FELIX DA HOUSECAT - METROPOLIS PRESENT DAY THEE ALBUM
Cycle Spin
[7:12]10.4 Mb
Somekinda Special
[3:27]4.9 Mb
Marine Mood
[4:54]7 Mb
Metropolis
[9:23]13.4 Mb
B4 Wuz Then
[5:53]8.5 Mb
Submarine
[7:22]10.6 Mb
Little Bloo
[5:00]7.1 Mb
Footsteps of Rage
[6:35]9.4 Mb
Trippin on Atrip
[6:05]8.7 Mb
Ano Th A Level
[5:01]7.2 Mb
Thee Dawn
[5:17]7.5 Mb
Submarine (Full String and Splash mix)
[9:28]13.6 Mb
Felix da Housecat "Metropolis present Day Thee album" Album Review
all that glitz is gold
Metropolis Present Day? "Thee Album" was actually written, recorded, produced, and Mixed by Felix da Housecat back in 1995. I don't know the whole story but back then this type music was so far underground it seldom saw the light of day. Personally, I didn't catch up with this guy until he was cleverly disguised as Maddkatt Courtship and his futuristic read on electronic music circa 2011 on the I Know Electrikboy album in 1999. Next came the giddy up Kitten & Thee Glitz album in latter part of 2001. Both these album were so off the board and novel in their approach that they garnered unanimous praise and critical acclaim. Felix has always had a knack for a symbiotic blend of things retro, current, and futuristic. This keeps the sound fresh, alive, and so far left of predictability that you're continuously caught off guard. The fact that Metropolis Present Day has been resurrected can only be a beacon of light in those troubled waters of saturation. In the hurry to get more electronica to the market while the fire is still hot, we've been undulated with marginal artist and various compilations to the point of boredom and tears. Enter Felix da Housecat and his never-ending bag of tricks. He's a one-man band and circus wunderkind. You know you're in for something de' regular with the opening Cycle Spin. Some of the material presented here could be delegated to the soundtrack category - case point: Marine Mood, Submarine, Footsteps of Rage, Trippin On A Trip, and Thee Dawn. Think Boards of Canada meets Vangelis or Giorgio Moroder. Then there are the ballads - B 4 Wuz Then, Little Bloo (complete with guitar for a daunting mood swing) and Somekinda Special where Felix enunciates "you think you're special, well so do I" - as I do also. This album has more reverence today than yesterday, and then there's all tomorrow's parties.
SUPERSILENT - 4
4 1
[6:17]9 Mb
4 2
[9:06]13.1 Mb
4 3
[10:02]14.5 Mb
4 4
[1:28]2.1 Mb
4 5
[2:31]3.6 Mb
4 6
[17:49]25.6 Mb
4 7
[2:05]2.9 Mb
Supersilent "4" Album Review
Serene Structures
One of the reasons why I liked 1-3, albeit weird, is that all of the albums all fulfill their numeric palindromes (ie* 0:11=1, 0:22=2, 0:33=3. The same holds true for 4.
The Music itself is very toned down & very focused. The Standout track for me even though it is relatively short is 4.7 (2:06). I am amazed that this music is improvised, because there is a lucid & structured quality.
I just hope that they come to the chicagoland area so I can see them in their natural element.
I hope to visit Norway someday, along with the other artic european countries someday. I believe they draw their music from their surroundings, in this it's Norway.
GUS GUS - ATTENTION
Unneccesary
[4:32]6.5 Mb
David
[4:30]6.5 Mb
Desire
[5:08]7.3 Mb
Attention
[5:07]7.3 Mb
Dance You Down
[6:05]8.7 Mb
Iie
[5:27]7.9 Mb
Call of the Wild
[8:20]11.9 Mb
Detention
[2:32]3.7 Mb
Your Moves are Mine
[5:47]8.3 Mb
Don't Hide What You Feel
[7:53]11.3 Mb
Gus Gus "Attention" Album Review
ONE OF MY FAVORITE CD'S EVER
This was the first Gus Gus cd that I purchased and I was BLOWN AWAY!!! I love everything about it from Earth's awesome voice to the rugged dance beats Buckmaster and the boys lay down. I love David, Dance You Down, Dont Hide What You Feel just to name a few. Great Cd I made all my friends listen to it and they all loved it.
