From Michael Upton Sent Wed, Feb 10th 1999, 22:43
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