Duntisbourne Abbots Soulmate Devastation Technique

Mu-Ziq | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 18, 2007)
• Original Release Date: 2007
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Planet Mu
• ASIN: B000S9KSJG
• In-Print Editions: Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #343,619 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Mike Paradinas’ place in musical history is secure. Under the ì-Ziq moniker, the Planet Mu founder and head is a key innovator who to brought electronic music to a wider audience in the ’90s, pushing boundaries and rattling heads with a consistent stream of releases, each exploring new realms of consciousness. It’s been four years since the whirlwind of chaos that was Bilious Paths, and Paradinas’s new album is a more reflective body of work, though no less revelatory. Introspective and melancholic, ì-Ziq revisits his roots in the early ’90s ambient techno scene pioneered by, among others, The Black Dog, Aphex Twin, and himself. Among these 17 tracks are off-key melodies, nauseous harmonies, and woozy beats. A melodic tour de force, Duntisbourne Abbots Soulmate Devastation Technique is a welcome return to one of the most vital artists in music today.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars after the party's over, September 25, 2007

By 

0=0 (Earth) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Duntisbourne Abbots Soulmate Devastation Technique (Audio CD)

Several years ago, Mu-ziq released a dense, soup of pure sonic fury in the form of "Bilous Paths", perhaps his most layered, complex and best work to date. The searing pitches, and mountains of sound left many a listener either confounded or astounded, after the clean, classical influenced breakbeat opus that was "Royal Astronomy".

Now it's 2007, and Mike P. returns, this time with no intention to blow minds, or fuses for that matter, releasing his most introspective and melancholy work to date, "Duntisbourne Abbots Soulmate Devastation Technique". I can see why some folks might make a snap judgement, accusing Mike P. of losing his mojo, or whatever. Truth is, this is simply a guy expressing his current state of mind--this is the Mu-ziq machine wearing a very human heart on its sleeve. This is the sound of an artist who is simply being honsest, disregarding current trends, for the most part.

The fuzz and most of the furor of past efforts are almost all but gone, and the melodies, which were there, but sometimes challenging to decipher on "Bilous" are here at the fore, taking prominence over the beats even. The melodies on here are some of the most beautiful, though saddest, in that trademark wobbly Mu-ziq way, I've heard from Mr. Paradinas. Where "Bilous" was the mad all night party, this is the aftermath, the morning after, where you try to sort out your head, try to make sense of all the good and the bad that occured during the previous evening, with feelings intense and vivid, yet foggy and vague. This is post dubstep, post grime, post Mu-ziq music even. Apparently this stuff was made in reaction to a failed relationship with a former wife, and you can hear the pain and sorrow--the reflection in the sounds. Never one to dutifully try and appease any type of listening audience, this is an unexpected turn to some not-so-difficult listening material, and though it might be tagged as "queasy" listening for some, this is still far better than a whole lot of what's being passed as good music these days. I give Mike a five for staying true to himself and continuing to make great, quality electronic music.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars different definently...its a good thing., March 30, 2008

By 

Aaron Brakefield - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Duntisbourne Abbots Soulmate Devastation Technique (Audio CD)

This cd starts out with a theme that never ceases. Reviews claim that most of the songs sound like they are all deviations of the same thing; they do not differ drastically from one another throughout the album. The truth is they dont. This is by far Mike Paradinas's most far out album. At the same time I have a very clear image or picture in my head when i think about this album. It makes me "feel" a certain way; A very strong way. I think it is the fact that this album DOES hold a familiar theme throughout; building on it here, tearing it down there. This is in contrast to an album with 10 or so songs that all sound completely different, or they were wrritten at very different times in the composers life. Im not saying "duntisbournes" is a perfect work of art, but whenever an ethereal memory of this haunting little album comes looming up, it is usually because of the overall theme of the album and not a particular song.

5.0 out of 5 stars Best since Brace Yourself, May 19, 2009

By 

M. Spitzli "Schmutzig" (Iowa) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Duntisbourne Abbots Soulmate Devastation Technique (MP3 Download)

In this CD Mike takes all the good parts of the mostly bad stuff he's done over the last decade or so, expands on them, then brings them all together into something semi-cohesive that works very well. Outstanding effort. Love it.