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Music for Babies
Studio album by Howie B
Released	1996
Genre	Electronic
Label	Polydor Island Independent
Producer	Howie B
Howie B chronology
Music for Babies (1996) Turn the Dark Off (1997)

Music for Babies is the debut album by the Scottish musician Howie B, released in 1996. It is about becoming a father.

Run Wrake produced an animated short to accompany the album.

Production

The album was produced by Howie B. It incorporates strands of trip-hop, jazz, ambient house, and dub.

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic
Robert Christgau	D
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music
The Guardian
MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide
Muzik

The Irish Times wrote that "the opening two tracks, beatless and bereft of rhythm, are gorgeous examples of extra chilled head music." The Guardian called the album "superb," writing that it "is imbued throughout with a funky, chilled-out ambience."

The Independent determined that the album "may well provide a softly comforting soundtrack to his new daughter's life, but the slowly modulated electronic tones and textures of Howie B's album struggle to offer any more substantial value." Robert Christgau concluded that the musician "takes the aimless vapidity of ambient another step toward total stasis."

AllMusic wrote that, "though Music for Babies is one step ahead of most fill-in-the-dots trip-hop, its sleepy mood is a bit too infantile." The Sunday Times deemed it "sweet but overrated."

Track listing

References

1. ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 1. MUZE. p. 336.
2. "Dance Top 25". CMJ New Music Monthly. No. 40. December 1996. p. 52.
3. "Howie B Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic.
4. Ngaire-Ruth (20 April 1996). "Albums — Music for Babies by Howie B". Melody Maker. Vol. 73, no. 16. p. 38.
5. DeRogatis, Jim (1 January 2003). Turn on Your Mind: Four Decades of Great Psychedelic Rock. Hal Leonard Corporation.
6. Kaufman, Gil. "Howie B Kicks Depression with Atmospheric New Album". MTV News. Archived from the original on 8 January 2022.
7. Robinson, Chris (3 June 2010). Animators Unearthed: A Guide to the Best of Contemporary Animation. A&C Black.
8. Carter, David (January 2012). "'Reich remixed': Minimalism and DJ culture". Context: Journal of Music Research (37): 39.
9. ^ "Music for Babies". AllMusic.
10. ^ "Howie B". Robert Christgau. Retrieved 8 January 2022.
11. ^ Martin, James (15 March 1996). "This week's pop cd releases". The Guardian. p. T10.
12. MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1999. p. 56.
13. Barnes, Jake (April 1996). "Howie B: Music For Babies" (PDF). Muzik. p. 104. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 April 2022. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
14. Carroll, Jim (29 March 1996). "Dance". Sound & Vision. The Irish Times. p. 10.
15. Gill, Andy (15 March 1996). "It may well provide a softly comforting...". Pop Music. The Independent. p. 12.
16. Smith, Andrew (27 July 1997). "Rock – On Record". Culture. The Sunday Times. p. 18.

• Howie B albums
• 1996 debut albums
• Polydor Records albums