The long awaited return of Lunchtime Aspergers!
22. Orbital - Middle of Nowhere This album ties with Orbital's previous album, In Sides. In terms of quality, it sees the Hartnoll brothers at the peak of their game for the last time. Its not as dark as its predecessor, although it has its moments, the screaming woman shouting 'can anyone hear me!' is one of them! But its definitely a more upbeat album in terms of the rhythm's and basslines. The only slight let down is Stylee, which seems to be a poorly conceived novelty track. The whole thing is composed of sampled Stylaphone - what's the point? If it sounded good, then fair enough, but as it is, it just seems a rather self indulgent end to an excellent album.
Sadly, from here on in, and after the pinnacle, the only way is down....
23. Pink Floy
d - Wish You Were Here
With the death of Syd Barret last week, this seems like an opportune moment to drop this one into the Top 50. He wasn't involved with the band at this time of course, but at least one of the songs is about him. Shine On You Crazy Diamond most definitely is. This is an exceptional album, seemingly about the past and nostalgic to the hilt. The synth washes seem to borrow from the German scene of the time, recollecting the likes of Tangerine Dream, over which you have superb emotive guitar and wonderfully melancholic vocals. Brilliant. Not a bad track.
24. Vangelis - Blade Runner soundtrack
A brilliant movie, with brilliant soundtrack that stands up in its own right as a listening album. This is rich and atmospheric, and if you've seen Blade Runner, it has the added advantage of stirring memories of its rich imagery and landscapes. I wonder how much of the movies dense atmospheres would be quite as smoggy and fragrant without the greeks ethnic tinged and melancholic accompaniment. The ethnic elements are as diverse as you would expect from LA in 2012, there are middle eastern rhythm's against oriental mandolins. This theme of juxtaposition continues with Vangelis' mix of electronic sounds against traditional percussion and bells, again a fair representation of the crumbling, yet retrofit buildings of downtown LA. There is a definite romantic feel to the tunes on here, most obviously with the saxophone led Love Theme, but also in Memories of Green and the tear jerking Tears in Rain. When you listen to this, the last track on the album, you realise how much of the emotion of Batty's death is in the music. As a soundtrack its utterly integral. Can you imagine the opening sequence of the film, with the giant eye, the flight over 'Hades' and the eventual arrival at Tyrell's pyramid with anything other than those bombastic timpani and soaring synth? No, nor could I. But as an album in its own right, it is just as potent.
25. Underworld - Beaucoup Fish
I bought Beaucoup Fish in Malaysia, in one of the malls in Penang whilst on holiday with then girlfriend, Ivy. Its actually quite hard to buy anything out there that's not a pirate - I managed to track one down! I had bought 'Second Toughest in The Infants' some years previously, and whilst it was ok, it didn't really blow me away as I'd hoped. Then, Push In was released as a single and I bought the album on the basis of that. I wasn't disappointed. Where STITI used a lot of break beats, this album is a more straight forward drum machine and synth job, There's no pretence in these tracks, no real attempt at production super wizardry, which is fine. Its not about that. I'd hesitate to say the tunes were naive, because they're not, they're simple certainly, but oddly potent. The repetitive piano chords on Push In are driving and catchy, the Morroda influenced baseline on King of Snake is similarly simplistic, but driving. Over the top of what would ordinarily be fairly standard dance tracks, are the vocals which single out Underworld as a bit different to their contemporaries. They're almost poetic in nature, and delivered in an almost melodramatic way. My favourite track, Jumbo, is a slight exception, its a slower moody number, oddly intimate with the vocals almost whispered and close to your ear, with a very nice synth chord progression. For a main stream dance album, its oddly moving, in a physical sense certainly (its great to drive to) but also emotionally.
