After the party's over
0=0 | Earth | 09/25/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Several years ago, Mu-ziq released a dense, soup of pure sonic fury in the form of "Bilous Paths", perhaps his most layered, complex and best work to date. The searing pitches, and mountains of sound left many a listener either confounded or astounded, after the clean, classical influenced breakbeat opus that was "Royal Astronomy".
Now it's 2007, and Mike P. returns, this time with no intention to blow minds, or fuses for that matter, releasing his most introspective and melancholy work to date, "Duntisbourne Abbots Soulmate Devastation Technique". I can see why some folks might make a snap judgement, accusing Mike P. of losing his mojo, or whatever. Truth is, this is simply a guy expressing his current state of mind--this is the Mu-ziq machine wearing a very human heart on its sleeve. This is the sound of an artist who is simply being honsest, disregarding current trends, for the most part.
The fuzz and most of the furor of past efforts are almost all but gone, and the melodies, which were there, but sometimes challenging to decipher on "Bilous" are here at the fore, taking prominence over the beats even. The melodies on here are some of the most beautiful, though saddest, in that trademark wobbly Mu-ziq way, I've heard from Mr. Paradinas. Where "Bilous" was the mad all night party, this is the aftermath, the morning after, where you try to sort out your head, try to make sense of all the good and the bad that occured during the previous evening, with feelings intense and vivid, yet foggy and vague. This is post dubstep, post grime, post Mu-ziq music even. Apparently this stuff was made in reaction to a failed relationship with a former wife, and you can hear the pain and sorrow--the reflection in the sounds. Never one to dutifully try and appease any type of listening audience, this is an unexpected turn to some not-so-difficult listening material, and though it might be tagged as "queasy" listening for some, this is still far better than a whole lot of what's being passed as good music these days. I give Mike a five for staying true to himself and continuing to make great, quality electronic music."
Different definently...its a good thing.
Aaron Brakefield | 03/30/2008
(4 out of 5 stars)
"This cd starts out with a theme that never ceases. Reviews claim that most of the songs sound like they are all deviations of the same thing; they do not differ drastically from one another throughout the album. The truth is they dont. This is by far Mike Paradinas's most far out album. At the same time I have a very clear image or picture in my head when i think about this album. It makes me "feel" a certain way; A very strong way. I think it is the fact that this album DOES hold a familiar theme throughout; building on it here, tearing it down there. This is in contrast to an album with 10 or so songs that all sound completely different, or they were wrritten at very different times in the composers life. Im not saying "duntisbournes" is a perfect work of art, but whenever an ethereal memory of this haunting little album comes looming up, it is usually because of the overall theme of the album and not a particular song."
Track Listings (17) - Disc #1