Customer Reviews

Harlequin Robot & Ballet Dancer

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I bought this CD when it was released and I still listen to it. Beautiful, ambient, trancey, dark songs which will take you to another world. This is not your average stomping techno, this is music with a feel. Excellent!

This is one of my favorite CDs of all time. The music is a mix of new age / classical-like stuff with trance beats. Parts of it are beautiful and make me feel like a primal child, and other parts make me want to scream and run around breaking things. Overall, a beautiful, spiritual experience.

I was first introduced to Sven Vath through a compilation called "Futurythms" It had an absolutely trippy remix of "An Accident in Paradise". I went to my local store to buy some more of his stuff, but they only had this CD. I was thinking "Ballet??!!! What!?"

My fears were unfounded. This is absolutely incredible and expansive techno. Not crappy dance, not ridiculous ambient, but a great combination of both, with a LOT of style. Sven Vath is my second favorite artist behind Orbital, and just slightly edging out Autechre (if they'd only start making coherant music again....). Speaking of, pick up Orbital's "In Sides" at the same time you buy this :) Your music collection will never be the same.

Possibly the only CD I keep listening to. It stays refershingly subtle. I never get bored of this CD (Or it's remixed version: Touch themes of harlewuin, robot, ballet-dancer...) Buy this (or the remixes), satisfaction guaranteed.

I continue to consider artist and Dj 'Sven Vath' as a futuristic and innovative artist together with artist Ralf Hildenbeutel here.Keeping originality in his music even today and in his selections that he makes in his season's mix series. 'Accident in Paradise' was my first album from him at the beginning of the 90's. A very active year talking about techno,ambient,chill-out,the trance europe express years etc..and inspirational for me as an artist!

'The Harlequin ,Robot and Ballet Dancer' stands on its own even for today by it's beautiful rainbow of sound designs and electronica music .Listen to 'The Beauty and the Beast' for instance and you can listen for yourself why you can listen to this production even amongst today's aural world and productions out there.Another source of inspiration for me that continues even today from his cocoon recordings label and cocoonclub in Frankfurt!

As the follow up to Sven's commercial and critically successful debut: An Accident In Paradise, The Harlequin, the Robot and the Ballet Dancer was eagerly anticipated by fans and critics alike. Unfortunately it failed to deliver and received only a luke warm reception. Much of the criticism was against the 'concept album' approach combined with strong references to 'prog' rock and analogue electronic pioneers such as Tangerine Dream. Maybe the regressive sound of this album went against the 'forward thinking' ideology of the techno scene at that time. The album does take the listener on a journey from beginning to end, through blissful chill out moments such as Harlequin's Meditation to thumping trance epics, Ballet Fusion and Harlequin: The Beauty & The Beast. I give this album 4 out of 5 as the remix album "Touch Themes" which followed hot on the heels of this release, which seemed almost like an apology at the time, totally left it in the shade. With an all-star cast of remixers: Underworld, Speedy J, Hardfloor, Alter Ego etc who all manage to dramatically improve on the original versions contained on this disc. If you don't have either release `Touch Themes' is the one to buy.

I have to agree with the majority of the reviewers here -- this is an AWSOME CD!

I'm not sure what "NOT WHAT I EXPECTED"'s problem was, he must not have been expecting music of this sort.

Parts of it are techno/trance, but overall this is better classified as ambient electronica. This and the Remixes album are my favorites from Sven. I've owned it for years and it is consistenly one of my favorites as I find something new to enjoy with each new listen. Each song explores a different soundscape and takes you on a mind trip with the inventive mixing of samples, melodics and percussives. Truly an excecptional work.

Sadly, I can't say the same for his other albums. He's amassed quite a body of work and I so wanted to like his other stuff, but I find it lacking the originality and variety found on this album. There are moments, but nothing consistently excellent like THTRATBD.

In summation, if you are new to Sven Vath, then by all means pick up this album, and then the remixes album if you like it. If you are into the rave/club scene, you might enjoy his other albums, but I rarely play the ones I own.

Hey all you tec heads out there, this is one CD you should definitly buy and keep in you collection. Sven Vath is one of the best German DJs around. This CD will put your body to a groove. If you love techno and trance then this is a CD for you. The reason why I have this CD is because I met Sven in Frankfurt at a Club Omen. He is a great person and he can do magic with music. I have all his CDs, but this one just gets played more. So what are you waiting for go out and grab it. For the love of music keep it real.....

Start listening to this CD and never stop until it is finished... Then just start over... Everytime you will find out more and more little details hidden behind great sound monuments...

For years one of my favourite CDs!

Much too mellow to really be considered "techno". Classical-maybe, slow, I almost fell asleep.