Quiet Village - Silent Movie(2008)

Quiet Village - Silent Movie

Original Release Date: May 13, 2008

Label: K7

Genre: Electronica, Downtempo

Size: 395 Mb

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Tracklisting:
1 Victoria's Secret (3:32)
2 Circus Of Horror (4:50)
3 Free Rider (4:20)
4 Too High To Move (6:42)
5 Pacific Rhythm (4:29)
6 Broken Promises (5:47)
7 Pillow Talk (5:07)
8 Can't Be Beat (5:46)
9 Gold Rush (5:26)
10 Singing Sand (5:09)
11 Utopia (5:03)
12 Keep On Rolling (3:48)

Review by Andy Kellman

Joel Martin and Matt Edwards take their alias from Martin Denny's exotica landmark, yet their approach can be likened — not just through the title but in its sound as well — to "Quiet Pillage," the slack but unease-inducing interpretation of "Quiet Village" by experimentalist post-punks 23 Skidoo. Beneath the track list of Silent Movie, an album highlighted by material released in small runs on 12" during 2005 and 2006, the duo thanks "everyone that's been involved in making this album. You know who you are." It's probable that not everyone knows who they are, at least not in this case. The most creative and affecting sample-reliant album since the Avalanches' Since I Left You, Silent Movie plucks from numerous forms of marginalia, whether obscure, loathed by the stereotypical record store clerk, or loved by legions of geeks who were dealt wedgies in high school by Van Halen-loving jocks: prog rock and yacht rock punch lines, new age pin cushions, unhip singer/songwriters, largely unknown Italian film-music composers, and several others. For the most part, these sources are not so uncool that they are cool. They are so uncool that they are... extremely uncool. Unlike the giddy non-stop carnival atmosphere of Since I Left You, Silent Movie is, for lack of better categorization, a chillout album, even though it is just as much a creep-out, its most tranquil scenes seemingly on the verge of being washed away by a sudden ecological catastrophe. With the exception of "Circus of Horror" — scuzzy hurtling-through-a-dustbowl psych rock, replete with the howls of a man who sounds like he has been pitched into the Grand Canyon — and "Gold Rush" — a dead ringer for Scenic's epic, tribal desert scores — everything passes with the force of a light breeze, evoking swaying hammocks, sun-bleached picnics, beached isolation, states of half-awake delirium, and the slowest-moving groups of stoned dancers imaginable. Though the new tracks, including the impossibly lush "Broken Promises" and the sparkling but arid "Singing Sand," could hardly be accused of weighing down the album, it's the previously released material that stands out most. Best of all is "Pillow Talk," a reconfiguration of the Alan Parsons Project's "Voyager/What Goes Up..." that can be disorienting in the most sterile environments. Bonus: it sounds like it was put together to flow directly into the Passions' "I'm in Love with a German Film Star."

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Fragile State - Voices from the Dust Bowl (2004)

Fragile State - Voices from the Dust Bowl

Original Release Date: Mar 30, 2004

Label: Bar De Lune

Genre: Electronica, Downtempo

Size: 389 Mb

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Tracklisting:

01 - Four-Four-Four
02 - King For A Day
03 - New Bassa
04 - Cleo
05 - 600 Bliss
06 - Stolen Generation
07 - At Last
08 - Paper Smile
09 - Overcurrent
10 - Train Time
11 - Paper Tiger

