Mention the word ‘ambient’ in any kind of conversation and most people will run a mile before you reach the end of your sentence. What started out as supposedly being a highly ingenious way of relaxing to music has since become synonymous with overwrought, tepid, standard fare for dinner parties and such like.
German electronica guru Ulrich Schnauss is perhaps best known for his work – his ‘ambient’ work – remixing and producing other people's material, but Goodbye is actually his third long-player thus far.
Although big on the post-rock/shoegaze circuit, his unique talent for constructing dreamy soundscapes over semi-erotic melodies doesn't really stand out across an entire album, and unlike an act such as Maps, for example, he hasn't yet mastered the art of song structuring.
That's not to say there aren't several gems hiding away in here,of course, such as the title track itself which recalls both The Orb in their early ‘90s heyday and more recently the likes of Lemon Jelly when they've not got their silly heads on. Elsewhere, the Rob McVey (of Longview fame) sung 'Shine' feels like being transported across another galaxy by way of a solar-powered tractor, while 'In Between The Years' is blissful in a Tangerine Dream kind of way.
On the whole Goodbye isn't really much more than a background music soundtrack, something that would probably sound much better in an elevator than on an iPod. That said, it’s good for running a mile to.
Empty Words
"What started out as supposedly being a highly ingenious way of relaxing to music has since become synonymous with overwrought, tepid, standard fare for dinner parties and such like"
To drag up *another* stereotypical journo comment, I think what you are actually refferring to is covered by the lovely term 'chillout'.
'Ambient' electronic music is a term that could encompass multiple sub-genres which are currently very popular, full of interesting & original artists and have a lot more to them than just 'dinner party music'.
I thought DiS was above using such hackneyed and sloppy terms. The first paragraph effectively derides the album before mentioning anything about it and creates a negative view for the rest of it which i feel is unjust.
Whilst I happen to agree that this is not one of Ulrich's best works, to suggest he is best known for ambient remix work isn't exactly true. His last album, Strangely Isolated Place was a very well recieved, superbly executed piece of electronic goodness.
On the whole, the content of this review gives the impression it was written by someone with little real knowledge or love of electronica, which seems to bias the whole thing from the start.
mugglewump
put it perfectly.
this album is dissapointing
but 'A Strangely Isolated Place' is a modern-day classic. You should check it out if you get chance.
For the record
he is more renowned for his DJ sets and remixes, and however much that angers you, this record doesn't exactly make me for one want to rush out and investigate anything else he might consider doing on his ownsome in the future.
Fortunately, I have a lot of time for Ulrich Schnauss, and yes Mugglewump, I have heard 'Strangely Isolated Place' so will not let this boreathon put me off checking out his next venture.
Fair enough,
and your synopsis may be spot on but my first impression from reading the review was the same as mugglewump.
Well
it doesn't really anger me, i'm just not totally sure about it. His DJ sets are awesome yet usually contain a lot of his own stuff. Most of the people I know who've heard of him have done so through his own work, specifically tracks like 'On Your Own' and good old word of mouth.
Anyhow the number of tired cliches used in the review created the impression for me that you don't have much experience with the electronic side of things. I might be wrong...?
No I'm a fan
of Ulrich Schnauss' work, and although I wouldn't say electronica is my favourite genre of all time I'd list Add N To X, The Aphex Twin and Autechre to name but 3 electronic experimentalists among my faves.
Coolio,
but the impression I get, and I find this to be a issue with DiS in general, is a slight lack of 'finger-on-the-pulseness' within this scene.
This year there's been amazing electronica albums from the likes of Helios, Apparat, Murcof, Deepchord, Modeselektor, Alva Noto to name just a handful. But there's no real coverage here for this kind of stuff, and i really think there should be.
Yeah you're right
I guess we should be paying more attention to what is obviously a very vibrant scene at the minute.
Mm.
Mugglewump's got it. I don't think this really sums up the feeling of disappointment that hit me after hearing this. Strangely Isolated Place was a great record and was perfectly pitched between shoegaze and electronica; this actually does seems to have reverted slightly back into some pretty tedious genre cliches (annoyingly, I found a similar thing with the Cinematic Orchestra's last album). The review seems to blame the genre when in fact it just seems like a significant misstep for the man himself.
..
..I, erm, rather like Medusa though.
A Strangely Isolated Place
is incredible. Unfortunately, this new album sounds like Enya.
...
And not in a good way?
Hello Goodbye
Love his first two albums. Isolated Place will go down in electronica history.
This third album was a long time in the making but I must say I'm quite disappointed. Maybe I have not given it a good crack of the whip yet but it just isn't rocking my world.
The addition of vocals seem at the expense of the music. Could be coffee table wank album of the year