IDM Mailing Archive

"Don Solaris" finally appeared here with a low enough price to make it worth buying. After listening to it with headphones, I am prepared to endorse it. It's not very much like 90 or ex:el, and thankfully not at all like "Gorgeous" or "Bombadin". It has a level of melodic and rhythmic innovation comparable with 90, IMO. The rhythms are complex and multilayered. Both the melodies and beats take unexpected and interesting turns. Nothing seems to go on for too long. The vocals are mostly not annoying and often creative. Two or three tracks are astonishingly good, most of the rest very good. What's most impressive with heaphones is the production. There are many inventive and masterful analog twiddles. The "soundstage" is very spacious. There seems to be no discernable noise in the recording. The styles of the songs are suitably varied. It's all pretty musical with little bits of atonality and dissonance thrown in here and there to keep it interesting. It's fun to listen to.. Some of it is funky and some of it is danceable, but not all of it. I like the sax work better than usual. I'm really glad it didn't suck and all in all it's likely to be pretty darned good if you liked the "old" 808 State. On the other hand, it is unlikely to appeal to anyone who likes exclusively clanky stuff or only hardcore underground. Take care. Mr. Gil gil@l0pht.com No authority is self-justified. Resist. Visit The Compendium of Allowable Knowledge http://www.l0pht.com/~gil/ FREE MUMIA ABU-JAMAL. END THE RACIST DEATH PENALTY.