| Author
|
Human Blue - Electrolüx
|
ecnalab
Started Topics :
2
Posts :
49
Posted : May 24, 2004 02:11
|
Human Blue is one of my favourite producers. I always look for his music on compilations, and I am never disappointed. Human Blue's compilation tracks "Spinnin' Moon" from "13th Moon" and "Multipus" on "Blue" are some of my favorites. After my first listen of "Electrolüx" , I felt that the tracks seemed more diverse than his last album, "Electric Roundabout". Some are a bit harder than his past album and some go into new directions - which I really like because it makes the album more eclectic and interesting. Well ... here is my first review ever 
1. Soulskeezer
2. Demon Dance
3. Virtual Turnaround
4. Harmonix
5. Rollercoaster
6. In Between
7. Drag Queen
8. Atom
"Soulskeezer"
The first track has a very nice intro and develops into an impressive progressive trance groover. He uses big atmospheric pads, percussion and a driving bassline to create a powerful sound. As usual with Human Blue it builds beautifully...Very good opener!
"Demon Dance"
As the song starts I can tell that it's going to go into a more "full on" direction. A big trance bassline kicks in, and some really cool psy squeals,noises and big pads... This a really pumping track, and the breaks are very cool. The bassline changes 4 minutes in, and it turns into a non-monotone (electro-like) bassline - like 6 minutes in there is an incredible build followed with some nice psychedliic melodies,,, another awesome track!
"Virtual Turnaround"
The trance bass is fast and the kick is powerful then some progressive chords come in to create a cool effect. This is a big sounding track. I would say this is my least favourite of the bunch, but it's a good track none-the-less! If I heard it in a club I would be dancing my ass off!
"Harmonix"
This is a more mellow trance groover... I really dig the opening hi hat. This sports the signature Human Blue chords and atmospheric build. This is a total groover! About 3 minutes in, the track opens up with some psy squeals...then some beautiful chords come in and smooths the track out. It turns into a majestic atmospehere. This is a great morning track - I picture myself dancing on a beach in ecstacy as the sun is coming up... beautiful track,,, this is my personal favourite
"Rollercoaster"
This is a another beautiful trance track.. it starts off with some big pads, and rythmic chords with a pumping bassline. Some melodic pads start and continue building til the end...this track builds nicely and the bassline changes up midway with the melodies continuing - nice change up... this is another morning track in my opinion... solid track
"In Between"
This track has a housey beat and groovin bassline and chords and offers a nice change up from the previous trancey tracks. Midway through there are some fun tribal rythms and some cool sound effects. I really dig this track, it's a nice change of pace and a fun track.
"Drag Queen"
This song opens up with an interesting basline and some more tribal rythms. It builds into very nice groove. I dig this track, once again it's different than the others. The rythm makes my body move! I really don't know how to label this... but who cares!! It's a good track that ends with the signature Human Blue chords..
"Atom"
This track starts off with really cool opening chords and rythms. The bassline is a straight and reverse-sounding. It builds and then really opens up with a techy rythm and some appregiated sequences. The break in the middle is really nice, with some beautiful chords and melodies. This could also work as a morning track, after the build it really opens up nicely and turns into an atmospheric and spacy track... very nice album ending.
Once again Human Blue takes us on another fantastic journey! As you can tell from the review, I really dig this album. I think it's the perfect follow up from his previous album "Electric Roundabout". If you are into progressive and morning soundscapes, go get it!
  -xo Truffle Radio ox-
Waves of Psychedelic and Progressive Trance
http://ecnalab.com/radio
playing : FREq ~ Human Blue ~ Son Kite ~ Prometheus ~ Vibrasphere ~ XV Kilist ~ Ticon ~ Atmos |
|
|
|
pr0fane
Multiphase
Started Topics :
418
Posts :
3816
Posted : May 24, 2004 02:47
|
Nice first review there
“Electrolüx” is a stunning album, and so far 2004 has been way better for the progressive lovers than I could have hoped for, with excellent albums from Son Kite, FREq, Tetraktys and Shaman, just to name a few.
Although not as good as “Electric Roundabout” (one of my all-time favourite morning albums), the album is Human Blue at his best with big, uplifting soundscapes and delicious grooves. I can’t name any favourites, as each time I hear the album I find new things – so I’ll just say that all the tracks are very good, and there are no fillers.
9/10 – great album DJ pr0fane (Iboga Records) | Multiphase
www.sunrisesupplies.com | www.iboga.dk | www.soundcloud.com/pr0fane |
|
|
|
RebeL9
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
47
Posts :
73
Posted : May 24, 2004 07:00
|
This is with no doubts one of the best albums released so far this year. Human Blue once again show his amazing skills.