Review by Johnny Loftus

Fragile State put plenty of Brits in a twitter with 2002's Facts and the Dreams, which found Neil Cowley and Ben Mynott creating precise, nearly intellectual downtempo that lacked the druggy hangover so prevalent in the genre. They've returned after a foray into mix-album land with Voices from the Dust Bowl, an album that makes all the right moves melody-wise (even packaging-wise), but lacks the tangibles to truly make an impression. "King for a Day" arcs static-cling keyboard and guitar lines over an insistent, mildly funky bassline, while "600 Bliss" sighs under the sway of romantic strings and the vintage keyboard interjections every chill album since Moon Safari has felt compelled to feature. The sound and timing of the song's loping drumbeat is utterly predictable, but also appropriate to its reconfigured '60s love theme swoon. However, like bad blind dates and too much of Dust Bowl, the track goes on for way too long. The restraint that guided Fragile State's past work seems at odds here with drifting inattention. This isn't true for the entire album. "Paper Smile" builds its melody with well-honed subtlety and endearing little keyboard squiggles, while "New Bassa" is a soulful wonderland of plaintive piano, processed percussion shuffle, and rushes of synthesizer background. It's like autumn in space. "Stolen Generation," too, benefits from Fragile State's artful melodic touch. However, as you amble onto the late album entry "Overcurrent" — which lassos Dust Bowl's listlessness with a burst of vocal sample and upbeat snare — its eagerness sounds out of step, since by that point the album seems to have embraced its own lethargy. By its very design, downtempo music aims for comfort. But while Voices from the Dust Bowl is certainly pleasant, it's rarely distinguishable.

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Fragile State - The Facts and the Dreams (2002)

Fragile State - The Facts and the Dreams

Original Release Date: Sep 10, 2002

Label: Bar De Lune

Genre: Electronica, Downtempo

Size: 277 Mb

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Tracklisting:
01 - Song Of Departure
02 - The Barney Fade
03 - Hoop Dreams
04 - The Facts And The Dreams
05 - Suck It And See
06 - Panacea
07 - Every Day A Story
08 - Barney Reprise
09 - Seraya
10 - Undercurrent

Review by Johnny Loftus
The Facts and the Dreams is the full-length debut for Fragile State, which features Neil Cowley and Ben Mynnot. It's a precise approach to downtempo, designed not as a narcotic stimulant, but a thoughtful relaxant. After a generic opening track that's neither here nor there, the State drops the pristine piano and plucked guitar intro of "Barney Fade." It's where the album really begins, since it's indicative of Facts' measured, intellectual approach. As the strings come in and an understated percussion track tussles in the background, "Fade" flutters between melancholia and floating on fog. The title track amplifies this vibe just a bit, offering shimmering, downtown jazz grooves over which a flute drifts. Yes, the flute might be an overused instrument in downtempo circa 2002. But it works here, matched to warm Hammond tones and a spectacular mid-song horn break. When that brass hits, the pigeons get spooked, and a glittering black Caddy emerges from an underground parking garage. "Panacea" flirts with the vintage organ tones, too, and "Seraya" extends the soundtrack quality that shades most of the corners on The Facts and the Dreams. Again, drawing on soundtrack music for inspiration is as common to chillout as Thievery Corporation is to the genre's myriad compilations. But the referential sound works for Fragile State, since the duo stresses it over the lure of same-y electronic programming — you know, turn the beat on, kick some fazed keys and chirping vocalists. There's no vocalist on Facts. The percussion is understated throughout, too, nearly "live" sounding, and the additional presence of organ, piano, horns, and soulful bass gives The Facts and the Dreams an organic classiness that's often missing from the average downtempo release. Anyone can throw some beats and smoothness together and offer it up in a fancy-backed stereo chair. But does it make the listener start filming a B&W downtown romance in /hisher head? For many, The Facts and the Dreams just might. Recommended.

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Yonderboi - Splendid Isolation (2005)

Yonderboi - Splendid Isolation

Original Release Date: Dec 13, 2005

Label: Mole

Genre: Electronica, Trip-Hop

Size: 384 Mb

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Tracklisting:
1 All We Go To Hell (4:07)
2 Amor (3:39)
3 Eyes For You (4:46)
4 Badly Broken Butterflies (3:20)
5 Follow Me Home (4:40)
6 Were You Thinking Of Me? (3:21)
7 People Always Talk About The Weather (4:58)
8 Love Hides (4:36)
9 Motor (4:30)
10 Trains In The Night (4:30)
11 Soulbitch (5:12)
12 Before You Snap (6:29)
13 Even If You Are Victorious (2:43)

Links:

part1 part2

Yonderboi - Shallow And Profound (2001)

Yonderboi - Shallow And Profound

Original Release Date: Apr 10, 2001

Label: Mole

Genre: Electronica, Trip-Hop, Future Jazz

Size: 602 Mb

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Tracklisting:

