Music for TV-Film & Radio 1

Harmonic 33 | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 8, 2005)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Warp Records
• ASIN: B0006OR12U
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #422,872 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars More brilliance from Mr. Pritchard, February 14, 2006

By 

M. Fulkerson (Portland, Oregon) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Music for TV-Film & Radio 1 (Audio CD)

What I love most about Mark Pritchard is he's a chameleon (he even recorded under the name "Chameleon" with his Global Communication partner Tom Middleton). House, techno, drum and bass, downtempo, quick-step; you name it, Pritchard has done it and with a triumphant flavor his very own. "Music for Film, Television and Radio" is a tactful homage to 50's and 60's noir, bringing a modern touch to those smoky bar soundtracks. Where Pritchard's first Harmonic 33 album, "Extraordinary People" investigated this same motif accompanied with downtempo beats and slight nods to old school hop hop, "Music for Film..." attempts to be more faithful to this idea with straight lounge tactics which could come right out of a 50's detective movie. The song titles are aptly named; "Carousel" lives up to its title, with spooky organs and strings that wouldn't sound out of place in a haunted house. "Departure Lounge" is, well, loungey in a very old school way; modern beats and tempos are replaced with flutes and sparse guitar melodies. As it happens, the only real low point of the album is "Funky Duck". With its quirky beats and Moog-y quacks and splats, it simply falls flat in relation to the context of the rest of the album. However, "Planet 54", the album's closer, is frighteningly great. With a heartbreaking organ melody and sinister undertones, it's the perfect way to end an evening of noir-ish entertainment.

5.0 out of 5 stars Harmonic 33 - Music For Film, Television And Radio Volume 1, May 5, 2011

By 

scoundrel - See all my reviews

This review is from: Music for TV-Film & Radio 1 (Audio CD)

Harmonic 33 takes film library music and brings it firmly into the future with _Music For Film, Television and Radio, Volume 1_. And while Pritchard and Brinkworth have included -- cheekily -- a short description of each track in the liner notes, those in no way convey the actual content. From the swinging outer space groove of "Optigan" to the whirling funhouse of "Carousel," Harmonic 33 knows how to pack the maximum mood in a short space. The easy listening flows slick with "Bossa Nova Supernova" and "Departure Lounge." If some out-and-out weirdness is the craving, then heads towards "Funky Duck;" if you prefer spy dramas, then "Paranoia" and "Long Shadow" are there for you. Even the shorter pieces, like the archaic and creepy "Marionette" carries its weight well. The album closes with the thoughtful and melancholy "Planet 54" -- it's better that you don't hear these tracks playing behind an image from your television, because they're best heard playing directly into your head.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Goldfrapp's felt mountian meets tipsy's uh-oh, February 23, 2005

By 

bowery boy (seattle) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Music for TV-Film & Radio 1 (Audio CD)

without the vocals. This is weirdly retro film noir inspired lounge music. If you like the quirky playfulness of Tipsy or Goldfrapp's strange orchestrations from Felt Mountian, in particular the track Oompa Radar, then Harmonic 33 just might be up your alley. Not always "easy listening" in the same manner as most retro-lounge inspired music acts, Harmonic 33's Music for TV, Film and Radio relies heavily on moog synthesizers combined with dulcimers, organ, eerie space aged sound effects and just the right amount of electronica undercurrents. The end result fluctuates from brooding moments (dream sequence, long shadow) to upbeat danceable ditties (bossa nova supernova, funky duck). The liner notes add an extra dimension to each track, listing the mood of the track and what instruments are used. I could easily imagine hearing Harmonic 33 scoring anything from Fellini to Lynch. Definitely not for everyone, Harmonic 33 is not your typical cocktail lounge fare unless you're having cocktails with a Valium chaser.