djchameleon

It started out pretty well for me but as time went by. The album overstayed its welcome. I wouldn't listen to this album again but if I was in the mood. I would listen to Born Slippy. I have heard about this duo before. I did get my hopes up a little bit when Santiago Cuatro came on that it would be the track that I ended up loving overall but another disappointment. Low Burn and If Rah were my two favorite tracks on the album. This bad boy is getting a 3/10 from me.

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Trollheart

Of all the albums I've listened to so far in the Album Club, this is one.
No, seriously: along with Ozric Tentacles, this is the album I've enjoyed most so far in round two, and it's well in the top ten for both rounds. All right then: let's Matrix the **** out of this puppy!

1. What were your VERY FIRST impressions on listening to the album, say from the first five minutes in?
Punchy, but not too in your face, as some of the electronic (mostly trance I think) music is. Kind of new-wave sentment to it; sort of reminded me very slightly of the little New Order I've heard.
2. What did you think of the opening track?
Enjoyed this a lot. It's a decent length, and takes its time to get going, but I like it.
3. What did you think of the next track?
Another long one, also very enjoyable.
4. Did you like the vocalist? Hate him/her? Any impressions? (see note 1)
Unlike some others here, I don't have a problem with this style of vocal. Maybe the guy can't sing, maybe it's just his style, but Gary Numan, Dave Gahan and Bernard Sumner all do this too, to varying degrees; that sort of bored, flat, emotionless, disinterested style. I quite like it. It has its place. You wouldn't hear it in metal, of course, or funk, but it works well here.
5. Did the music (only) generally appeal to you, or not? (see note 2)
Very much so; very catchy and a lot of hooks, while quite a lot of it is repetitive, but even when this is the case, it works. Reminds me a little of The The also.
6. Did the album get better or worse as you listened to it (first time)?
Better
7. What did you think of the lyrical content?
Didn't really pay that much attention to be honest.
8. Did you like the instrumental parts? (see note 3)
Very much so
9. What did you think of the production?
Insert answer here
10. Did you know of this artiste prior to listening to the album, and if so, did that foreknowledge colour your perception of this album?
No, never heard of them. Thought initially they might be a Black Metal band!
11. Is this, generally, the kind of music you listen to or not?
I've listened to some electronic, though it's not my favourite. I'd listen to more of this though.
12. Assuming you listened to the album more than once, on repeated listens, did you find you liked the album more, or less?
Liked it more each time.
13. What would you class as your favourite track(s), if you have any?
Hard to say. “Motorhome” really impressed me as standing out from the others, but every track was pretty excellent really. “Santiago Cuatro” was nice, very restrained, almost acoustic instrumental. Different.
14. And the one(s) you liked least?
None
15. If the album in question is a debut, did that fact allow it, in your mind, any leeway, and if so, was that decision justified or vindicated? (see note 4)
n/a
16. Are you now looking forward to hearing more from this artiste, if you have not heard any of their other material?
I am now, yes.
17. Were you surprised by your reaction - positive or negative - to the album?
Sort of, yes: electronic music can be a little hit and miss for me. I find some of it quite soulless and uninteresting. Not this one though.
18. Did the album end well?

Yeah, i twas a good track. No better nor worse than any of the others; nothing special, but a nice kind of wind-down I guess. I enjoyed it, anyway.
19. Do you see any way the album could have been improved?
I'd have to say no.
20. Do you think the album hung together well, ie was a fully cohesive unit, or was it a bit hit-and-miss?
This I can't answer, but it didn't seem to wander all over the place or anything. Whether it was that cohesive or not, I'm not entirely sure.

I'd be happy rating this as an 9.5/10.

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MicShazam

I'm not surprised that I hated this album the most - just surprised most of you liked it so much. It really didn't register as anything all that well done to me, but what do I know? (The answer is: Not a lot.)

I really disliked the singing on this album, but I love Gahan's singing. I see the comparison, but to me, they're very different from each other.

I thought so too; like some kind of post-black metal hipster band with sleek production.

Trollheart

The beauty of this club in action, right there.
Oh they are: I'm just pointing out that not EVERY singer emotes. Nick Cave can be like that too. Hell, Bowie could sometimes be quite unemotional, though intentionally of course.
It was just the name that made me think of that.

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Aloysius

While this album might seem overly safe or simple at first glance, closer inspection shows a meticulous attention to detail and love of the medium. They remind me of Kraftwerk in that respect. I'll give this
7/10

Psy-Fi

1. What were your VERY FIRST impressions on listening to the album, say from the first five minutes in?
Techno/synthpop with spoken word lyrics.

2. What did you think of the opening track?
I didn't care much for the music but I thought the lyrics were interesting.

3. What did you think of the next track?
Didn't care for it much musically or lyrically.

4. Did you like the vocalist? Hate him/her? Any impressions?
Not much of a vocalist but the spoken word delivery worked within the songs.

5. Did the music (only) generally appeal to you, or not?
Some of it, yes. Most of it, no.

6. Did the album get better or worse as you listened to it?
Got better for a bit and then went in the other direction.

7. What did you think of the lyrical content?
It worked within the songs but I couldn't figure out what they were about.

8. Did you like the instrumental parts?
Some of it, yes. The one instrumental track on the album was one of my favorites.

9. What did you think of the production?
Sounded excellent.

10. Did you know of this artiste prior to listening to the album, and if so, did that foreknowledge colour your perception of this album?
Had heard of them but can't recall if I've ever heard any of their music.

11. Is this, generally, the kind of music you listen to or not?
Not much but I do listen to this type of music once in a while.

12. Assuming you listened to the album more than once, on repeated listens, did you find you liked the album more, or less?
Listened 5 times. My opinion didn't change one way or the other with each listen.

13. What would you class as your favourite track, if you have one?
The instrumental track "Santiago Cuatro" and the next track "Motorhome" were my favorites by far.

14. And the one you liked least?
Nothing stood out as being particularly awful to me.

15. If the album in question is a debut, did that fact allow it, in your mind, any leeway, and if so, was that decision justified or vindicated?
N/A

16. Are you now looking forward to hearing more from this artiste, if you have not heard any of their other material?
I might check into them some more, the next time I'm in the mood for this type of music.

17. Were you surprised by your reaction - positive or negative - to the album?
Didn't know what to expect, so no.

18. Did the album end well?
I didn't care much for the last track, so no.

19. Do you see any way the album could have been improved?
I would've liked it more and probably rated it higher if there had been more songs like "Santiago Cuatro" and "Motorhome."

20. Do you think the album hung together well, ie was a fully cohesive unit, or was it a bit hit-and-miss?
The two songs I liked best, "Santiago Cuatro" and "Motorhome", sounded out of place in comparison to the rest of the songs but the rest of the album sounded fairly cohesive to me.

6/10

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