CD1
1-01 Intro (1:03)
1-02 Milonga Del Mar (8:44)
1-03 Chase & Chaser (3:41)
1-04 Canteloupe Island (Interlude) (1:09)
1-05 Ohne Chanteuse (3:28)
1-06 No Answer From Petrograd (4:32)
1-07 100% Trevira (2:52)
1-08 Pabadam (3:59)
1-09 The Severance (0:23)
1-10 Sinking Slowly (4:52)
1-11 Bodysurf (4:04)
1-12 Riders On The Storm / Pink Solidism (4:19)
1-13 Road Movie (6:50)
1-14 Thousand Bells (4:46)
1-15 Fairy Of The Lake (5:08)
1-16 Another Geometry (5:13)
1-17 Outro (1:19)

CD2
2-01 Another Geometry (Live) (6:59)
2-02 Road Movie (Live) (8:15)
2-03 Riders On The Storm / Pink Solidism (Live) (9:25)
2-04 Road Movie (Virgács Remix) (5:13)

Review by Dean Carlson

Shallow and Profound. Nineteen years old and Hungarian. Yonderboi's particulars describe nearly everything one can expect from his twilight beats and boozy jazz persona. In fact, this debut album for the respected Mole Listening Pearls label is unusually both dull and bizarre, simultaneously both predictable and impressive. Yonderboi may want to be a new downtempo wunderkind, yet Shallow and Profound fails time and time again by too much of a dependence on techniques in the realm of "safe" and "old." So for every enchanting sampledelic jazz piece (the Doors-based "Pink Solidism"), there's a slab of humming tedium ("Road Movie"). For every sleazy Kid Loco-like "100% Trevira," there's a rhythmically challenged "Sinking Slowly." One could chalk up Yonderboi's faults as being one of young naiveté, yet that's what potential prodigies usually do best. The reason seems to be more that Shallow and Profound's qualitative flips back and forth are disconcerting. Truly, little can be said against the fact that the album becomes less of a listening experience and more like watching a frantic tennis match from the exact center of the net.

Links:

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Ralph Myerz And The Jack Herren Band - Sharp Knives & Loaded Guns (2006)

Ralph Myerz And The Jack Herren Band - Sharp Knives &
Loaded Guns

Original Release Date: 2006

Label: EMI Norway/Virgin Norway

Genre: Electronica

Size: 333 Mb

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Tracklisting:
01 - Kill The DJ
02 - Hello Cleveland!
03 - Don't Play Rock
04 - Casablanca Gold
05 - 1982 Robotdance
06 - Loveland
07 - Deepest Red
08 - Boombox Breakdown Pt. II (Feat. OnklP & NicoD)
09 - The Teacher
10 - Last Train To Slim City

Links:

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Ralph Myerz And The Jack Herren Band - Your New Best Friends (2004)

Ralph Myerz And The Jack Herren Band - Your New Best
Friends

Original Release Date: Sep 23, 2004

Label: Rykodisc

Genre: Electronica

Size: 398 Mb

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Tracklisting:

1 Kill The Habit (4:24)

2 Natasha '75 (4:27)

3 L.i.p.s.t.i.c.k. (3:13)

4 Dubspace (3:47)

5 Surprise (2:59)

6 So Me (4:15)

7 Dr. Lovemuscle (4:24)

8 Escape From The Island (4:41)

9 Vendetta (4:45)

10 Bergen (6:10)

11 Outro (17:30)

Links:

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Ralph Myerz And The Jack Herren Band - A Special Album (2003)

Ralph Myerz And The Jack Herren Band - A Special Album

Original Release Date: May 20, 2003

Label: Emperor Norton

Genre: Electronica

Size: 343 Mb

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Tracklisting:

