Phenomenal. Venetian Snares reaches a new high!
Steward Willons | Illinois | 11/26/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"As every reviewer will doubtlessly state, "this is Aaron Funk's follow-up to Rossz Csillag Allat Szuletett", to view it as "Rossz Part Two" is far too limiting. Yes, it's similar in that it features orchestral instruments and greater harmonic content than most Venetian Snares albums, but it's really a great record in and of itself.
Even though I urge everyone to listen to "My Downfall" on its own terms, I'll offer some comparison. The drill 'n bass elements are as good as ever, and like Rossz, many tracks don't use percussion at all. If you know Venetian Snares, you know the kind of beat mangling to expect - it's a beautiful thing.
However, the real treat on the album is Funk's new-found sense of harmony and melody. Rossz was a great start and showed a great deal of potential, but by art music standards it wasn't incredibly sophisticated. Now, before anyone starts pointing fingers and calling me a music snob, let me say that I consider Venetian Snares to be art music right along side Stockhausen, Reich, and Varese. All I mean to say is that his melodic sense showed potential but was not full mature yet. In "My Downfall", Funk makes great strides and comes up with something at least twice (if not more) as sophisticated as Rossz. You'll understand immediately once you hear "Hollo Utca 2", which could have been a missing movement to Berg's "Lyric Suite". Okay, maybe that's going a little too far, but it really is quite good.
The other great thing about the album is that Funk has had additional time to practice the violin. His tone and technique have improved a lot and it really gives the songs a big boost. The other instruments sound great as well - if you thought Rossz sounded fairly convincing as a virtual orchestra, you'll love this.
I really can't recommend this one highly enough. Since it's not representative of the bulk of Venetian Snare's output, I wouldn't necessarily recommend this as your first VSnares album just because, at the end of the day, VSnares is still all about the drill 'n bass. That said, if you're already a fan, you must buy this immediately and start enjoying it."
Headphone Commute Review
Headphone Commute | 01/13/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"BEST OF 2007!
By now Aaron Funk needs no introduction. From Winnipeg, Canada, Funk has been producing experimental idm, glitchcore and orchestral breakcore for renown labels, such as Hymen, Sublight, and of course, Planet Mu. With his critically acclaimed and instantly recognizable style, Funk drops drilling breaks over synthesized symphonic instrumentation which is often sliced up with snare rolls. My Downfall is meant to satisfy the fans' cravings for a follow up to his last album, Rossz Csillag Alatt Született, which pretty much overturned the scene by presiding over the unlikely union of modern classical and breakcore. But in his own downfall, Funk takes a further step into chamber composition, scattering abstract numbered sketches titled Holló Utca (Raven Street in Hungarian) throughout the album, as well as heart breaking, mourning pieces that seep under your skin and touch in all the wrong places."
This is aural bliss mcgee...
J. Yates | Missoula, MT | 11/04/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Yep, Mr. Funk is always, always impressive and amazing with his compositions. This is an amazing follow-up of rossz csillag alatt szuletett, very melodic and emotional music. This album is more of that kind of composition, and less breakcore-ish. There are 4 or 5 tracks that would be tagged breakcore, all very splendid, the rest is very nice, melodic and somewhat dark. I highly recommend this album, go buy it..."
Track Listings (14) - Disc #1