Customer Reviews

In Distance

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

 

 

About the Band:

Bitcrush is the ambient electronics band created by Mike Cadoo. Cadoo was one of the principal members of San Francisco's ambient industrial band Gridlock (also highly recommended). Bitcrush is closely related to Cadoo's other sideproject, Dryft, but takes a much softer approach than either Dryft or Gridlock in creating lush and relaxing music. In addition to masterful use of electronics, Bitcrush incorporates guitars and vocals to complete albums that are perfect for listening to at home.

About the Album:

In Distance is the second regular release by Cadoo, but it follows his 2005 online only Shimmer and Fade. Fans of ambient electronic bands to postmodern rock bands such as the Church or the Cure, will really revel in the album's blend of electronics and guitar. In particular I highly recommend listening through the full 11 minutes of the seventh track, "and triage", as Cadoo took guitar and key work to a new level. About half of the tracks feature Cadoo's vocals (which is something that will be new to Gridlock fans): "post", "in distance", "and triage", and "every ghost has it's spectre", but the vocals complement, not overpower the electronics or guitars.

Though the hour long album includes a number of 5 minute or shorter tracks, that might be suitable for club play, this album is not dance music. Instead I think it is fair to describe In Distance as the perfect example of "chill-out" music. The entire album is emotional and heartfelt. I think of this album as the sort of direction that Cadoo and Mike Wells (both of Gridlock) were taking their band with their album "Formless", before they broke up.

I can not help but wonder if the album is something of a reflection on Cadoo's prior experiences, as the title "In Distance" and overall tone of the album seems as if he was looking back at his years in the music industry from something of an objective or impassionate view. Obviously this album is thought provoking, and if you find that sort of thing stimulating, then I highly recommend adding this to your wish list.

Recommended Tracks:

- and triage

- the 2am edit

- colder

- drop entitled

I've listed some similar artists, but I feel that Bitcrush tends to stand outside of many genres and hence this list includes similar electronic artists whom I think you may also enjoy. Though many of the artists below are much more energetic than Bitcrush, their approach to making and playing music is the same and I think you'll find more similarities than differences when comparing them to Cadoo. Enjoy!

Similar Artists:

- Gridlock / Dryft

- Monstrum Sepsis

- Forma Tadre

- Halo_Gen

- Mlada Fronta

- Monolith

- Noise Unit

- Black Lung

I have been a casual fan of post-rock / shoegaze / ambient etc. for awhile, and I would recommend this album to anyone looking for a great introduction into this kind of music. Bitcrush's "In Distance" is interesting and engaging without being standoff-ish - a casual fan that is looking for an album to put on when writing, painting, going for an evening drive, relaxing, etc. will be able to pop this in and enjoy it. At the same time, anyone that is a fan of these kinds of genres should find the album interesting and well done without sounding too much like Mogwai or Sigur Ros or some of the other post-rock instrumental bands out there.

I first heard the eighth track, "Every Ghost Has Its Spectre," on one of my Pandora stations. I fell in love with the track and ordered the album immediately. I was hoping that the rest of the tracks would be as mellow and mesmerizing and I was not disappointed in the slightest. The electronics and beats are present but not distracting or jarring, and the sparse vocals provide just enough words for those folks that couldn't imagine buying an album without some sort of lyrical presence.

Honestly, I've only bought this CD recently and it's becoming one of my favorites already. I've found that I can pop it in and listen to all of the tracks without skipping around.

Check it out - I think you'll be pleased.