Customer Reviews

Since I Left You

5 star:		(41)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Whatever formula these Australian mixers and sample connossieurs have come up with, for this debut album, seems to be some of the most refreshing sounds heard in a while from the genre of dub/electro/dance/house/mixing. I haven't been this impressed with an album of this kind, since DJ Cam's 'Mad Blunted Jazz' or even possibly the recent release from Pete Rock: 'Petestrumentals'. The Avalanches know how to generate some well-layered production and sample weaving. One of the fun aspects of listening to somewhat sample based records is figuring out the sample sources.

"Since I Left You" starts the album off, with a 70s Pop feel, complete with strings, flute, a nice vocal dub, and that signature background guitar sound from that era. In "Stay Another Season", you will hear some of the music foundation from Madonna's "Holiday", before the sounds progress into a latin tinge, with a horse even joining in the medley. "Radio" serves as the pathway towards dancefloor groove, utilizing a myriad of synth ins and outs and pulsating bounce. It's certainly a House rocker! "Two Hearts In 3/4 Time" is probably the soundscape for 'ladies choice', when the ladies skim the party for a dance partner, who will offer a smooth presence and plenty of eye contact. The Fender Rhodes really make this tune an ultimate in the chill out and connection mood. I love "Avalanche Rock" because in 23 seconds, this songs drills in your head a sample of the beginning verse from Hip Hop MC Raekwon's "Glaciers of Ice". I am glad to see that some other people out there know of the Hip Hop group, Camp Lo. The Avalanches show their appreciation by using snippets from the Lo's "Sparkle", off of their classic first album, for "Close To You" and "Diners Only". I would describe these two songs as being neat breakbeats. "A Different Feeling" certainly creates that exact sentiment, with its ruminations through symphonic modernized disco and a little laughter! Those interstellar loops are also quite catchy. "Electricity" sounds like it takes its mass influence from the vibes of the west coast, and it even has that signature hi to low synth 'whistling' sound. This track could be like the current after-party funk sound for say, George Clinton. "Tonight" gets very alternative jazzy and swirls with a nice tone of Nancy Wilson. "Frontier Psychiatrist" is perfectly describe as a movie put to slightly Hip Hop music. The samples run the gamut, and that horse makes another vocal cameo appearance here. It reminds me of something DJ Vadim did with one of his last albums ('U.S.S.R.-Life From The Other Side'), and it will give the dancing crowd some 'therapy'! "Etoh" is basically a journey to another galaxy, with happy creatures whispering 'etoh'. Have a firm hand on your mixed drink, when this track comes on. "Live At Dominoes" shows the affects and effects of a party in full swing. This track would melt any House club. "Extra Kings" closes out the album by throwing listeners straight into oblivion, and echoing the album's circling mantra: 'Since the day I left you.'

This is the kind of album that you can put on in your place while you are sitting alone or with your roommate or lover, and somehow the phone will start ringing and folks will start knocking on your door, hoping to be a part of this hip party that you have created. At least in theory, that is how it should work!

Definitely get this album. You will be the talk of the town, and it is great to listen to while you are out driving to the club.

Some people don't seem to be getting the humour of this album. This CD (while being wonderful) comes off as more of a parody of older music than a serious recording. It's the absolute weirdness of this album that makes it so good; even though they've recycled samplings throughout it and often haven't disgised them very well, take it like a fresh spin on an old song, rather than an old song with other stuff glued on. By the way, the vinyl crackling was done on purpose; it's not the fault of bad equipment! It gives the tracks a sort of..ambience, like you're actually listening to an old record instead of a cd.

Well I have to admit that before I heard this album, the sort of music I was listening to was mostly old school rock; Pearl Jam, Smashing Pumpkins, etc. I'd always looked on the dance scene as superficial and bland; then I heard Since I Left You. This song has single handedly changed my views on dance music, Australian music and even just music in general. After hearing only two songs from the CD (Since I Left You and Frontier Psychiatrist) I went and bought the whole CD. I have to admit that I didn't like it the first time I listened to it, but after a few listens I realised how amazing the music really is. And it's not music like music I've ever known before. The whole album works more like a painting than a CD, with each song flowing smoothly into the next, and elements intermeshed between songs and even popping up a couple of songs down the track. It all sounds like what I learned in Art at school - a painting should always have a few focal points, and the colours must be worked throughout it. In the case of this album, the "colours" are the odd little bits they've thrown in, like animal sounds and bells, which are truly worked throughout the CD perfectly: some are right in the foreground, while others are so subtle you don't even notice them until the 30th time you've played it. And the focal points are true brilliance- Since I Left You, Frontier Psychiatrist, Live At Dominoes and Extra Kings are the ones that stand out the most vividly in my mind. It sounds like a piece of artwork - vibrant, brilliant, glowing and most importantly, alive - each song has its own personality.

Simply Amazing i tells ya!!! its one of those albums that just blows me away everytime I hear it. For an album made entirely out of samples, its an excellent combination of music/beats that blends so seamlessly together.

