Production

Mirwais

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 27, 2001)
• Original Release Date: August 8, 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B000059T41
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #128,833 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
"Disco Science," his toweringly provocative debut single, demonstrated Mirwais's disco roots, but the French producer distorted and twisted that yardstick out of all recognition via wild pitch-shifting and a taste for acid bass lines. Production only emphasizes this penchant for reinvention by taking some of the most popular sounds from late '70s and early '80s dance floors--Moroder beats, Vocoders, analogue synth sounds--and willfully hammering them into fresh shapes on numbers such as "Naive Song" and "Junkie's Prayer." Mirwais's skills brought him to the attention of Madonna, who kidnapped his production prowess for her Music album. She returns the favor with this album's centerpiece, "Paradise Not for Me." This exquisite blend of French monologue and treated English vocal, all married to swelling synths, indicates why Mirwais was seen as the hottest, most chic Parisian electronic producer from an apparently endless line of talent--including Daft Punk, Air, and Cassius--that continues to emanate from the city. Mirwais offers a nod to his compatriots on the Daft Punk-like "I Can't Wait," which matches a pulverizing stop-start rhythm to buzz-saw bleeps, as well as to New York's turntablist scene on "Definitive Beat," a juddering breakbeat layered with skidding scratch work. A devastatingly original album from a true pioneer. --Mike Pattenden

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Shiny sounds from Mirwais!, June 9, 2001

By	Kevinduran (Indianapolis, Indiana USA) - See all my reviews

After listening to this cd, it's just so obvious why Madonna enlisted Mirwais to produce her recent "Music" album. I must admit that my love for Madonna is the reason why I bought this cd. If you are looking for another "Music", however, you may be disappointed. Mirwais is his own artist, he's got his own thing going on. This is French electronica at its absolute best. He refreshingly avoids the repetitive monotony that ruins Daft Punk for me (a little of them goes A LONG way- at least in my house!). "Disco Science" and "Naive Song" are the standout songs here... along with "Paradise (Not For Me)" which is on Madonna's "Music". (The song was recorded for this project which was released before "Music" overseas. It took awhile for this cd to see the light of day in the U.S.) This is great music to listen to while you are doing work- lots of interesting sounds keep popping out of the speakers. A lot of the songs will bring a smile to your face (not like a novelty song- but just because it's so light and cheery sounding.) I'm really looking forward to what Mirwais has in store next time around.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting Entry from Madonna's Producer, March 14, 2001

By	Brett D. Cullum (Houston, TX United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Mirwais was chosen to produce Madonna's latest MUSIC, but I was a little disappointed that he was not given the free reign William Orbit was given on RAY OF LIGHT. This album will prove that to you, because it is definitely more forward and prgressive sounding. Fans of the Madonna CD will be interested to hear Mirwais version of PARADISE (NOT FOR ME) -- it's longer and has a lot of distortion that did not make it on to the final cut of the CD. Madonna is making music for the masses, and this is an obscure French producer who likes vocoders and scratch beats! It's definitely an interesting CD! Electronica fans will find it very retro, but at the same time something about it seems so progressive. Your speakers will shake as Mirwais likes to use very heavy bass lines, and lots of stutter effects! Vocals are kept to a minimum except for spoken words primarily, and a sample of The Breeder's "Cannonball" (only the very beginning ougha sound). The CD is all over the map -- up tempo and medium to down. The last three pieces seem to make a triptych out of strings and stutters with vocoders over them, and all of them sound like Moby at his spiritual slow groove. Surprisingly the track that stands out the most is his collaboration with Madonna! After that DISCO SCIENCE is a catchy electronica song. I can honestly say each track is interesting for different reasons. But taken as a whole the album is uneven in tone which is not really a bad thing, just jarring sometimes when you listen straight through (hard slamming beats stop and strings come in or vice versa). There are great moments here, and I just wish that Madonna had allowed Mirwais to construct her entire album the way he does PARADISE here. The two of them make a great team, but she obviously has control issues. On PRODUCTION Mirwais runs free, and it makes you want to boogie woogie!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars an excellent collection, February 28, 2001

By	heartbeat (roanoke, VA United States) - See all my reviews

mirwais, who produced the majority of madonna's album 'music' has finally had his own album released in the states (it was released in europe last summer). production offers a fantastic glimpse into mirwais pure sound. fans of "music" the single and "paradise (not for me)" will thoroughly enjoy this album. highlight tracks include "disco science", "naive song", "paradise" and "never young again". disco science and naive song are pure french upbeat house and great driving music. paradise and never young again are slower and more focused on queer production and spacey sound effects.

with only a couple poor tracks, this album shows mirwais to be at the top of the electronica pile, well at least the french part.