Steve B
May 10th, 2001, 08:57 PM
I've had the fortune to get Anything Box's newest CD, The Universe is Expanding, which will be released in the upcoming weeks.
Following in the footsteps of the band's last album, Elektrodelica, TUIE continues the to redefine Anythng Box's sound. Still dominated by Electronics and samples, the album contains considerable usage of Paul Rijnder's guitar playing. The resulting sound is more complete than Elektrodelica, which tended to sound decisively experimental. The band has taken what they've learned and the result is their most ambitious album to date.
The album is a solid of mixture of soft and hard songs, but tends to be more "radio friendly" as opposed to some of their earlier dance albums. The album contains fifteen tracks of which two are an intro and an out. Unlike Elektrodelica which contained some instrumentals and short songs which seemed "incomplete", TUIE is thirteen solid songs all featuring Claude's great vocals. Most songs are over 3:00 with a few shorter and one very short. It also includes some of the group's longest pieces ever.
A welcome addition to the album is the return of Dania's backing vocals which were absent from Elektrodelica. Even Gary sneaks in on a couple of songs. Dania's vocals add a great element to the overall feel and is most evident in the soft and stirring, 65 Million Miles.
The album also comes packaged with a sixteen page booklet featuring Claude's very "spacey" artwork.
The album is a continued move away from Anything Box's older albums. A heavy Beatle's influence is definitely evident, especially within Relics and Space. Some synth fans have been alienated from the changing sound of the band, but it is still very electronic and an excellent production. It's very difficult to find a song not to enjoy on the album.
Following in the footsteps of the band's last album, Elektrodelica, TUIE continues the to redefine Anythng Box's sound. Still dominated by Electronics and samples, the album contains considerable usage of Paul Rijnder's guitar playing. The resulting sound is more complete than Elektrodelica, which tended to sound decisively experimental. The band has taken what they've learned and the result is their most ambitious album to date.
The album is a solid of mixture of soft and hard songs, but tends to be more "radio friendly" as opposed to some of their earlier dance albums. The album contains fifteen tracks of which two are an intro and an out. Unlike Elektrodelica which contained some instrumentals and short songs which seemed "incomplete", TUIE is thirteen solid songs all featuring Claude's great vocals. Most songs are over 3:00 with a few shorter and one very short. It also includes some of the group's longest pieces ever.
A welcome addition to the album is the return of Dania's backing vocals which were absent from Elektrodelica. Even Gary sneaks in on a couple of songs. Dania's vocals add a great element to the overall feel and is most evident in the soft and stirring, 65 Million Miles.
The album also comes packaged with a sixteen page booklet featuring Claude's very "spacey" artwork.
The album is a continued move away from Anything Box's older albums. A heavy Beatle's influence is definitely evident, especially within Relics and Space. Some synth fans have been alienated from the changing sound of the band, but it is still very electronic and an excellent production. It's very difficult to find a song not to enjoy on the album.