Spokes

Plaid, Plaid & Bob Jaroc | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 27, 2003)
• Original Release Date: 2003
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Warp Records
• ASIN: B0000C8XK7
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #82,970 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Japanese edition of the electronica duo's 2003 album features 11 tracks including 1 bonus track for Japan, 'Miamivice'. Beat/Warp. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Plaid evolves yet again..., November 4, 2003

By 

Jake (Japan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Spokes (Audio CD)

I own all of Plaid's released recordings, and know some of their stuff from the Black Dog days. They have truly come very far as a musical group; indeed, they have evolved a lot, without selling out or changing their sound to try to fit in with the times. Spokes proves that Plaid can progress musically while retaining their originality and musical integrity.

Not For Threes was a landmark electronica album as it threw out the typical techno loop-after-identical-loop construction and brought real songwriting into play. Rest Proof Clockwork added a more diverse, even international flavor to Plaid's work. Double Figure increased the computerized, electronic feel, and then the P-Brane EP evened things out by returning a bit of the organic feel to Plaid's music.

Now, Spokes takes Plaid to a new level. I have heard few electronica albums with this kind of intensity. The first song, Even Spring, opens with a haunting melody with a strange vocal progression over the top, and then suddenly bursts into a breakneck-tempo section. It is not simply fast, though -- the progression is originally contructed (5 bars rather than the traditional 4) and throws both screaming melodies over the top and a subtle, gentle melody underneath as it climaxes.

My other favorite song is Cedar City. This is the song I imagine I would hear if I were about to take off into space. Something about this song, whether it be the slightly samba-esqu beat or the soaring melodies, is just completely original. Musical resolutions occur in extremely interesting places that remind me, perhaps inappropriately, of Debussy. That may be a far stretch, but that it what I think of when I hear this album -- just very original music.

The thing is, it doesn't sound like Plaid was going out of their way to be original. It doesn't seem like they were trying. It seems like this was the natural progression for their music to take. Some artists, like Boards of Canada or Autechre, seem to me to be trying to break new ground with the new music they release, yet the harder they try, the further they get from something truly new. Yet Plaid comes along and dishes out the real deal once again.

Anyway, I'm not sure if you'll like this album. It's high energy and very emotional, but it may not be for everyone. If you are remotely interested in the stuff Plaid does, though, I would highly recommend it. Sit down, relax, put on the headphones, and prepare yourself for an intense ride.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Plaid being Plaid. A Great Album, November 10, 2003

By 

Music Expert "tom807" (East Coast, USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Spokes (Audio CD)

It's weird. When I first put this album on I thought it would be an extension of "p-Brane", that is, it would take what was their musical experience from "Double Figure", and add to their sound. I was partially wrong. But what DID happen to my mind and ears was it sounded exactly like PLAID. There are so many eMusic outfits out there, many even more popular than Plaid (and you know who they are) that are taking a direction in the same direction as each other, if you know what I mean. You don't? Well, it is a well-known fact to those that know me that I need more sleep, I guess. But I digress.

With so many other outfits you can almost hear the technology influencing their sound rather then them taking the technology to realize their goals. Plaid manages to do both, in a way, to great effect. Such a spacey, thought provoking, and just cool electronic music results. And it is totally original, because no one sounds like Plaid. Or at least, no one who has made it past my radar that isn't some bedroom laptop musician that has figured out how to duplicate the style. There are plenty of electronic musicians in the IDM/Breakbeat style, but none of them are Plaid, that's for sure.

There is an interview/article on Plaid in the latest "Remix" magazine where they claim that this is the first album they've done which has been totally done on the computer with Emagic's Logic software. You would never know it because it just sounds like Plaid, and I mean that in the most complimentary way. On the other hand, it doesn't take as many stylistic chances by changing direction as much as "Double Figure"; it is more of a continuous flow of very Plaid sounding ideas. Again, not a bad thing, especially when you're working within such a good framework to begin with.