1 Here Is Love 5:28

2 Nikita 4:57

3 Casino 4:20

4 Think Twice 6:16

5 You Never Come Closer 5:00

6 A Special Morning 4:47

7 Funky Biznizz 4:56

8 Feel It 4:10

9 Savannah 6:32

10 Lullaby 16:59

Review by Rick Anderson

This Norwegian trio follows up its Special EP with this full-length effort, a lightweight but winning mixture of lounge-y ambience, electronic pop, and funky chill-out acid jazz. Its centerpiece is the insanely catchy and fun "Think Twice," which features vocalist Christine Sandtorv and some great cheesy clavinet work by someone billed as the Batmans. But most of the rest of the album is just as good: "Special Morning" is a chilled but faintly sexy instrumental in which faraway whistling weaves around a mellow synth line and softly percolating drums; "Casino" is a greasy retro-'60s romp (this time with vocals from Leslie Ahern); "You Never Come Closer" sounds, believe it or not, like a cross between Sade and the Doobie Brothers. Word has it that their live show involves multiple drummers and "elements of danger." Neither is easy to imagine while listening to this very pleasant album, but it does kind of make you wonder....

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Gabin - Mr. Freedom (2005)

Gabin - Mr. Freedom

Original Release Date: Aug 23, 2005

Label: EMI Music Distribution

Genre: Electronica, Electro-Jazz

Size: 391 Mb

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Tracklisting:
01 Mr Freedom (Feat. Edwyn Collins)
02 Into My Soul
03 The Other Way Round
04 Bang Bang To The Rock'n'Roll
05 The Thousand And One Night
06 It's Gonna Be
07 Midnight Caffè
08 Just Be Yourself
09 Africa
10 And She's Still Watching me

Links:

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Gabin - Gabin (2002)

Gabin - Gabin

Original Release Date: Sep 3, 2002

Label: Astralwerks

Genre: Electronica, Electro-Jazz

Size: 467 Mb

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Tracklist:
01. La Maison
02. Une histoire d'Amoure (feat. Joseph Fargier)
03. Doo Uap, Doo Uap, Doo Uap (feat. Stefano di Battista)
04. Delire et passion (feat. Ana Carril Obiols)
05. Sweet Sadness
06. Mille et une nuit des Desires (feat. Ana Carril Obiols)
07. Urban Night (feat. Stefano di Battista)
08. Gabin Vs Cal's Bluedo
09. Azul Aсil (feat. Ana Carril Obiols)
10. Terra Pura11. House Trip
12. La Maison (di Battista's Dream) (feat. Stefano di Battista)

Review by Robert L. Doerschuk

Milky, silken rhythms lace through this collaboration between Roman DJ Filippo Clary and jazz bassist Max Battini. Their perspectives find accord in the realm of what martini-addled old-timers might label "acid jazz." Electronic timbres are tactile and smooth, guest vocals by Ana Carril Obiols of Mano Negra and Joseph Fargier waft forth from washes of reverb, drum tracks move sensuously from the space-age bossa nova of "Sweet Sadness" to the impish manipulations of "It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)" on "Doo Uap, Doo Uap, Doo Uap," whose spelling as well as vibe betray European roots. Though the beat keeps things moving along, it seldom disturbs the texture, which in these appealing performances is just as important — more so, in fact, on tracks like "Urban Night," on which Stefano Di Battista's soprano sax and Gabin's synthetic strings paint a midnight mood that recalls a much earlier collaboration, between Gerry Mulligan and Beaver & Krause in the primeval days of electronic music. The only exception to this balance of elements is "House Trip," in which crowd noise plays a major role and compensates for the less subtle sound shading. The irony might be that this delirious audience is sampled from somewhere else and looped — if so, listeners have only themselves to blame for surrendering to this groove as well.

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Troublemakers - Express Way (2004)

Troublemakers - Express Way

Original Release Date: Aug 10, 2004

Label: Blue Note

Genre: Electronica, Electro-Jazz

Size: 489 Mb

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Tracklisting:
1 Everyday Is Just An Extension Of Yesterday (6:08)
2 V 72 (2:04)
3 Le Bocal (4:41)
4 All We Love (4:54)
5 Everywhere Is My Home (4:40)
6 County Farm (4:55)
7 Highway Blues (4:31)
8 Lemon (4:37)
9 Shadows Lights... (4:36)
10 And Music Everywhere (2:51)
11 I Could See (1:51)
12 If You Arrest Me (5:42)
13 Call And Response (6:10)
14 God Bless Billie (3:57)
15 Race Records (4:21)
16 Lester Young In Eternity Blowing His Horn Alone (8:40)

