Customer Reviews

Horizontal

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

 

 

This is quite possibly, the deepest, most chill album I've ever listened to. This two-CD set is unmixed with a deceptively low number of tracks (12 in all). While there are only 12 tracks, the shortest one is 7 minutes, with most running about 10 minutes. It is incredibly atmospheric and will put you into a very relaxed state. I do not recommend you drive or operate heavy machinery while listening to this. This album is so relaxing, that staying awake while listening to it, becomes a conscious effort. The songs are beautiful and even though they're not mixed, flow into each other quite well.

Some of the songs sound like they have Irish Folk song influences, while others have Classical piano melodies. The entire package just eases itself along. If you're looking for something that'll take the edge off of you, faster than a joint of Marijuana, this is it.

First of all:'Horizontal' is an adventure of sublimal sounds and samples. Everytime when I hear 'Horizontal', I hear something new.
Here is my comment to every track:

CD 1.

Storm in a teacup *****

The first track is a very good opener and leads the listener to the new soundscapes. It offers something that I would describe as an ambivalence between the sounds. I has a bright side and a dark side and it seems that these opposites strike against each other. In my opinion the dark side is the 'Storm' and after the Storm has gone, the bright side shines again,brighter than ever before. I needed one week to recognize that almost all
tracks on 'Horizontal have 2 or 3 main sound themes and every time a theme is reprised is has a new variation -> perceptible deviations.

Opium *****

Opium is a great track and the description about 'Storm.' fits also for Opium. I think it is a little bit better than 'Storm..' because it offers more sounds.

Interieur design *****

My favourite track. I like the instrument that sounds a little bit like a harp or zither - I could listen to this track permanently.

The Path of least resistence ****

For the first time I didn't like the track because it seemed that it doesn't fit in the musical context of the CD. But it is an ultimately Moodswings/Liz Upchurch Piano track with much more orchestration as known before. Now, I like it.

Blue Topaz *****

The fifth track opens a new musical horizon of Moodswings music because it has a bumpy sound (well done) . I like the guitar sound of Johnny Marr and the steal guitar sound of B.J. Cole.

Velvet Garden ***

This is the only disappointing track on 'Horizontal' because it offers nothing new. It is only a reprise track of used sounds on the first CD.

CD 2

Opium @ 45 Degrees ****

For the first time I thought the 'Opium' remix could be predistined as a fast trance track and I asked myself why is it only a mid-tempo track. The answer I found is that in general no one of the revisited tracks should be fast or very fast because that is not the intention of 'Horizontal'. If there was only one fast track on CD 2 in would query the tracks of CD 1.
Finally, this track has superb effects. Well done.

Storm... @ 135 Degrees ****

It was a big surprise to hear drum & bass elements on a moodswings track. I think it was a good idea to integrate this elements. In addition, I like the spoken voice sample. Well done.

Melted Teacup *****

The third track is still better than the second. Why?
I can't explain. I only know it offers the whole Moodswings Sound Universe.

Seems to remind me... *****

This track can be compared with the best former known Moodswings voice track: 'State of Independence'- it is unique and Julee Cruise was the right choise. In addition the harmonica is great! A Masterpiece!

Into the blue *****

Yet another great voice track. Excellent!

Clair de Lune *****

. terminates 'Horizontal'. I like the pedal steel guitar and this track shows that an instrument can be used unusually.

I was a big fan of this band's 2nd album "psychedelicatessen"(which I felt was even better than "moodfood'").I especially love the 2nd half of that album where after the amazing cover of Bob Marley's "redemption song"the music went all chilled and watery for the next 20 minutes or so-I often used to skip the Cdto track 9 when I just wanted to relax and not deal with all the rythmical intensity of the body of the album .
The band obviously made this new CD just for me!It is exactly the same feeling as I got from the ambient 2nd half of "psychedelicatessen"but masses of it ,2 WHOLE HOURS of floating dreamy psychedelic space surfing to blow your mind.The minute I pressed play I felt transported off to some otherworldly paradise,rather like the set out of that movie"what dreams may come".You must get to hear this music,it is amazing! Top marks to a top band.Are they English?they sound like they come from Mars! I don't think I'll ever get bored of this CD,It sounds better every listen,like an amazing fractal that keeps on revealing the more you dive into it.SPAAACEEEEY

Horizontal is different than the previous 2 albums by Moodswings. It's even better. The 2 disc CD gives you a lot of music for your money. The tracks are great for your mind. It's electronic music at it's best. To tell you a particular track is awesome is to tell you they all are. Buy it, listen to it and be peaceful!

