Ether Song [Enhanced, Limited Edition]

Turin Brakes | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 11, 2003)
• Original Release Date: 2003
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Enhanced, Limited Edition
• Label: Astralwerks
• ASIN: B00008GQC5
• Also Available in: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #463,800 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Blue Hour

2. Average Man

3. Long Distance

4. Self Help

5. Falling Down

6. Stone Thrown

7. Clear Blue Air

8. Pain Killer

9. Full Of Stars

10. Panic Attack

11. Little Brother

12. Rain City

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Labeled "quietcore" and "slo-fi," drawing attention more to instrumentation volume and a practically nonexistent movement than musical content, the Turin Brakes of The Optimist (their debut) was better served by songwriting than dynamics. Self-produced fragile folk, The Optimist swung at a melancholic strum. With sophomore album Ether Song, however, Turin Brakes has turned to studio as friend, not foe, resulting in an assured strut more akin to the second-wave that Brit-pop comparisons already leveled. Of course, with lightly brushed psychedelics now swelling to cradle-soaring vocal harmonies, Ether Song increasingly recalls the soulful SoCo of Neil Young-era Crosby, Stills & Nash/Buffalo Springfield through Ry Cooder as it does South London. Additional moments shimmer of Eric Clapton and Bob Dylan as brightly as Radiohead, Doves and Coldplay by way of Jeff Buckley. Adding a touch of churn to chime, there’s an increased unease bubbling beneath Ether Song’s spectral lope, making a bewitching brew of triumphant introspection while not unprecedented, but still plenty personal.

Tony Ware

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant, October 18, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Ether Song (Audio CD)

By far, one of the most talented and original sounds to come along in quite some time. While the current age of music seems to be stuck in a valley, rather than traversing a peak, this disc reassures us that there may be hope yet, for the future of music. Although the Golden Age of music has, most certainly passed, maybe thre is still another due to emerge. For your own sake, give this one a chance! Most of you will know what I mean when I say that, chances are, this disc will not be a favorite certainly the first, second, and perhaps even the third time you hear it. It will, however, become one of those classic favorites that will never get too old for proper appreciation, much like Pearl Jam's "Ten" and Dave Matthews unforgettable first album. This is now threatening to turn into a full-scaled rant, so here, it must end.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A laid-back summer album, July 8, 2003

By 

Devin DiMattia "dimattiafilms.com" (North Carolina, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Ether Song (Audio CD)

I had never heard of Turin Brakes before the Astralwerks newsletter I receive in my e-mail began promoting their latest CD, "Ether Song". I decided to listen to their single, "Pain Killer (Summer Rain)" and I was ready to crown it as the best summer song of 2003. Now that I own the album, my opinion still stands, but "Ether Song" is packed with other great songs. Unfortunately, there's nothing on the album that's as immediately catchy as "Pain Killer", but that's rarely a bad thing. I prefer an album that grows on you than one that gets tiring after a few listens. "Blue Hour" is a nice build-up introduction to the album, while the short and sweet "Average Man" establishes Turin Brakes excellent songwriting abilites. "Long Distance" and "Self Help" are nice rockers while "Falling Down" bring in the electronics for a nice, ambient tune. There are some interestingly experimental songs on here, most notably the claustrophobic "Panic Attack". I really like the only real hard rocker on here, "Little Brother", for it's smooth percussion-less bridge before jumping right back into its addictive melody. The final song, "Rain City", is another gorgeously acoustic endeavor pocketed with synth bleeps in the background (to simulate raindrops, I suppose). Wait awhile for the hidden title track, "Ether Song". It's a very good song with a fascinating buildup, but I get real tired of people hiding songs two or three minutes after the last track. It doesn't make it worth fast-forwarding on your CD player every time you want to hear it.

Anyway, I'd like to talk about the bonus disc. US record label Astralwerks likes to put bonus songs onto UK discs released here in the States to make picky consumers more likely to buy them. This time around, they've added a four-track bonus disc of demos and alternate studio sessions for "Blue Hour", "Self Help", "Long Distance" and a new song, "Bright Golden Lights". I would say they're not worth your time, but, hey, they're free, so they're pretty good. Also on the bonus disc is an enhanced CD-ROM with a video EPK (Electronic Press Kit) showing how they made the album, how it compares with their last CD, "The Optimist", and a pretty cool bit about how they shot the album cover. All the footage is interspersed with impressive concert footage.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Different, July 20, 2004

By 

Claire Bates (Nashville, TN) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Ether Song (Audio CD)

My English auntie bought me this CD. She thought I'd never heard of Turin Brakes. Happily, it acted as a happy reminder. She bought me this just before I drove back to Nashville with this CD from North Dakoka. Believe me, this is an excellent road trip CD. I don't know if I like it as much as Optomist, but it definitely has more of that cathartic feel, especially if you have songs that really need to make you feel that way."Long Distance" and "Stone Thrown" are contenders for good getting over people/rebound/not getting over people songs. Enjoy this album. It is like an old wine. It gets better the more times you listen to it.