Links:

part1 part2 part3

Troublemakers - Doubts & Convictions (2001)

Troublemakers - Doubts & Convictions

Original Release Date: Mar 2001

Label: Guidance Records

Genre: Electronica, Electro-Jazz

Size: 370 Mb

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Tracklisting:
01 Street Preacher (6:16)
02 Too Old To Die (4:46)
03 Noces Africaines (1:49)
04 Awake (6:58)
05 Get Misunderstood (4:08)
06 Electrorloge (7:37)
07 Fatigue Universelle (6:55)
08 Chez Roger Boité Funk (6:47)
09 Hum Hum (1:42)
10 Groover Is Back (5:07)
11 Black City (6:03 )

Review by MacKenzie Wilson

Parisian multi-instrumentalists Troublemakers mold an eclectic array of funkadelic jazz grooves and hip-hop-centric vibes on their stylish debut Doubts & Convictions. Not necessarily hard-hitting in the sense of bringing acidic elements to the core, Doubts & Convictions focuses on a healthy dose of various musical styles. It's groovy yet seductive, with tight synth-power and mysterious vocalic backdrops, the attitude of Roni Size, and household theatrics similar to labelmates Nuspirit Helsinki. "Street Preacher" blazes with brooding saxophones, and the sultry waves of "Too Old to Die" frolic with '70s jazz-funk (Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye would be pleased). Interestingly enough, Troublemakers also disregard the most common atmospheres associated with '70s jive sounds. They size things up a bit, scaling the generic compositions for a moving and classic vibrato. "Electrorloge" is a bit more robotic, but dark basslines shape the overall sassiness of Doubts & Convictions. No swagger or sophistication needs to be defined; therefore, Troublemakers can make it individually without all the hype of new-millennium electronica.

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Cayetano - The Big Fall (2009)

Artist: Cayetano

Title:The Big Fall

Label: Etage Noir Recordings

Genre: Electronic /Downtempo / Lounge

Time: 50:49 Min

Size: 312MB

Release Date: 24.09.2009

Flac + .cue + .log + Covers

Tracklist:
01. Which Color You Like
02. Doppelganger (feat. Kozalias)
03. Crossing Line
04. Nothing Left To Do (feat. Valia)
05. The Big Fall
06. Another Galaxy (feat. Kozalias)
07. Mall Fever08. Mall Reprise
09. The Secret
10. Feel (feat. Valia)
11. Like A Fool
12. Notre Dame
13. Paint My Day (With Black)

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Cayetano - Focused (2006)

Artist: Cayetano

Title: Focused

Label: Sala Sonora Records

Genre: Electronic /Downtempo / Lounge

Time: 49:46 Min

Size: 322MB

Release Date: 2006

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Tracklist:

1. Mathematical Sorrow

2. Sweet Poke

3. Las Sirenas

4. Stretto Café '06

5. Stay

6. Red Winter

7. After All (It's Bossa)

8. La Poupée

9. Une Histoire Si Petite

10. Spiritual Sun

11. Focused

12. Red Winter II

13. The Light Aro

Links:

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Kid Loco - The Italian Job (2008)

Kid Loco - The Italian Job

Original Release Date: 2008

Label: Temposphere

Genre: Electronica

Size: 391 Mb

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Tracklist:

(01) [KID LOCO] THE RIGHT INTRO

(02) [KID LOCO] CREPUSCOLO SUL MARE

(03) [STEFANO TAROSSI] FEARING MUCH (Kid Loco's M. Session Mix)

(04) [I MANIACI DEI DISCHI] PER IL DISCO CHE PIU' AMO (Kid Loco viva la Rockola mix)

(05) [GAK SATO] CLAPSOY (Cumbia Loco mix)

(06) [PIERO PICCIONI] MAGIC (A new experience mix)

(07) [PIERO UMILIANI] LADY MAGNOLIA (Belleville B-Boy mix)

(08) [KID LOCO] LA SEDUZIONE (version 2007)

(09) [ARMANDO TROVAJOLI] SESSOMATTO (Kid Loco Sexamental mix)

