With this, I do really enjoy the synthwave style of electronic music. And I really enjoy this. Might not hit the cinematic highs that would come out a few years later when this was new back in 2010. Albums like Galactic Melt by Com Truise or 198X AD by Megadrive expanded on this particular aesthetic. As well as others that dabbled in the style but haven't listen to those albums. But this hits a particular high of huge cityscapes, addicting grooves and a refinement of 80's fundamentals. Grade:90
Nice to see you back Luigii!
I don't remember exactly why I recommended you that Lazerhawk album, I hope that's not what made you leave in the first place. 😲
Anyway I'm glad you like it. Apart from being one of the finest synthwave albums I can think of, that album has had, I think, a decisive influence in the global propagation of synthwave at least in France. I remember hearing Overdrive pretty much in repeat at school when this came out. Although College, Danger, Kavinsky (or even FM Attack to name someone not French) were already making synthwave way before Redline, this album, with the rest of the early Rosso Corsa releases, helped give synthwave the success I think it deserved.
I think the reason I stopped in the first place was just work. Sometimes, certain forms of entertainment just lose a certain need for me. Video games are hitting that right now and is quite ridiculous. But I do tend to forget that France had stuff that preceded this. Some songs from Human After All had a bit of that particular essence. I do need to give that Kavinsky record a listen. Nightcall is dope. I think the reason you gave me Lazerhawk was probably due to how like you, my usual listening diet consists with a lot of electronic music. And wanted to see where I reside with personal favorites.
The Present Lover by Luomo
This is the 4th album I've heard by Luomo/Delay, and honestly I'm still hoping that I'll find one I can connect with. Vocalcity was the best I've heard but even that one has its own share of issues imho, while the 2 Vladislav Delay albums I've heard just weren't that interesting to me. Luigii probably wouldn't agree 😁
The Present Lover is definitely his most groovy and least bloated album. To tell you the truth, it's probably best overall. The songs are generally shorter than on Vocalcity and thus don't lose steam as often. I didn't really like every cut, but even those I didn't dig were at least interesting (like the 2nd one Talk In A Danger with its weird snappy vocals). Was very good all in all and I preferred the more dance oriented (and less lowkey deep house) tracks, some of which are surely gonna end up on my playlists. Wouldn't mind hearing this several more times. High 7.5/10
I've been enjoying this one lately and it also seems like it's your type of house Luigii
Although I love E2-E4 (which I just recommended to LedZep) I've never dived as much as I would have liked in Göttsching's discography. I've actually heard a couple of Ash Ra Tempel albums and found it, well... Average, pretty far from the grandeur I find in the chess album and much closer to the works of Klaus Schulze which I'm not particularly fond of. So I've seen this album a few times without ever wanting to listen to it. That was, obviously a mistake.
What surprised me from the start is that in spite of its cover art, it's pretty relaxing. Quite remote from the ominous feeling of Popol Vuh or early Tangerine Dream. It's, to my opinion, a much more melodic (new age influences maybe?) album than most of the other albums of the scene I've heard. It's still mostly an ambient record, but there is still much attention to rhythm which tend to please the techno head in me.
The sound design in Ocean Of Tenderness reminds me of Pablo Bolivar's Just Perfect Landscapes which is one of my favourite ambient piece ever, and I don't think I've ever had this thought before, though my highlight on the album would actually be Deep Distance. The last track Nightdust was a more difficult listen for me. It's closer to the "usual" 70s Kraut/Space/Progressive Electronic or whatever it's called, and I always have a hard time getting into it. Great album anyway, thanks for recommending it 😁
Yeah, this is my type of house. Quite chill, moody and quite meticulous with a laid back demeanor. For 1998, this still feels new or one of those records that you go digging for and think this came a few years ago. Not several decades. As of now, I'm getting through the bonus material, and even that sounds quite engaging and entertaining. Don't know if this would get on my decade chart for the 1990's. But, what I know is that this is a high contender for 1998. I could see top 20, unless the competition is massive for that year. Grade:95
Also before I continue, while I don't necessarily agree for Rakka, I get it. Though maybe Anima, the album that came in the middle of the first two Luomo albums might hit you right. But for Present Lover, this is a record that grew more and more. Especially when I finally understood what this album was going for. That being a digital fantasy while relaxing in your hi tech loft in space. Taking place several centuries in the future. But yeah, those dance orientated tracks do slap. Especially the one two punch of What Good and Shelter. The latter, possibly my favorite closer on any album. Debateably.
