Future Sound of London: Lifeform
Virgin/Astralwerks: ASW 6113
Side One
1 Cascade
2 Ill Flower
3 Flak
4 Bird Wings
5 Lifeforms
6 Eggshell
7 Among Myself
Side Two
1 Domain
2 Spineless Jelly
3 Interstat
4 Vertical Pig
5 Cerebral
6 Life Form Ends
7 Vit
8 Omni-Presence
9 Room 208
10 Eleaborate Burn
11 Untitled
Comments: At first glance, it would seem that the latest work from the Future
Sound of London is loaded with music, eighteen tracks for an album seems like
a lot. Yet, with "Lifeform" you might as well throw away the track listing
and toss any sort of traditional definition to the wind. This is a story,
spoken with sound, music, and rhythm. Oh yes, it is the masterpiece that was
expected after the rumblings of Amorphous Androgynous' "Tales of Ephidrena",
but one can only hope that someday this album will be accepted as something
even more. If "Accelerator" was the door, this release is the planet. From
static to strings, from Pachyderms to Pachabel, from feedback to Frazier (Liz
that is), "Lifeform" is the lifeforms that make our existence up. It is
sumptuous and astoundingly beautiful.
Summary: 10/10. How could it be anything else? Dougans and Cobain have met
their goal of transcending dance music. The Future Sound is indeed bright.
Scheduled for US release on May 20th.