(10) [THE TRANSISTORS] MISSION TO VENUS (Belleville carnival of 2007 mix)

(11) [GAK SATO] PENETRARE (Belleville B-Boy mix)

Links:

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Kid Loco - Kill Your Darlings (2001)

Kid Loco - Kill Your Darlings

Original Release Date: 2001

Label: Royal Belleville

Genre: Electronica

Size: 317 Mb

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Tracklist:

01. Kid Loco - Cocaine Diana

02. Kid Loco - Lucy's Talking

03. Kid Loco - Horsetown In Vain

04. Kid Loco - Three Feet High Reefer

05. Kid Loco - A Little Bit Of Soul

06. Kid Loco - I Can't Let It Happen To You

07. Kid Loco - Gypsie Good Time

08. Kid Loco - Here Come The Munchies

09. Kid Loco - Going round in circles

10. Kid Loco - I Want You

Links:

part1 part2

Kid Loco - Jesus Life For Children Under 12 Inches (1999)

Kid Loco - Jesus Life For Children Under 12 Inches

Original Release Date: Sep 21, 1999

Label: Atlantic

Genre: Electronica

Size: 456 Mb

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Tracklist:

01. The Pastels - The Viaduct (Kid Loco On The Right Bank Of The River Mix)

02. Uriel - You Who Are Reading Me Now (Kid Loco Love Experience Mix)

03. Saint Etienne - 4-35 In The Morning (Kid Loco Talkin' Blues Mix)

04. Talvin Singh - Traveller (Kid Loco Once Upon A Time In The East Mix)

05. Kat Onoma - La Chambre (Kid Loco Where Were You Mix)

06. Tommy Hools - Les Reprouves (Kid Loco Action Time Mix)

07. Pulp - A Little Soul (Kid Loco Lafayette Velvet Revisited Mix)

08. Gak Sato - Penetrare (Kid Loco Belleville B-Boy Mix)

09. Badmarsh + Shri - The Air I Breathe (Kid Loco Land Of 1000 Strings Mix)

10. Mogwai - Tracy (Kid Loco Playing With The Young Team Mix)

11. Cornu - Youpi (Kid Loco Space Spaghetti Mix)

12. The High Llamas - Homespin Rerun (Kid Loco The Space Raid Mix)

Review by Keith Farley

An excellent set compiling Kid Loco's outside productions for like minds (Saint Etienne, Pulp, High Llamas) and less so (Pastels, Talvin Singh, Mogwai, Kat Onoma), the Jesus Life for Children Under 12 Inches remix album presents Loco-ized versions some justifiably excellent tracks, made even more solid by the producer's knack for balancing old and new influences, and retaining the spirit of the original even while he pulls out his production bag-of-tricks

Links:

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Kid Loco - A Grand Love Story (1997)

Kid Loco - A Grand Love Story

Original Release Date: 1997

Label: Yellow Productions

Genre: Electronica

Size: 514 Mb

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Tracklisting:
1.1 A Grand Love Theme (4:03)
1.2 Relaxin' With Cherry (5:39)
1.3 Love Me Sweet (4:50)
1.4 The Bootleggers (7:12)
1.5 Calling Aventura King (6:31)
1.6 Sister Curare (5:28)
1.7 She's My Lover (A Song For R.) (4:38)
1.8 She Woolf Daydreaming (4:57)
1.9 Alone Again So (7:05)
1.10 Cosmic Supernatural (4:49)
2.1 La Seduzione (5:18)
2.2 Pearly Girly Man (4:18)
2.3 Cum'on (3:07)
2.4 The Wrong Number (6:34)
2.5 She's My Lover (A Revolution Sitting Stoned In A Field Remix Edit)
(4:39)

Review by John Bush

A Grand Love Story is an irresistible romp through the lighthearted, pastoral side of trip-hop by way of orchestral pop paragons like Bacharach, Gainsbourg, and Love. Songs like the single "Relaxin' With Cherry" and "She's My Lover" are beautiful pop songs, constructed mostly from sampled material with a few live guitar and basslines plus vocals by Prieur and the Pastels' Katrina Mitchell. If the '70s fixations of Air were shifted back a decade, the results would be quite close to A Grand Love Story.

