All Systems Gone

Presence | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 25, 2000)
• Original Release Date: January 25, 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Ark 21
• ASIN: B0000457F7
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #254,543 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Nice Blend of House and Soul -- trippy and peaceful, May 1, 2000

By 

Brett D. Cullum (Houston, TX United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: All Systems Gone (Audio CD)

This is a great CD! It's a blend of dance, soul, and techno elements. Some smooth horn arrangements, toned down vocals, and great lyrics too! It's a musical massage -- calming and somehow invigorating too. I love it a lot. I'm not a huge fan of TECHNO (usually sounds like bees buzzing to me), but this is calm and mellow HOUSE music. You could see a really hip Manhattan restaurant playing this! I would say it's more like Sade with William Orbit producing. But there are really no comparisons. If you want some mellow dance music you can not go wrong with this selection!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Totally massive, January 29, 2004

By 

Russell E. Scott "futurestar" (Austin, TX) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: All Systems Gone (Audio CD)

Presence, much like Massive Attack, functions as a collective of artist - like mind, singular purpose, and banding together as comrades by a thriving underground music scene. Sara Nelson, Sara Jay, Steve Edwards, Fiona, Matthew Herbert, and P K Joyce all gathered and contributed essential parts to an original whole penned and produced by tech - house guru Charles Webster. Based on the "club hit" singles - Sense of Danger and Better Day, the buzz word in early 1999 was All Systems Gone would be the first essential release of the year. For what was anticipated to be essentially a "house music" album, this collection of proper songs resembled something more akin to electronic folk/soul. Influenced by the likes of Natalie Merchant and Rickie Lee Jones, Webster's songs strike chords of deep emotion, sublime energy, and curious optimism. Its low key approach threw a lot of critics off course until a few spins could bring them front and center. What they were hearing was one the best LPs to come out under the "electronica" moniker as All Systems Gone was written as much for the head and heart as moving feet and shaking butts. Songs like Future Love, Been 2 Long, Matter of Fact, Favor Nothing, The Strength Within, and Far Far Away From My Heart easily took command of coffee tables and dance floors of every trendy hotspot in London and beyond. Quietly maneuvering through all expectation, demand, club phenomena, and critical acclaim, ASG ground new respect and regard for what a dance music album could be. Subtle washes of sound come and go like tides, deft, soulful vocals belt and weave polished production of substance and sonic appeal. Presence has established many voices - all of them eloquently with spark and fervor. Recognition overdue, Charles Webster moved into that sacred ground of true songsmith. The All Systems Gone album has gone on to achieve what all great ones do - never copy, never imitate, always initiate a true original being born. Five years after this fact I still revel in its growth and maturity. With each spin, All Systems Gone never fails to make me feel that inexplicable, my favorite feeling.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Smooth, Glorious Grooves, March 23, 2000

By 

Jason E. Pellinen "jason_p" (Minneapolis, MN) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: All Systems Gone (Audio CD)

A friend of mine gave this CD to me as a gift, he thought that it would be something I like (he said its that techno stuff). I had never heard of this group so I didn't have any preconceived notions about what it would be like.

Well it was pure heaven. I put it on my stereo and sat back on my couch and was transported to heaven. It so wonderful to hear Shara's voice again (I recognized it immediately). The grooves on this album are pure bliss.

This CD is a must buy if you are a fan of deep house or if you are looking for some great chill out music.