Customer Reviews

Pocket Universe

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

 

 

I have been a Yello fan since 1984, and I admitt, when I first listened to this CD I was not impressed... because it just didn't sound like "typical" Yello. But I gave it a chance... and very quickly, it became my favorite album in my collection of 1000+ CDs. I bought the album three years ago, and it STILL is my favorite album. Elegant, dark, almost EVIL, the music will steal your soul and hold it captive until you can work up the strength to turn it off. Play it loud with a strong sub-woofer... you'll never come back.

Yello has been chugging along consistently ever since their debut on Ralph Records with Solid Pleasure. They have been setting the standard for audio mixing and production ever since. This recording moves into some new territory for Yello with regard to composition, but the production is mind-boggling. They just keep getting better at producing sounds that vibrate holographically. This is a great recording for newcomers to the group. Lots of seductive high energy dance grooves and lots of different moods.....and a sense of humor!

Known by most listeners for their 80's hit Oh Yeah this group has been making cool creative music for years and Pocket Universe is no exception.After a brief introduction about the big bang and aliens the cd launches into sci-fi dance club heaven.Dieter Meier's vocals blend with throbbing beats,quirky touches,catchy melodies all climaxing with the spastic heart attack inducing Resistor.Like most of Yello's music it's not quite normal but given all the bland dance tunes around nowadays that's a good thing.

This album differed so radically from the 'typical' Yello CD's (there's nothing typical about them I s'pose), I had a hard time giving it a chance. Once I took an objective listen though, I found that this is likely Yello's "darkest" album yet: very Gothic in many parts - typified by low synth noises. All the songs are sandwiched between two monologues at the beginning and end talking about the universe. "Celsius" comes after the first monologue and sounds like Celtic Pagan ritual music, only with synthesizers....incredible! "Liquid Mountain" is one of the most intense musical pieces I've heard since David Hykes and the Harmonic Choir - like a trip through a corridor in Hell - listen to it loud - it's amazing. "Monolith" carries a similar weight, yet not nearly as sinister. "To The Sea" features a very German techno sound and a pleasant, airy female vocalist. Many of the other songs are high-quality, dark and spastic techno: you've listened to Yello before - you know what I mean. This album is dark and nefarious, very "European" and should be listened to loudly, with dim lighting, preferably candlelight. Buy it now - it will grow on you.

I resisted buying this at first. Priced high, and heck - what could compare to Flag or One Second anyway? After 3 or 4 listens, it started to sink in and finally it blew me away! (and still does).Unfortunately, it makes the "Old School" Yello seem dated by comparison, so be forewarned...

If you like any of the later Yello (ie. Zebra), this is the best of them all. It's what I judge all other electro/techno music by. The tracks are great, and yet so cleanly mastered, you can play it louder than most albums without audible distortion.
A must! Beg, borrow or buy one used if you have to...

Listen here! What Boris Blank(the music half of this duo) has done here is better than all other Yello stuff, and I've listened to it all. It is gothic, eerie, smooth, crisp, always protean, and so intelligent. Oakenfold, Sigweed, the Chems sit at Blank's knee and take notes from their mentor! I played this when I got my stereo system installed in my car, and customers and employees walked up with a wide-eyed "Wow!" expression on their faces, "Who IS this?" they all asked. It never fails when I play this to strangers.
I've played this prob over 500 times, and I still marvel at what has been done on this disc. When I play cds while working out, I still get excited knowing I have this to turn to when my spirits ebb. Those who claim its repetitive are not listeners. The ominous, playfull tapestry it weaves takes me to imaginary places I have never encountered anywhere, except maybe Elfmann, Herrmann, Pixies. I will forever admire this opus, and have already given it as a gift to my 'cooler' friends.

Continuing the new electronica tradition they began with "Zebra", Yello applies almost the same kind of formula in "Pocket Universe". Some tracks, like "More", "Magnetic", and "To the Sea" sound incredibly sensual and romantic, like exotic love dances.

When I listened carefully to "Liquid Mountain/Pan Blue" and "Resistor", I got the sense that even though this CD might at first sound dancable, some techno-like songs aren't really meant for dancing, because they're too fast for anybody! But all in all, a great CD.

Having been a huge fan of Yello since 1984, I can say that this album qualifies as a classic. A must own. Everytime I pop it in my car's CD player the passenger(s) wants to know who it is. It's fabulous. Simply sublime and explosive. I love this CD and hope that Yello continues to produce more music along the lines of Pocket Universe. This is music for the next Century. MORE, MORE, MORE, MORE, MORE, MORE, MORE!!!!!!! PLEASE!!!!!!!

After a few average Yello albums since The Race comes this little gem out of the blue. When I first heard it I just had to turn the volume up and bob! Whilst its a lot different than previous albums its still Yello. Some great beats which are just as good as there previous big hits. The production is truly excellent too. You won't want to put this bad boy down!

Pocket Universe is a must. This cd screams that you have entered another world and there is no coming back. Haunting, hypnotic, and oh so fun. Not like any other yellow cd, and not like anything else i have ever heard. CD is a classic.