Customer Reviews

Luxury

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

What is it about Japanese pop-tronica that makes it so irresistible? Although you'll figure out the formula halfway thourgh this album, it'll be with a smile on your face. Fantastic Plastic Machine (Tomoyuki Tanaka, Masaki Tsurugi) combine old 50's & 60's drum loops, an equisitie taste of lounge, and an honest approach to retro-fun (i.e. the opposite of smug artist Beck) into a cheery blend you'll want for after dinner parties or hip mix tapes. It's their fresh attitude that allows them to pull off a cover of "There Must be An Angel," complete with five-minute closing chorus (!). There's the wake-up entrance "Theme of Luxury," the French/American odd poetics of "Honolulu, Calcutta," and the goofy "Electric Lady Land." "You Must Learn All Night Long," is the real-old school breakbeat beach party number that sticks out as the best track.

It's by no means perfect, and you won't play it that often, but what the heck, I'm giving it a 5: when was the last time a CD made you smile?

ok, so it's kitsch and synthetic. Now that's been said for the umpteenth time can everybody just shut up and listen? "Luxury" refers to the bright and shiny, the disposable, the plastic, and the delights therein. It pops and crackles, but can just as easily bloom into something more substantial: the last track, Mr Fantasy's Love, begins as a squelchy, ticky-tack synth novelty, but by its end has transformed into an acapella string quartet that meshes the quaint with the heartfelt. The disco cover of Eurythmics' "There Must Be An Angel" is fabulously ethereal, and "Lotto" grabs you by your wide lapels and gives you a good shakedown. Fun music, and more conventionally melodic (and probably longer lasting) than much of Pizzicato Five.

Fantastic Plastic Machine is the latest project of Japanese electronica wunderkind Tomoyuki Tanaka. In 'Luxury', Tanaka takes elements like 50s movie themes, children's tv show themes, elevator music, instructional audio, and reblends them against catchy beats, turning what was once mundane into something wonderful. Often the songs manage to be musically ironic, mocking the drama and triteness of pop music and advertising themes through the 20th century.

My favorite songs on the album are the unexpectedly perky Theme Of Luxury, the terribly catchy You Must Learn All Night long, and the thoroughly bizzarre and mesmerizing I've Forgotten My Fagotto.

Overall this is a fun and listenable album, great for at-work background music or dance music for a party. I'd love to see more albums like this one, and I'd love to see ironic electronica become its own genre.

This CD is great if you like lounge music and pizzicato five

Fantastic Plastic Machine has got it all; the super cool 60's style of Pizzicato Five, with insanity equal to that of Takako Minekawa or Kiego Oyamada (AKA "Cornelius). Tracks like "Electric Lady Land" and "You Will Learn All Night Long" make you want to rush outside, and dance. Or blow bubbles; actually, probably blow bubbles while dancing, only to realize just how difficult it is to blow bubbles while dancing, but you wont care. No, you wont care at all. This album will make your head explode, and you'll enjoy every second of it.

Because this is an obscure album in an obscure genre, most listeners are probably attracted to this album after hearing "Theme of Luxury," which was featured in a recent car commercial. "Theme" is a 3-minute acid-jazz masterpiece, one-half Vince Guaraldi on speed (frantic but melodic piano, deep but swinging percussion) and one-half latter day Copeland. The rest of the album, however, is so different that it might as well be a different artist. Think of hip-hop/dance music that samples '50s lounge albums. "He Became a Beatnik" and "You Must Learn All Night Long" contain some funky Moby-does-jazz elements, and make this disc an interesting (even enjoyable) listen, but don't be fooled by "Theme of Luxury."

Luxury, the second full outing from the Fantastic Plastic Machine, continues the vibe that was established on his eponymous debut. The loungified cover falls this time to The Eurhythmics' "There Must Be An Angel (Playing With My Heart)," and sure enough, it's angelic (if a little too long). "Honolulu, Calcutta" is in-flight entertainment at its best, while "Bossa for Jackie" is quiet and sweet. "You Must Learn All Night Long" goes in an entirely different direction and throttles us with a percussion workout. Again, there are some weaker tracks ("I've Forgotten My Fagotto"), but the simple sunny fun of this album easily outshines them.

What a great album! Every song is so quality-drowned. I can't believe it!

Not as good as the self-titled "Fantastic Plastic Machine" album, but good nonetheless. The second track (...Angel...), is hypnotic; worth buying the CD for, in my opinion. If you like Towa Tei and smooth beats, you'll probably like this one.

this cd is great for just hanging out, doing your homework or even for a party. i love it! its so nice and refreshing. anyone who likes music should be able to appreciate this. electric lady land is especially amazing!