Furnace

Download | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 3, 1995)
• Original Release Date: October 3, 1995
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Cleopatra
• ASIN: B000001JTI
• Also Available in: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #202,743 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Mallade

2. Omniman-Seel Hole

3. Omniman

4. Cannaya

5. Sigesang

6. Stone Grey Soil

7. Mothersonne

8. Attalal

9. Lebanull

10. Beehatch

11. Noh Mans Land

12. Marred

13. Hevel

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Industrial/ambient brilliance!, May 6, 2003

By 

Ilker Yucel "Kryptych" (Annapolis, MD United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Furnace (Audio CD)

cEvin Key and Dwayne Goettel's first outing as Download (and Dwayne's last before his death) showed a progression into industrial electronic territory far more experimental than even Skinny Puppy's stranger moments. With the help of Philth and Mark Spybey, "Furnace" plays out like a soundtrack to a post-apocalyptic wasteland (much like the holographic cover). The music ranges from hard industrial beats to sonic ambience the likes of which is rarely heard outside of the "Blade Runner" soundtrack. Utilizing everything from hardcore guitar samples and distorted vocals to middle eastern melodies and treatments, there is no stone unturned on this album. There is a steady flow from the freaky and harsh first half of the CD to the more soothing passages of the second half. "Sigesang" is definitely the most brutal song, starting somewhat moderately befor blasting into a combination of pounding synths, distorted noise, and buried vocals. "Seel Hole" sets the tone for the whole CD, starting things off with a combination of frenetic beats and textured ambience. Genesis P. Orridge's vocals on "Omniman," "Lebanull," and "Marred" add a frightening quality, sounding both malevolent and mechanical at the same time. I could say more, but it would be redundant. The music relies less on typical song-structures, and more on a sense of the feeling of the music. Texture takes precedence over melody, giving it the sense of a soundtrack to an unmade movie. It's a CD full of dissonance and beauty, perfect for anybody who needs to unwind. Whether you like rage or serenity, this CD has it all, and it all works. I'm less familiar with Download's later work, but if it's anywhere as good as this, consider me a fan. Give it a listen.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars dead river childern, August 7, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Furnace (Audio CD)

Download is cEVIN KEY and the late Dwayne Goettel (formerly of skinny puppy), Mark Spybey (of Dead Voices on Air, ex Zoveit France) and Philth. "Furnace", the group's first LP, contains 13 tracks and totals 75 min in length. Each track has been given a # between 1-13.(1 = the best, 13 = the worst)

(8)"Mallade" - Spybey's influence becomes apparent here. Werid ambience accompanied by distorted scraps and some guitar and vocal like sounds.

(2)"Seel Hole" - Digital hardcore. The track is comprised of more individual sounds then I can count. It's quite meismerizing.

(10)"Omniman" - Danceable yet intellegent. Features vocals from Genesis P. Orridge (ov Psychic TV, ex Throbbing Gristle)

(6)"Cannaya" - 6 different sections are easily distinguishable, a credit to Download's versatility. Flutes, trupets and vocals all sound Middle-Eastern in origin.

(3)"Sigesang" - Check the BPMs. Percussion defines this track. Distorted guitar is also present along with lots of cool synth and samples.

(7)"Stone Grey Soil" - Chattery synthesised percussion in a sea of ambient noise. Contains the same low-pitched incomprehensable vocals scattered thru out the album.(Is this a language?)

(5)"Mother Sonne" - Awesome vocal distortion. Deeply complex rhythm which is at the same time catchy.

(1)"Attalal" - Who says electronic music can't be moving? Keyboards courtesy of Dwayne I assume. Perhaps my favorite song from this group.

(13)"Lebanull" - At this point it is evident that the Middle-Eastern influence was intended to be thematic. (or perhaps I'm misplacing the sound) Anyway my least favorite track is still impressive. Features Gen.

(9)"Beehatch" - Infectious beats. and yet i fall asleep listening to this (intentionally).

(12)"Noh Mans Land" - Good but the remixes on "Microscopic"(Also higly recommended) are better.

(4)"Marred" - 2 vocal tracks, disembodied dialouge snipits, at least 5 or 6 percussive tracks (including some funky bass and keyboards that sound almost disconnected) as well as all sorts of menacing ambience. This is epic song making.

(11)"Hevel" - Short and sweet. Contains elements of track 1.

It is curcial that you give this album time to grow on you. It took me a year and 1/2 before I could appreciate it for what it is: one of the most complex and original experimental electronic albums ever made. It's 5 years later and cEVIN and Co. have yet emulate the sound they acheived on "Furnace". I am in hopes that the next album will start out where this one left off.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 10 years ahead of it's time...,make it 20., July 18, 2004

By 

Erik (Holland) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Furnace (Audio CD)

Well,Skinny Puppy had their impact on modern electronic music,Download takes you with the Furnace album even further.

Big threatening soundscapes where effects are played like instruments.

Listen alone at high volume,when the music stops you're bathing in sweat looking around,wondering what you just listened to.

A must buy for any advocate of experimental electronic music.