Search - Flanger :: Midnight Sound

This IS NOT electronica . . . it's pure jazz

bowery boy | seattle | 06/08/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"If you're buying this CD based upon amazon's recommendations because you happen to like other electronic groups such as two lone swordsmen or wagon christ, then you'll be highly disappointed such as I was. If you're buying this CD based upon the other reviews on this page and you think that you're going to get an acid jazz-like fusion of electronic beats and cool samples like st. germain's 'tourist' or landslide's 'drum & bossa', then you'll be greatly disappointed like I was. This CD is not electronica in any way, shape, or form. It's pure jazz.When I bought this CD I was expecting something like the above and was incredibly letdown when I listened to this the first time through. I wasn't expecting to be listening to a jazz CD and at first was crestfallen because there was a lack of beeps, bleeps, clicks and beats that I so dearly love in my music. Instead, I found myself listening to music akin to the stuff my father listened to when I was a little tyke. Think John Coltrane or Miles Davis (whose song 'so what' from a kind of blue is almost faithfully rendered on this CD). Fortunately for me, I love jazz(including Cal Tjader who a reveiwer compared this CD to)so I threw out my preconceived notions of what to expect and re-listened to the CD once again.What I found was an excellently crafted piece of jazz workmanship. Some of the coolest jazz I've heard since the days of my father's crackly vinyl LPs(which is one of the charms of this CD, each track has fabricated scratches and crackles that start them out). Now don't get me wrong, there are definitely electronic elements to this CD which is why it's probably classified as electronica. Yet the electronic elements are so minimal and subtle that it isn't really noticeable unless you seek them out.Tracks with some of the more obvious electronic elements:nightbeat 1: starts off w/ electronic static that fades into a deep upright bass groove and a cute sample of an airport recording: "the end of the walk is ahead. . . please watch your step".we move: has a slight trip-hoppy house groove but w/ live instrumentation (including that oh-so-lovely vibraphone---shades of Tjader)until it breaks into a free form collage of electric beeps and warbles that then returns to its orginal jazzy house groove.human race race: another track that starts off w/ live instruments and then breaks into an improv feel of electronic bleeps, live cymbals and that wonderful vibraphone again.nightbeat 2: afro-cuban grooves that fade into electronic autechresque beats, not as jarring or discordant as autechre but definitely treading on similar ground.Some electronic purists will balk at this CD and find it insulting to the genre. Some jazz purists will find this CD an abomination against all that is jazz. BUT true music experimentalists, regardless of their genre, will find this CD a refreshing and excitingly new twist on a style of music that's nearly as old as our country."

Splendid techno-jazz fusion

Dano | fabulous Midway City | 03/08/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This cd is a fine compliment to their previous release 'Templates'. Techno and cool jazz are seamlessly merged into what may be a new style of music. But a new style firmly based on the tradition of the fine art of jazz. Flanger are competent keyboard-and-drums jazz musicians and no slouches in the hi-tech scheme of things. It's fun to hear a Miles Davis tune appear in the midst of such hyper-tweaked, hi-tech wizardry and I'll bet Miles would have approved. Another artist that comes to mind (on the techno side) is Pole who uses scratchy textures and popping atmospherics, but in the hands of Flanger, this is used with a precise focus on tempo and compositional integration. Tight and loose in all the right places, every track is a keeper and it makes me wish there were more music being produced with this much integrity and wit."

I can't quite define it...

D. McClure | Oregon | 10/29/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"As stated in an earlier review, this cd is certainly not Miles Davis. I always find it interesting that anytime someone manages to successfully merge jazz and another genre in an interesting and creative way, they always say something like, "This is the music Miles would be making if he were still with us." Just because this album quite spectacularly fuzes jazz, funk, and electronica together, it does not mean that it is "the new Miles project."



That aside, however, this IS a wonderful album. I wasn't sure quite what to expect when i ordered it, so i kept an open mind, and was very happy i did so. Hardcore electronica fans might have a bit of difficulty because this album sounds a little too organic, for lack of a better term. Following that thought pattern, if you are purchasing this album because you think this is Miles Davis speaking from the grave, you will be sorely dissappointed as well.



This album, I believe, has the perfect mixture of electronic ambience, funky rhythm, and jazz soul. Those of you who have a quality subwoofer will be very happy, as the bass on this entire album is amazing. I always am listening to see if the bass complements the music well, and I must say that it does a perfect job moving all of the songs along. The drum rhythms are spectacular, and almost remind me of a dear friend whom i used to jam with.



All in all, the album is not perfect. There are times that it will simply become background music, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing. The beats are great, and you can really tell that the artists in Flanger put a lot of feeling into the creation of this album, something that is unfortunately lacking in many electronic artists these days. My recommendation is to buy it now, and when it comes, sit down and chill out. Or dance, whichever you prefer."