Most psy/progressive albums released nowadays tend to sound very repetetive but not Human Blue. From the first track to the last he takes you on a journey into several completely different styles. From pure full on, into melodic morning stuff, minimal tribalistic stuff and ending off excellently with a AMAZING techy tune.
My favourite tune on the album is Atom. The melody introduced late in the song is one of the best i ever heard. It fits so well into the rest of the song. Lets now just hope for a vinylrelease of this song.
Buy! |
|
|
|
olivier
Side-A
Started Topics :
40
Posts :
1303
Posted : May 24, 2004 14:28
|
big big big disapointment for me... i would say, "dissapointment of the year"...
the production is good, some ideas are cool ... but the most important , i don't feel the soul that has "electric roundabout" anymore...
some tracks are just sooooo boring, some are too noisy ...
well , let's be nostalgic , i'm gonna put "intercity" in my cd player
|
|
|
|
Taku
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
20
Posts :
186
Posted : May 24, 2004 14:59
|
|
i agree. it didnt reach the expectations that i had from hearing electric roundabouts..... ill have more listens to it though |
|
|
|
The Green Channel
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
41
Posts :
1025
Posted : May 24, 2004 17:55
|
I agree with you jannick (profane) great album, but not as good as Electric roundabout... 9/10.
"Love is a way of life"
(Gaia, Love, Nature, Shamanism (.2A.y.0a.hu.1a.sc.2a.), Terence McKenna) |
|
|
|
Madpup
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
21
Posts :
174
Posted : May 25, 2004 16:55
|
I also think this one is a bit dissapointing. Great production, but the songs are just OK, there is not really a standout track here (Atom comes close though). There is a real lack of feeling in this album, unlike Electric Roundabout.
And the first track is really poor. |
|
|
|
nahimoff
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
67
Posts :
469
Posted : May 27, 2004 01:00
|
quite a big disappointment to me too, it seems like the album is devided not evenly to 2 parts: first one where he tries to make full on music and fails, and the second where he tries to reproduce the old human blue sound, in which he fails again.
very mediocre album which falls inbetween progressive and full on without really being exciting or innovative.
better luck next time i hope
DJ NADI EarPeaks music Group (Domo/Tupan/Gat music)
www.domorecords.com info@domorecords.com
www.tupan-records.com www.earpeaks.com |
|
|
|
uvego
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
14
Posts :
432
Posted : May 27, 2004 02:13
|
chill out guys, this is good music...need more listening for sure...
_____________________
_____________________ |
|
|
|
djtikis
9West
Started Topics :
19
Posts :
166
Posted : May 27, 2004 13:21
|
human blue he is one of the most original Psychedelic Swedish artist...I watch him from the begging...
But i dont know why this happent.Electric roundabout it was perfect work with a lot of
sentiment ...I learned human blue with defferent style....But every artist change....This is other subject....
Human blue its for festival onlyyyyyyy!!!!!!!!!!!
Spiral trax keep going with some better realeses
respect to vinyl |
|
|
|
Basilisk
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
168
Posts :
2984
Posted : May 27, 2004 19:04
|
Hold up a minute... how many times have you all listened through this album? I had it ordered the minute it came out, and have been going over it many times since it arrived a week and a half ago... at first I was surprised and shocked as many people here are, for there is a different side of Human Blue showing through here. Does this have anything to do with his studio being pilfered during the making of this album? Keep that in mind - all of this may be completely fresh material made with new, and possibly different equipment, if my information is all correct...
Anyhow it certainly was different at first, with a much richer psychedelic sound to the first opening tracks... but this is simply a different kind of deep than the smooth old styles of the last album. Its not rough, its not scratchy, its not full-on really - 'rich' is the only word that comes to mind to describe that opening sound. Here's what I think of those tracks:
Soulsqueezer - here is a richly psychedelic and serene song with a huge amount of space... the high melody is very simple in construction but powerful in its delivery - a good opener for this album, and it will make a nice place in a set to bring up an epic feel.
Demon Dance - incredible song that will lift any festival to new heights... a sure winner for this summer. Easily my second favourite from this album. Maybe it can't be fully appreciated with home listening, but that break-down is just ideal for me, and those are bass lines that truly move without the stagnant characteristics of today's full-on.
Here the album goes off in another direction... deeper and more 'truly' progressive, moving into melodic territory, and then back down into lower energy levels again:
Virtual Turnaround - this is more the Human Blue we may be used to, but I find this track a little dull and repetative. Not much happening = not much to say.
Harmonix - slower, deeper beat, but the psychedelic effects start to come back. Pleasant atmosphere and relaxing melodies...
