Props to Norman Records for delivering the goods on release day. Turned to them when the Bleep site was crashing, super chuffed to get the flexi disc too.
Just the one listen so far, looking forward to a more forensic listen later when the environment is calmer. But what I can say is how surprised I am at how much more diverse and exciting this record is compared to TH. It's definitely a bit of a mish mash of all their previous styles and tones, but compiled in a cohesive way with a more contemporary sheen.
I did half suspect given the 13 years away, that this might sound like a compilation of tracks made at very different times, but these sound like they were made together within a particular time period, granted I suspect that period was quite lengthy and perhaps even quite recent (relatively?)
I think I already know I prefer this to Tomorrow's Harvest (an album I really liked but always saw as their least captivating), I think it could very easily be their best since Geogaddi. A few more listens will tell, but I am far from disappointed. A remarkable achievement given the long absence.
I think this record is clicking for me quicker than Tomorrow's Harvest did. it's gloomy, it's playful, and it's definitely a little different than their other stuff. it definitely has a soundtrack vibe going on, moreso than their previous albums. anyways, Im just super happy they released new music. looking forward to any interviews they give, and obviously im holding out hope that the next music release won't take another 13 years
Listened to it with my wife at the Sonic Boom Records listening party in Toronto last night.
It's fantastic! I love it almost as much as Geo, and possibly more than Tomorrow's Harvest. What a beautiful release!! My wife hated 'Father and Son' (lol) but she liked the rest of the album that we heard. We had to duck out a bit before the end because our dog was crated at home and needed his dinner.
I love the range of emotions, I love the density of the ambience, I love the 'thickness' that most of the percussion has. This is one of the best albums of this decade, EASILY.
not going to write a ton. 'cause I want it to just marinate.
worth the wait for me to say the least. deeply unsettled me in ways I think I need to be unsettled. left my typical thinking patterns for seventy minutes.
hard to even talk about it like it's an "album" because it felt like something else.
love to all on this beautiful and special day.
"Fall in love with some activity, and do it! Nobody ever figures out what life is all about, and it doesn't matter. Explore the world. Nearly everything is really interesting if you go into it deeply enough." - Richard P. Feynman
GeoDose wrote:P.S. - Kudos to those who predicted that there would be visuals to accompany the rest of the album!
You guys called it!
Wait, what do you mean by visuals?
At the listening party in Toronto last night, the entire album was accompanied by a video feed / visuals for each track in the same vein as the 'Prophecy' music video.
'The Word Becomes Flesh' had a whole music video with a narrative and everything. Kids with monkey-like faces (?) riding their bikes and running down suburban streets, almost getting hit by cars. Lots of surrealist imagery, and some abstract stuff as well.
Wait, is this not standard across the board? Pretty sure what I watched was official? Or maybe not?
I was at Sonic Boom records in Toronto. Here are two videos I took:
GeoDose wrote:P.S. - Kudos to those who predicted that there would be visuals to accompany the rest of the album!
You guys called it!
Wait, what do you mean by visuals?
At the listening party in Toronto last night, the entire album was accompanied by a video feed / visuals for each track in the same vein as the 'Prophecy' music video.
'The Word Becomes Flesh' had a whole music video with a narrative and everything. Kids with monkey-like faces (?) riding their bikes and running down suburban streets, almost getting hit by cars.
I was at Sonic Boom records in Toronto. Here are two videos I took:
Is this not official??
That's the One Got Fat video usually associated with Everything You Do Is A Balloon. My guess is one of the employees put together a playlist of videos to play during the album. Cool of them to do that!