Movement in Still Life [Import]

BT | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 23, 2000)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Import
• Label: Avex Trax Japan
• ASIN: B00004KCYK
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #117,249 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #14 in Music > Indie Music > Dance & DJ > Trance

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Movement in Still Life

2. Ride

3. Madskillz-Mic Chekka

4. The Hip Hop Phenomenon

5. Mercury and Solace

6. Dreaming

7. Giving Up the Ghost

8. Godspeed

9. Namistai

10. Running Down the Way Up

See all 11 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Movement in Still Life

2. Ride

3. Madskillz-Mic Chekka

4. The Hip Hop Phenomenon

5. Mercury and Solace [Quivver Mix]

6. Godspeed [Hybrid Mix]

7. Dreaming

8. Namistai

9. Fibonacci Sequence

Editorial Reviews

1999 album by Brian Transeau (aka BT), one of the top names in '90s house/ trance music. The main disc contains the original 11 track album, which features collaborations with Paul Van Dyk, DJ Rap, Sasha, Hybrid, Adam Freeland & others, and includes the s

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Utterly Brilliant - Buy it NOW!, May 27, 2000

By 

Philip Bain (Derbyshire, England) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Movement in Still Life (Audio CD)

I bought this album on the day that it was released in Great Britain, a rather cold October day last year (1999). I bought it on the back of the previous 2 albums, which were both superb, but nothing could quite prepare me for the first time that i listened to it. I was totally blown away by the sound that my stereo system was producing, this is one of the finest records that I am fortunate enough to own. The original British version is still my favorite, because the album flows and develops as it should, but the Asian double CD is very good, as it adds an extra dimension to the progression of the album, the Austrailian Version was pretty good too, though adding the extra track did harm the flow of the whole experience a little. I'm looking forward to getting my hands on the U.S. version some time soon, and by the looks of it, it could be one of the best versions yet.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Some CD's are essential, this is one of them, May 17, 2000

By 

MCExtreme - See all my reviews

This review is from: Movement in Still Life (Audio CD)

I must preface this review by saying that i dont have the second disc. I bought this album waay back in November or so, and it didnt have that bonus disc.

Having said that, this CD has made me a true fan of BT's, and it demonstrates damned well how talented this guy is (dare i say genius?).

The album paints a beautiful picture of where electronic is heading (just like "PLay" by Moby). The music starts off more of a breakbeat style, then eases into Trance, and ends with Electronic Rock (i cant find a more apt word).

The thing that gets me so worked up about this album is that it's so well produced. I remember, one day, me and my room-mate were studying, and i popped in the CD (he's a huge Trance fan, so i figured he'd like it)...every couple of minutes he'd stop studying and just stare at the speakers in marvel. This was the same room-mate who would bump Trance from his compilation albums all the time, and not even notice that the music was playing. That's how well done this album was.

People like BT are few and far between. They help define the genre and push its limits. They give the music soul, and complexity, and well, they make you feel. Very few Electronic artists make music with a soul (Moby, Paul Van Dyk, and Faithless spring to mind).

Buy this album, even if you dont like electronica. It'll make a convert out of you, and if not, at least you'll have bought a damned good album that you'll enjoy for years to come.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars 'And the light that brings the living...is burning my eyes', December 17, 2001

By 

Ian Vance (pagosa springs CO.) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Movement in Still Life (Audio CD)

First of all, there are two versions of Bt's 'Movement in Still Life' one can purchase on Amazon: this, the (original) import version, and the US release, which is clipped, disorganized, and replaces several nice trance tracks for mediocre faux-folk numbers. The choice is simple and obvious; the suits who butchered this album should be hung up by their toenails and forced to listen to Coltrain, Bach, Zappa et al until the Britney programming is thoroughly removed from their aural memory.

Hailing from Washington D.C., Brian Transeau broke into the exclusive European progressive-trance scene with his 1996 masterpiece Ima (Japanese for Now), which took the standard cliches of the genre and reshaped them into tunes of pure passion. The 1998 follow-up, ESCM, both improved on Ima and vividly displayed BT's shortcomings, those being a penchant for cheesiness and overuse of certain electronic themes. Movement in Still Life, BT's third artist album, features these same flaws sandwiched with some of the man's best work to date.

MiSL begins with several hip-hop influenced breakbeat tracks that segue together well and, overall, create a nice party atmosphere. Around the 20 minute mark the fluttering chords of 'mercury and solace' floats through the 3/4 rhythms; intricate trance and happy progressive dominate hereafter, the best of which--'Godspeed,' 'Namastai'--burn bright and long. Not all is brilliant, however: 'Dreaming', unfortunately, stretches its (rather thin) concept to the brink.

A collaboration with Hybrid, 'Running the Way down Up' serves a potent climax to MiSL, and after the breaks have faded and a distorted guitar shudders in the distance, the forlorn hope of 'Satellite' comes chiming in for appropriate conclusion--sheer bliss--Bt's voice works well to serve its earnest/melancholic paradox.

Four stars--not everything works as it should--but certainly a worth addition to any music-lover's library. Next up for Bt: Still Life in Motion.