IDM Mailing Archive

Everyone keeps hyping FSOL as IDM, but I have Dead Cities and I don't really like it-the hard tracks are too obvious (read "non-intelligent"), while the ambient tracks meander too much. Have I missed the point of the album, or is FSOL always like this, or is this just a bad album, or what? Is it worth getting some other FSOL album like Accelerator or LifeForms even if I don't like Dead Cities? If you disagree with me, explain why so I can take it into account when I give Dead Cities another listen. Thanks much Sam

quoted 2 lines ambient tracks meander too much. Have I missed the point of the album, or is

> ambient tracks meander too much. Have I missed the point of the album, or is > FSOL always like this, or is this just a bad album, or what? Is it worth

It's not a bad album, to me anyways. I had the same opinion upon first hearing it... the hard tracks just grated away at me, so I stuck it on the shelf for 4 months before listening to it again. Then, one day, a friend of mine said he had heard a local radio station playing bits and pieces from Dead Cities, and said it sounded really fresh. So, I decided to give it another try, and for whatever reason, I began to like more and more of it. My personaly fav is the second track. (Starts out with the sample saying "I killed a man.... a man who looked like me.") I think this track is an absolute mind f*ck of a track. Stormin'. 'da Bomb.

quoted 3 lines getting some other FSOL album like Accelerator or LifeForms even if I don't

> getting some other FSOL album like Accelerator or LifeForms even if I don't > like Dead Cities? If you disagree with me, explain why so I can take it into > account when I give Dead Cities another listen.

Well, if you start out with Accelerator (or even go back to the Jumpin' & Pumpin' compilation Earthbeat, which I managed to track down a couple years ago), you'll encounter more acid-house influenced tracks. Lifeforms caught the duo in full-on ambient/soundscape/samplerama mode, with 2 discs of complete and utter bliss when it hit my CD player. ISDN progressed on into the more hip-hop flavored beats, acid jazz riffs, and plenty more samplin' and tweakin'. I think Dead Cities is still keeping pace with their ever forward style, by mixing in more "hardcore" sounds with their nicer, more subtle texturing and ambience. It's a great blend, because I find it very hard to be bored while listening to the album. -- guyjr@ns.gt.ed.net | I.D.M.- That stage in sleeping when your feet are a.k.a., Guy Elden, Jr. | moving faster than your eyes.

On Thu, 3 Apr 1997 KaisrSolze@aol.com wrote:

quoted 11 lines Everyone keeps hyping FSOL as IDM, but I have Dead Cities and I don't really

> Everyone keeps hyping FSOL as IDM, but I have Dead Cities and I don't really > like it-the hard tracks are too obvious (read "non-intelligent"), while the > ambient tracks meander too much. Have I missed the point of the album, or is > FSOL always like this, or is this just a bad album, or what? Is it worth > getting some other FSOL album like Accelerator or LifeForms even if I don't > like Dead Cities? If you disagree with me, explain why so I can take it into > account when I give Dead Cities another listen. > > Thanks much > Sam >

Accelerator is definitely worth a listen. Dare I say, it was probably oe of FSOL's best works. Try Amorphous Adrogenous if you can find it.... ?

On Friday, 04-Apr-97, KaisrSolze@aol.com wrote [about (idm) Dead Cities]:

quoted 7 lines Everyone keeps hyping FSOL as IDM, but I have Dead Cities and I don't really

>Everyone keeps hyping FSOL as IDM, but I have Dead Cities and I don't really >like it-the hard tracks are too obvious (read "non-intelligent"), while the >ambient tracks meander too much. Have I missed the point of the album, or is >FSOL always like this, or is this just a bad album, or what? Is it worth >getting some other FSOL album like Accelerator or LifeForms even if I don't >like Dead Cities? If you disagree with me, explain why so I can take it into >account when I give Dead Cities another listen.

When I first got Dead Cities, I found it to be a bit strange, the way they mix the drum'n'bass with ambient and such, but it didn't take too long before I realized that it was great. I definitely think you should listen to it again, and listen to it from beginning to end, not track by track. And you definitely should at least give Lifeforms a listen. IMO ISDN isn't all that great. -- __ __\ \ Aurafix aka Hillie / PHD ^ DAMONES (aka Rare Guy) / /_\ \ http://www.clark.net/pub/buh/index.html \_____/ >> buh@clark.net >> < > .. >> .<>> >> > , m7= inducing mindwaves.. electronic techno muuusik controlled manually by a p h e x t wi n .. .. . . .

On Friday, 04-Apr-97, a lifeform wrote [about Re: (idm) Dead Cities]:

quoted 4 lines I think Dead Cities is still keeping pace with their ever forward style,

>I think Dead Cities is still keeping pace with their ever forward style, >by mixing in more "hardcore" sounds with their nicer, more subtle texturing >and ambience. It's a great blend, because I find it very hard to be bored >while listening to the album.

One thing I found about Dead Cities is that is doesn't create the massive spaces that Lifeforms did. With Lifeforms it took you to different worlds. I guess that's because of the absence of environmental sounds and such, also the way the tracks are mixed together in Dead Cities.. -- __ __\ \ Aurafix aka Hillie / PHD ^ DAMONES (aka Rare Guy) / /_\ \ http://www.clark.net/pub/buh/index.html \_____/ >> buh@clark.net >> < > .. >> .<>> >> > , m7= inducing mindwaves.. electronic techno muuusik controlled manually by a p h e x t wi n .. .. . . .

To somebody who wanted to know about FSOL's earlier stuff (i can't remember who) and a good tip in general: Find a music shop, get your intended purchase, and ask to listen to it. i brought a lot of good stuff this way, and avoided a Lot of garbage. most places should be happy to do it... Enjoy!

KaisrSolze@aol.com wrote:

quoted 1 line Everyone keeps hyping FSOL as IDM, but I have Dead Cities and I don't

> Everyone keeps hyping FSOL as IDM, but I have Dead Cities and I don't

really

quoted 1 line like it-

> like it-

You don't really like it, ergo fsol = not idm ? (Let's not start this kind of discussion again, just take care of what you say everybody ;-) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ M a t h i a s V e r r a e s ET.Phone.Home@ThePentagon.com 'Aliquando praeterea rideo, jocor, ludo, homo sum' ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

At 02:17 PM 4/5/97 +0300, you wrote:

quoted 17 lines On Sat, 5 Apr 1997, Mathias Verraes wrote:

>On Sat, 5 Apr 1997, Mathias Verraes wrote: > >> KaisrSolze@aol.com wrote: >> > Everyone keeps hyping FSOL as IDM, but I have Dead Cities and I don't >> really >> > like it- >> >> You don't really like it, ergo fsol = not idm ? >> >> (Let's not start this kind of discussion again, just take care of what you >> say everybody ;-) > >Hey maybe FSOL isn't IDM at all but SDM (Stupid Dance Music). Eh eh me >being real funny today. > > > .Mikko

don't give up your day job. |}