Pole

Pole | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 15, 2003)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Mute U.S.
• ASIN: B00009Y3U2
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #418,133 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Slow Motion

2. Bushes (There Is a Secret Behind)

3. Unbrella [Version]

4. Arena

5. Round Two

6. Like Rain (But Different)

7. Green Is Not Green-Yellow [Version]

8. The Bell

9. Back Home

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Something Not So Ordinary, January 22, 2004

By 

Kenny Gerchow (Denver CO) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Pole (Audio CD)

For an artist, the greatest achievement can simply be not being labeled in any specific category. Pole, a.k.a. Stefan Betke, has managed to do just that with his self-titled release on Mute records. A combination of two EP's on Mute, Pole flows with thick beats and mechanical soul throughout the disc. And who would ever expect someone like Fat Jon from the Five Deez, an amazing producer by his own right, to drop lyrics on several of the tracks?! There are elements here that will leave UK dub producers nodding their heads in approval, while gaining respects from techno and hip-hop lovers as well. Music at times is meant to be challenging. This is one of those times, so take advantage of this opportunity. Damn, it's nice to get thrown for a loop once in a while, isn't it?

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable, if somewhat light., October 5, 2008

By 

Steward Willons (Illinois) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Pole (Audio CD)

Pole is one of those rare artists whose music is much more accessible than it ought to be. He is experimental and very uncompromising in his artistic vision (as evidenced by his first three albums), but his music remains enjoyable, even as it challenges the listener. I had read some negative reviews of Pole's self-titled album, so I held off on buying it for a while. I was surprised to find some of his most satisfying music, albeit satisfying in a more conventional manner. It's no "Steingarten", which I consider Pole's masterpiece - until he makes something better. It's not as ambitious as his first three number albums, but it's just incredibly solid.

I'm not a huge fan of MCing, so the tracks featuring Fat John aren't my favorite. Even so, his contributions fit well with Pole's style. Another of my favorite artists, Daedelus, recently put out an album with some MC track, and it did not mesh well at all. That's not the case here, and it makes all the difference. Lyrically, there's nothing special happening here. Fat John seems pretty listless, but at least it doesn't detract.

While not on the level of "Steingarten" or "2", I'd easily recommend "Pole" to fellow fans.

0 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Album, May 9, 2004

By 

Allan (Toledo Oh) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Pole (Audio CD)

This album is otherworldly in some ways. In other ways, my home would not be complete without this album.
A must have for sure.
Pole