Apocalypso [Import]

The Presets | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 8, 2008)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• ASIN: B0019KMIH8
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #766,291 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Kicking & Screaming

2. My People

3. A New Sky

4. This Boy's in Love

5. Yippiyo-Ay

6. Talk Like That

7. Eucalyptus

8. If I Know You

9. Together

10. Aeons

11. Anywhere

Editorial Reviews

2008 sophomore album from The Presets (Julian Hamilton and Kim Moyes). Ranging from expansive, emotive Techno, to Future Pagan House and Choral Space Funk, Apocalypso demonstrates the band's undeniably canny knack for welding hook-laden Pop to the most singular and exciting sounds today. Along the way, The Presets have become one of Australia's most in-demand live acts, and after two non-stop years touring the major festivals of the world, they've managed to capture some of this energy in these new recordings. Welcome to the world of Apocalypso.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Better than their first album... but different., June 15, 2008

By 

ol' dirty media junkie "you know you wish you... (san diego, ca) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Apocalypso (MP3 Download)

The Presets- clever, fresh, fun, danceable, smart music with some good edges you can wrap your ears around. If you liked their first album, you'll probably like this one too- I actually find this one has more listenable tracks. But it's darker, you might call it gothic synth-pop. Which is cool, it's in a genre all it's own. All my friends dig it and say "where do you find all these cool tunes?" But my friends are kind of douchebags so forget about them. Anyway, this is a rockin album. Check it out.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Australia strikes again!, June 5, 2008

By 

Benjamin Norman "Trance Pants" (Washington DC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Apocalypso (Audio CD)

Australian duo The Presets return to the scene with their 2008 sophomore record, Apocalypso. The album features a very strong dance vibe with industrial and pop undertones.

If you don't know The Presets, here is your introduction. Julian Hamilton is one half, and the side we would know as the voice. His singing is monotonous and can almost at times be described as yelling in key. Along with Kim Moyes, who is in charge with percussion, they both provide the keyboards and synths. It's a complete dual effort, as the songs would lack something if either the beats or words were gone from their compositions. Hamilton and Moyes are prevalent in the Australian electronic scene, and partially in the rock scene as well. They are good friends with Silverchair frontman Daniel Johns, as well as his Dissociatives counterpart and producer Paul Mac. They have remixed fellow Australians Cagedbaby and Architecture in Helsinki, been remixed by Cut Copy, and share a label with Wolfmother and The Avalanches. Their first album, Beams, met with mixed reviews, but when it shined, it shined brightly. "Are You The One?", the second single off the album, was featured in one of the final episodes in season 3 of So You Think You Can Dance.

Which brings us to Apocalypso. The album finds The Presets picking up on the vibe that worked, something that was mostly developed while touring based on live performances. The lead single, "My People," is an extremely heavy, fast-paced, and dark electronic pop song, and also a cry for social reformation in Australia. "Let me hear you scream if you're with me!" Hamilton yells, like the man with the megaphone. "Talk Like That" seems custom-tailored for the dance floor, complete with sexual connotations and classical breakdowns. Hamilton and Moyes make sure to let us know when to expect a big drop into some heavy beats as the instruments climb the scales, and the tension rises. Just when you think it can't go on any longer, right on the beat we hear, in almost a coy fashion, "Uh oh!" to let us know it's time to dance. "This Boy's In Love" is the album's second single and is one of the softer notes available on Apocalypso, but don't be fooled by that description. It's still a very danceable number. Every time I begin to listen to "Kicking and Screaming," the opening song, I think, "Wow, I really don't like this song." Then the chorus begins, and I'm reminded of just why I love The Presets. "Aeons" is, in my opinion, the only downer on the album. Earlier I had mentioned that without both members contributing their individual strengths, Hamilton with his voice and Moyes with his beats, The Presets lost their edge. "Aeons" is an instrumental track, and thus feels like it is missing something.

You'll typically find The Presets in the rock section at your local CD retailer. This is incorrect, as The Presets are very far from rock. Hamilton's voice and the dark tone of the music threatens to drag their music into industrial territory, but the production from Moyes and the general song structure supply club and pop elements, giving us a very twisted form of electro pop. This album borders on being a non-stop party album, and the most disrespect it can be shown is to be lumped into "Pop/Rock." It belongs in Electronica, and maybe people will wise up to how much talent and potential these two men have.

Summary: Buy it. Some find Hamilton's voice a little grating, but I find it a refreshing change from the screaming diva and breathy vixen that dominate the dance floor. "Talk Like That," even with an extended mix, could rock the floor.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Killer Synth Pop & Electro-clash!!!, December 5, 2009

By 

danseassembly "DanseAssemblyMediaNetwork" (north east on the atlantic coast) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Apocalypso (Audio CD)

2 tracks stand out like beacons on this great release: "This Boy's In Love" and the 1st single "If I Know You" - both feature minor synth lines and haunting melodies that you will be left humming for a good long time. If NEW ORDER actually had IAN CURTIS as their lead singer in their synth-pop phase it may have sounded like "Apocalypso!" Imagine perfect arrangements of sad-sounding dance-pop but with a more over-blown and chilling lead vocalist. This modern production is a must own for fans of PET SHOP BOYS, THE FAINT, DE/VISION, CROC SHOP and LADYTRON alike. The 2 videos for the tracks mentioned earlier are real winners too; dark, gritty and hip. Just like this Austrialian Duo!