Customer Reviews

Snivilisation

5 star:		(26)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

In 1998 I purchased Snivilisation, In Sides, and a handful of other seminal electronica albums, little knowing that I would spend the next five years searching for a musical experience as fulfilling as Orbital's best work. The more time I spent scanning the electronica landscape, the easier it became to convince myself that the sonic experiments of Autechre, Aphex Twin, et al. amounted to satisfying listening. "Glitch Hop;" "Drill 'n Bass": as with any genre, the more precise and fiercely territorial the sub-genre, the more sterile and academic the music. Everything is cerebral, everything has a "point." Texture trumps melody, technique trumps emotion. Every recommendation must come with a qualification - eg., "If you can tolerate the sounds of children's nightmares, or automobile parts being fed into a psychotic drum-machine chipper, then you might like..." This may sound overly critical, and I do love the aforementioned artists, in all their prickly glory. But it is possible to have too much of a good thing. So I pulled out Snivilization again, only to be reminded anew of how stunning it is, and how it makes most of the work by others in the field seem peurile by comparison.

This is truly a masterpiece, flaws and all. Though In Sides is a more perfect work, Snivilization is arguably more ambitious: it contains multitudes. Stunningly emotional, fiercely political, sweeping, intimate, grandiose, mystical, quirky. Most of all, effortlessly confident. Listening to this album reminds me of watching an actor on the verge of stardom in his breakthrough film role. Somehow it captures that startled, injured innocence, the reaction of pure artistry when confronted with the ambiguities, complexities, and harshness of the world for the first time. I know I'm waxing a bit eloquent here, but there really is a reason so many people find Snivilization and In Sides so cathartic. In these two albums, I believe the Hartnolls set out very deliberately to catalogue the insecurities of the modern era, and then propose a transcendent musical solution that is remarkably free of New-Agey self-importance. If you have any ear for electronic music, you simply must listen to these albums. (Unfortunately, the Bros. seriously lost the plot on their subsequent releases.)

About the music. I can't really improve on what others have said, and the album is so multifaceted that any analysis probably says more about the listener's mood at the time than anything else. After many, many listenings, I will say that Kein Trink Wasser has emerged as a surprise favorite. There is something about this track that epitomizes the appeal of Orbital for me. It begins with what sounds like an attention-starved child banging on the same piano key over and over again, then almost imperceptibly other piano melodies are introduced and begin to interplay and weave around the simplistic core. What was initially annoying is suddenly startlingly poignant. Just as the listener begins to surrender and drift along with the music, the piano stops. Again an incongruous element is introduced; instead of the annoying piano we hear a cheesy 80's sounding drumbeat. Not very promising. But the music continues, more layers are added, until suddenly the piano is reintroduced and everything comes together in such a masterful way that I am floored every time. This is what separates Orbital from most other electronic artists: their music is always full of wonderful surprises, but rarely sadistic. The ultimate goal is always to provide solace and transcendence to the listener.

The album is perfectly bookended by two magnificent opening tracks - Forever and I Wish I Had Duck Feet - and two stunning closing tracks - Are We Here? and Attached. But I won't describe them, you'll have to listen to them yourself.

Orbital's 3rd full-length is an interesting affair. While 'the brown album' was a monolithic affair of beats and intricate melodic and harmonic lines, "Snivilization" sees Orbital starting to branch out in new and different directions. For those expecting 'rave music', this was pretty perplexing when it hit. But for those who like their electronics with some challenge to it, this release is a full-on satisfier, especially the full-length version of "Are We Here", as well as the interesting sociopolitical takes one finds popping up here and there in the soundbites, and Orbital's own takes on its music. Bits of commentary on minimal music is in here, as well as a crafty jab at gabber. And the whole thing closes with perhaps one of P+P's finest ambient techno tracks of all time. This, or "Orbital 2", are excellent start-points for those trying Orbital out for the first time. In fact, I'd suggest getting both, and then you're covered for _all_ of the possibilities the Hartnoll Bros. can offer elsewhere.

Snivilisation relies more on dissonance and vocal samples (both spoken and sung) than other Orbital albums. As such it would have to be classified as a more challenging album. Opinions, as always, vary, but I feel it is the most experimental and far-reaching of Orbital's efforts to date (May 2000). It is, for the most part, successful, and sometimes spectacularly so.

I find it mildly aggravating when an album starts off with one or two tracks that don't really engage me, especially when the album is obviously constructed for end-to-end listening. "Forever" and "I Wish I Had Duck Feet" fit that bill. Maybe there are too many voices and odd sounds. Maybe I'm just missing something.

The first two tunes pass by in the background nicely enough though, and it just gets better from there. "Science Friction" is a playfully percussive piece constructed in the classic Orbital overlapping/shifting/modulating manner. Effects come and go, sounds come forward and recede, patterns repeat but not quite, and a cheesy synthesized organ sings an aimlessly mournful melody atop it all. "Classic Orbital." That's followed by "Philosophy by Numbers," which I think is a more successful use of vocal samples.

But the highlight of the album, and a highlight of Orbital itself, is the clever and deftly executed "Are We Here?" A marching band cadence drives the piece along. Muddled female vocals add an "unintelligible distant choir" effect. 15-1/2 minutes of intricately patterned sonic cloth unrolls before you. Great stuff.

