Search - Bt :: Movement in Still Life (Bonus CD)

Utterly Brilliant - Buy it NOW!

Philip Bain | Derbyshire, England | 05/28/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I bought this album on the day that it was released in Great Britain, a rather cold October day last year (1999). I bought it on the back of the previous 2 albums, which were both superb, but nothing could quite prepare me for the first time that i listened to it. I was totally blown away by the sound that my stereo system was producing, this is one of the finest records that I am fortunate enough to own. The original British version is still my favorite, because the album flows and develops as it should, but the Asian double CD is very good, as it adds an extra dimension to the progression of the album, the Austrailian Version was pretty good too, though adding the extra track did harm the flow of the whole experience a little. I'm looking forward to getting my hands on the U.S. version some time soon, and by the looks of it, it could be one of the best versions yet."

'And the light that brings the living...is burning my eyes'

Ian Vance | pagosa springs CO. | 12/18/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"First of all, there are two versions of Bt's 'Movement in Still Life' one can purchase on Amazon: this, the (original) import version, and the US release, which is clipped, disorganized, and replaces several nice trance tracks for mediocre faux-folk numbers. The choice is simple and obvious; the suits who butchered this album should be hung up by their toenails and forced to listen to Coltrain, Bach, Zappa et al until the Britney programming is thoroughly removed from their aural memory.Hailing from Washington D.C., Brian Transeau broke into the exclusive European progressive-trance scene with his 1996 masterpiece Ima (Japanese for Now), which took the standard cliches of the genre and reshaped them into tunes of pure passion. The 1998 follow-up, ESCM, both improved on Ima and vividly displayed BT's shortcomings, those being a penchant for cheesiness and overuse of certain electronic themes. Movement in Still Life, BT's third artist album, features these same flaws sandwiched with some of the man's best work to date.MiSL begins with several hip-hop influenced breakbeat tracks that segue together well and, overall, create a nice party atmosphere. Around the 20 minute mark the fluttering chords of 'mercury and solace' floats through the 3/4 rhythms; intricate trance and happy progressive dominate hereafter, the best of which--'Godspeed,' 'Namastai'--burn bright and long. Not all is brilliant, however: 'Dreaming', unfortunately, stretches its (rather thin) concept to the brink. A collaboration with Hybrid, 'Running the Way down Up' serves a potent climax to MiSL, and after the breaks have faded and a distorted guitar shudders in the distance, the forlorn hope of 'Satellite' comes chiming in for appropriate conclusion--sheer bliss--Bt's voice works well to serve its earnest/melancholic paradox.Four stars--not everything works as it should--but certainly a worth addition to any music-lover's library. Next up for Bt: Still Life in Motion."

Fast Trip

Mark Goldsworthy | Austin, tx USA | 10/06/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"First of all I bought IMA a long time ago. It was by someone I had not heard of yet the cover intrigued me. Unfortunately I did not care for what I heard. Ahem. Roll on a few years and I see ESCM. Ho-hum I think I'll pass on that .....( I did pick it up recently and loved it, but that's another story ).Now here comes MISL with BT grinning on the cover. Initially I purchased the US version with all it's edits and cuts and other things that everyone rants about. So I soon remedied that situation by importing the 2 disk Asian version and sending said US version back to the Tower..This is a very fresh sounding record, sounds like BT had a lot of fun with it. The way everything is played with, the beat changes and the tones used, the sound and the feeling are all very cool. We start with a few breakbeat tracks. With beats sounding a lot like real drums. Although I hate the way Ride sounds ( too harsh and tinny) . The Hip Hop Phenomenon is one of my favs. It uses a lovely subtle melody made purely of sub bass with add distorted tones over the top. Very electric and original. Mercury And Solace must be one of the supreme trance pieces so far. Extremely flowing it takes you to the soaring grounds in the first few seconds.......and keeps you there of course. The Quiver Mix makes the track take on a to some extent different feel yet manages to retain that floaty feeling which is so essential..... Dreaming is an epic, yet there's not much diversity between the two versions here. Love the strings, kinda wished BT kept them going throughout the 9 minutes. It's nice to have the full version of Namistai on the second disc. Exceptional track.Yes, this album indeed has an emotional arc to it that the US does not. We go funky and cool to flying high in your mind until we come back down to finish with a gorgeous folksy number. Just brill. Works so much better ( than the original US release ) and must be one the albums of the decade ( even though it came in 99 - but I never discovered it to 00, so there.... :)Do yourself a Quaver and pick up these discs."