Customer Reviews

Mi Media Naranja

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I would suggest ignoring the likenings of this to music of the American west as suggested by the editorial reviews. I've had this record for a year and I never had that impression. This music is too unique for such a general comparison.
I say the record sticks because I've had it for a year and I still love this record, still find it a powerful experience that increases in depth with each listen. Its an ambient record, though, without question- and thereby essentially background music. But, given that, its the kind of music that I put on when I want to read on a rainy day- and, its perfect for that, in my opinion. And sooner or later, the music gently starts to seep into your consciousness. This is music that will follow you around if you give it the opportunity. The record is an experience that doesn't end when your speakers go quiet. *Highly* recommended.

This is probably my favourite cd EVER. Dark, hypnotic, but always humanely beautiful, it puts me into a trance every time I hear it. I don't know how to do this music justice in words. There are no song titles - just single letters. No information, no band pics. Just seven of the most haunting and gorgeous pieces of music you'll ever hear. If you're at all into Godspeed YBE, Mogwai, Tindersticks or just generally GOOD music, then please, I implore you - buy this cd. YOu'll listen to it for the rest of your life.

Labradford have never exactly followed musical convention too closely but in their own roundabout way the Richmond trio have developed their music and reached a pinnacle with their last 2 records. Mi Media Naranja (My Orange Half en Ingles) is quite simply stunning. The music is haunting and minamilistic, recording in texture rather than notes they conjure up dreamscapes in the listeners mind and intoxicate the mind. Inhabiting the realms between asleep and awake the music flows and entwines around itself, utilizing an array of instruments on the way. On 'I' cellos gently flow around eachother, soaring up at the end of the track breaking free from the earlier mantra like refrain of Nelson, "did you bury it, deep enough?". The other tracks (seven in all) are equally minamalistic and sparse, usually built around fragile guitars and organs with the occasional murmour from Nelson. Perhaps best described as a soundtrack rather than an lp but i for one can't even begin to imagine a film cpable of doing the music justice. Music that bypasses the ears completely and becomes only emotion and nostalgia, truly beautiful.

This album cannot be approached in the same way as pop music (or anything remotely closer). It is a bit difficult to define: slowly moving musical textures that are better absorbed than just heard - an experience in a similar vein as some electronica's ambient material and minimalist jass soundscapes, but it is nevertheless distinctly in its own territory. With a slow rhythm defined more by pulsating, pinging noises than percussion, overlayed with slithering patterns played with live instruments, creating a somewhat dark atmosphere. As mentioned elsewhere, the music is very much like the cover art - a dark canvas that shows nothing succinct to the naked eye, but is not without meaning. Just don't expect any sudden changes.

I would suggest ignoring the likenings of this to music of the American west as suggested by the editorial reviews. I've had this record for a year and I never had that impression. This music is too unique for such a general comparison.
I say the record sticks because I've had it for a year and I still love this record, still find it a powerful experience that increases in depth with each listen. Its an ambient record, though, without question- and thereby essentially background music. But, given that, its the kind of music that I put on when I want to read on a rainy day- and, its perfect for that, in my opinion. And sooner or later, the music gently starts to seep into your consciousness. This is music that will follow you around if you give it the opportunity. The record is an experience that doesn't end when your speakers go quiet. *Highly* recommended.

so far i'm liking this album, but i agree about that insane high-pitched migraine-inducing squeal. a tip from a friend: rip the CD to mp3s, open them all in an audio editor (i used the free Audacity -- see audacity.sourceforge.net) and run a low-pass filter over them with a cutoff frequency of 13kHz. boom, squeal gone. probably not what the artist intended, but the artist apparently intended for me to bleed from the ears, so the subversion is quite alright by me.

I only have Fixed:content and this one and I love them both dearly.

Track# 7 on this CD is just so heavenly...it stirs something so subtle within me I want to cry. Just gorgeous.

Highly recommended to those who like the feel of a dreamy, hot ghost town abandoned to the decay of timelessness in the middle of nowhere...

Labradford is one of those bands who get you straight to your heart and your mind. Mi Media is by the way their warmest effort and my personally favorite. If you want to try the fabulous sonic therapy that is Labradford, I suggest everyone to start with this one 'cause the seven tracks are trully moments of events melting light and darknest.

Long live to the music for the mind!!!

Kranky, eh? Doesn't sound cranky to me! This is a wonderful, essentially instrumental, dark, ambient beauty. Actually, just look at the cover - that's what it sounds like! LP length only. That seems to be their philosophy as I have since bought "E Luxo So" and it, too, is LP length. I have no problem with that, 40 mins has always seemed just right for most albums. I recently bought "The Unstable Molecule" by Isotope 217, by the way, and it lasts just 31 mins - now that's pushing the friendship! Anyway, back to "Mi Media Naranja"; the Amazon editorial describes it well. If you think it sounds like you, buy with confidence!

I have a feeling this could have been a lovely album, but the high pitched noise (some sort of high pitched chime or something) that plays through a lot of the tracks renders it almost unlistenable to me. From other reviews I looked into it seems some people have no problem with it, while many do. So maybe you will be lucky. Just beware. The album was ruined for me by this.