Search - U-Ziq :: Bilious Paths

Great follow-up after 4 years absent!

doodooballs | Raleigh, NC United States | 07/13/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Okay first off, I would say this is mu-ziq's second best album by my taste. The songs on this album have more structure than tango and vectif. I do like tango and vectif, however it meanders and it's not quite as composition-like as I would want it to be. Bilious paths is more toward the lunatic harness sound that I like. This albums sounds almost like a cross between squarepusher and mu-ziq maybe with a little aphex twin. The beats are a little more frenetic this time. The songs seem pretty varied too. My fave is song #2 cause it's the most melodic--a great tune with a cool beat. Song 3 is just the same, but a little subpar to #2. Song 6 is very hardcore techno influenced, thus beat-heavy. 7 and 9 are laidback and beautiful while 8 is more rhythm-driven, while still great in itself. 10 meanders, but seems kinda mind-expanding, 11 is pure melody, 12 is a nice wrap up, and 1 is an adaquate starter--not great, but dancefloor-esque and well-enough put together. 4 sounds very orchestral. 5 is okay but doesn't really seem to stand out. Well, there ya have it! If you like lunatic harness, pick this up! You won't be disappointed"

This is the disc Mouse on Mars wants to make . . .

bowery boy | seattle | 12/11/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"unfortunately µ-ziq beat them to it! 'grape nut beats part 2' sounds like a remix of MoM's 'actionist respoke' and is 'mouse bums' a slight dig at them? After all it has been two years since their last release of new material. Like MoM's 'idiology', 'bilious paths' is a chock full of static filled drill'n'bass, chopped up vocals and calming melodies. Thankfully, 'bilious paths' is a far cry from the classical string orchestrations of 'royal astronomy'. That's a very good thing because this is absolutely brilliant!!'on/off' is like a messed up take on Prince from its funky drill'n'bass beats to its chopped up r&b vocals with their naughty refrain of 'Take them panties off.' I like the counter parts of 'siege of antioch' and 'fall of antioch'. The former is an exuberant assault of drill'n'bass, the latter a dirge of distortion. 'aec merlin' is a soothing moment to the disc, about as soothing as downtempo drill'n'bass can get and 'meinheld' is an awesome drum'n'bass workout.One of best releases I've bought all year."

Paradinas matures and makes something subtle

The Pitiful Anonymous | the Acres of Skin | 03/29/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Mike Paradinas has clearly abandoned his formula and had some fun with "Bilious Paths". The simplicity and catchiness of most of the "Lunatic Harness" album ("Mushroom Compost", "My Little Beautiful") is mostly absent, as are the more repetitious structures he used to employ... Old µ-Ziq tracks were essentially looping, layered, beautiful melodies with overlaid freeform drum programming. These songs, however, are constantly shifting, with no consistently present element to ground the listener. As many have said, they are easily the most complex music Paradinas has made. For that reason, "Bilious Paths" probably shouldn't be anyone's first µ-Ziq album. However, if you're already a fan and don't mind having to hear songs a few times before they stick in your mind, it's hard to go wrong with this one.



It seems like Paradinas is finally paying attention to his sound design and production... sounds flow, blend, reverb and crunch more cleanly and precisely than ever before. He's gone from the lo-fi sampled break beats of old to a fully polished sound on par with such perfectly engineered masterpieces as Aphex Twin's "Drukqz".



As some have mentioned, the sound is definitely a lot harsher this time around, too, although Paradinas has always loved his distortion. Those who speak of a more urban feel... well, it's here. These tracks are the grooviest and most rhythmically focused in the µ-Ziq catalog, bar none.



Yet for all this talk of differences, there are still plenty of ways in which this is absolutely signature µ-Ziq. Looking for his characteristic string patches and fluid rhodes-ish melodic sounds? They're undoubtedly here, and I agree wholeheartedly with the person who said that this album "glows with melody". The feeling, the emotion, hasn't changed too drastically either. The more aggressive parts of the album do little to cloud that perfect, carefree and yet totally hip optimism a lot of the best µ-Ziq moments have had. The spectrum of emotions here should be familiar to anyone who's listened to this man before.



So really, unless all the detractors only heard the album once, I can't imagine why anyone would label "Bilious Paths" some kind of let down or disappointment, especially after the wildly uneven "Royal Astronomy". When I really think about it, this is probably the most consistent µ-Ziq album, and the one I have the least issues with. It doesn't bludgeon you over the head with immediate standouts, but I can't think of a single thing about it I don't enjoy, at this point. Highly recommended.



And if you want something REALLY different from the usual µ-Ziq style, check out his latest, Duntisbourne Abbots Soulmate Devastation Technique, one hell of a nightmarish, hopeless and strange album. It's even more ridiculously underrated than this one."