Search - Presence :: All Systems Gone

Totally massive

Russell E. Scott | Austin, TX | 01/30/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Presence, much like Massive Attack, functions as a collective of artist - like mind, singular purpose, and banding together as comrades by a thriving underground music scene. Sara Nelson, Sara Jay, Steve Edwards, Fiona, Matthew Herbert, and P K Joyce all gathered and contributed essential parts to an original whole penned and produced by tech - house guru Charles Webster. Based on the "club hit" singles - Sense of Danger and Better Day, the buzz word in early 1999 was All Systems Gone would be the first essential release of the year. For what was anticipated to be essentially a "house music" album, this collection of proper songs resembled something more akin to electronic folk/soul. Influenced by the likes of Natalie Merchant and Rickie Lee Jones, Webster's songs strike chords of deep emotion, sublime energy, and curious optimism. Its low key approach threw a lot of critics off course until a few spins could bring them front and center. What they were hearing was one the best LPs to come out under the "electronica" moniker as All Systems Gone was written as much for the head and heart as moving feet and shaking butts. Songs like Future Love, Been 2 Long, Matter of Fact, Favor Nothing, The Strength Within, and Far Far Away From My Heart easily took command of coffee tables and dance floors of every trendy hotspot in London and beyond. Quietly maneuvering through all expectation, demand, club phenomena, and critical acclaim, ASG ground new respect and regard for what a dance music album could be. Subtle washes of sound come and go like tides, deft, soulful vocals belt and weave polished production of substance and sonic appeal. Presence has established many voices - all of them eloquently with spark and fervor. Recognition overdue, Charles Webster moved into that sacred ground of true songsmith. The All Systems Gone album has gone on to achieve what all great ones do - never copy, never imitate, always initiate a true original being born. Five years after this fact I still revel in its growth and maturity. With each spin, All Systems Gone never fails to make me feel that inexplicable, my favorite feeling."

Charles Webster's first album

arsinmsn | 01/27/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Though it isn't obvious, this is Charles Webster's first album and well worth the time to listen to if you liked his much-better-known Born on the 24th of July. Vocalists including Shara Nelson (vocalist on Massive Attack's "Blue Lines") and Sara Jay (another Massive Attacker who first appeared on "Mezzanine")give the album great personal presence."

THE "PRESENCE" OF GOOD MUSIC!!!

Darrell L. Lee | Jackson, MS | 12/18/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Presence's "All Systems Gone" was one of those "chance" CDs I picked up on one of those depression days of mine. When I unwrapped this baby and popped it in the CD player, immediately my mood changed. From the sexy-opening "Future Love" to the ambient "This Is You" to the house grooves of "Sense of Danger" to the empowering "Better Day," I felt the presence of "Presence," and all of my systems were gone, too (pretty corney, huh?). I had never heard of this group before, but I'm really glad that on that very bad day I was having, they made their "Presence" known to me...get it? Oh, never mind!!!"