Customer Reviews

76:14

5 star:		(39)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I am jealous of this duo! Global Communication exemplifies skillful mastering of synthesizers, mixing, and intricate yet minimalistic melodies to create one of my favorite albums in my music collection. Hell, it's worth buying this album just for "9:25" alone (one of the most genius tracks I've ever had the pleasure of listening to!), but the entire album is superb in every way. While not as layered or bleepy or "glammy" (dare I say it) as The Orb, or as flat and filtered as Brian Eno, Global Communication pulls off their own unique interpretation of ambient music that ought to be used as the new prototype of what the genre itself ought to exemplify. Again, tracks like the dreamy "9:25", the robotic "7:39", and the temple-ish "4:14" have changed the way I understand music, and will probably do the same for you too.

Global Communication's "76:14" is a must-buy for ambient and electronic music enthusiasts.

This is without a doubt, one of the best ambient/electronic albums ever made. The sound leans less toward the electronica/club feel of a lot of ambient music, and more towards what I would describe as a new age feel. Don't let that put you off though, or make you think this music is bland or boring. This is some of the most haunting and beautiful music I have ever heard. Particular favorites of mine are the opening track "4:02" with its ethereal, shifting, sliding feel, and the second track "14:31" which uses a variation on a few repeated notes to create a deeply moving piece of music. There isn't a single track on here that I don't like, though.

None of the tracks are given names, but are simply given a numerical designation which is also the length of each track. This is to keep the listener from having any preconcieved imagery in his or her mind while listening to the music, but instead is meant to allow the listener to form his or her own images and associations with the music. Highly recommended.

This is one of the greatest ambient cd's ever produced. Period. The music is melodic, varied, masterfully produced, and never boring. Some of the tracks have a beat, while some are more of the ethereal, soaring type. The last track is a long atmospheric piece that is best listened to while one is alone, quiet, in a darkened room. It sounds like a heavenly choir. It's all beautiful music. If you are at all curious about "ambient electronic" music, this is a great cd to try.

I first purchased this album over a year ago expecting a carbon copy of the Orb - I was both disappointed and enthralled that this wasnt the case. This is one of those CD's that begins brilliantly and ends brilliantly. The middle sort of evaporates into early 90s exploratory techno. However the major major stand out tracks are no.3 - 9"25, one of the best ambient dub compositions I have ever heard. Definitely up there with The Orb's - Star '6,7,8,9' and The Starseeds 'Behind The Sun' and Spacetime Continuum 'Pressure'. The final two tracks are beuatiful atmospheric compositions, the latter very sad and reflective with the wonderful use of male synthesised voices against a pure ambient wash - stunningly beautiful. As is Track 2 known commonly as 'The Tick-Tock' tune as its had exposure elsewhere such as Nick Warren's mix CD 'Rekjavic'. This duo have created one of the landmark ambient albums of the past century and stands up well with the like of The Orb, Future Sound of London, The Starseeds, Brian Eno and Ulrich Schnauss.

However I think in some respects it is disappointing because of the now dated early 90 techno sounds and some of the middle tunes of the album are fairly boring and reptitive and the five tracks I mentioned earlier are so much better.

So plus points then, perfectly realised soundscapes and ambition. Beautiful use of instruments and melody lines on several tracks as well as organically constructing the 'songs'.

Minus points - some repetitive, early 90s techno/house stuff which is now extremely dated, the lack of cohesion in the middle of the album.

Hope this gives you some idea of what you are buying into.

Tom

Wow...wow wow wow wow...I've heard a LOT of albums (over 3,000), but this one is INCREDIBLE. It's true that I only have a small amount of ambient albums (The Orb, Orbital, Mouse On Mars, Biosphere, Aphex Twin, Colleen, DJ Wally, etc...), but this one is just so ridiculously good I can't even come up with the right words to praise it. It's definitely an ambient album, but it's more of an experience then anything else - it feels like you're in another world when you're listening to this. The production here is amazing - obviously I have no idea how to describe the electronic blips and bloops, but they're all very high quality, fun and interesting to pay attention to. It's an audio journey like no other. I suppose you could say it's ambient music with some house mixed in, but essentially it's just a great "chill-out" album to groove to. When it comes to this kind of music there isn't much else you can say about it, really. If you like ambient music in the slightest then "76:14" will probably be the best darn ambient album you ever get! Absolutely recommended!

Highlights include:
the entire album!

There is little to add here that hasn't already been said by other reviewers. This is certainly one of the most important "chill out" albums ever made. But it ain't ambient in the truest sense of the word, so reviewers claiming that it is aren't completely accurate. Certain tracks, like the brilliant 9'39" are ambient, but much of the rest has the kind of beats and tempos that are much more associated with house music. Still, this is great stuff, and if you're inclined to investigate ambient music, this is a great way to ease into the genre.

One of the most perfect ambient albums. Some tracks do have beats but most songs are carried along by the melody or bassline.

Probably the best 'warm' ambient album, if you get my meaning, as opposed to the 'icy' ambient of Biosphere's 'Substrata'.

You really have to have this album in your collection, ambient fan or not. It's one of those all time classics, a trend-setting milestone. Check out the 'Tick-Tock' song, you get what I mean!

What can i say that has not been said before me about Global Communication. I find it to be a perfect composition of sounds, Ambient works at its best. I wish i could highlight all of the tracks but i dont want to spoil it .. So ill just give an overwiev most of them ;)

14'31 : What a brilliant track. The song is slow , and you can hear a "clock" ticking throughout the whole song ... it sounds like an ocean made of sounds rather than water. this is something you listen to with your eyes closed and let the music consume you.

9'25 : a more "uplifting" feel compared to the other tracks. This one builds up a lot of sounds , you tend to think "where is this going" but as soon as the song breaks into its rythms it is GORGEOUS!!

All of the tracks are as close to perfection as you can get without being Eno or The Orb. But if you like them ... you WILL LOVE this !!

This album makes it to the top of my ambient music collection. It even replaces Ishq "Orchid" which held the #1 position since August 2004. If you are looking for an instrumental ambient CD that you can relax to or take a mental journey with, this is the one. I sometimes put the headphones on at work to block out the co-workers and listen or pop it in the CD player on the way home to unwind.
My favorite tracks are 14:31, 9:39, and 12:18. The liner notes reveal that the band didn't want to bias your listening experience by naming the tracks. Definitely a sentiment I agree with.

The second song (called 1431) has to be one of my favorites. You know how some songs can just cast you back in time, make your blood flow full, bring tears to your eyes? I remember falling in love with my wife to this song. We were drawing things with crayons on paper in the middle of the living room floor. As we drew, two faces came out, smiling, eyes bright, an entire life of possibility spreading out before them.....Music can certainly turn moments into events. If you dig ambient techno, get this CD.