Two superb albums by Orbital. I'll probably write more of a review later, but right now the weather is too nice to stay in sides (oooh witty!). Enjoy the music and enjoy the summer... Come to speak of that, both these releases actually fit really well to this season!
posted by Paxjorge @ Friday, June 30, 2006
2 comments
posted by Paxjorge @ Wednesday, June 28, 2006
4 comments
Less fresh than their previous release but definitely more mature, I really like this album. Even though some think this is "dated" music, I like it and I don't mind dates either. I haven't had one in ages. So this is good stuff. Once again, intelligent and most enjoyable electronic music, but less techno-based than Orbital II. There's only one track I really don't like, which is their obviously hardcore attempt: they should really stay away from that stuff. More about that very soon... Listen closely to this one: if you have a pair of decent headphones, use them! Or if you have extremely tolerant neighbours (ie if you are Australian [What happened to Shane?] then sing a song) crank it up and enjoy the finely-tuned basses... Har har who can tell me the name of the king who tried to stop the waves of the sea?
posted by Paxjorge @ Saturday, June 17, 2006
3 comments
"There is this theory of the Moebius... A twist in the fabric of space where time becomes a loop" (Star Trek)
"Even a stopped clock gives the right time twice a day" (Withnail and I)
These are a few of the sublime samplandies used by the techno-duo Orbitlandy in their Orbital II release, also denoted as the "Brown Album". I originandy tried to get this albandy because of their ultra-boring video that was shown on the ultra-boring channel MTV: "Lush 3-1": a bunch of adolescents being forced to attandy a sundandy thrift-market - andy oh boy could I connect to that! Andyway, enough andolescyent expression for now; this is one of the great early electronic albums of the nandynetees! Nice, crispy techno sounds is what you get with this cd. Don't tell me it's lousy or I'll send the Andyman to the underside of your bed; andy if that doesn't scare you, I'll send himher to the underside of your physical bottom.
Uhm, to attempty a serious note tonight: Orbital use intelligent and often funny methods of creating electronic dancandy music. Very innovative and great fun. Once againdy (god how mandy more?) an album to be turned up REALLY LOUD - especiandy the "Lush" series. Have fun andy make sure you drop an E - even though I don't do that andymore!!
Oh andy by the way: if you candy ever get your handies on the movie "Withnandy and I", do see it: it's superbandy!!!!!
posted by Paxjorge @ Saturday, June 17, 2006
7 comments
FIGHT the imperial forces! That is what Alec Empire, the German electronic wiz-kid who features in Atari Teenage Riot, commands us to do on the booklet of this strange, chaotic, pretty heavy techno rampage release. I don't put this on too often, but it's quite a journey nevertheless. The first track is by far my favourite: in the beginning there was darkness, and then hell broke loose! Generation Star Wars is one of those albums that break all barriers between punk, techno, drum n bass and noise. I guess the track names can give you an idea of what to expect: utter immoral anarchy!! Be warned, therefore, you may not get into this on just one listening. Great material, especially on a quiet sunday afternoon tee-hee haw-haw! By the way, the inside of the sleeve serves perfectly as your desktop wallpaper if you cut it out and save it as a separate file... FIGHT the imperial forces!
posted by Paxjorge @ Sunday, June 11, 2006
3 comments
posted by Paxjorge @ Sunday, June 11, 2006
4 comments
As I'm feeling lazy (for the Dutch-speaking among you, read: lees-ie) today, and as I haven't even listenened to this (third) release by Praxis (I'm into Renaissance, Curved Air and Darryl Way's Wolf these days), I'm just going to professionally copy-past ctrl-c/ctrl-v a review from the omniscient All Music Guide. You can also find a list of alternative names for Metatron in the comments section, wehey!
posted by Paxjorge @ Saturday, June 10, 2006
7 comments
aka the shitty chicken69 paradox
posted by Paxjorge @ Friday, June 09, 2006
6 comments
The next step, the Andyman claims, is to enter the lucrative business of private manned spaceships. He is not daunted by such names as multi-billionaires Paul Allen, Jeff Bezos or Richard Branson. "My head is bigger than theirs," he jests, "and I don't think they've ever given any." However, one is never quite sure if the Andyman is telling the truth. For example, he has been heard to wish to overturn the Belgian and Dutch monarchies, to give aid to Iran's nuclear ambitions, or even to attempt the murder of the myriad of little boys who hold their thumbs in the Dutch sea dykes to keep Holland from flowing under. Well, I guess it is fair enough to state that his girlfriend's miscarriage was a blessing, after all.