AUTECHRE - LP5
ACROYEAR2
[8:38]12.4 Mb
777
[5:49]8.4 Mb
Rae
[7:13]10.4 Mb
Melve
[1:14]1.8 Mb
Vose
[5:21]7.6 Mb
FOLD4WRAP5
[4:02]5.8 Mb
Under Boac
[6:16]9 Mb
Corc
[5:50]8.4 Mb
Caliper Remote
[1:40]2.4 Mb
Arch Carrier
[6:48]9.7 Mb
DRANE2
[23:19]33.6 Mb
Autechre "LP5" Album Review
One of Ae's best and also one of their most difficult
Autechre is the only band I know of to exist on two completely opposite sides of the spectrum simultaneously... they are both extremely minimal in their approach and some of the most ridiculously complex music you will ever hear. This is probably most true on "LP5" out of all their records. The way the songs are put together, at first it seems like the same rhythms and melodies repeat through each track's duration, but further listening reveals that not a single measure is a repeat of any other measure. The variations are so tightly controlled as to be nearly unnoticable at first. I think that's what makes this album so difficult to people, who can't see how this sort of strange composition could actually convey some sort of feeling.
I think even people who enjoy this album would agree that it's very open to interpretation as far as feelings go, and that while it's certain they are there, it's hard to figure out exactly what the music was meant to do. I could generalize LP5 as being contemplative and melancholic, but really most of the emotions here are hard to put into words.
The sound palette of LP5 is a lot of clicking, popping, synthetic sounds. For the first time, Ae began to make melody interchangable with rhythm, creating beats out of pitched sounds.
The first 2 tracks, "Acroyear2" and "777" are probably the coldest (as in seemingly devoid of feeling), most difficult tracks Ae has ever produced. They're both quite long (7-8 minutes) and change very subtlely. "777" is one of the earliest Ae tracks with little to no recognizable melody, the few audible synth notes there are forming no obvious structure and being pushed to the background.
Things get a little easier with "Rae" and "Melve". "Rae" has a beautiful, nostalgic (I guess I would describe it as 'innocent') synth chord progression in the foreground, with some heavier sliced up beats over it that sound as if they were once a real drumset. "Melve" is just a short, minute-or-so long synth piece with no rhythmic accompaniment with a slightly uneasy, irritated feel to it. This sort of short piece isn't common for Ae.
"Vose In" is a buzzing chord progression over a more repetitive beat. This song is less complex than other parts of the album, but the melody is great. There's a sort of triumph and pride to this song.
"Fold4Wrap5" is a strange one. A soft, bubbling melody plays in the background at a consistent speed while an overlaid beat creates the illusion of slowing down and speeding up. This track is wonderfully mysterious, and reminds me of water flowing through a cave.
"Under BOAC" is a heavier, more hip hop influenced piece that begins with the usual formula of groovy beat and smooth chord progression, but changes completely in the second half with a dark and violent mass of melodies layered on top of each other. The percussion in this song sounds metallic. Also a highlight.
"Corc" is the only track with a beat that really does repeat without variation. A hip hop beat plays while various synth lines fade in and out all over the mix. This song is very relaxed, sunny and laid back.
"Caliper Remote" is a short piece like "Melve", but this one contains some percussion made out of some sort of scraping sound. A sort chord progression joins in near the end.
"Arch Carrier" is an amazing composition, but I'm personally not too fond of it because of the nintendo-esque cheesy synth noises that go through most of the song. This is the only time in the entire Ae discography that I have a problem with the chosen synth sounds, which usually sound detailed and expertly created. Again, however, "Arch Carrier" is one of LP5's most melodic numbers, and even builds to a sort of climax near the end of its 6 minutes.
"Drane2"... Anyone who calls Autechre emotionless really needs to hear this song. I agree with the other reviewers that this song is simply incredible, and must be heard. The gorgeous, 3 chord melody that repeats for the whole 9 minutes is complimented a number of smooth countermelodies and copious amounts of strange percussion that can only be described as sounding like bouncing objects. The percussion seems to form a tune all its own. One of the best album closers I've ever heard.
There's little interludes between every track as well. The interludes include all sorts of strange whirling, whooshing or clanging sounds panned all over the place. Someone said it was "warping" you to the next track. That's a pretty good way to put it.
I would actually recommend that someone who buys this album listen to the more accessible tracks first, as opposed to starting at the beginning. Usually I'm a strong proponent of listening to albums in their entirety, (and doing that with this album is quite an experience) but I think it could be off-putting to a first time listener. I'd start out with "Under BOAC", "Arch Carrier", "Drane2" or "Rae" and then move onto the rest. I believe this is one of the best electronica albums ever created, but it isn't for everyone. I only recommend it to those who are willing to take the time to understand it.
Video Rae
extrait musical
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