From langham Sent Wed, Aug 19th 1998, 18:39
From langham Sent Wed, Aug 19th 1998, 18:39
All--
I don't really know how to do this review thing so gimme a break if my first try sucks. Despite all the comparisons drawn between Jega and u-Ziq, I fail to see the similarity. But, since it makes this little task easier, I will do this thing in the context of a comparison, at least in what's-better-this-or-that style.
Percussion. Jega seems to have the edge in this department, but again, it's not really the same. The drums are, simply, good--everything from the simplistic loop on (the aptly-titled) "Bikini Ski Boat" to straight-up drill'n'bass on "Gemini." It's certainly not the best I've ever heard, but remains, ah, good. Some of the percussion sounds a bit amateurish at parts (b-s-s-b-s-s-b-s), like it was tracked or something, but varies to intricate programming on other tracks, most of which contain full-track programming, not just a loop or two.
Other stuff. Nothing too memorable here, it just doesn't have that pure, simple, catchy-melody element that u-Ziq does. I mean, I walk around whistling the end of "Midwinter Log" and the bassline from "B.Y.J" all day after listening to them, but nothing here sticks. Some of the melodies are good, inventive, but it sounds somewhat amateurish, again, like in the composition he varied quarter-eighth-sixteenth combinations, went through the scale, filling in every note, then just erased some here and there (like I did in the MIDI class I took, and I suck). Again while not the same, it just isn't as good as u-Ziq, but, of course, that's a high standard. Not a masterpiece, not crap. The verdict: a solid album.
What did others think? I can't remember anything from the discussion of this album a month or so back, whether most thought it was good or what. Someone fill me in, please.
--Geoff