IDM Mailing Archive

Would anyone be willing to recommend *one* or possibly *two* recent Kirk/Cabaret Voltaire albums from the following list? Or are they basically interchangeable? I have Plasticity and it's great but as for the rest... I'm feeling overwhelmed by their bout of Namlook Syndrome and the stuff is not generally available for listening in the shops here. thanks much - International Language Conversation Virtual State Electronic Eye Sandoz (is there a self-titled one?) Intensely Radioactive [heard a bit of it - sounded brilliant] [Spirit Guide to Low Tech - I've heard this one and thought it sucked.]

On Wed, 26 Oct 1994, Sally Burns wrote:

quoted 4 lines Would anyone be willing to recommend *one* or possibly *two* recent

> > Would anyone be willing to recommend *one* or possibly *two* recent > Kirk/Cabaret Voltaire albums from the following list? Or are they > basically interchangeable?

quoted 1 line Conversation

> Conversation

Thumbs up - I think it's fantastic, and it's a bargain to boot. Of course, I would also heartily recommend _Code_, or _The Arm of the Lord_ for totally different reasons. Dave

quoted 3 lines Would anyone be willing to recommend *one* or possibly *two* recent

>Would anyone be willing to recommend *one* or possibly *two* recent >Kirk/Cabaret Voltaire albums from the following list? Or are they >basically interchangeable?

I'd recommend them in this order, keeping domestic/import status and prices in mind for US readers: 1. The Conversation (double CD, cheap & domestic in the US, very diverse) 2. Virtual State (cheap & domestic US, beautiful arpeggio-based ambience) 3. Closed Circuit (double CD, rumored US release soon, plinky-delay ambience) 4. Digital Lifeforms (import in US, but not too expensive, groovy) 5. International Language (domestic US, a few duds, pretty diverse) 6. Intensely Radioactive (import US, a bit dark for me in places) (1/5: Cab Volt, 2: R.H Kirk, 3: Electronic Eye, 4/6: Sandoz) Basically, 'The Conversation' has something for everyone, while "don't forget the D!" advocates might conceivably not get into 'Virtual State' (in which case they might want to check out 'Intensely Radioactive') - but if you like 'VS' I'm sure you'll like 'Closed Circuit.' Am I the only one who's enjoying 'Spirit Guide to Low Tech' more after several listens? C. -- (Chris.Hilker) cspot@hyperreal.com The alt.rave mini-FAQ: "Q: ?" "A: hyperreal.com (http://hyperreal.com)"

On Wed, 26 Oct 1994, Sally Burns wrote:

quoted 19 lines Would anyone be willing to recommend *one* or possibly *two* recent

> > Would anyone be willing to recommend *one* or possibly *two* recent > Kirk/Cabaret Voltaire albums from the following list? Or are they > basically interchangeable? > > I have Plasticity and it's great but as for the rest... I'm feeling > overwhelmed by their bout of Namlook Syndrome and the stuff is not > generally available for listening in the shops here. > > thanks much - > > International Language > Conversation > Virtual State > Electronic Eye > Sandoz (is there a self-titled one?) > Intensely Radioactive [heard a bit of it - sounded brilliant] > [Spirit Guide to Low Tech - I've heard this one and thought it sucked.] >

Personally, I've felt the same way about Richard Kirk in general -- he throws out so much music that it's easy to get rather unexcited (I'd say blase, but it looks silly without its little accent mark) about any of it. That said, both Sandoz albums are brilliant, and they're my favorite Kirk stuff. I didn't get all that excited about the trilogy. I can't say why, but it never really hit me well. The new Richard Kirk, Virtual State, is really good too. Maybe I should go back and check out those CV albums again... Oh, and the Sandoz albums are _Digital Lifeforms_ and _Intensely Radioactive_, both on Touch. Jesse --- "If you ain't a beat junkie then you ain't said sh*t" -- The Pharcyde Jesse Stricker jstrick@gladstone.uoregon.edu

On Wed, 26 Oct 1994, Sally Burns wrote:

quoted 19 lines Would anyone be willing to recommend *one* or possibly *two* recent

> > Would anyone be willing to recommend *one* or possibly *two* recent > Kirk/Cabaret Voltaire albums from the following list? Or are they > basically interchangeable? > > I have Plasticity and it's great but as for the rest... I'm feeling > overwhelmed by their bout of Namlook Syndrome and the stuff is not > generally available for listening in the shops here. > > thanks much - > > International Language > Conversation > Virtual State > Electronic Eye > Sandoz (is there a self-titled one?) > Intensely Radioactive [heard a bit of it - sounded brilliant] > [Spirit Guide to Low Tech - I've heard this one and thought it sucked.] >

