Customer Reviews

Blue Eyed in the Red Room

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

If you are anything like me, and I believe there are quite a few listeners who have similar patterns to mine, I strongly advise you to listen to this cd more than once.

I was already a huge fan of another Boom Bip effort "Seed to Sun". Then, when I first heard "Blue Eyed in the Red Room", I was quite disappointed. It didn't seem bad, just mediocre. However, since I know that occasionally I am wrong about a CD on the first listen, I gave this one another chance. Boy, am I glad I did. It is now one of my favorite CDs, and it just keeps growing in stature.

If you've come to this from Boom's other CDs, give it more than one listen - it is very different from his other stuff, and I think at least equally great. It gets under your skin when you least pay attention to it, in an ambient sort of way. I love the way the songs develop. Someone claims it takes Boom too long to develop the melodic line, but I disagree. I think the trick is not to listen to it up front, but more like an ambient record (think Eno)... at which point the development is just about perfectly paced.

Highly recommended.

Kind of electronic album I can list to over and over . . . songs are unique and have the spatial quality one finds in avant-garde jazz. Full of intense and interesting sounds but always very free, never too dense.

My reviews aren't that good, but this album deserved another 5 so it is getting one.

Those wishing to pigeonhole Boom Bip (Bryan Hollon) as a strict turntablist falling into the "underground rap" or "alternative hip hop" genres will be thoroughly disappointed with this release. Those recognizing Boom Bip as a multi-disciplined artist interested in forging his own musical path rather than sticking in the confines of a specific genre will, at a minimum, be intrigued by this cd's departure from the previous release "Seed to Sun". Gone are the samples, the static and the noise. In their place are layer upon layer of guitars, autoharps, and other various stringed instruments, keyboards and mechanical beats all performed by Boom Bip.

Many of the tracks, "Cimple", "Girl Toy", "Dumb Day", and "One eye around the warm corner" consist of bizarrely simple melodies and chord progressions that result in melodious washes of sound rather than individual structured songs. The standout tracks include "The Move", "The Dos and the Don'ts" and "The Matter (of our discussion)"

"The Move" is simply one of the catchiest electronic instrumental tracks ever released and will probably make it's way into several chill-out compilations. But what stands out in this track is the bridge which is made up of layers of repetitive guitar lines (almost in the vein of Steve Reich) that build and build until the original theme again emerges. "The Dos and the Don'ts" is a sparse, epic track featuring Gruff Rhys of Super Furry Animals. The final track features the voice of Nina Nastasia floating over a layer of guitars and autoharps that are as drifting and unstructured as the song's lyrics.

In conclusion, buy this cd! Buy it new! Support this artist.

Review by: Mat Propek at [...]
(04.07.05) Bryan Hollon is a flower. Planted in the rough ground as a seed, he sprouted with From Seed to Sun, promising a colorful and vibrant explosion in the seasons ahead. Now, with Blue Eyed in the Red Room, released just as the first blush of spring is in the air, Hollon has bloomed. Gone are the heavy antecedents of hip-hop (smartly realized by him and Doseone on his first release, Circle), gone are the reliance on electronic composition that laced From Seed to Sun. Blue Eyed in the Red Room is filled with the organic sound of live instrumentation, all crafted and created by Hollon himself and layered into a series of engaging instrumental pieces.

Skating on the edge of the territory dubbed "folktronica" (an appellation which came to life following From Seed to Sun and Four Tet's Rounds), the ten tracks of Boom Bip's Blue Eyed in the Red Room are graceful compositions that evoke the colorful resurrection of spring. From the careful articulation of the acoustic guitar in "One Eye Round the Warm Corner" to the light rain-like chatter of percussion in "Soft & Open" to the hanging tones of "Girl Toy," the vibrancy of the efforts here seem unconscious and effortless, belying the careful craft and extensive musical skills of Hollon (who played all the parts himself). It is easy to revel in the warm embrace and glowing arrangements of these songs. It may be too easy, in fact, to dismiss these pieces as sprightly fluff.

