IDM Mailing Archive

On 3/4/97 Jon Drukman wrote:

quoted 5 lines ok, time to set the record straight.

> ok, time to set the record straight. > > delerium - an overview > > faces forms and illusions - very good late 80's "industrial/ambient".

dark

quoted 1 line melodies, menacing slow drum machine rhythms, ofra haza samples (de

> melodies, menacing slow drum machine rhythms, ofra haza samples (de

rigeur for

quoted 3 lines the time of course).

> the time of course). > > morpheus - an unsuccessful mix of ff&i style with stuff that basically

sounds

quoted 1 line like front line assembly outtakes. some of the tracks even have

> like front line assembly outtakes. some of the tracks even have

fla-growled

quoted 1 line vocals. avoid. (unless you see it for like $2 in which case it's worth

> vocals. avoid. (unless you see it for like $2 in which case it's worth

it for

quoted 3 lines the few good tracks.)

> the few good tracks.) > > syrophenikan - a SUPERB album of tribal rhythms and evil sounding synths.

quoted 1 line extremely clean and well produced. brilliant stereo effects. really

> extremely clean and well produced. brilliant stereo effects. really

really

quoted 3 lines top notch.

> top notch. > > stone tower - peter gabriel's "passion" with more drum machines. very

good.

quoted 3 lines spiritual archives - from the desert to the dungeon. clanking chains,

> > spiritual archives - from the desert to the dungeon. clanking chains, > distorted noises, lots of gritty abbatoir ambience. the comparison to

lustmord

quoted 1 line is right on. notable samples: recoil, zoviet france, legendary pink

> is right on. notable samples: recoil, zoviet france, legendary pink

dots.

quoted 2 lines spheres i - an EXCELLENT pastiche of old style 70's space music with a

> > spheres i - an EXCELLENT pastiche of old style 70's space music with a

90's

quoted 1 line twist. tangerine dream & vangelis meet 2001 samples and evil squirty

> twist. tangerine dream & vangelis meet 2001 samples and evil squirty

303s.

quoted 3 lines fantastic.

> fantastic. > > spheres ii - somewhat lackluster sequel. same ingredients, but it

doesn't have

quoted 4 lines the panache of the previous recipe. still worthwhile. notable samples:

> the panache of the previous recipe. still worthwhile. notable samples: > michael stearns (baraka), tangerine dream. > > semantic spaces - user friendly ultra commercial mixup of enigma, deep

forest,

quoted 1 line orb, FSoL... extremely easy listening. some good bits, some bits are

> orb, FSoL... extremely easy listening. some good bits, some bits are

just SO

quoted 2 lines derivative that you want to vomit. notable samples: everything mentioned

> derivative that you want to vomit. notable samples: everything mentioned > above, as blatant as it gets.

Right-on on all counts, Jon... Syrophenikan, Stone Tower & Spiritual Archives just rocked my world, and then..... Rhys & Bill discovered the inane beauty of appropriation....and in my opinion they have gone down hill ever since. I do own Semantic Spaces (though it's probably still kicking around only due to it being a punched promo) yet it is a painful experience to sit throught the whole CD. The Kirsty sung tracks DO rule, though... but for anyone who's amassed enough of an electronica collection, it's less of a spot the sample and more of a spot the original part for the majority... For those who like Enigma, Deep Forest and the ilk, and aren't overly immersed in electronic music to be able to recognize all the source materials will most likely like this album ... but for the true neophilic machine-heads out there....beware, for this may offend you sensibilities. For the record, I have not heard the the new CD, so will suspend judgement until given a proper listen.... but after Semantic, the Synaesthesia releases, the Intermix releases,.and various other projects (including the recent FLA stuff which is still rehashing their earlier stuff; as much as I luv the early stuff, you only want to hear the same album so many times in so many incarnations..), I don't really see it as missing out on anything too important. For samples on Semantic... I'll add Coil (if they were small sound samples of the Orb, Fsol, etc...that would be cool, but whole bars and additional pieces??) (yerrgghh... if I sound so dastardly evil in commenting about this album, it is just because I used to be a happy owner of everything related to Leeb & co. inc. comp. trax & bootlegs. The nice thing about the early Delerium CD's was that they were ORIGINAL as opposed to their turning 180 degrees and sounding like bad '91 rave music. The Semantic album just happens to be my particular thorn...) My apologies to any that I may offend with this rant. I just believe there is SO much incredible music out there that is being neglected and instead substandard releases are finding their way into peoples collections due to them having bucks behind them and huge promotion as opposed to the wicked shit that keeps coming our way and sits in store bins collecting dust...(I guess that's where this mailing list comes into play... exchanging comments and introducing new artists into the fold that wouldn't be noticed otherwise) As well, I guess Delerium-ly speaking, it seems as it's split within two camps: 1) those who prefer the earlier darker & tribal material (though to all unfamiliar with the back cat., Faces.. & Morpheus are more of a primitive point for the project and sorta spotty, as opposed to the more fluid releases following...) 2) those that are either more inclined to the pop spectrum or are still relatively new to the IDM scene.. Just the old school being damn picky, me thinks... Just making room for the new school, if the inappropriate use of samplers will ever end.. John Quest ++Psyberpunk++ ++Reality Hacker++ ++Evader of the Psychic Censor++ ++Techno-Shaman for the Elevated (naturally or otherwise)++ ++Sex Magick, Designer Drugs & Machines that go PING!!++ np: Ian O'Brien - Desert Scores (ferox) PS: Michael Balch of earlier FLA fame's stuff might be a tad more interesting once he gets something new out (working on jungle trax, supposedly) PPS: hmmmmm...with Rhys Fulber not with Leeb anymore, and Rhys being the main writing element Delerium-wise, it does make me curious what Karma does sound like... Is Rhys credited on the new album????