Customer Reviews

The Maria Dimension

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is a well crafted album from start to stop. The Pink Dots have long been, in my estimation, at the top of the electronic musical heap, and this album clearly affirms their dominance. I would place this musical work in the same sphere as Kind of Blue (Miles Davis) and Passion (Peter Gabriel). And, yes, this would be one of those I would include on my "Desert Island" list.

Although this album lacks the powerful captivating essence Shadow Weaver presented, I would firmly state this album to be a one of a kind musical treasue. (what else could one expect from the dots? only greatness my friend, only greatness)

one of the 1st lpd albums i was exposed to - truly delightful. the music is at once haunting & uplifting, & edward's vocals make the experience otherworldly. the lyrics (as always) are sometimes disturbing, (as on distrubance!) sometimes idealistic, but always thought provoking

its hard to pick a fave where the dots are concerned, but this one might be it! do yourself a favor & get it, you won't regret it...

The Legendary Pink Dots would deserve to be in a parallel level to such good bands as Pink Floyd, The Beatles or The Velvet Underground. But since that's something that cannot be changed now, let's comment this album, which is something so so good that I usually get sad when I think that most people won't ever listen to it, missing the opportunity to know another masterpiece of modern music.
The Maria Dimension is the album immediately after the psychedelically delicious 'The Crushed Velvet Apocalypse', and it's a perfect successor. Just as an anecdote, The maria Dimension is the LPD's best-seller, which is not saying a lot, but that's it.
In this album, as in the previous one, they employ a lot of different instruments: sitars, acoustic and electric guitars, saxophones, flutes, etc etc, all mixed with such subtle electronics that when I'm listening to it I can't avoid asking why most people say electronics are always cold and devoid of emotions. The Legendary Pink Dots is not an electronic band: just because The Legendary Pink Dots is not a band that can be labelled, and less becasue of the instruments they use: they use almost all instruments imaginable.
The Maria Dimension should be a good starter to taste LPD's music. There are delicious ballads ('The Ocean cried blue murder', 'Belladonna', 'Lilith'), amazing pieces of pure psychedelia ('The grain kings', 'Cheraderama', 'Crushed velvet'), and most of the 14 songs here are very very good.
'Disturbance' is a very electronic piece, quite up-tempo and without abrupt changes, with a saxophone at the end. A good piece.
'Pennies for heaven' is simply delicious. It begins with an acoustic guitar and amazing (as always) singing, then a good chorus starts and an almost medievalesque melody ends u`p the song reminding me of some songs by The Beatles from their second age.
'Third secret' has a very very emotional melody, very good lyrics. It's one of the most electronic pieces and an example of how electronics may be emotional.
'The grain kings' is amazing. A long piece that begins with a very lectronic intro, then a singing interlude and ends with a very psychedelic part reminding me of their previous album: electric guitars a la Pink Floyd makes this one of their best pieces.
'The ocean cried blue murder' is another incredible piece. Piano-based, eminently a ballad but with a lot of changes throughout the song. It's deeply emotional.
'Belladonna' is another sad ballad, ho can they be so melancholic? this is acoustic guitar based.
'A space between' is along piece, with a very emotional singing, Ka-spel sings as if he was suffering indeed.
'Evolution' is a very long piece, spoken more than sung, maybe a bit boring at times but with a very good ending, very climatic.
'Cheraderama' is another sad piece, reminds me of the psychedelic age of the beatles once again, sth like 'Lucy in the sky with diamonds' but a lot sadder. A very dark chorus.
'Lilith' is a sad ballad, eminently atmospheric, with no beat. The voice seems to swim and dive in the electronic surface of the sound.
'Fourth secret' is a mostly instrumental song, with some ritualistic singing (no lyrics understandable, do they speak a language? it seems as a tribal chant)
'Expresso noir' is another good song, quite electronic but with guitars, quite psychedelic.
'Home' is an instrumental song with a piano as basis, quite new agey, I think.
'Crushed velvet' is a strange song, divided into 2 parts. the second being more electronic and consisting of a single sentence repeated over and over. Good song, quite disturbing and nightmarish.
Please, if you know this band, buy this album. If you don't, listen to it: this band should deserve a lot more attention, they're simply great.

This is their best album (in my humble opinion)...but, then again, this was the first album I heard by them, so I have special feeling for it, anyway.

The music of LPD soothes while the lyrics...more akin to poetry than actual lyrics..causes your brain to begin fizzeling and popping as the magic of the words and sounds are woven around you.

Get this album if you don't already have it. You will not be disappointed.

It's a unique great psychedellic band. It is like Syd Barett would sound with Pink Floyd at the end of the XX. century.

When I first heard This CD it took me a few listens to really make it my favorite LPD record & One Of their best. Every song on here sounds like they took time to write, Some friends have told they like the music sans voice because it sounds like Elmer Fudd singing. FOOLS I tell them, listen to it don"t hear it!!! Whatever, The voice fits with the music and I can"t picture it without it. If you have an open mind and like dark & folky at times and pink floyd...Do yourself a favor and get this!!! LISTEN TO THIS ALBUM AT 3am SOUNDS GREAT!!!

psychedelic , electronic , experimental , adventurous , musically gifted , melodic , uplifting , one of the top 3 L.P.D. efforts ... which , by my definition puts The Maria Dimension into the top 10 of all time .

Rather than express an opinion no matter how evidenced it may be, I rather offer a question, or maybe even a request. As is apparent by all the favorable reviews given thus far I need not add anything more except by indirect means. But to this effect I ask:

WHY HAS NO ONE RE-RELEASED THIS ALBUM?

It is to many of us the best LPD album.

This is a wonderful listening experience. I was into the DOTS a little bit in the mid 80's & saw them live in Burlington VT. Maria Dimension is LPD's at the height of their madness.