Marconi Union is a reclusive electronic duo from Manchester, England. Their sound has been described as "a post rock cinematic orchestra." Distance, their first U.S. release, is unique, individual and timeless, fusing ac... more »oustic sounds, strings and pianos with electronica, post-rock guitars and even occasional nods towards jazz and dub. Described by the band as "a soundtrack to a film that has not yet been made," listening to Distance evokes the feeling of being driven silently around an unknown city at night, observing the activity and life of the urban sprawl in safety and isolation.« less
Marconi Union is a reclusive electronic duo from Manchester, England. Their sound has been described as "a post rock cinematic orchestra." Distance, their first U.S. release, is unique, individual and timeless, fusing acoustic sounds, strings and pianos with electronica, post-rock guitars and even occasional nods towards jazz and dub. Described by the band as "a soundtrack to a film that has not yet been made," listening to Distance evokes the feeling of being driven silently around an unknown city at night, observing the activity and life of the urban sprawl in safety and isolation.
CD Reviews
Urban Longing
Rebecca Johnson | Washington State | 01/23/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Marconi Union's Distance album is a warm embrace of ambient textures with drifting melodies and haunting memories filled with dreamy longings. If you can't sleep, put this in your CD player/stereo and climb into a warm bath. The music is well suited to relaxation, reading late at night or simply dissolving into a memorable mood.
"Through Glass" is more sensuous, while "Buildings and People" has a more luminous trajectory with the feeling that a city has been left completely empty, it is almost haunting in beauty. "A Temporary Life" has shy jazz flourishes, but overall seems to be melting into the night.
The urban moods build on each other until you feel completely relaxed. This album has hints of places you like to be and it seems to call you to distant locations where you'd like to spend more time dreaming.
~The Rebecca Review"
The Interpretation of Dreams
S. E. Vogiatzis | Athens, Greece | 04/30/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"At the end of the previous century, Brian Eno's genius, expressed through his various ambient works, set an insurmountable barrier for those that they chose to follow his pattern. To put it bluntly, he set a standard that nobody managed even to come near to. (Maybe his brother came close, but he was still lacking Brian's imagination and mood to discover).
All these until Marconi Union and their Distance work. Dreamy atmosphere, almost psychoanalytic, moving in all senses. A perfect link to Eno's Music For Films sequel. A perfect step towards ambient fulfillment.
It is really hopeful that such groups exist and needless to say, we are truly looking forward to their next work.
"
Music for the future...
Joseph Snodgrass | Spokane, WA | 11/08/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Marconi Union's album [Distance] is definately the soundtrack to the year 2020. This classic ambient feel (of Brian Eno) is brought into the 21st century perfectly. The subtleties of many different styles are infused into this gentle & rhythmic cruise through the city at night. You can feel the lights of the future around you;the electric, vibrant colored billboards, the half lights of the industry, the soft glows of windows on the ocean side. I recommend this album to fans of ambience and artists like Eno, Cliff Martinez (the Solaris, Traffic, Wicker Park soundtracks), Royksopp, Eric Serra (5th Element, Goldeneye, The Professional, + other soundtracks), HUVA Network, Solar Fields, Aes Dana, Aphex Twin, the Orb, Orbital, Moby, and many other artists of the like."
Energy transfer
Partial to the Prairie | 02/13/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"There is an exhange of energy that takes place for me when I listen to Distance. Not only do I experience de-stressing and decompression, there also comes a palpable energy transfer while listening to these selections.
The first step in the transfer is the way Distance draws the toxicity of my day out of me, leaving me pleasantly drained. The second step of the process, then, is how the movement within each track subtly softens and salves the chisel-bitten edges of my consciousness. In the third step, as fresh fluid trickles in, I am refilled and renewed.
After a day of dying little, moment-by-moment deaths, Distance breathes life back into me, slowly, slowly, and almost imperceptibly.
If you have ragged edges, if you have wounds, this can be a balm for you."
Very Soothing
TR707 | New York | 01/24/2007
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Nice Album! Very peaceful textures that are perfect for relaxing/Yoga/Meditation etc. I would not consider this New Age, it's more modern Ambient with some modern electronics. There are quite a bit of interesting sounds here even guitars. The product description here says: "a Manchester duo, follow suit on a CD that travels in cinematic melancholy and textural malaise. Their songs build slowly, emerging out of a flattened landscape of static and stillness to attain a quietly triumphal beauty. Percussion is almost subliminal in journeys that pulse more than groove" I think that is a very good way of describing this album. Good Stuff."
Track Listings (7) - Disc #1