Customer Reviews

Impossible World

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

 

 

I would simply like to point out to any unsuspecting future customers that contained within this VERY pricey CD is ABSOLUTLY NO EXTRA TRACKS!!! The CD itself is excellent. As usual the band does't dissapoint. The one slight bonus is an extra insert that has the lyrics and some kind of article on the band in Japanese. Just stick to the domestic release.

Combustible Edison once again proves there is scant another band in existence that taps the Fabulous Otherworld in such an original fashion--truly a mixed cocktail to soothe a mixed-up world. This is the band I want to take with me into the next milennium, no matter how far we all make it. "Impossible World" conversely celebrates in possibility, with an addition of a few more synthesized parts and groove-oriented elements included here and there. DJ Brother Cleve stakes more of his presence on the record with various evidence of brilliant sampling...check out the Utopia "Scanner's Reprise" mix that runs parallel, vertical and multi-spatial with the Portishead and Siouxsie and the Banshees/Creatures life-vein. Spooky, endearing, classic, experimental, sonically the most texturous of their career, a perfect album cover, a disc that makes one hungry for more. A supergroup bound to unite past and future into the present well into the 21st century. Banquette, Cleve, Connors, Cudahy, The Millionaire. McCartney, Lennon. Bono, The Edge. Hank Shocklee. Innovators of decades. Combustible Edison...blowing up in a dimension near you.

It sounds like they have studied all the new retro futuristic exotica styles;tipsy, propeller heads, United Future Organization, Prince Charming, the High Llamas, squirrel nut zippers and etc.

yet at the same time, they still deliver the trademark quirky Combustble sound.

this is a real nice turn around from thier last cd.

Listening to this album from start to finish is truly an adventure. It is quite simply a stunning effort and heads above the rest of those jazz lounge wannabees. It feels like Stereolab having cocktails with the Jetsons.

From the droning opening of "Utopia," Combustible Edison's "The Impossible World" announces itself as lounge music for the jetset. "20th Century" could be a soundtrack for a montage sequence from a 60s sitcom like "Bewitched" with its bright perky off-center instrumental with xylophone & loopy keyboards. Miss Lily Banquette croons like a Secret Agent theme for depressives on "Pink Victim." "Hot & Bothered" is delightfully horny beach music complete with squeals and sighs. The wispy "Seduction" comes across like a romance between ghosts. "The Garden of Earthly Delights" sounds like a gondola cruise in Venice with its airy female vocals. "The Impossible World" might not be the greatest CD on the planet, but it is tremendously original and a lot of fun! Enjoy!

Combustible Edison were at the forefront of the lounge music revival of the 1990s. This was their last album, barring a reunion. It features their trademark swinging sound, slightly updated with the occasional sample. I regret that I never got to see the group in concert.

Looking for something new, I stumbled across the resurgence of "Lounge Music". I picked this up along with some Esquival. Having several Bossa type CDs from the '70s and before and well as a considerable amount of experimental electronic music, the take on this CD was immediately recognizable. A nice juxtaposition of past and future. I liked it enough to let it repeat over about 5 times throughout the evening. Good quality compositions, arrangements and musicianship all throughout. The melodies and textures are often quite dreamy, like Rashaan Roland Kirk's often dreamy melodies (but this ain't that kinda bag, I'm just talking about melodies here) or Don Ho's exotic Hawaiian guitar music, all with a modern "hip" backdrop both sonically and rhythmically. It's all pretty subtle and mellow with many beautifully haunting passages.
Why only 3 stars? Well, it's hard to put a finger on it. While performed flawlessly, maybe the "jazz" influence sounds a little too cheesy or cartoonish (which is intentional and works quite well for this genre). Maybe the cultural & emotional shallowness. The vocal comedy? It's more like an interesting toy than a life experience revelation. Oh, that's what it's 'spoose to be. It IS INTERESTING, make no mistake. I don't see this effort trying to be anything other than what it is, and it hits that mark. I'll be looking into more.
I like it ! Here... I'll make it 4 stars for creativity! C O O L Daddy!

This is a fine CD, particularly as background music during sex...trust me on that one. However, there is a little known fact that I feel obliged to share with all the young'ns out there...many years prior to the advent of Combustible Edison, "Ms. Lily Banquette" (real name: Liz Cox) and "The Millionnaire" (real name: Michael Cudahy) comprised a band called Christmas, who were one of my all-time favorite bands, "alternative" long before the term alternative became a parody of itself. They put out 3 records, two of which are out of print and VERY hard to find (I should know...it took me approximately 3 and 5 years, respectively, of constant searching to obtain them). However, "Vortex" by Christmas is still available on Matador Records and I highly recommend that anyone who digs C.E. buy some material by Christmas, because it is worlds better and more interesting (and not "swing/lounge" crap, either) than Combustible Edison.

Only tree stars, gentlemen. For me their first album is still the best. IMPOSSIBLE WORLD is too quirky, too complicated and ... well, less innovative than you could expect from ComEd. Flirting with new modern sounds made a small contribution to the album, sometimes it gets boring. Though the work of high quality I'd stick to elder ones.