IDM Mailing Archive

On Wed, 10 Feb 1999, lazlo wrote: | Could someone please tell me what this sounds like (in comparison to | earlier SE work), and whether it's worth it to search out the Japanese | version with extra tracks? I don't know about the Japanese version, but I'll do my best on the comparison front for the everywhere-else release. It's a lot more digital sounding than any of their prior releases, even 'Present'. There are lots of obvious samples (rhythms, cut ups of a dulcimer, and the first track seems to be based around one reversed flute melody) and the synths have moved further away from the smooth typically analogue sounding textures of at least the first two full lengths. Rhythm-wise, some of it is quite fast, or at least go double-time, in a simple drum and bass style. It's definitely not drill-n-bass noodles. A lot of rhythm sounds are clearly sampled, rather than drum machines. Melodically and harmonically, it's also more adventurous than anything I can recall on their earlier releases. Most tracks shift feel and key, but without being completely turned on their head. Reaction-wise, I love it. It really grabbed me, at least after I'd got over the initial reaction of the first track being so different from anything before. Alongside the slightly weirder, more involved compostions, there's still plenty of warmth and feeling. Michael ____________________________________________ "His eyes are TV cameras" http://www.vuw.ac.nz/~michael/jj.html

On Wed, 10 Feb 1999 14:13:34 -0600, you wrote:

quoted 3 lines Could someone please tell me what this sounds like (in comparison to

>Could someone please tell me what this sounds like (in comparison to >earlier SE work), and whether it's worth it to search out the Japanese >version with extra tracks?

Here's something I posted last year: artist :: sun electric title :: via nostra label :: r&s records cat :: amb8950cd tracks :: tee fried ed things you like to hear tortuga the long walk blue led emanon bonga entresol 7:07 el trauco sierra Just as 'Present' sneaked up on us, during the tail end of 1996, and forced us all to rewrite our top ten lists, 'Via Nostra' does the same two years later. 'Via Nostra' carries on from where 'Present' left off, although Max Loderbauer and Tom Thiel's style has evolved slightly to create a more organic sounding experience. Each track is still tightly structured, with percussion, bass and melody never fighting for dominance, but unlike previous Sun Electric albums, there is a certain live element to each track on 'Via Nostra', with all the spare gaps being exploited with improvised segments. In this respect, there are many tracks that sound very Black Dog/Plaid-ish, others a bit Orblivion-era Orb. Nevertheless, Sun Electric's trademark bubbly, scattershot style still reigns supreme. There's not a single fast-forward moment to be found, although definite highlights include the opening 'Tee' (imagine Plaid remixing Ozric Tentacles), 'Things You Like to Hear' (Orb-style dubbiness with gorgeous strings, vocoder trickery and ever-shifting pace of rhythm), 'Tortuga' (more Plaid-style slickery), 'Emanon' (head-itchingly repetitive groove) and '7:07' (a very clever remix of the James Bond theme). 'Via Nostra' is definitely one of the best IDM releases of 1998 and should be snapped on general principles. (And Black Dog/Plaid fans will love it!) artist :: thomas fehlmann title :: flowing:ninezeronineight label :: r&s records cat :: amb8951cd tracks :: superfruhstuck hermosa zauberwort banda (i.a.o.o.l) baratti unisize 6ix days kirsche wee wee mademoiselle globus sangita rana cuddle teufel face the day kufi & nashi speedo luster snake salvador dingo schizoprehnia Thomas Fehlmann's name may not be instantly recognisable to everyone, but having co-written and co-produced enough of the Orb's recent output to be the band's third member, as well as a fair few of Sun Electric's offerings, you'll certainly have heard him in action. As the title of this album may suggest, what we have here is a compilation of Fehlmann's solo efforts over the past eight years, the vast majority of them (ie, sixteen out of twenty) previously unreleased. Although there are a fair number of collaborations to be found -- '6ix days' and 'Teufel' with fellow Orbster, Alex Paterson, 'Snake Salvador' with Sun Electric and 'Schizophrenia' with Chainreaction honcho Moritz von Oswald. All of the tracks on offer are short and sweet, averaging around three and a half minutes each. There's no time for messing about -- each track gets in there, does its stuff and legs it whilst the going's good. Having said that, the pace never feels frantic. The overall feel of 'Flowing:ninezeronineight' is probably on par with the Orb's 'Orblivion' -- tranquility occasionally breaking into a light trot. As with Sun Electric's 'Via Nostra', you'll want to play this album from start to finish every time and not indulge in any track skipping. Personal favourites includes the excellent opener, 'Superfruhstuck', '6ix days', 'Globus', 'Cuddle', 'Snake Salvador' and 'Dingo'. -- /\/)ark headspin - http://www.sonance.demon.co.uk/