To All Things What They Need

A Guy Called Gerald | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 15, 2005)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: K7
• ASIN: B0006OS5ZM
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #329,514 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Since the late eighties A Guy Called Gerald has been a force in the world of electronic music. When the history of postmodern dance music is written he is ubiquitous: his visions, his stylistic versatility, and musical open mindedness had a huge influence on the development of global dance culture. Very early on he experimented with techno and acid house and helped pioneer the style that was later called drum n’bass. And now the man from Manchester presents his newest album, To All Things What They Need. Again, A Guy Called Gerald has produced a piece of sonic innovation!

For To All Things What They Need, A Guy Called Gerald freed himself from all musical barriers and genre fixations. The groove fundament on which his melodies rest freely varies from track to track, ignoring the common rhythmic formats. Masterly, A Guy Called Gerald fuses oriental harmony fragments with electronic sounds, combining the spoken word poetry of Ursula Rucker with a jazz beat or diving into beat-free musical depths where an intense, soulful sensation reverberates. To All Things What They Need is an album that is shaped by a gentle and deep atmosphere that exudes an irresistible sensuality.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Evolution of Gerald, June 15, 2005

By 

Mr. C. J. Kelly "Afrogeek" (England) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: To All Things What They Need (Audio CD)

I find the previous interviewer's review IRRITATING.

This music is a cocktail of sophisticated dance productions that borrow from many different styles. It is full of nice ambient sound scapes that are very relaxing to listen to it doesn’t really present any mesmerising or memorable tunes. The general vibe can be described as quiet minimal and so if you enjoy you music floating around in the background rather than slamming you against the wall then this one is for you

4.0 out of 5 stars A Guy Called Gerald - To All Things What They Need, April 14, 2011

By 

scoundrel - See all my reviews

This review is from: To All Things What They Need (Audio CD)

As one of the progenitors of modern techno, you have to give Gerald Simpson (better known as A Guy Called Gerald) his due. So as _To All Things What They Need_ starts off on an ambient notes of "American Cars," Simpson moves into a restless, genre-hopping album. From the electro fo "To Love" to the downtempo, spoken word "Millennium Sanhedrin" (with Ursula Rucker, of course), Simpson slides easily from one style to the next. A muezzin takes center stage in the Middle Eastern-influenced "Call For Prayer" while "Tajeen" spices the pot with with ethnic electro. "First Try" is a beautiful, swirling, string-laden piece of acid, while "Pump" is a straight-up house jam. Even if the groundbreaking part of his career has passed, he can still bring out the best of the machines.

0 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars "To all things what they need...? But I needed some good techno?!?", May 6, 2008

By 

M. Emerson - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: To All Things What They Need (Audio CD)

I made the common mistake like the other guy did. I heard Gerald's "Meaning" song and thought the whole cd was like that, but unfortunatly I was wrong. I rate this about a 2.5, its not entirely crappy, but it is more of a let down than anything. I really like "Meaning" alot, it has a real nice sound to it, I wish Gerald would focus on that style of music a bit more. Ultimately it has too much "soul" to it, I have noticed that soul, jazz, funk, or other various "black" elements just dont really work with techno. Personally I like the german styled techno, but to each their own. If your the type of person that needs a transition from soul to techno, then this would be a perfect cd. But if your like me and feel that techno should be pure techno, and every other form of music sucks, then your probably only going to be happy with track 5's "Meaning". I bought this for about $4.00, at that price I think it was worth it, but I encourage people to read the reviews so you dont spend $20.00 on a new cd that turns out like this one.