20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Oaken-who?, September 17, 2005
This review is from: Risotto (Audio CD)
Let me start by saying that you've probably heard at least one single off this album and not realized it. Fluke's music has been used in countless TV commercials, movie soundtracks, and even several video games. But mention the name "Fluke" and most people will go "who?"
THIS is what electronic music should be. Deep, multi-layered compositions. Songs that build to a forceful climax. A groove so infections that if it doesn't make you move at least one part of your body, you must be either dead or paralyzed. Songs that actually justify their length. Unlike other electronic artists who are lazy and let their machines do all the work for them, Fluke understand the need for a song to develop and progress through its length. And unlike typical "House" music, it needn't be listened to solely in a club. Listen carefully, and you'll be able discern the different layers and melodies of each track that only become apparent after several listens.
This isn't cheesy pop-electronica; rather, the music on Risotto takes a darker tone than most, with futuristic, evil-sounding sonic landscapes. Interestingly, it does not lend itself to categorization. Fluke is not really house, but neither does it fall into trance, techno, breakbeat, or any of the other millions of categories of electronic music. They aren't afraid to vary their styles, either. Opening tracks "Absurd" and "Atom Bomb" are fast-paced and aggressive, while tracks like "Bermuda" and "Kitten Moon" are much slower and with more "chill out" ambience than others. If there's one criticism, it's track sequencing. The best tracks are frontloaded, causing the album to peak early, although that's a highly relative statement, as there are no real "bad" tracks on the album.
Song Summaries:
1. Absurd - Thundering opening track, with a strong, hard baseline that simply makes you want to move. Also features gravelly vocals from Jonathon Fugler, with throughly nonsensical lyrics. A+.
2. Atom Bomb - First used in the Playstation game Wipeout XL, and countless other movies and video games, Atom Bomb is easily the standout track on Risotto. Hard, fast, and infinitely danceable. Fluke accomplish in nearly six minutes what lesser artists (*coughcough Oakenfold coughcough*) could never accomplish in their career. A+
3. Kitten Moon - Fluke shifts gears for a slower, more trance-like number. Despite its nine-minute length, it never grows stale or repetitive. A+
4. Mosh - Aptly named; a track that you might actually be able to mosh or headbang to. This is an actually a remix of a track from the previous album "Oto" but as par for Fluke, it sounds very little like the original at all. A+
5. Bermuda - A slow groove, probably the slowest on the track, with a more dub-like feel. It tends to get a bit repetitive after a while, but thankfully doesn't wear out it's welcome. B+
6. Setback - The album picks up speed again, this time with a breakbeat-style track, with Crystal Method-esque drums and ethereal ambience. A-
7. Amp - A Big-beat style track that begins rather plainly, but slowly builds and builds until it reaches a forceful climax in typical Fluke style. A+
8. Reeferendum - A bit of a weaker track, being somewhat repetitive and too similar to "Setback". Would not be bad for play at a club, but feel free to skip this one. B-
9. Squirt - A remix from Oto, with sort of an eerie, drum-n-bass vibe running through it. Sadly, it doesn't really go anywhere during it's length. B-
10. Goodnight Lover - Starts off slow, but then builds into a forceful, James Bond-like melody. Illustrates everything that makes Fluke so great, and a great way to end the album. A+
It seems sad that artists like Fluke get little to no press, while other electronic musicians who churn out nothing but derivative cheese get all the fame. By all means get this CD, even if you just want to see how many car commercials the tracks have been used in.
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12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wow., November 26, 1999
This review is from: Risotto (Audio CD)
I bought this CD on a whim. Having heard only a few Fluke tracks before, and not quite knowing what to expect, I was blown away... It begins with Absurd, a rather abstract piece which gains high energy early in and stays as such through the whole piece. Atom Bomb is next, it's Fluke's most commercial success, and having been on several soundtracks, including The Saint, is the song most people think of when they think of Fluke. Its energy is amazing. Kitten Moon is next, with its trace-like elements slowing things down. Mosh kicks things up again, an excellent instrumental, then flows smoothly into Bermuda. Setback is slower and a little more focussed, but soon moves into Amp and Reeferendrum, two solid instrumentals. Squirt knocks in the bizarre lyrics again, and the final track, Goodnight Lover, is dark and fast... Overall, it is an amazing and very involving CD...
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
For an new listener, this is the best "first album.", November 5, 1999
By A Customer
This review is from: Risotto (Audio CD)
I bought Risotto about a year ago, maybe a little longer, but regardless, it is one of the most diversely put together cd's I own. When I first got it I listened to is so much I thought I was going to wear it out. It never happened. The grooves are so precisely put together on each and every track that you hear something new every time you listen to it. If you are beginning to move into the techno/electronica scene and are wondering where a good place to start is, then look no further. I have over 100 electronica cd's and this one still remains at the top of my list.
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