Re: (idm) Sun Electric: Via Nostra

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