Customer Reviews

Far Away Trains Passing By

5 star:		(41)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Man, I'm sorry I missed Ulrich's North American concerts earlier this year. This is one phenomenal album, even better now that it's bundled with some bonus tracks. Schnauss's music is catchy, well-composed and perfect to listen to over and over again. My favourite is track #2 - "Between Us And Them" - which I must have listened to literally hundreds of times over the last two years - it is hands-down THE most instantly likeable tune I've ever heard. "Far Away Trains" is my absolute top pick of "cruise music" - coasting down Arizonan or Californian highways with this guy in your ears is magic. Some tunes are a tiny bit derivative - one can hear more than a passing resemblance between Schnauss' "As If You've Never Been Away" and U2's "With Or Without You" but heck, I like BOTH songs. In summary, simply track #2 alone makes "Far Away Trains" worth purchasing, the other tracks are awesome too and most will grow on you. Do yourself a big favour and get this.

Don't get me wrong, I love music...but my tastes are pretty narrow in the overall scheme of things. I'm a mad electronica and dance music fan, like some more alternative rock, some mainstream...but not much. I also don't write reviews very often (probably more because I go on about other things instead and stay away from the topic at hand...oh well...

But then I came across this gem. My favourite artists are Depeche Mode, UNKLE, d*note, Cinematic Orchestra, Faze Action, Beastie Boys, Slowdive, Ride, etc, etc...I love them all...but this - this is something special. Yes there are aural soundscapes, yes there are gently evoked moods and rhythms (we've read it all before), but this is music that touches your very core. It talks to you and folds you into its melodic conversation. And THAT doesn't happen often. Buy this...and then buy everything else that Mr Schnauss has done. For what it's worth, I don't recommend music often, but this is absolutely beautiful.

this individual is truly gifted in the art of creating soothing yet moving emotional waves of sound. perfect for driving, hanging out on the beach, skiing, flying, working, love, and background ambience for a dinner or party. Undeniably my favorite artisian in the musical spectrum as of late. Not only is this most recent stateside release ethereral and revered but is first stateside release " A Strangely Isolated Place" is exceptional as well.

so much love, one cannot almost believe this is electronic music...i'm a huge fan of Ulrich Schnauss a i believe this album is even more down to his roots than Isolated places.
the best mellow electronic music...
definitely worth your time and money.
simply beatiful music.

i first found this album whilst sifting through the likes of Boards Of Canada, Leggo Beast, Bonobo and the like, but never before have I come across an album that is so absorbing,a nd so refreshing to listen to.
Perhaps the best way to listen to this album is if you have to travel alone, perhaps fittingly on a train, and just listen to this and stare out of the window, and you'll be as suprised as I was at how much this beautiful music makes your mind wonder.
The only down side to this album is that it doesn't seem to last long enough.
Do yourself a favour and buy this album!!
If you're after similar vibes form different albums, check out 'From Here To G' by Leggo Beast, 'The Campfire Headphase' by Boards Of Canada.
Also try searching myspace for Orka Veer (whose album can be downloaded for for free off of his page), and Low In The Sky.

I bought this album because Amazon somehow associated it with William Orbit (I've found a lot of great music that way). So, I took a gamble and purchased it. That definitely paid off -- this is a wonderful album!

I can't say that I find the entire album completely listenable, as there are a few tracks that I don't totally enjoy. However, the ones I do enjoy more than make up for that. As other reviewers have pointed out this is music that will enhance your experience of everyday life; it really is excellent driving music and makes those miles melt away.

If you're looking for some light, airy and deep electronic music you might find you very much enjoy far away trains passing by.

This is ambient for grown ups! Like the soundtrack to a Michael Mann movie without the violence, sort of....The perfect album for one of those days off that you occasionally get, but that you haven't really planned (yes, I know, they are rare, but they do exist) Just ripp this straight into your iPod and don't do anything useful for about 85 minutes! If you like this, you should check out www.ulrich-schnauss.com for his free MP3s of demos/early versions! His album "A strangely isolated place" is just as good. If ambient with an urban rhythmic twist is your cup of tea, I also recommend the OSA to the movie "Code 46" by Free Association, it's quite magical!

I heard a clip of one of Schnauss's songs on NPR the other day and bought Faraway Trains. Now I'm addicted. It's perfect music for zoning out - e.g., with an iPod on a plane. In a way, listening to it as you stare out the window seems to give significance to everyday things.

The problem I find now is there is not enough music like this. One site recommended Boards of Canada as similar, but I've found them only remotely similar to Schnauss.

Swirling melodic build-ups that end in joyful light house dance grooves - this album is excellent! I agree with the reviewer who stated that this was very happy music. One of the best finds in the ambient/electronica genre I have made in some time. This is very well made giddy stuff.

I rate songs according to their 'longevity', and this is one I can listen to over and over. having been disenfranchised by the 'unrelenting' whining of today's 'Contemporary' (whatever the 'genre'), I appreciate music inclined to the 'experiential' rather than the 'self-aggradizement' of individuals void of depth and inspiration. whew! that having been said, the music of Ulrich Schnauss is not for the 'skin deep' or people afraid to be still. 'anger' has become today's plague, and it has infected every arena of every day life. the world needs to chill, and we need all the help we can get. Ulrich to the rescue! Far Away Trains Passing By is a welcomed 2 disc CD (includes bonus tracks) engineered with that in mind. 'Blumenwiese Neben Autobahn' will keep you within the 'posted' Speed Limit. 'Between Us & Them' whispers the promise of a new day. 'Passing By' declares our will to resist. 'Nobody's Home' instills that longing to return for those 'far away'. and 'Knuddelmaus' brings you home, safe & sound. I first heard Ulrich over an iTunes Ambient Radio station, and previewed several of his songs before purchasing 2 albums from Amazon. (A Strangely Isolated Place). I keep copies of both in the car. think I'll call AAA to see if I can get a discount on my policy!