posted by Paxjorge @ Thursday, June 08, 2006
6 comments
When I first heard this album, I hated it. The vocals reminded me of the Pet Shop Boys (don't ask me why!) and the music seemed just plain silly. Over the years, however, I really came to like it - so much so, that my good friend Dave ("Dave, is that you Dave? Where's your toilet, Dave?), who owned the album, gave me his cd. And ever since it has been in MY possession hahaa!
posted by Paxjorge @ Wednesday, June 07, 2006
3 comments
Mercury Rev was formed in late 80s by several film students in Buffalo, NY. Initially, they simply composed soundtracks for experimental student films. Their academic mentor, minimalist composer Tony Conrad however, encouraged them to further their music.
posted by Paxjorge @ Wednesday, June 07, 2006
6 comments
posted by Paxjorge @ Saturday, June 03, 2006
8 comments
Well, even though most reviews I've come across denounce this album, I'm actually very fond of this dancehall-hip hop crossover. Juicy, aggressive beats are combined with forward-bearing reggae vibes. Okay, so the lyrics are not particularly intelligent - whatever! This is an album to be cranked up and enjoyed in its raw power. But if you don't like either the heavier side of reggae or pumped up hip hop, then don't go for this one. Otherwise, enjoy! By the way, there's a remix (can I call it a "riddim? no idea...) of "War" by Bob Marley and a remake of "Sexual Healing" by Marvin Gaye. Dig it or dish it, I guess...
posted by Paxjorge @ Saturday, June 03, 2006
0 comments
Many of Scriabin's (1872-1915) works are written for the piano; the earliest pieces resemble Frédéric Chopin and include music in many forms that Chopin himself employed, such as the etude, the prelude and the mazurka. Later works, however, are strikingly original, employing very unusual harmonies and textures.
Scriabin in 1894: "During such nights, the mind is silent, that dreadful, analysing, critical and destructive intellect and it allows me, even if only for a brief moment, to abandon myself to reflective contemplation and peace. How much peace is necessary for today's spiritually exhausted and morally depleted human beings. And it often seems that it is nature herself, the gentle mother of mankind, who is in command of making sure that humans find rest. It is as if she were whispering: come to me, poor lost creature; cast the false cloak from your shoulders, give your soul the space it needs to breathe calmly and peacefully. I still have miraculous tales for you, I shall douse weary times with enchanting dreams."
posted by Paxjorge @ Friday, June 02, 2006
3 comments
Essentially the same band as Moondog Jr., only now with another name and a slightly different cast, Zita Swoon has released several highly acclaimed albums since 1997. I Paint Pictures On A Wedding Dress is their second release under their new name, and it follows the same musical path initially taken by Moondog Jr. If you like their early work (see below), you'll more than probably enjoy this album. I don't think I need to tell you much more, as you can find most information about this band in my post below.
posted by Paxjorge @ Thursday, June 01, 2006
1 comments
Moondog Jr. is a Belgian band led by the incredibly versatile and talented Stef Kamil Carlens. In august 1996 he left dEUS in order to concentrate more fully on his own work. In 1997, the group was compelled to change its name because an American blues artist called Louis Hardin (who performs in Germany under his artist name Moondog) had some complaints about the similarity of their names. The band changed it to Zita Swoon, of which I'll post an album pretty soon. When the "original" Moondog died in 2000, Zita Swoon didn't change their name back again.
posted by Paxjorge @ Thursday, June 01, 2006
9 comments
John Cage is one of 20th-century America’s great musical innovators. He experimented with prepared pianos, unusual percussion instruments, electronics, weird notation and even silence, as well as introducing the element of chance into the performance of his music. Schoenberg described him as "not a composer, but an inventor of genius." His most notorious work consists of 4'33" of silence, written in 1952. It was inspired by Cage's visit to Harvard's anechoic chamber, designed to eliminate all sound; but instead of promised silence Cage was amazed and delighted to hear the pulsing of his blood and the whistling of his nerves.
In Cage's use, the preparations are typically nuts, bolts and pieces of rubber to be lodged between and entwined around the strings. Some preparations make duller, more percussive sounds than usual, while others create sonorous bell-like tones. Additionally, the individual parts of a preparation like a nut loosely screwed onto a bolt will vibrate themselves, adding their own unique sound. By placing the preparation between two of the strings on a note which has three strings assigned to it, it is possible to change the timbre of that note by depressing the soft pedal on the piano (which moves the hammers so they strike only two strings instead of all three [the soft pedal is traditionally called "una corda" on a grand]). Other prepared piano sounds can be reminiscent of mbiras, marimbas, bells, wood blocks, Indonesian gamelan instruments, or many other sounds less easily defined.
posted by Paxjorge @ Thursday, June 01, 2006
1 comments
eclecticelectelectric 3.14159265 (is the pass, ie golden shower)