I have not heard Electronic Eye, but would love a review from someone who has! As for the others, working from the bottom of the list up: Spirit: Agreed - it sucked Intensely Radiaoctive- moderately intense, a few great tracks, but alot seems just reworked material from the other albums- pick it up used IMO... Sandoz- never seen a self titled...anyone? Virtual State- the first two tracks are worth the whole cd, the rest gets the same review as intensely... Conversation- on the whole, his best work I've heard. International Language- like it better than intensely, less than conversation- definately better than plasticity In general, his material sounds very similar from one album to the next, but I still keep coming back- :) Hope this helps- -Thad *~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~* * "A child was asked where the light came from... * * - he blew the candle out and said * * 'Now you tell me where it has gone............'" * * ----------- ------------------------------------------------------------ * * Thad Biggerstaff thad@falcon.cc.ukans.edu * * * * ANY info on Power Macs as Digital Audio Workstations WELCOMED!!!!! * ******************************************************************************

Well, just to throw even more confusion into the mix, I'd have to say that after listening to (almost) all of the albums in question, I'd have to say that my preference list runs: 1. Virtual State 2. Digital Lifeforms 3. The Conversation 4. International Language 5. Intensely Radioactive I really really liked Intensely Radioactive the first few times I heard it, but now it just sort of slides over me, which I don't take to be a good sign. Same goes for The Conversation. On the other hand, each time I listen to Virtual State I like it more and more. The shortwave samples are really well used. And as for Digital Lifeforms, Kirk has never put out anything funkier. Good shit. Also, if anyone's looking for a good summation of the Cabs' older repertoire (including Mallinder's ever-jolly vocals), I'd recommend the two compilations that Mute put out a few years ago (I hesitate to call them "greatest hits" because that implies that there was some hitting involved): Cabaret Voltaire: The Living Legends and Listen Up! With Cabaret Voltaire. The cool thing about both of these is that they feature hard-to-find tracks and they're very representative of the Cabs' style, so you get a good overview without too much overlapping if you decide to buy more. ObTotallyNonIDMButStillWorthwhile: Bootsy brought the Mothership Connection here last night and totally taught us how to party. You'd be a fool to miss his show. They all played like they were on fire! yrz, ozymandias --- "HOUSE MUSIC ... House Music ... House music ... house music concentrate ... Concentrate ... CONCENTRATE ... cooonceenntraaate ooonnn thhaaa rhhhhythhhm ..." - How's The Music, Winx

Cab Voltaire: my favorites are The Conversation and Sandoz/Intensely Radioactive. I also like R. Kirk/ Virtual State and Cab. Voltaire's International Language. But then again I'm a huge Caberet Voltaire fan and have just about everything except Electronic Eye. Rox

On Wed, 26 Oct 1994, Sally Burns wrote:

quoted 14 lines Would anyone be willing to recommend *one* or possibly *two* recent

> > Would anyone be willing to recommend *one* or possibly *two* recent > Kirk/Cabaret Voltaire albums from the following list? Or are they > basically interchangeable? > > International Language > Conversation > Virtual State > Electronic Eye > Sandoz (is there a self-titled one?) > Intensely Radioactive [heard a bit of it - sounded brilliant] > [Spirit Guide to Low Tech - I've heard this one and thought it sucked.] > >

All are recommended except for the Sweet Exorcist disk, but if you want to narrow it down to two, i'd say.... #1- Virtual State #2- Sandoz- Digital Lifeforms (the first C.D.) -Matt

Speaking of _Code_, is it o/p on CD? I can't find it anywhere. Nelson's guitar sounds like static on my vinyl copy. Of the recent stuff, I would point you to _Plasticity_ and _The Coversation_. ____________________________________________________________________________ Paul Rafanello ambience@delphi.com ____________________________________________________________________________

quoted 4 lines Speaking of _Code_, is it o/p on CD? I can't find it anywhere. Nelson's

> > Speaking of _Code_, is it o/p on CD? I can't find it anywhere. Nelson's > guitar sounds like static on my vinyl copy. >

I don't know, but I had to look a LONG time to find my copy on CD; same with _Micro Phonies_. Worth it to get Sensoria on disc, though :-) -H-

quoted 9 lines Speaking of _Code_, is it o/p on CD? I can't find it anywhere. Nelson's

> > > > > Speaking of _Code_, is it o/p on CD? I can't find it anywhere. Nelson's > > guitar sounds like static on my vinyl copy. > > > > I don't know, but I had to look a LONG time to find my copy on CD; > same with _Micro Phonies_. Worth it to get Sensoria on disc, though > :-)

Code is most certainly on CD. I recently sold my import copy which had 2 extra tracks over the U.S. version (which I've also seen on CD). I'm sure I'll regret selling it, but with the number of CDs I buy/sell, that's quite the norm for me. C'est la vie...