Roller Coaster - simply amazing. With the key changes and the huge melodies this could be a CHI-A.D. track. Everything is perfect for nine minutes. I wouldn't change a thing here and frankly this is one of the loveliest pieces of music to be crafted in the last few years.
In Between - where can you go after that? The mood of this song fits - housey & groovy. Here we are back to the true progressive concept - a song that builds in slow subtle ways until before you notice it - there you have a dense sound tapestry. A break after the long initial climb brings in some funky drum tapping, and the track builds again.
Drag Queen - this track has a very interesting character which is at first quite subtle... there is a slight shuffle to the beat, a small hint of that tribal sound again, and the sounds are placed with caution and delicacy. It makes for a nice song.
Atom - a pulsating song with more of those little hints of melodies that build towards a nice ethereal breakdown. Then the song is back with full relaxing force, huge atmosphere, and more nice moments.
...
For me, there are three tracks I *really* like, four that I find to be pretty good, and one dull one. Thats a great ratio, honestly. This album will see lots of use. I would prefer a different track order for listenability, as the way things are setup on this album its more of a DJ tool than a home listener's dream, despite it having the style and content that goes well for home listening. What is the reason for this anyway - is it just to be different? Sure, there is a mold for artists albums that is essentially 'the trance experience' in miniature, with an opening salvo, rising energy, and finally some more chilled moments to bring it down... but this, far from being a bad formula, is an integral component of trance music imho. This album would have benefited from having the two most powerful songs somewhere deeper in the album, instead of being out front.
How does this album stand up to Electric Roundabout? They are on par for me... this is a bit different, whereas the last album was more coherent. Both have some excellent tracks, and the worst of the lot is still enjoyable. I like them both and won't compare further.
Overall, its a great 'source' album for summer parties... last word - this is being touted as pure undiluted TRANCE and that is, at the heart of it, a very accurate statement.
|
|
|
|
Setherian
Setherian
Started Topics :
41
Posts :
254
Posted : May 28, 2004 03:50
|
wow.....very interesting to see how people is reacting to Electrolux!
I must say to all the fellows who didnt like the album but liked the previous music from Dag and dig progressive and understands really how things work in this world...chill out , listen to the album again!!!
First of all amigos, I think u must understand something. When Electric Roundabout came out, it took the world in a big surprise ... nobody could understand how magestic an album could be with so many outstanding tracks like Intercity, Cosmic Approach, Carpe Diem ... I cannot see how could Dag surprise the world AGAIn the same way he did before. .its like impossible u know ... so .. I think honestly that Electrolux is a superb follower for the grandious Electric Roundabout. I think some people didnt analysed it properly. In my opinion, Dag shows a incredible matureness in his new album, I think in the past his minimalistic efforts were not as good as his melodic trax but now i must say he become good in every kind of track. He showed a amazing versatility taht most couldnt expected from him. Trax like Demon Dance, In Between are real masterpieces from someone most maybe wouldnt expect from him. I agree there are no deeeep melodic structures like in Cosmic Approach or Carpe Diem but I enjoyed so much to see his changes... his baslines are better then ever, his "percution games" so solid and inteligent, killer mix, amazing mastering.
I think its a fucking inteligent album, with great great trax. My favourites are Demon Dance, Harmonix , In Between and Atom.
I agree there are no melodies that overcome what he showed in Electric Roundabout but as a whole its a much more solid album , much more matured!
Personally I liked Electrolux much more then Son Kite- Colours .. so this means its one of the best albums in long time. Hail Dag!
>Seth
The Devil Is In Detail! |
|
|
|
Pip
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
13
Posts :
149
Posted : May 29, 2004 03:22
|
I totally agree with Basilisk and Setherian..you have to listen a couple of times before you make up your mind, at first i didn´t know what i should think, but now after 15-20 times listening, i feel that Dag has brought us another masterpiece of melodic trance.
This is for sure trance at it's best, it just keeps growing and growing...I think it's a bit of relief in all this full-on madness that's going on. But what can i say, we all have our right to express our differnt meaning.. Peace
"The Only Good System.. IS A GOOD SOUNDSYSTEM!" |
|
|
|
kristyandmoe
Started Topics :
4
Posts :
224
Posted : May 31, 2004 10:34
|
Love this album as i expected. Like the first half probably a bit more but standouts for me were track 1 and 2. Have been getting a flogging on my cdj1000's.
Great work Dag. |
|
|
|
The Green Channel
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
41
Posts :
1025
Posted : May 31, 2004 17:57
|
It's one of those albumes you either love or hate. And i happen to love it.
"Love is a way of life"
(Gaia, Love, Nature, Shamanism (.2A.y.0a.hu.1a.sc.2a.), Terence McKenna) |
|
|
|
|
