I didn't like Eat Static at first. Only recently I've started liking it, though seeing them live may have affected me the same way it did many others. They're really something else.
And nobody said darkpsy is a phase before Eat Static, they meant that dark psy (for some) is a phase before they learn to appreciate the nuances and small details of other (dare I say better) psychedelic music. I don't want to diss darkpsy, it just seems that many listen to it only for some time, because they want something "extreme". And all this is IMO of course.
And to the sound quality issue, I think it's good to mention it in a review. But it's not a good argument against an album. At least not in this case, as De-Classified is obviously very good soundquality-wise. (This is not IMO, this is a fact:))
But to the album. It's the best album from 07 for me. Haven't heard many 07 albums, but I doubt any of them would be better than this.
Why is it so good? Well first is the diversity. Every track is different, impossible to get bored. And it's incredible how the many different genres are melted into a whole; the album is like a journey.
It's psychedelic, it's melodic, it's funky... You can definitely tell it's made for love of the music. Every little detail is well thought. And the best thing about it are the samples . Best sample-usage I've ever heard. I can't help smiling when I hear them.
Awesome.