It takes 5 years between Moodswings albums and I was so looking forward to another 5 star album. Unlike the first two, this is completely ambient. Very few ambient albums have remained in my collection.

With that bias, this effort is better than most, thanks to Debussy. Several tracks have exquisite passages but I actually thought Disk 2 was damaged because of a horrible flutter effect at the 7:44 mark of the first track. My rating of 4 means I like the album, still listen to it and recommend a purchase.

Since Moodswings first album Moodfood, I've been a fan. But, I must say that this album Horizontal is the most unique of all their albums and the most relaxing. This album totally relaxes me and even calms me down during streessful times. Disc 2 is my most favorite since it also incorporates a little more rhythm and beat into the music. Overall, this is by far an excellent album to relax too. A true Aural Medication For Tired Minds. Purchase this album, you won't regret it.

Wow-I love this album! I have almost worn out "psychedelicatessen"with perpetual playing and this new Cd "Horizontal"reminds me strongly of the 2nd half of that album.It's dreamy,almost otherworldly atmosphere sends my heart spinning,the music drips with gorgeous melodies that I know I will grow to love;the piano riff in "opium"that develops into a fullblown orchestral orgasm on this 16minute epic leaves me speechless it is so beautiful,as is the piano on "the Path of least resistance".This Album is so gloriously chilled;as the sleeve notes explain Moodswings have purposely kept this album completely chilled,perfect after party music but even more sensuous and psychedelic(if that were possible).
It completely blew me away when I was recovering from a crazy night,there seemed just so many layers and textures going on at once,it sounded almost 3d and as near to a religious experience as one can get-as soon as CD1 had finished ,I started it again and then left it on repeat play for the rest of the night-I had some amazing dreams.
It is more subtle and subliminal than the last album yet its sound has almost a cleansing vibe as it washes over you and it definitely feels like a complete musical journey,and an amazing exploration into the psyche of surely one of the leading chillout electronica bands around.They just don't sound like any other band out there!
Buy this album but don't expect to dance to it ,just allow it to boogie with your brain cells!
A wonderful comeback

So what if it's a departure from "Moodfood", it's so much smoother and professional sounding and it's packed with a heck of allot more originality. I guess I'm one of the few who actually find it's "ambience" to be a good thing. If you're new to Moodswings, you'll like (or love) it.

This is has to be one of the best albums released this year so far. It's so dreamy and sensual with lots of electronic layers and watery synths. I highley recommend it.

I only bought this new Cd from Moodswings last weekend
but I have to say that it is really beginning to get under my skin.I bought it because I remember loving some CD of theirs a couple of years back.
It is a beautiful collage of soft electronic furryness,it seemed at first like a really subtle record,but when I played it on my Cd walkman it really sucked me in;there is alot more going on subliminally than you first notice,loads of cool sounds and stereo rollercoaster effects that make you feel like you are almost flying or under water.
I have a feeling this one is going to really grab me over the summer ,especially after surfing or when I just want to kick back and chill in the sun.
this one's definitely got a very cool vibe to it-kind of like slow motion body surfing.Nice one!

To me, this is one of the top 5 greatest albums ever created. Nothing else comes close to taking me where this album takes me - dreaming through space. Imagine blinking neon lights, hi-tech computer panels, orbiting moons, stars suspended in space... it's beautiful. and nothing, NOTHING, can compare to Julee Cruise's vocals on this album. Flawless and perhaps the most layered album I own - I hear something new every time I listen. I'm sorry that people find this album boring. Chilled compared to the first two? Yes. Boring? No. I guess they never took the time to understand it.