Map of What Is Effortless

Telefon Tel Aviv | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 27, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Hefty Records
• ASIN: B00015YVOK
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #164,967 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. When It Happens It Moves All By Itself

2. I Lied

3. My Week Beats Your Year

4. Bubble And Spike

5. Map Of What Is Effortless

6. Nothing Is Worth Losing That

7. What It Is Wthout The Hand That Wields It

8. What It Was Will Never Again

9. At The Edge Of The World You Will Still Float

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A blip in the right direction, January 29, 2004

By 

Raphael City "think_run" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Map of What Is Effortless (Audio CD)

The album begins as the previous left off, blip beats that flow like a tide across your mind. Then the second song starts and surprises you with vocals. The mood continues with the blip beat background... but a smooth voice flows over it. The voice reminds me of an R&B feeling that could also be similar to the male voice in dirty vegas's work. At this point I would agree with another reviewer, that the songs do have a feel that they could be released as singles. But this isn't bad! The use of vocals adds to TTA's songs and is definitely a step in the right direction. Not only does this open up the songs, but it lets you step into a whole new world of what TTA is trying to express.
The vocals are well placed for the most part, but do occasionly over step the beautiful sound TTA produces. I also felt that occasionly the lyrics could fit TTA's style more and be edited to match the music's blip style. But these are minor arguments against a really great album for this group. I recommend buying both albums, because each one is a great work that evolves, not stagnates. I'd actually give the album 4 1/2 stars.. but since we have no 4 1/2.. 5 it is.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars ANYTHING BUT EFFORTLESS!!!, September 13, 2005

By 

Darrell L. Lee "dlatrell" (Jackson, MS) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Map of What Is Effortless (Audio CD)

Why are folks so quick to put down an album that features a few vocals??? One reviewer here mentioned that they were unnecessary, but in my opinion, the vocals give an added flair to what may just sound like pedestrian arrangements. Notwithstanding the incredibly dreamy "Map of What Is Effortless" is anything but effortless in its production. Full of tight orchestrations, thumpin' basslines, innovative techniques and sensuous, oft-time melanchonic, vocals, the sophomore release from Telefon Tel Aviv is sure to be an instant classic to downtempo/IDM fans. I hadn't heard the first release from these guys, but I'm sure it's just as good if not better than this material. These guys are like a cross between Boards of Canada and Four Tet, only with vocals. Highly Recommended!!!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Self aware and smart yet full of risks., January 28, 2004

By 

Scott Groeniger (Tallahassee, FL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Map of What Is Effortless (Audio CD)

This new full length release is a very important new album in electronic music. Not to be missed. Its incredibly lush and full of suprises. Sometimes sweet and other times spacey, a true episodic journey through warm soulful vocals and textural clicks and washes. Its amber and red mixed with greys and charcoal. Analog keyboards reprocessed and designed into new yet somehow familiar space. Weird and unpredictable. Satisfiying yet somehow able to leave questions unanswered in a way that brings the importance of asking more questions to the surface and leaves it there to sort of...vibrate and gain momentum. Get this record immediately and make people hear it. Its the future of music. Excellent work, perfectly produced and arranged with confidence.