bomble Posted November 7, 2001 Share Posted November 7, 2001 Digital Mystery Tour - Digital Mystery Tour Artist: Digital Mystery Tour Title: Digital Mystery Tour Label: Twisted Date: 2001 Track listing: 01. 07'21" 010 Seti 101 02. 11'03" Chilam Balam 03. 06'51" Smokemon (Chiluemon Mix) 04. 06'58" The Blooming (Change Mix) 05. 07'46" Nadeshiko's Dream 06. 07'26" Run Time 07. 05'53" Mass 08. 05'32" Saute Mouton Syndrome Review: I would have to say that I am slightly disappointed by this release. That is not to say that it is bad or unenjoyable - it's just that I expected more from a veteran such as Stephane Holweck (one half of Total Eclipse) who is behind this album, and with the help of members of Toires, it could have been a masterpiece. In fact, it is a beautifully produced, tight and relaxing hour of chillout ... but, in the main, it lacks the vibrancy or passion that was synonymous with the Total Eclipse sound. I would have to say that I am enjoying this more with each listen, so I am still prepared to recommend this to people who already have a good stock of chillout - it represents a new angle - but I would also say that if you don't collect many chillout albums then there are others out there that would be a better choice (e.g. Mana Medicine, Nada Masala 2, Floatation...) Several of the tunes were created by web collaboration - I think that the artists (Stephane + guest) sent eachother successive refinements. This does make for a unique sound, but perhaps lacks the spontaneity this album needed to make it really great. In my opinion, a melody never hurts in a chillout track- and there aren't many memorable ones here. So to the tunes ... 010 Seti 101 is one of the web tunes collaborating with Michio Baba - an electronic music teacher from Japan - and it's a quiet and slow start to the album. Chilam Balam is the second web tune with Michio, and to me much more interesting than the first - again slow beginnings, but this track gradually evolves to become funky with a sharp bassline and almost a melody. Smokemon is warmer and richer than the tunes before - a melancholy string line and slow tribal beats with swirling synths. Florien Seriot adds the Toires sound Pretty nice actually, though it does sound a little like a new-age tune with tweakings. The Blooming is a bit more 'classic' in the sense that it follows a tried and tested chillout formula - actually it's not one of my favourites. Nadeshiko's dream has Loic Vanpoucke on board, so it's really Total Eclipse minus Serge Souque. It does sound the most 'eclipsey' of the pack - anyone who knows the chillout disc of violent relaxation will know the format. There's a sweet little melody that tries to push its way in at the end. Runtime has a heavy bassline but doesn't really do very much. Mass is my current favourite tune of this release - a loose melody leads into a slightly breaking bassline and some subtle psychedelic noising, building in intensity throughout. The melody persists, and I find this track very playable. The album closes with 'Saute Mouton' Syndrome - a very delicate tune - almost beatless and intricately noised - perhaps good to fall asleep to ! So - essentially a background music album which won't jump into your consciousness too often, but is still intricate enough to listen to carefully. 6/10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Kindgok Posted November 9, 2001 Share Posted November 9, 2001 'Couldn't agree more. Short and semi-sweet. The best track is clearly the one featured on Backroom Beats, "The Blooming." The album version is the same, though it's listed as the "Change Mix." That's kinda lame. - kingdok Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest MG Posted November 12, 2001 Share Posted November 12, 2001 Well this has spoilt my day I was looking forward to this but I guess I'll save my money. I like it when the tracks are journeys, like the yeti CD's or Shpongle. It looks a bit short Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PKS Posted November 16, 2001 Share Posted November 16, 2001 I think you guys should listen a bit closer to this release, because I think it`s great! The Backroom beats cd consists of a new style of psychedelic ambient that we are not used to from before. This cd follows this style, with a very interesting project between a sound maniac from Japan, people from Total Eclipse and members from Toires! I understand that you only like the journey side of ambient, but you can`t say this is bad. It`s genious and very nice to listen to at home. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
traveller Posted November 16, 2001 Share Posted November 16, 2001 this cd is only 60 minutes long :-( It's much better than backroom beats, but it's not too psychedelic :-(.. it's a leap to the right direction Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest [Anonymous] Posted November 27, 2001 Share Posted November 27, 2001 i gotta say now that I have listened to this cd a little bit more: it's actually beautiful.. really good cd.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bomble Posted December 2, 2001 Author Share Posted December 2, 2001 I certainly wasn't saying this was bad ... if it had been an entirely new artist debut I would have been more positive - it's just that I had really high expectations and they weren't quite met. This is good, but 2001 has brought a lot of better chillout releases.... bomble Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
las22 Posted January 3, 2002 Share Posted January 3, 2002 agry with bomble!!2001 is the point wher evrybody have understand that ambiant is as important as the psy digital mystery tour is a great album very stefanic sound and very florianistic:) very very traveling Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest funkedelifusion Posted March 5, 2002 Share Posted March 5, 2002 i dont know about u guys but i liked this release..i think that they did a wonderful job and the production is cutting edge... all of the tracks have something to say....i would recomended to anyone.... 8/10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest andreas[at]happyhippie[dot]com Posted March 10, 2002 Share Posted March 10, 2002 Very soft and chilled. First time I listened to it I didn't like it much at all. After playing it through a couple of times I think it's pretty cool. Perhaps a bit too soft and not very psychedelic for my taste... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest freak[at]freakybob[dot]co[dot]uk Posted March 29, 2002 Share Posted March 29, 2002 as published in upfront magazine 09/10.01: Title: Digital Mystery Tour Label: Twisted Records. Conceptually this latest Twisted release is astounding. Digital Mystery Tour (DMT) has been produced in a studio based on the internet where music has been made, files have been shared and the artists are spread around the world. That in itself is enough to warrant its purchase. But then, when you get to the music itself, DMT takes you to a land that Shpongle have only dreamed about. The layers are many, the compositions are intricate, and the combination of all is skilful. As always with Twisted ambience, just because it is chill-out does not mean you can relax! FB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Timothy Yarret Posted April 15, 2002 Share Posted April 15, 2002 i love this album, i liked it when i first got and i like it even more now. its really subtle and just lovely basically, its not yr typical mystery/shpongle etc. spiritual/ethnic chill out its more funky than that, i suppose you could call it ambient psy funk (if you wanted) which sounds alright by me... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest n0n[at]gmx[dot]net Posted July 19, 2002 Share Posted July 19, 2002 this is good... digital just like the name of it... Chilam Balam , the 2nd trk iwth the amazing FM sounds... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.