Customer Reviews

Motion Picture

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

 

 

It's sometimes hard to get an idea of how great an album is with people throwing around 5 stars like they're nothing. In this instance 5 stars may not be enough.

Having owned nearly all of their releases and being a fan when they were a family of weird artists on the Ralph Records label, I've always expected to like 70% of the Yello album I purchase this one is at 99.9%.

I'm amazed at how this one outdistances the others in sound recording and complexity. Getting better with age

seems to be one of the most difficult things to accomplish in an artists career. I really didn't think it could get better than 'Baby'.

A few other reviewers mention that they have taken everything that worked in the past and integrated them with new sounds and grooves, this is very true. This album takes you on a tour through exotic locals much like 'flag'' while exposing you to rhythms of their worlds.

I just got this album last night. I slapped on some headphones and settled in for, what for me is a momentous occasion...a new Yello album. Being a long time fan and pseudo-collector, I always relish the first listen. Their past 4 or 5 albums have had some terrific songs but as whole albums, have been rather hit or miss. Still, I entered this encounter with just a smidgen of skepticism and a pinch of excitement. What a treat I was in store for. I've heard that this album is a mélange of their albums Zebra and Pocket Universe. It takes the best elements of both and combines them into something greater than the sum. Boris' technical wizardry really shines through on a headphone listen. The layers, the rhythms, the incredible sounds and effects that he creates is mind-blowing. The melodic portions are strong as well, as strong as they have ever been on past albums. This is the music that Yello has always been capable of and they've just hit their creative peak. After one listen, I think this has jumped up my list of, not just Yello albums but, all-time favorite albums. If not the #1, it's in the ballpark. This is the MOST techno album I've ever heard. Anything listened to immediately after this will sound really sparse and thin. It's a dense packet of moist Yello deliciousness.

Of course, when you're talking about musical geniuses, you rather expect a high-quality listening experience. They deliver again this time in a big way. This CD has all the elements that make Yello Yello: deep monologues, wild jumping horns, terrific percussion, at least one song in a foreign language and truly innovative vocal sequences - except this one they seem to really hone in on jazz digressions in many parts (one entire song is in 5/4!) - quite cool. It's the kind of music you expect to see people doing the tango to in the streets of Spain or Greece. After the CD ended, I played it immediately again - it's too good. It offers continuing proof that Yello graduates to a higher level with each CD and has done so consistently throughout their career. I can hardly wait for the next!

Whenever a new Yello album is released I expect a complete change from the last. It always takes a couple of listens to get to know where Boris & Dieter are coming from this time. With "Motion Picture" Dieter features, lyrically, the most since "You've gotta Say Yes..." (which was,as ever a surprise!) and Boris has again exceeded our expectations with a rhythmically and musical outsanding album. If I have any criticisms it would be these: 1. Tracks, on the whole, seem to have no ending. 2. Dieter's vocals are sometimes too predictable (compared to "You've Gotta Say Yes...") - same tone/rhythm 3. Boris's Timbale rhythmic fills are getting a bit overused (but the auto-panning works well). 4. It gets a little annoying to buy an album without the lyrics given. 5. Stop making the singles the deep-throated/Sax accompanied tracks!

Having said that, I don't want tracks to finish, it's marvellous to hear Dieter contributing so much to an album, and Boris always produces the tracks to such incredible detail that I wonder where he gets the patience to work on one track to an extent that it is absolutely musically perfect for the Yello fan. For an example, where not much happens if you were to casually experience it, Track 4 "Distant Mirror" or track 11 "Bubbling Under". These instrumentals are, in my mind, his finest since "Ciel Ouvert" (Stella) or even the instrus on "Solid Pleasure" (1980). Dieter and Boris are geniuses (my 65 year old Dad agrees with me too!). Buy this album, it's great, it's shere originality in a box, but it is a shame that us Brits have to import it (stop releasing the deep-throated/sax tracks and the British public may give you a chance!).

Amazing how these guys just keep putting out great material...I kind of thought their last couple of albums were sort of a comeback attempt, but it is not the case at all. The ideas on both this one and "the eye" are really fresh, very creative music.
My wife usually doesn't care at all what's on my car stereo, but she asked me about 5 times on the same day who that was when i played this album.
The music is mostly rhythm- and synth-heavy, which is pretty much the case with every one of their albums. The sound quality is amazing, sounds great on my bose.

Every time I'm going to listen to a new Yello album, I fear that the album will dissapoint me, because somtimes they do somthing different. however this time, I was not dissapointed!
This album presents a very mature "music", stuff that sound like it has been done by someone who knows what his doing. (and boris does know what his doing).
I never pay attention to lyrics altough I always liked the deep vocals that comes with most of their music.
Gr8 stuff...

I think the prior reviews have summed it up fairly well. I couldn't believe it when I first learned that Yellow had produced another album. It was almost too much waiting for Motion Picture to arrive in the mail. And, for the first time since Baby, when I listed to it, it not only met my expectations, but exceeded them. This is a great album that certainly ranks at the top of Yello's accomplishments. It is techno - but it is more complex and more interesting than most of Yello's other offerings. If you like Yello - you will like this album!!

having just recently obtained this cd, it really is still making me shake and shiver! in perspective with their later release (the eye), this is so character building! this is electronic music that has more personal involvement from the performers than any other i have ever heard.

THis album is Deiter doing his thing. I wish he would do more of this kind of work, because of all the Yello albums they put out, this is by far my favorite.

What can you say about Yello - Daring,Aggressive,Rythmic and most certainly liquid. Yello consistently blows my mind time and time again. This disc, "Motion Picture", does not in any way dissapoint. I have spent a small fortune and alot of time with high-end audio, and regularily demo equipment with Yello's music, I've not heard one person not enjoy the music completely. I've taken many a Yello discs to the "Consumer Electronics Show" and have had people demonstrating mega-dollar systems beg me to leave a disc or two to allow them to show off their incredible equipment, and that says it all for me.

I own no less than 15 Yello discs and at least that many LPs. If it was not for downloading mp3 files through Napster and Kazaa, I would never have heard all the great music the band had to offer nor would I have purchased it. Totally awesome duo performing totally awesome music.

Their new disc "The Eye" is incredible !!!!!!!

Enjoy