The mixture of music works beautifully together, you would think the Avalanches played the music themselves, rather than them using little bits from other songs like Madonna's "holiday" catchy bassline used in their song "Stay another season".It just amazes me how perfectly and how easily the samples blend together, every sample sounds exactly where its supposed to go, nothing sounds out of place.

The samples themselves are terrific, from 60's sounding tunes to horses, foghorns, carousels, etc. Lots of them still have that scratchy vinyl, warped sound which makes the music sound so much warmer. There's a lot going on within each song, often using little bits from other songs to keep with the consistency of the sound. Its great to listen to all in one go as each song flows easily one into the other.

Aaahh,the avalanches have it all here from your upbeat dance tunes like "live at Dominoes" to the laid back,chillout ones like "Tonight". "Etoh" is one that really shines for me. Its starts off with these little voices singing "etoh" continusly then gradually this chillout beat is introduced with a catchy flute in the backround.....I could listen to this for hours!
Another favourite is "Electricity", I love the angelic voices at the beginning of the song, it then slowly builds up into a kickass funky beat that really gets your toes tapping."Two heats 3/4 time" is also great, the la di da vocals will stay in your head for a while, but its a happy tune that you won't mind having stuck in your head :)

Do yourself a favour and be inspired,entertained and blown away by the most incredibly talented bunch around.

Very easily the album of 2001. For once a set of beat scientists creates a work *not* simply of selection and wrists-of-fury wizardry, but of sublime sounds conveying real emotion, melody and wonder. While incorporating hundreds of samples, The group somehow maintains a cohesive vibe despite the album's wide range of miasmically colliding styles. From hip-hop to 60s Pop to French House to cocktail balladeering, "Since I Left You" constantly returns the listener to a supremely appealing yet unreal beach resort during a late 20th Century summer. The touchstones here are of course diverse: "3 Feet High & Rising" as performed by My Bloody Valentine, The Jackson 5 and the Beach Boys mixed with some ambient harbor sounds, strings, and decidedly dope beats (I'm remembering woodwinds too). A magazine review has called it a "Paul's Boutique" for the 21st Century and considering the album's bravado, consistency and funkiness, that is not far off the mark.

First things first, don't let the fact that you may never have heard of the Avalanches before today bother you, The Avalanches would not be offended... but if you pass up this album because of it, shame shall fall upon your head and if you're a farmer, your crops will die.

The Avalanches are a rarity in the music world today, and they have the soundest philosophy: use their skill on the turntables and their uncanny ability to pick the "gem" of a sample from records now long forgotten, add some excellent production work and editing, and, just as important, song selection that progressively gets tighter as the CD spins to the end. That is "Since I Left You" in a nutshell, and what a ride it is...

Infusing Electro-Pop Techno and House with samples that would make DJ Shadow proud, The Avalanches have been producing music for quite some time in Australia, and now intend to show the rest of the world what they're all about. I hope the world is ready for them, but when our society is laden with pop...like Eminem and Nelly, the diamonds in the rough are often overlooked.

Track By Track:
1) "Since I Left You": A discoish throwback from the great seventies, this title track is the perfect way to start off this disc. Dreamy, pop-ish without sounding too pop, mmmm...
2) "Stay Another Season": The production on this tune is tight, with the remaining verses of "Since I Left You" dreamily lurking in the background, while a new beat takes over the show. Excellent work here...
3) "Radio": Sampling here is awesome, with some old TV show dialogue starting things off. Great funk-filled tune.
4) "Two Hearts in 3/4 Time": Fantastic tune with some great vocal work mixed in. Not really a classifiable song, you just have to hear it to see what I mean.
5) "Avalanche Rock": Not really a needed tune here, one of the only down parts to report. Could have done without it, but since it clocks in at under a minute, I guess it's not so bad.
6) "Flight Tonight": One of the tightest tunes on the disc. Armand Van Helding would be proud of this techno tune. It seriously bangs. The mid-point rap adds some more flavor to the song... any more flavor, and I won't eat for a week!
7) "Close to You": Jazzy/Funky sounding song with some great sampling. St. Germain would love this tune.
8) "Diners Only": St. Germain and Jazzanova would love this interlude.
9) "A Different Feeling": The best song on the album. Daft Punkish house groove to the max... it has great dancibility and seriously makes me want to... just like any good electronica song should.
10) "Electricity": West Coast hip-hop style techno here, with some great sampling.
11) "Tonight": Nancy Wilson lays down the vocals here in this jazzy escape. This shows exactly the type of talent the Avalanches have.
12) "Pablo's Cruise": Sample laden interlude that allows us to be wisked away overseas. Set sail matey!
13) "Frontier Psychiatrist": One of the best songs here, FP is driven by its sample work and turntablism to send us to a rappy place.
14) "Etoh": This song sends us to a dreamy fantasy land (probably called Etoh)and through the looping breaks melody we willingly accept the trip.
15) "Summer Crane": A foriegn experience here... and while it's ok, it doesn't really do anything for me except prolong my journey to Etoh.
16) "Little Journey": More travelling here, and since we have travelled three songs with the excellent mixing job, here our little journey is seamless. (I think I hear a sample of an alarm clock being used, and if that is true, that's darn cool.)
17) "Live at Dominoes": We now journey back to the world of House with this song, and we like travelling.
18) "Extra Kings": The finale.... showcasing the excellent sampling and turntablism once again as our trip through the mind of the Avalanches comes to a close.