26. Harold Budd - Pavilion of Dreams
This is one of the most recent purchases to appear on here. Harold Budd is a name I stumbled across a number of times, but it was Barry who flagged up this album to me. Its a simple affair, consisting of just 4 long tracks. Budd is a very gifted piano player, who makes as much of his silences as his notes. There is a real space to all of his works, and they are beautifully relaxing to boot. Primarily his tracks are piano led or orientated, but we have female choirs and saxophones on this album as well. Almost jazz, almost classical and almost ambient. Its just lovely.
Sadly, from here on in, and after the pinnacle, the only way is down....
23. Pink Floy
d - Wish You Were HereWith the death of Syd Barret last week, this seems like an opportune moment to drop this one into the Top 50. He wasn't involved with the band at this time of course, but at least one of the songs is about him. Shine On You Crazy Diamond most definitely is. This is an exceptional album, seemingly about the past and nostalgic to the hilt. The synth washes seem to borrow from the German scene of the time, recollecting the likes of Tangerine Dream, over which you have superb emotive guitar and wonderfully melancholic vocals. Brilliant. Not a bad track.
24. Vangelis - Blade Runner soundtrack
A brilliant movie, with brilliant soundtrack that stands up in its own right as a listening album. This is rich and atmospheric, and if you've seen Blade Runner, it has the added advantage of stirring memories of its rich imagery and landscapes. I wonder how much of the movies dense atmospheres would be quite as smoggy and fragrant without the greeks ethnic tinged and melancholic accompaniment. The ethnic elements are as diverse as you would expect from LA in 2012, there are middle eastern rhythm's against oriental mandolins. This theme of juxtaposition continues with Vangelis' mix of electronic sounds against traditional percussion and bells, again a fair representation of the crumbling, yet retrofit buildings of downtown LA. There is a definite romantic feel to the tunes on here, most obviously with the saxophone led Love Theme, but also in Memories of Green and the tear jerking Tears in Rain. When you listen to this, the last track on the album, you realise how much of the emotion of Batty's death is in the music. As a soundtrack its utterly integral. Can you imagine the opening sequence of the film, with the giant eye, the flight over 'Hades' and the eventual arrival at Tyrell's pyramid with anything other than those bombastic timpani and soaring synth? No, nor could I. But as an album in its own right, it is just as potent.
25. Underworld - Beaucoup Fish
I bought Beaucoup Fish in Malaysia, in one of the malls in Penang whilst on holiday with then girlfriend, Ivy. Its actually quite hard to buy anything out there that's not a pirate - I managed to track one down! I had bought 'Second Toughest in The Infants' some years previously, and whilst it was ok, it didn't really blow me away as I'd hoped. Then, Push In was released as a single and I bought the album on the basis of that. I wasn't disappointed. Where STITI used a lot of break beats, this album is a more straight forward drum machine and synth job, There's no pretence in these tracks, no real attempt at production super wizardry, which is fine. Its not about that. I'd hesitate to say the tunes were naive, because they're not, they're simple certainly, but oddly potent. The repetitive piano chords on Push In are driving and catchy, the Morroda influenced baseline on King of Snake is similarly simplistic, but driving. Over the top of what would ordinarily be fairly standard dance tracks, are the vocals which single out Underworld as a bit different to their contemporaries. They're almost poetic in nature, and delivered in an almost melodramatic way. My favourite track, Jumbo, is a slight exception, its a slower moody number, oddly intimate with the vocals almost whispered and close to your ear, with a very nice synth chord progression. For a main stream dance album, its oddly moving, in a physical sense certainly (its great to drive to) but also emotionally.
26. Harold Budd - Pavilion of Dreams
This is one of the most recent purchases to appear on here. Harold Budd is a name I stumbled across a number of times, but it was Barry who flagged up this album to me. Its a simple affair, consisting of just 4 long tracks. Budd is a very gifted piano player, who makes as much of his silences as his notes. There is a real space to all of his works, and they are beautifully relaxing to boot. Primarily his tracks are piano led or orientated, but we have female choirs and saxophones on this album as well. Almost jazz, almost classical and almost ambient. Its just lovely.
posted by Bob at 8:33 pm
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