Customer Reviews

Go Hawaii

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

 

 

One of the most under-heard albums in today's music...
Great from start to finish...
Chillin' beats and soothing ambient...
Not cliche, but suprisingly accessible...

These relate to Go Hawaii. If you like electronic music such as Amon Tobin, Boards of Canada, Autechre, or Aphex Twin, then you should give this album a try. I love it and still replay it every day, since my purchase a month ago. You should be able to enjoy this album on the first listen, because it's THAT good.

C vs J... where to begin? I'll try my hardest not to become to personally biased with this artist as difficult as it may be. The first time I heard Whole Numbers I thought I finally found the answer. The answer to the perfect formula of abstract trip hop, ambience, intel, and signature by one single artist. I had no idea what was in store for me with his following and past releases, I could only compare it to a tech finding the end of the internet, a diver discovering the white whale or perhaps a ghost being put to rest in peace. It's not just this album in particular but all his works that deserve applause, but only should be heard by a public consisting of substance and is appreciative of musical detail and it's design. I can't help but think of the Never Ending Story in the book store, yeah I was once that little kid, thought I had read everything. Obviously you've been either told or stumbled across this album and by reading this please don't look at this as a reveiw or recommendation, look at this as a bloody demand...BUY THIS ALBUM! In close every style of music potentially has a time and place, Casino versus Japan is in a place of his own, Milwaukee (jokes, kind of). Now that wasn't very personal was it?

Okie dokie this album just kicks out the chill laid back groove that your dad was looking for. Think of the boards of canada with a bit more body, and length. The atmospheres and auralscapes that are built up and torn down in the album are beautiful. lazy lulling drones and off chords work together perfectly to create a certain mood, a vibe of just PURE AWESOME.

Evoking far away lands and a minor key sadness, CvsJ's Go Hawaii has to be considered an excellent piece of electronic texture music; at once blissful, a bit distant and a tad sad.

The closest comparisons will be Boards of Canada, but this is easily more accesible, with better hooks and thicker beats. Although BOC have their place, CvsJ consistently constructs a lush and moody texture that slowly washes over you on every track. With no break beats in sight, Erik Kowalski offsets his gorgeous synth haze with simple and effective meoldies. The effect of these mostly mid-paced tunes is serene and wistful.
Over Island, Metrobolt and Late for School are stand out tracks indicative of the type of music present on the album; but the key to the overall reward of Go Hawaii is the consistency (typically lacking on many electronic music albums) and inventiveness.

CvsJ doesn't overdo it, keeps the editing tight without overselling the tracks (no 10 minute yawners), and infuses every song with a crunchy distortion that adds just the right amount of thickness throughout.

Almost seven years old and it just gets fresher with time. Go Hawaii is a masterpiece of slack key guitar, electronic textures, processed soundscapes, and beautiful melodies. From the opening harsh percussion of 'Theme' to the fade out ambience of the title track, there are very few weak moments; and very many strong ones. 'It's Very Sunny' has thumping beats and spooky spoken word samples. 'Local Forecast' is an aural representation of a tropical rainfall and following rainbow. 'Dielectric Saints' fills you with melancholy and lets you down easy. And those are just the highlights! Erik Kowalski manages to blend everything together into a haunting, yet inspirational whole. The whole album belies the notion the music made by machines is cold and sterile. Go Hawaii is some of the warmest electronica ever made.