Buy Virtual State - NOW!!! Im surprised that this album isn`t mentioned more in top10 listings. Definately one of the truly *great* ambient albums of 1993. Top Track: The Feeling (of Warmth And Beauty). Floaty... Oyvind

Roxanne says:

quoted 4 lines Cab Voltaire: my favorites are The Conversation and Sandoz/Intensely

> Cab Voltaire: my favorites are The Conversation and Sandoz/Intensely > Radioactive. I also like R. Kirk/ Virtual State and Cab. Voltaire's > International Language. But then again I'm a huge Caberet Voltaire fan and > have just about everything except Electronic Eye.

Electronic Eye is closest to Virtual State, a bit more ambient than the rest; it's a double CD, and I like it better than the Conversation, which is great except for a rather boring (IMO) 53 minute dirge. My fav's are probably V.S., the first self-titled Sandoz, and I.L. Intensely Radioactive whould have been in my top three if it wasn't for that song containing an overplayed "I feel so good" orgasmic female sample. Richard, please leave that stuff for the Lords next time. Lee ____________________________________________________________________________ lxfogel@pacbell.com ( ( ( ( ((0)) ) ) ) ) lee@hyperreal.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I bought "Electronic Eye" a week ago, and I haven't been able to get a grip on it yet. In fact, I remember nothing about it, even after having listened to the whole thing numerous times... I really like "Electronic Eye", "The Conversation" and "International Language". But anyways, I was wondering what the first Mallinder-free CV release was. Was it "International Language"? I also have a distinct feeling that CV released something more after the Crepuscule stuff ("Body and Soul" and the "Percussion Force" cd single). I have Plastex 1 & 3 ("Colours" cd single and "Plasticity"). Was there a Plastex 2? And why did Mal go to Australia? -- (domestic pets only, the antidote for overdose, milk.) larsi@ifi.uio.no * Lars Ingebrigtsen

quoted 3 lines I bought "Electronic Eye" a week ago, and I haven't been able to get a

>I bought "Electronic Eye" a week ago, and I haven't been able to get a >grip on it yet. In fact, I remember nothing about it, even after >having listened to the whole thing numerous times...

Well, I think "Bush Channel Stepper" is quite memorable ("a-FRIK-a!"). Ditto the way "Datacrime" and "Counter Insurgent" start up as synthy doodles, then sneak up on you and before you know it they've built up into fullfledged dance tracks.

quoted 2 lines But anyways, I was wondering what the first Mallinder-free CV release

>But anyways, I was wondering what the first Mallinder-free CV release >was. Was it "International Language"?

I don't hear any vocals on 'Plasticity' - who knows.

quoted 3 lines I also have a distinct feeling that CV released something more after

>I also have a distinct feeling that CV released something more after >the Crepuscule stuff ("Body and Soul" and the "Percussion Force" cd >single).

You're probably thinking of 'Technology - Western Re-Works '91' then.

quoted 2 lines I have Plastex 1 & 3 ("Colours" cd single and

>I have Plastex 1 & 3 ("Colours" cd single and >"Plasticity"). Was there a Plastex 2?

Plastex 2 was the Sweet Exorcist "Popcone" 12", I think. C. -- (Chris.Hilker) cspot@hyperreal.com The alt.rave mini-FAQ: "Q: ?" "A: hyperreal.com (http://hyperreal.com)"

Chris Hilker writes:

quoted 5 lines I also have a distinct feeling that CV released something more after

> >I also have a distinct feeling that CV released something more after > >the Crepuscule stuff ("Body and Soul" and the "Percussion Force" cd > >single). > > You're probably thinking of 'Technology - Western Re-Works '91' then.

That's it! I had totally forgotten about that one... -- (domestic pets only, the antidote for overdose, milk.) larsi@ifi.uio.no * Lars Ingebrigtsen