Search - Schneider Tm :: Zoomer

No stranger to the shadows

David M. Madden | salt lake, utah United States | 09/05/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Never complacent to settle with his comparison to Aphex Twin, Dirk Dresselhaus, aka Schneider TM's, latest shows that, rather than walk in R.D. James's shoes, he followed the path out of the primordial ooze where many electronic artists still stagnate.
Zoomer has as many interesting blips and bloops as the next "laptop" CD, but it adds one key element lacking in many of the folks working is this genre: the music has a soul (like a Tin Man of sorts). The progression of style from Schneider TM's earlier releases shows that not much has changed; and that is definitely for the good. To his credit, he sounds more confident with his vocals, his producing is more solid, and his instrumentation a bit more creative
and slaved over, but Dirk's heart is still in songwriting. The disc has a warmth and
spirit that make the work endearing as "songs", not simple exercises in the electronic abyss of freedom with a "look what I can do" technique. And theseare (for the majority) SONGS man: verse/chorus/verse/bridge with the standard harmonic shifts of the pop world, however the inventive sonic palette creates enough interest to avoid boredom with these "mainstream" sensibilities. The melodies are lush, soft, reminiscent of
Plaid's, Double Figure and the orchestration and (yahoo) harmonies that surround them are clever enough to match them. The opener, "Reality Check" fuses heavily comb-filtered guitars over glitchy up-tempo beats. Dresselhaus employs the over-used,
oft-clichéd vocoder route for vocal effect, but makes it warm and natural. The surreal "FrogToise"; a lamenting tale of dissection ("cause in my dream I cut a frog in half and a turtle too...how it looked at me, the one to blame") features choral washes, Dirk's
signature Beck-like voice, and a warped-record wobbling that creates a home for his intriguing lyrics. "Turn On" finds MC Max Turner delivering the goods ala Q-Tip inspired free-styling over tremolo guitar and seriously damn fine "clicks and cuts" style drum programming.Zoomer is a stellar example of how to make trends into tools. The novelties of bip-hop, glitch, drum and bass all fade, but Dirk is there at the funeral, scooping up the ashes, discarding the sludgy bits and forming his own niche in the electronic realm."

A great listen

Timothy Gentry | Edwardsville, IL United States | 11/08/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The best word to describe the unique sound of Schneider TM is organic. Not in the sense that the sounds he samples are naturally occuring, but more in the sense that these sounds occur all the time and we have become totally oblivious to them. It's as if all the various noisemaking devices we zone out on a daily basis have risen up and starting jamming together. If Dada movement was "found art" then Schnieder TM would be "found music." Taking everyday "noises" and turning them into something sublimely beautiful takes the special skills that only TM has."

Candy music with depth

Prain | Plano, TX United States | 03/05/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"schneider tm's zoomer shares a remarkable quality with david gray's previous 2 albums in which the electronic realm is merged with the acoustic realm without depreciating a sense of humanity from the music. however, the man behind the curtain takes it a step further by successfully creating sentimental electronica. on zoomer's first track, "reality check," schneider manipulates his acoustic guitar (maybe bass...) to sound like it is weeping. on the final track, "cuba tm," it are synthesized arcs of tone that add a sense of deep, lonesome sighing to the song. it is a remarkable feat i think when a musician can disprove that electronic music is fundamentally without soul. other artists that i think deserve this trophy are underworld (any of their works (except their latest); but especially the song "moaner"), aphex twin ("moo kid", "alberto balsalm"), radiohead ("kid a"), and whatever trent reznor puts out. furthermore, zoomer is lush to the ears, fountaining a thousand circles of endless colors. it clips, clocks, and clinks in subtly unique and affecting ways, and the lyrics are conscious and creative. there's also a brief but rockin nod to hip-hop. but what the hell does this suburban-bred whiteboy know about hip hop? i give zoomer 4 stars in hopes of an even greater, longer album. if you like zoomer check out the "frogtoise" remix single.get more sleep and drive out to the country."