Links:

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Kid Loco - Blues Project (1996)

Kid Loco - Blues Project

Original Release Date: 1996

Label: Yellow Label

Genre: Electronica

Size: 188 Mb

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Tracklist:

01. Kid Loco - Public Paranoiac Number One
02. Kid Loco - Talkin Bibles Vendors Blues
03. Kid Loco - Welcome in a World of Sex
04. Kid Loco - Sister Curare
05. Kid Loco - Let us Now Praise Famous Men
06. Kid Loco - Kronos goes Cosmos

Kid Loco's first release on CD, BLUES PROJECT, is much darker than A GRAND LOVE STORY, but I guess that's why they call it the blues. "Public Paranoiac Number One" has some minor piano chord backed with a steady, slightly off-kilter rhythm. A double bass and saxophone help round out the track and emphasize the dark jazz aspect. The interlude "Talkin' Bibles Vendors Blues" takes some samples from the great documentary SALESMAN. "Welcome in a World of Sex" gets a good rhythm going, and develops a little bluesy piano and sax line towards the middle, while "Kronos Goes Cosmos" has its darkness on display all the way through, with a jazz drum breakdown right in the middle followed with a classical string quartet. Overall, this EP isn't quite as focused as his later work would be, though it's worthwhile in itself.

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Bent - Intercept! (2006)

Bent - Intercept!
Original Release Date: Oct 9, 2006
Label: Amato
Genre: Electronica
Size: 329 Mb
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Tracklist:
1. Exercise 7 (4:45)
2. To Be Loved (4:24)
3. Stay Out All Night (4:40)
4. Breakfast at 80,000ft (3:17)
5. Tired of the Show (3:55)
6. Wendy, Darling (1:28)
7. Waiting for You (5:20)
8. As Seen From Space (2:28)
9. The Handbrake (5:16)
10. Leavin' Me (5:54)
11. After All the Love (4:31)

Bent's fourth album, Intercept!, picks up after Ariels and further masters their blend of eccentric chillout and ethereal house. The secret ingredient is an unconventional lushness from the duo's signature background effects and array of beats. The tag team of Nail Tolliday and Simon Mills split from their record label between albums, and consider themselves in a rebirth stage. There are still many aspects of the custom Bent sound present, but Intercept! is tinged with more sophisticated lyrics and polished beats. Their unusual melodies result from a programmable charisma and celestial ambience throughout all of their material.Just as their debut, Programmed to Love, began with "Exercise 1", Intercept! begins with #7 in the series, commenced by the familiar old man's voice, angelically gliding around a sample of uptempo chillout palpitations. "Breakfast at 80,000 ft" is a Lemon Jelly-esque spacewalk in the morning sun. "Wendy darling" is a short, stringy melody breathing over a light flute that would go well in an evening drive to a party. "As Seen From Space" is the most delicate track, with soft piano flights and a virtuous chorale that could even de-stress Woody Allen before bed. Guest vocals are notably provided by Simian's former frontman, Simon Lord, on nearly half of the tracks. While Simian is defunct, its essence lives on vicariously through Intercept!. "To Be Loved" is a cascading jaunt remniscient of Simian's quirky pop. Similarly, "Waiting For You" is a jittery, fuzztronic track with altered vocals and an erratic guitar loop. Though less uptempo, "Tired of the Show" is a beeping, frustrated swing on a relatively thin backdrop. In a calmer tense, "The Handbrake" is a rubberized, swooning ballad, sustaining a flighty sensation throughout. Simian-esque beats and minimal vocals form the base of "After All the Love", highlighted by whistling and soothing harmonica to finish the album. Bent blissfully extend their catalog with Intercept! and continue to develop their unique brand of electronica. With a large portion of the album featuring the same vocalist, there is perhaps more of a continuity with this album than in the past, but Bent's idea of continuity is still quite vast. The airy synth, digital claps, and staccatoed guitar are obvious in several tracks, but in a wide array of melodies and tempos. Intercept! is yet another triumph, and Bent remain innovators of indie chillout.

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