Search - Naid :: Waking Up

"mesmerizing proportions within this swedes debut"

J. Lovins | Missouri-USA | 01/28/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Making a U.S. debut via Hip-O Records, NAID (electronica artist) led by Martin Landqvist the swedish musician/producer takes us on a journey within the underground dance mixes. Remember those days with The Cardigans, leaves some musical memories that we've become very fond of.Opening track is the solo voice of a female with a beat of mesmerizing proportions "WAKING UP", we can now be transported to the world of NAID . If you're in the dark about this debut CD then "TURN ON (CITY LIGHTS)", outside is waking up with synthesizers blending an addictive pulsating theme. Respective commanding tones take on a quiet yet symphonic counter-balance with "ETERNAL LIFE", featuring interwoven textures of original melodies. We are now ready for an ambient trance mixed with the thumping of the bass as we listen to "I.C.B.A.", male and female voices chant a hypnotic spell over each counter-beat.My pick for the highlight is "THIS COULD BE OUR FIRST DAY", haunting from the very first note, we must keep on searching...this could be our first day. An extraordinary treat from sweden, as Martin Landqvist opens up his heart and takes us all in, and I mean completely. His repertoire is vast, each cue is irresistibly original...blending intoxicating vocals from Hanne Juul, the Icelandic female vocalist. In my opinion NAID is as good as it gets, this is definitely a keeper.Total Time: 49:45 on 10 Tracks ~ Hip-O Records 012-159-923-2 ~ (1/28/2003)"

"Waking" still sleepy

E. A Solinas | MD USA | 09/11/2004

(2 out of 5 stars)

"Swedish electronica band Nåid is Martin Landqvist, a musician/producer best known for working with the Cardigans. But he produces a strangely lackluster US debut (and second album) in "Waking Up," losing a lot of the texture and edge that his self-titled album had. "Waking Up" needs to wake up.



It starts off with ethereal female vocals and a steady beat in the title track, which would have been fun if it were a minute and a half long. At five minutes, it becomes tiresome and repetitive. Then the album blossoms out a bit into the distorted, dark "Stars" and cold "Turn On (City Lights)." Nåid hits his groove with the vivid "Eternal Life," which sounds like a sparkling cry from the heart.



But things start to dip back down with the dull "Shout It Out" and the too-slow slices of techno in "Icba" and "Better Day." There's another upturn with the swelling trip-hop ballad "This Could Be Our First Day," complete with electronic swooshes that sound almost like bird cries. But then Nåid loses his footing again with the final two tracks, which are generic and forgettable.



If you have a winning sound, stick to what made it good. Experimentation is a good thing, but Nåid dumped most of what made his debut such a good listen -- gone are the tribal instruments and timeless sound. Instead, it's a collection of generic dance music, with a couple of standout tracks.



In the technical sense, the biggest problem with Nåid's music is that it's too repetitive. Only a few rise above the basic repeating rhythm, and songs like the sentimental-sounding "Better Day" don't even have the danceability to make up for their repetitiveness. They're rendered almost unlistenable because they aren't mellow enough to be trip-hop, but they're too slow to be raw electronica.



Nåid has a good command of electronic sounds, and his guitar work is solid. But the newer sound saps away the heart of the music, leaving it feeling bland, ordinary and generic. Sure, he has plenty of talent -- in songs like the chilly, heartwrenching "This Could Be Our First Day," it's hard not to feel a thrill.



"Waking Up" is more like going to sleep. Nåid dumbs down his sound for his US debut, but it makes the music boring rather than universally appealing. Nice try, but try putting some flavor back into this bland tangle."

It's never as good as the first time!

allex_under | sweden | 10/16/2002

(2 out of 5 stars)

"I thought it would be better. The first album was great. Can't say the same about this one. Much more commercial than the predecessor. If you want to keep the feeling- stick with the '96."