Post by Misty on Sept 4, 2009 18:17:26 GMT -5
Ok. For starters, I normally don't do this sort of thing - review music. It's more my counterpart Genocyde's gig. But for this particular one I make an exception, simply because it is just that... exceptional. The band Encoder, known well to The Genocydal Empyre, has compiled what I feel to be their best group of work yet, both in the remixing of some of our favorites and of course with the new additions.
All three renditions of When It Rains deliver a powerful punch, the Liquid Newt Remix being the most hauntingly melodic of them. Collaboration with Lady Omega on vocals for these three songs provides an ethereal, almost eerie quality to the timbre and harmonics, which blend so effectively to render that inexplicable "feel" that a good entrancing techno piece requires.
Vampires is a largely instrumental piece that uses excellent harmonic repetition to further the techno vibe. The proverbial "LOL" would of course be the insertion of Barnard Hughes' classic line from Lost Boys, "All the damn vampires." My only beef with the song is that it's too brief and requires an extended version.
My Enigma is of course an unusual type of love song. However it touches upon the classic theme of the person behind the mask - little depth and detail known, but still beautiful and mysterious as ever. Not many can deliver such a poignant motif inside a technotronic venue, but Encoder successfully does. The new addition of lead singer Sarah allows this to transpire naturally, as the voice of a woman is necessary in order to successfully put forth the tortured emotions the song requires, without it becoming emo.
The remake of Sweet Dreams is perhaps even better than the Eurythmics original. Though often said to be a "tired" song in the remaking, this version of it puts all others to shame and does not deviate so dramatically from the original that one wouldn't recognize the song.
The final two songs up for review are the remixes of November and Supernatural. I save these for last because, to me, they are an absolute integral part of any Encoder long-playing release. Changing the name from simply November to Back To November lets us all know that while we're hearkening back to an older time for the band, we're embarking upon new territory. What grabs the listener the most about this song is the grand, almost regal sounding opening. It remains in the key of C but heralds an altogether different feel - a more powerful flavor. It's definitely an "in your face" moment. The dropping of music with only percussion backing the vocals during the verses leaves the listener hanging on in anticipation of how rich it will sound once the chorus begins. With the addition of a new keyboard element to the song, one enjoys the building intensity of this techno triumph as it progresses toward it's awesome denouement.
Finally, this remix of Supernatural has got to be the best ever, especially because of the harsh dissonance and general disarray during the chorus... which reflects exactly how the singer feels. It's a harder sound - bolder and more powerful than previous mixes. Additionally, the way the music is mastered in this version allows for the lyrics to stand out and be even more effective.
In sum, Slivers Of Time in its entirety and diversity packs a powerful slam inside the world of techno music. It was well worth the wait and definitely serves as a great addition to anyone's techno collection. Be prepared to be entranced.
All three renditions of When It Rains deliver a powerful punch, the Liquid Newt Remix being the most hauntingly melodic of them. Collaboration with Lady Omega on vocals for these three songs provides an ethereal, almost eerie quality to the timbre and harmonics, which blend so effectively to render that inexplicable "feel" that a good entrancing techno piece requires.
Vampires is a largely instrumental piece that uses excellent harmonic repetition to further the techno vibe. The proverbial "LOL" would of course be the insertion of Barnard Hughes' classic line from Lost Boys, "All the damn vampires." My only beef with the song is that it's too brief and requires an extended version.
My Enigma is of course an unusual type of love song. However it touches upon the classic theme of the person behind the mask - little depth and detail known, but still beautiful and mysterious as ever. Not many can deliver such a poignant motif inside a technotronic venue, but Encoder successfully does. The new addition of lead singer Sarah allows this to transpire naturally, as the voice of a woman is necessary in order to successfully put forth the tortured emotions the song requires, without it becoming emo.
The remake of Sweet Dreams is perhaps even better than the Eurythmics original. Though often said to be a "tired" song in the remaking, this version of it puts all others to shame and does not deviate so dramatically from the original that one wouldn't recognize the song.
The final two songs up for review are the remixes of November and Supernatural. I save these for last because, to me, they are an absolute integral part of any Encoder long-playing release. Changing the name from simply November to Back To November lets us all know that while we're hearkening back to an older time for the band, we're embarking upon new territory. What grabs the listener the most about this song is the grand, almost regal sounding opening. It remains in the key of C but heralds an altogether different feel - a more powerful flavor. It's definitely an "in your face" moment. The dropping of music with only percussion backing the vocals during the verses leaves the listener hanging on in anticipation of how rich it will sound once the chorus begins. With the addition of a new keyboard element to the song, one enjoys the building intensity of this techno triumph as it progresses toward it's awesome denouement.
Finally, this remix of Supernatural has got to be the best ever, especially because of the harsh dissonance and general disarray during the chorus... which reflects exactly how the singer feels. It's a harder sound - bolder and more powerful than previous mixes. Additionally, the way the music is mastered in this version allows for the lyrics to stand out and be even more effective.
In sum, Slivers Of Time in its entirety and diversity packs a powerful slam inside the world of techno music. It was well worth the wait and definitely serves as a great addition to anyone's techno collection. Be prepared to be entranced.
