Search - Future Sound of London :: Paths 1-7: Lifeforms

Not a CD single, but a journey of it's own ...

Jia | Portland, OR | 08/09/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"FSOL CD single's are not just a compilation of remixes, they are medium length journeys of their own. I really enjoyed the "Cascade" CD single, where a good song was transformed into an epic mini-suite sprawling several tracks. I was looking for more of the same with "Lifeforms", and was pleasantly surprised to find myself enjoying this compilation even more than the "Cascade" single.



On the Lifeforms album, this song didn't really catch my attention. It was one of the more uptempo/percussive tunes on the album, and it was less melodic than it was atmospheric. The same is true here, but here the sound is more focused and coherent. Cracks of melody heard in track one will be heard again in track four, and meanderings heard in track three, will become full fledged ideas in track seven. This cohesiveness makes this single a joy to listen to from beginning to end, though with FSOL, you don't actively listen, you instead let yourself become engulfed in the alien soundscapes. This is an essential pick-up for anyone who enjoyed the Lifeforms album."

Yes! More lifeforms!

Supabowl | Chicago, IL USA | 04/15/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is what a single should be. Those of you who have the Lifeforms LP and have heard the title track, be forwarned that the other six efforts on here sound nothing like it whatsoever, instead creating a staggeringly varied and complex series of songs and cycling bits and pieces of the rest of the album into the mix.
FSOL adds to the overarching beauty of this work by taking a great vocalist - Elizabeth Fraser - and instead of merely having her sing some catchy lyrics over the top like so many electronic artists do, they weave her vocals into the tracks (especially the opening number) and make them seamlessly fit with the rest of the album - a must in soundscapes.
The end result is that this single does not get tiresome, and its timbres and sound collages are just as new and exciting as the album... more cohesive, to boot. It isn't simply a rehash playing off the successive of the album. This work stands on its own."

Outstanding ethereal electronics!

Supabowl | 03/23/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The combination of ethereal vocals with the trip-out techno atmospherics of FSOL is an AMAZING combination! The 7 tracks are not merely remixes of the same track... they are all completely different (including the Album mix of "Lifeforms" as well) - perhaps joined by one or two sample snippets, or a brief melody line. The whole cd flows together much like the larger double-album "Lifeforms", and is best listened to with headphones and subdued (or no) lighting. Ex-Cocteau Twins vocalist Liz Fraser sings on 3 of the tracks, and is a natural compliment to this music. UNREAL!! This is The Future Sound of Music."