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negation_state
Seeing that wiki entry makes me wonder how the 94 ISDN release sounded because the one I have I consider as one of the best albums ever.
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DroneAtlas
working my way into ISDN now, I thought I'd had a pretty good grasp of FSOL's catalogue but man I really overlooked this album. @thybbuk I like your review of this album, and I too am surprised that that Discogs review mentioned ISDN being creepy, I think it's immensely beautiful, abstract, and cutting edge. In 2020 it still sounds futuristic, and that's a statement that shows how insanely incredible ISDN is. It could be released today and still be cutting edge. I think the lack of information and blank artwork for this album release really helps its timelessness
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project_dominic
I still think nothing any musician has ever released comes close to touching Lifeforms (not even anything released by FSOL themselves). Having said that, when I come to the album without preconceptions and judge it on its own terms, it is really awesome. FSOL can't do anything wrong, can they?
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thybbuk
Also, this is a review someone commited at discogs: "This album, with its esoteric artwork and sleeve notes and track titles that explain so little, is often looked at the outcast of the FSOL catalogue. A lot of people say that this album is "creepy", or "evil", or that there is very little musically to grab onto (in stark contrast to their early work). I personally feel, however, that ISDN is the pinnacle of their work: a complete vision of the new and flavorful patchwork that these two guys wanted to bring at the height of their career.No one song on this album jumps out at you and grabs you, instead the album just slinks by in a flurry of bizarre vocal snippets, jagged drum loops, keyboard splotches, guitar stabs, muted horns and unsettling moments of clattering ambience.
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thybbuk
However, with repeated listens I find that this album really molds itself around you and demonstrates a stunning breadth of skill. "Smokin' Japanese Babe" holds up a broken mirror to Portishead and Massive Attack, "It's My Mind That Works" and "Dirty Shadows" walk a finer line than any track on the "Lifeforms" album, and tracks like "Kai" and "The Far Out Son..." interlock wildly disparate parts into a kind of gritty future hip-hop. All the tracks work splendidly together, and the best ones stand on their own as true gems of improvisation. Truly essential listening for people who want to know how far electronic music can really stretch itself.
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Theartofstu
That is the real cover isn't it? At least, that's the one it came with when I bought it ~10 years ago
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adiosmuchachos
For me there was no better album in the history. When I listen to it I feel this world can't be real. It's just another dimension.
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