Blue Eyed in the Red Room closes with "The Matter (Of Our Discussion)," featuring Nina Nastasia against a dappled shower of auto-harp and strings. The light changes with this final melancholic moment, this fading of love. As our hearts quietly break with Nastasia's words, it only becomes more clear how innocent and untroubled the rest of the record is, how Hollon has realized his seemingly facile expression of uncluttered joy. Boom Bip has left hip-hop, jazz, trip-hop and folktronica behind. Hollon continues to draw what he likes from his influences and use this grist to fuel his evolution. He has bloomed into something new and we're all left scratching our heads, trying to redraw the borders of our classifications.

I say it's not for the impatient because a lot of the tracks slowly climb to their apex. The average listener may not feel like waiting around for the time it takes some of the songs to do so. There are moments where the songs begin to drag and become kind of boring. But I loved the album though. I'd say 6 out of the 10 songs are worthwhile (60% ain't bad). The tracks are beautiful and the guests really add a flavor that wasn't present on Boom Bip's previous releases. Even the long time fans should be able to get into this album.

If I had to find a flaw, it would be that Disc 1 isn't quite long enough. It clocks in at a paltry 47 minutes. But the contents more than make up for such a short listen. Also, "Dumb Day" drags a little bit and can be a bit boring. I was waiting for that song to reach its high point and it never did. Other than that, I can't really find anything wrong with this album.

Disc 2 is a 13 minute rollercoaster ride. You could look at is as two songs playing in a run-on format. It's not bad, but it could've easily been included on Disc 1 though.

Both discs are definitely worth checking out. I don't think adding a second disc was necessary, but it doesn't hurt the album any. I'd reccomend picking this one up.

Standout Tracks: The Move, Aplomb, Do's & Don'ts feat. Ruff Ghrys (My Favorite), Cimple, The Matter (Of Our Discussion), and Eyelashings

I say it's not for the impatient because a lot of the tracks slowly climb to their apex. The average listener may not feel like waiting around for the time it takes some of the songs to do so. I can understand the previous reviewer's argument that the album is boring. It has its moments when it can be a little boring, but I still loved it. Most of the tracks are beautiful (I'd say 6 out of 10) and the guests really add a flavor that wasn't present on Boom Bip's previous releases. Even the long time fans should be able to get into this album.

If I had to find a flaw, it would be that the album isn't quite long enough. It clocks in at a paltry 47 minutes. But the contents more than make up for such a short listen. Also, "Dumb Day" drags a little bit and can be a bit boring. I was waiting for that song to reach its high point and it never did. Other than that, I can't really find anything wrong with this album. It's definitely worth checking out. I'd reccomend picking this one up.

Standout Tracks: The Move, Aplomb, Do's & Don'ts feat. Ruff Ghrys, Cimple, The Matter (Of Our Discussion), and Eyelashings

This is one of the cool recent releases from Warp Records. They have been very different and very interesting. This one starts out in the cool techno vibe of Plaid and Orbital and then becomes something totally their own. "The Move" is more a pure electro track. Gruff Rhys from Super Furry Animals sings on "Do's and Don'ts." Rhys has been on a lot of records recently. This song starts out as a chant. Then it becomes this funky folk track with Indian strings. They say that no samples were used in the making of this record. The bell sounds of "Girltoy" and "Dumb Day" remind me of Plaid. I notice that this record comes off first as this laid back record, but on further listening it sounds more intricate. The song "Eyelashings" sounds like the Cure without vocals. There is a lot of ticking on this recording too. I wonder what they sound like live? They are playing Coachella in a few weeks. There is another song with Nina Nastacia called "The Matter." It is a wonderful end to a brilliant debut. There is a lot of feeling and emotion here.

I recently listened to Blue Eyed after reading rave reviews. I was pretty dissappointed. Despite a few good moments, this album is repetitive, unoriginal and boooooring. The songs take much too long to progress (unless you are stoned) and the entire album sounds like it was created in Garageband.

If you're looking for a CD to nap to, I'd recommend this album. Otherwise, move on.