC (Dominic Smith) – vocals, writing
- DJ Die (Daniel Kausman) – writing, production
- DJ Suv (Paul Southey) – writing, production
- Krust (Kirk Thompson) – writing, production
- Clive Deamer – drums
- Si John – bass
- Bahamadia (Antonia Reed) – vocals
- Tyrrell – guitar
- Adrian Place – saxophone
- Róisín Murphy – vocals (sampled)
- Intro. London – design
- Vikki Jackman – photography
{{Div col end}}
Accolades
| class="wikitable unsortable plainrowheaders"
|+Accolades for New Forms ! scope="col"| Year ! scope="col"| Organisation ! scope="col"| Award ! scope="col"| Result ! scope="col"| {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |
| 1997
! scope="row"| Mercury Prize | Mercury Album of the Year | {{Won}} | style="text-align:center;"|. {{Cite web|title=It is Size that counts as Roni wins Mercury prize|website=The Independent|date=28 August 1997|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/it-is-size-that-counts-as-roni-wins-mercury-prize-1247754.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220618/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/it-is-size-that-counts-as-roni-wins-mercury-prize-1247754.html |archive-date=18 June 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|accessdate=5 July 2019}} |
Charts
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
=Weekly charts=
{{col-2}}
=Year-end charts=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+1997 year-end chart performance for New Forms !scope="col"|Chart (1997) !scope="col"|Position |
| scope="row"|UK Albums (OCC){{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/end-of-year-artist-albums-chart/19970105/37502/|title=End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 1997|publisher=Official Charts Company|access-date=20 August 2020}}
|89 |
|---|
{{col-end}}
Certifications
{{certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for New Forms}}
{{certification Table Entry|type=album|region=United Kingdom|artist=Roni Size/Reprazent|title=New Forms|award=Platinum|certyear=2013|certmonth=7|relyear=1997|id=4526-595-2}}
{{Certification Table Bottom | noshipments=true}}