In retrospect, I believe this is the best album of the year, and even if you don't like techno, I believe you will appreciate what The Avalanches are trying to do here. Go out and buy this album, and start a party, or just relax with your headphones on...either way, it's an enjoyable escape.

When I first heard this album, I was just blown away and it still rocks me like a little babe every time I put it on. It's perhaps the best document of DJ culture in our time fusing a wide gamut of obscure jems in disco, house, funk, and soul. If you're into what Z-Trip, Shadow, and Cut Chemist are doing in hip-hop these days, you'll dig this. Check out the tracks: "Since I Left You," "Radio," "Two Hearts in 3/4 Time," "A Different Feeling," "Electricity," "Etoh," and then try to tell me this ain't the hippest and chillymost album since Daft Punk's "Discovery."

The Avalanches - a couple of Australian dj / mixing scamps, brings us one of the sunniest, most eclectic, most off-beat party albums in years. Culled entirely from samples, it has to be heard to be believed. It's a non-stop bizarro dance fest, complete with neighing horses (somehow, it works). The single 'frontier psychiatrist' is a jaw-dropping riot. If you like house beats with fun, this is the ultimate party album. It's definitely different - but well worth it.

with this album, Avalanches has proven that they are masters of found sound. Every song is a mishmash of so many samples that the head starts spinning, but the amazing part is it sounds good. Maybe the one critique of the album I have (which knocked two stars from the rating) is that they seem to have so much sampling material that they are desperate for the listener to hear that they sacrifice the continuity of the songs in order to fit in that extra sample--not that any of the sampling and mixing is in any ways bad--its just that I find myself at a point in the cd where the head starts nodding, and the groove promptly dissolves in a cacophany of sampling, ne'er to return. Of course this ever-changing, active way of sample integration may appeal to people who like their music to be busy, but I've always been of the school that a dance album needs to find a groove, which it allows to live a full life--a chance for a dancer, head-bobber, rhythm lover to meld with the groove and find its expression in the listener--there are numerous superb grooves, magnificent rhythmic manifestations of beat technology here--they just don't stick around long enough for satiation.

Since I left you provides a brilliant spectrum of DJ artistry. I say that because it really is art, putting most other commercially successful DJ's to shame. What I dislike about popular DJ music is its tendency to revert to shallow, repetitive drum & bass patterns. That being said, I reccomend this DJ album because not one second of Since I Left You repeats meaninglessly. Every moment of this disc overflows with quality and care in the choice of samples, the instrumentations, and the rhythms. It boggles my mind how much these Austrailan blokes love what they do. They are not "popular," nor are they rich. They are just that good. I would go mad trying to pull of a thick work like this.

Like any good album, it grows on you. Songs with instant appeal (#13 Frontier Psychiatrist, #10 Electricity) are balanced with tracks that you appreciate after time (#11 Tonight, #8 Diners Only, #12 Pablo's Cruise). If you appreciate originality, this is for you. If you dislike commercial "lazy" DJ's and their stupid repetitive remixes, you'll like this album. If you want to keep discovering new treasures after owning the album for 2 months, Since I Left You has it. If you just want something to dance to right away, Avalanches is what you want. Seriously, I avoid dance music in general, but this hidden treasure is one of the greatest albums in my collection.

By the way, don't believe every Amazon editorial you read. You won't find many other artists like the Avalanches out there.

I never thought of this cd as a dance pop kind of thing even though it has a lot of very danceable moments...I suppose I perfer to see it as a work of art. In case you haven't heard, there are a lot of samples on this cd...it probably took a decade for all these guys (there's like 8 of them) to collect all these records and stuff. They've managed to make something meaningful that stands on its own merits, even if you're too young to recognize any of the samples.
The earlier tracks and the later tracks stand out as individual songs (the first four tracks are all amazing, and two hearts is especially nice and a very fresh sound, frontier psychiatrist is very cool for turntablist fans), but most of the middle, from Flight Tonight to Electricity gets muddled together into a long piece of hyperactive stream of consciousness. This is not a weakness; rather, it illuminates the very natural flowing sound of what must have been a very technically difficult project. Of all the sample-collaging people out there, some of whom are Japanese and go overboard on kitsch, and others of whom take a more treaded jazz approach to things, the Avalanches have truly set themselves apart.
I suspect they might never make another album, and if they do, not for several years. They've made their statment well; this work will stand up to the test of time. For something so thick with pieces of musical and cultural history, this album is surprisingly light and heavenly.