I bought this album just a few days ago to fill that empty gap I have between "Orbital 2" and "In Sides"... needless to say, it fits very well. I'll admit, when I first heard this, I was a little dissapointed. Then, out of the blue, something amazing happened... I GOT it (If you own this album, then you know what i'm talking about). It hit me About half way through "Forever", and form there, it's been an amazing experience. Once this album opens itself up to you, theres no turning back! This is by far Orbital's most experimental album, with ALOT more voice sampling then "Orbital 2". This album also seems to stray from looping songs (ala "in Sides"). The edge of the songs is harder, and has more of an industrial feel, but still has that moody aura we've come to expect from the Brothers Hartnoll. Amazingly, I don't have a favorite song on this album... every song seems to stick out in a different way which makes it impossible to pick ONE favorite. Right now though, i'd have to say "Forever" is the best tune... the again, that will likely change. This is truly one of the most important techno albums to ever be released... simply because of what it's done to the entire genre. This sole experimental album has produced a completely new sound for techno, and it's amazing to see how it carried over into Orbital's later works. It's easliy Orbital's most important album, but it's not my favorite. "In Sides" remains my undisputed fav, especially since it was the first album to turn me on to them. A defenite recommendation, but I suggest "In Sides" first.

This one really grew on me but at first I was a little disappointed because I was comparing it to 'In Sides' which I just love, so based on other reviews this was my second Orbital album. `Forever' and `Are We Here', among others, are great tracks, you can listen to them over and over. Overall I give it 4 out of 5. It is definitely a good CD to have in your collection.

I was first introduced to Orbital back when the Mortal Kombat album hit the street. My friend and I were at a point where we were growing very tired of the normal radio tunes and were looking for something that was fresh and new. Mortal Kombat had the classic Halcyon + On + On (from Orbital 2) and upon hearing this track for the first time we knew we had found something. When I went shopping for Orbital I had a tough time finding anything at all. One day I happened to find Snivilisation at the local record shop. When I first played this disc I was a bit puzzled considering I was expecting more of what I had previously heard. I put the album down for a few months and one rainy after noon decided to try it out again. When I REALLY listened to this album at all of the different sounds I was blown away. A previous reviewer made the statement that "when you get it, you GET it" and boy did I get it! To this day (June 2003 - 8 years later) I believe this is one of the greatest electronic albums ever crafted. Any electronic music fan absolutely must give this album a chance. It is truely a piece of art!

It is really hard to pick my favorite Orbital CD. I own them all, and some. I ordered 'The Altogether' the day it was availabe; an import from Japan, and the American release when it came out as well. But this one is the one. I bought In Sides (the only other CD you need to have)in the fall of '96. It was the original American release (first 30,000), the second disk had "Times Fly(Fast),"Sad But New", "Times Fly (Slow)", "Tranquilizer", and "The Box LP". On that bonus disc is my favorite song "Sad But New", and I went about my life happily, buying the rest of their CD's. When I found 'Snivilization', I noticed on the back a song "Sad But True", which I listened to and as I suspected before purchase was the original version that "Sad But New" was mixed from. It became my favorite song. Until I reached the second to last song on the CD. I don't want to overly hype it up, but "Are We Here" is definitely the best song ever made by the human race. If you're still reading this then I can't stress enough how good this CD (and any Orbital CD) is, you should just buy it, listen, and enjoy.

Ahrg. My first review for this album was ONLY 3 STARS!!! boy, I feel stupid now. I recently discovered how genius this album actually is. It all makes sense. Buy this album, but we warned you won't fully appreciate it until about 200 listens later when you smack your forehead and get it. But seriously, it's genius. Everything conveys such a mood! Every song has a purpose! Mainly political statements, but it makes so good points. The sadness of "Forever" slowly into the other-world-ness and bizarre vocal sample whirling round and round in a tunnel of commercialism on "I Wish I Had Duck Feet" to the panic and rage of "Cash And Carry" to the seemingly-but-not-actual security and warmth on "Science Friction" to the eerie advertising of "Philosophy By Numbers" with brilliant vocals ("TECHNOLOGY! TECHNOLOGY! philosophy... philosophy..?") It's genius. "Kein Trink Wasser" moved my soul with it's charming offbeat rhythms and poignant piano. "Quality Seconds" is placed between two emotional epics for a rude disruption that refers to commercialism. "Are We Here?" is 15-minutes of epic song. Ending with the oh-so-beautiful-but-what's-inside feel of "Attached", this album is a museum piece. I am so sorry to anyone who read my blind 3-star review. Buy this and worship it.

when i listened to this cd for the first time, i thought it was pretty dumb. however, about a week later, i decided to listen to it again. about 5 minutes into it, i suddenly GOT IT (there is really no way to describe this), and i fell into a detached state of semi consiousness for 3 amazing hours! it was incredible. i guess all i can describe it as is a journey through time and space. now, whenever i listen to, i hear all the incredible melodies and rythms which come together to make it so great.

What can I say. Although Orbital's music is classified as "techno" there can be no doubt the brothers' skills transcend that poppy genre and this album is their finest work. It is a concept album so you must listen to it from beginning to end and every track (with one exception) is excellent. The album comes to a climax on "Are We Here?".

Perhaps what is most commendable about Orbital is their ability to build a beat in the abscence of a central boom-boom beat that is so common in electronic music. If you listen closely, the beat is actually built by layering the loops carefully so as to build a rhythm that dances around where the beat would be.

This album is one of my three favorites. The other two, incidentally are not "electronica" albums so this says something about the quality here. Every person I've ever played the CD for has agreed that it is incredible. So if you're looking for a CD with some heavy meaning, mean mixing excellent tunes look no further. And you can dance to it too.