The Album Review Club - Week #191 (page 1286) - Harlequin Dream - Boy & Bear

All clues are for the band. The clue for the album title would be very difficult.

Does the clue mean much to me? Yes, some of it does!

Same genre at week #81 (I think) or maybe week #11.
 
Coatigan said:
Aphex Twin?
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Correct. I might as well post the full info now because it's a compilation album.

Here's what @LGWIO wrote.

APHEX.jpg

APHEX TWIN SELECTED AMBIENT WORKS 85-92

I had pondered long and hard about what album to lay before you all. There was of course the idea of having you all listen to Gerry & The Pacemakers greatest hits, but then I realised that it would unfair on you all to be forced to give such high scores to a “Dipper”.

The offerings from Air & Budos Band did steal a bit of my thunder and did make me question whether to put another “instrumental” up for review…especially knowing how many of the fellow album threads residents are FOCs who like a bit of verse/chorus/verse. Even more so with no guitars here!

So, I give you the one, the only, Richard D James / Aphex Twin….a musical prodigy who (it is claimed) started work on some of these tracks when he was only 14, with the finished album being released in 1992 at the age of 21. No matter what the truth is, he has produced work that has pushed electronic music forward and had an influence on many (One of his biggest fans being Martin Gore).

I first heard this in my post student days when living in a squat in Deptford. It became the soundtrack to both pre and post club nights. As a result it has worked its way into my head and heart and certainly brings back happy, easier, youthful times. Now a grumpy old man I still turn to this often, whether happy or sad, as background or to actually listen to…and as a result I have ended up having to re-buy the CD a couple of times over the years. Anyway folks, I hope that this strikes a chord with you, as it has with me…..

Xtal
Tha
Pulsewidth
Ageispolis
I
Green Calx
Heliosphan
We are the music makers
Schottkey 7th Path
Ptolemy
Hedphelym
Delphium
Actium

Highlights for me are “Pulsewidth”, “Ageispolis”, “Green Calx” and the best of the bunch with the layers and soaring synths is “Heliosphan”.

In 2003, the album was placed number 92 in NME's "100 Best Albums" poll.[ The album was also featured in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. At various times it has been described as, "a masterpiece of ambient techno" and a "work of brilliance". With one magazine naming it the greatest album of the 1990’s

This album has been a constant for almost 30years with me. I am expecting a marmite reaction, but am hoping that I may get at least one convert and a score marginally higher than “The Streets”.

ENJOY!
 
RobMCFC said:
Correct. I might as well post the full info now because it's a compilation album.
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I had thought of Aph-X-twin when you put out the second clue (with no idea what to make of the first), but just didn't think the genre fit LGWIO. Till you nudged it with the genre.

Then I realised, I have no idea what genre fits LGWIO as it's his first nomination!
 
Nice! with the bashing the Chems got be surprised if this hits the spot. I saw Aphex Twin at festival in London Victoria years ago but couldn't tell you a track he did. Had the 'Come To Daddy' Album which was very different!
 
Thanks to Rob for posting my clues and write up as had to nip back over the water to pick up a new car and just home now.

Disappointed with you lot for not getting the album on the strength of the first clue, especially after I had gone to all that trouble to find players with squad numbers that matched the dates...and lo and behold City have said youth players...and one of them even scored for you the other night!!! Mr Hamilton I think.
 
Not really my cup of tea this, but I’ll give it a go. Can’t be any worse than The Streets… hopefully!
 
GornikDaze said:
Not really my cup of tea this, but I’ll give it a go. Can’t be any worse than The Streets… hopefully!
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I don't think any of the tracks are as "abrasive" as anything on AGDCFF, save perhaps for Green Calx.
For me, so much of the pleasure in this album is the simplicity to start with and then the layering and addition of each little bit to build and build......but then the down side is the lack of "hooks" and with the seeming love of country themes and vibes for many here, this will certainly be a tough one to score highly for many.

@Coatigan pointed out that I havent really been here long enough to have shown my "genre". I like to think I cut across many with this offering being an all time fave which I would put alongside my love for The Lonesome Jublilee / Mellencamp (besides my generally not being the biggest fan of all things "country".
 
LGWIO said:
I don't think any of the tracks are as "abrasive" as anything on AGDCFF, save perhaps for Green Calx.
For me, so much of the pleasure in this album is the simplicity to start with and then the layering and addition of each little bit to build and build......but then the down side is the lack of "hooks" and with the seeming love of country themes and vibes for many here, this will certainly be a tough one to score highly for many.

@Coatigan pointed out that I havent really been here long enough to have shown my "genre". I like to think I cut across many with this offering being an all time fave which I would put alongside my love for The Lonesome Jublilee / Mellencamp (besides my generally not being the biggest fan of all things "country".
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What’s your view of thrash metal? :)
 
LGWIO said:
I do like some metal although thrash not so much, although about the closest thing I own to that would be the cross over Anthrax/Public Enemy "Bring The Noise" which is excellent.
I suppose I am basically an Indie "kid" but then have plenty of "outliers"
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Gornik doesn't venture onto the playlist thread. Eventhough it has some proper gems for him on there. I'll keep trying to entice him though ;)
 
bennyboy said:
Struggling big time with this.
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I am too. Have listened to the majority of it now, but it’s leaving me cold emotionally and it doesn’t have enough oomph to move for the dancefloor (unsurprising tbf as ambient!).

On the plus side it’s way ahead of the game and no doubt an inspiration for some electronic artists in the decades after. But I also listen to Tangerine Dream from a lot earlier and think they did this better.

The problem I always had with him was that at the time 88-92 the last thing I wanted to listen to was chill out tunes, so I largely ignored him back then. I still have that uptempo sensibility, so I’ve never been tempted in the years since.
The electronic music I liked was light years away from this (Dave Clarke, Jeff Mills, Man With No Name).

The nearest I ever came would be the likes of FSOLs early tracks, the Sabresonic album, or some of the Orbital stuff. In terms of emotion I can think of a dozen Sasha productions which have more than anything I can hear on this album.

All that said, I do like to give ‘new’ albums a go now & again, so appreciate it being posted, and it’s tempted me to a thread I wouldn’t normally visit.
 
Had to take the advice of @BlueHammer85 and take a pill to try and get the most of this one - only had antihistamine in the house which always sends me to sleep.
I’m with @bennyboy this is a struggle. On the positive side I clicked on the wrong album on Spotify to start with and was faced with over 2 hours… wtf!!!
 
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