Now, while I would love to give the same thing to guz, I don't want this to get repetitive for viewers. And while it's going to be a pick, I kind of want to see how you deal with an early 2000's Autechre album. Specifically this one. That being Draft 7.30
baystateoftheartNeil Young as a butternut squashProfile Massachusetts
I listened to this three days ago but neglected to write about it then, so unfortunately it's not the freshest in my mind. But I did enjoy this a lot, and found it to be a very interesting blend. A pretty free-form combination of folk musics with a good deal of jazz mixed in. It's beautiful stuff for the most part, but loose and flowing enough that I couldn't really grasp ahold of any the songs. I wasn't a fan of the parts with babbling-type vocals, but they were the only significant negative. Overall, a talented duo well worth checking out, but Paêbirú is definitely not an instant favorite. Maybe it will be a grower. 3.5/5.
I have not followed the last several pages so may take a while until I can make better guesses on what to give:
[img:500:500]https://www.besteveralbums.com/albumart/album_large_8088_4e3f92dd16812.webp[/img]
Fever Ray by Fever Ray _________________ More needs and less greed
Yesterday is not you, it is a resource to be looked back on.
Luigii I may try Anima at some point, sounds interesting. Also glad you liked Around the House, it's such a wonderful house album.
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Natural Feelings by Airto Moreira
Relatively obscure 70s samba jazz/fusion gem. It's fun. There is a comment on RYM suggesting it sounds dated, but honestly it didn't to me. Sure, synths sound a lot like 70s prog maestros which some people find cheesy, but apart from that there's nothing here that sounds more dated than any old samba album I've heard. Every song was great in its own way, with Terror being the most experimental of the bunch. It starts with crazy percussion and alien sounds, then launches into an acoustic samba guitar riff and continues to develop and surprise over the almost 10 minute runtime. It stands out as an odd one, the rest is some tasty samba fusion (sometimes psychedelic actually) which continued to amaze me with its simplicity and joyfulness. A wonderful late summer album, which is exactly what I needed today. High 8/10
Fourth album from one of the biggest acts of the 1980's that I have under my belt. And I think as of now this is my second favorite from them. I would need to revisit there 1985 album Low Life to see if that is somewhat better than this. But I would say this is an album that actually gets better as it goes through its run time. Love the optimistic, vibey "jangle?" rock tones that provides the backing of a good amount of the record. Hitting this particular peak with my personal favorite track Run. Especially the way that track ends. Way able to zone out and just able to enjoy the feeling. And I would also say the synth pop that exists on this is also really good. My only track that I would say I'm a bit iffy on would be the opener. But even then, that track is interesting. So, this was pretty enjoyable. In all honesty, I still a bit miffed that I still haven't finish there discography even when my enjoyment for the group has been pretty high. Grade:90
My ranking for New Order if you asked me:
Get Ready
Technique
Low Life
Republic
I think this is going to LedZep. If not, let me know. But my pick would be this
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Moonbuilding 2703 A.D. by The Orb. Since you really enjoyed Abolition, I want to know how you feel about this album.
baystateoftheartNeil Young as a butternut squashProfile Massachusetts
I was rather distracted during my first listen, so I ended up listening to this twice in two days. I almost never do that with an album, but it worked out very well in this case, and Fever Ray grew on me quite a bit during the second listen. Their production is detailed, hard-hitting, and precise, and easily the highlight of the album. Aesthetically, this record has a similar vibe to Nordic pop contemporaries Björk and Jenny Hval, but the drums are punchier and the songwriting is comparatively a weak link. Fever Ray's vocals are solid, and the pitched down ones in particular are cool. It's basically an even split here between very good and great songs, so the tie goes to 4/5. Far better than Plunge. I still haven't heard anything by The Knife, but it's on my to-do list.
Well, I don't want you to stay miffed Luigii 😄
Try this next. It's their most acclaimed studio album and a contender for my favorite.
Fifth record from New Order under my belt. There most critically acclaimed album on this site. And while it doesn't resonate to me compared to Get Ready. As of now, this is my favorite from there classic 80's period. This is that particular pivot from the post punk of Joy Division into the more synth heavy stuff that they will do further on. Not only do I really love the guitar tones on this album, but also the electronic elements sound quite pristine. Doesn't have the pigeon hold of what the 80's will become. One song and the synth tone in particular reminded me of Kraftwerk. But yeah, this was really well done. Grade:95 Though maybe Movement or Brotherhood might be better?
New Order Rank
Get Ready
Power, Corruptions and Lies
Technique
Low Life
Republic
Bay I say listen to this, as of now my favorite album of 2021
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LedZep
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