If this is the first Plaid album you buy to check them out, it certainly wouldn't be a bad place to start. This one or "Double Figure" for sure. And then you'll be hooked.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars moving forward . . ., November 14, 2003

By 

bowery boy (seattle) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Spokes (Audio CD)

'spokes' is plaid slightly abandoning their warm fuzzy organic sound to experiment in the dark realm of click and cut IDM. The warm feel of 'dang spot' or 'ooh be do' or the laidback vocal downtempo of 'lilith' or 'ralome' are completely missing. Instead, it is replaced by cold computer precision heavily infused with plaid's signature sound. plaid is maturing, morphing their sound from black dog to coming into their own with 'rest proof clockwork' and now to the beyond with 'spokes'.
It's a good start but not every track works.

Many of the tracks are densely layered and, for some, may sound like too much is going on. On further listen, with headphones, in the dark, all the layers, for the most part, come together beautifully. There's an orbital feel to 'spokes' with subtle rhythmic and atmospheric nods to autechre, chris & cosey and aphex twin. Melodies are largely built on simple chord progressions which, for others, may come across as a bit simplistic but it's not. These tracks are complex and part of plaid's appeal lies in making the most complex track appear simple. However, if plaid's music is so simple then why doesn't anyone else sound like them?

'even spring' deceptively starts off like typically beautiful downtempo plaid. Tinkling melodies and goosebump inducing vocals beautifully meander for two minutes before exploding into a cacophony of bloppy beats. Unfortunately the bloppy beats are a bit sloppy and sound like something I've done on my music generator for playstation. Sadly, outside of the beautiful intro, this track does not come together well and when it ends, seems a bit unfinished. My least favorite track.

'crumax rins', begins with warm vibrating synthesizers and crunchy tin can percussion. Then a fuzzy beat, some hi-hats and a simplistic xylophone chord progression melody kick in. When the synthesized bass rhythm begins I'm transported into orbital territory. Very good track.

'upona' starts with crunchy static and an underlying rhythm that sounds a bit like chris + cosey's 'the giant's feet'. Gurgling synthesizers, alien melodies and more crunchy noises set in until eventually everything reaches a crescendo creating a wall of crunchy sound and weird screechy rhythms. Another very good track.

'zeal', one of the definite highlights and my favorite, starts with a creepy ambient intro similar to an aphex twin track (think 'afx237 v.7' from drukqs), then breaks into plaid's trademark beats and melodies and suddenly shifts halfway through into percussive elements similar to autechre (think of the second percussive half of 'under BOAC' from LP5). This tracks works and works really well.

'cedar city' seems to be liked the most by reviewers and understandably so. This is the only track that, from beginning to end, consistently sounds like past plaid. Good but done better on past releases.

I find 'b born droid' and 'get what you gave' don't work for me. 'b born droid' because it's too slow and I'm not fond of cheesy plucked strings. 'get what you gave' because it harkens back to the reggae tinged steel drum tracks of 'not for threes'. Although both tracks are good in their own right, neither one seems to fit with the dark click and cut atmosphere of the rest.

'marry' is another track that opens with a creepy ambient intro as a deep bassline starts in the background before a tight uptempo beat carries you away. The inevitable chord progression melody begins its build-up but this time complimented with matching piano. The track closes with fuzzy waves of ambient distortion. Another of my favorite tracks.

'spokes' closes with two back-to-back crunchy beat masterpieces.

'buns' begins with drippy sounding beeps before bursting into a manic breakbeat rhythm with some of the coolest feedback distortion breaks I've heard. This slowly builds to a final break that calms things down as a new melody takes over, taking you down oh so nicely. Another favorite.

'quick emix' is the perfect close to the disc. A heavy autechre-like snare beat gets the rhythm going as clicks and chirps bounce from ear to ear and an ominous bass line makes its presence known. Bubbly percussion and weird noises abound. For me this track brings to mind orbital and as one reviewer stated, it's tight as hell. It's a tie between this and 'zeal' for my favorite track.

Really, trying to describe these tracks are pretty pointless. You have to experience this for yourself. plaid's fan base may be a bit divided on this release because plaid is definitely moving into new territory. I wasn't sure what to make of 'spokes' when I first heard it but if you take it for what it is, multi-layered slow build dark electronica with plaid's distinctive stamp you should enjoy it. It isn't disappointing at all. It's hard for me to think of this as plaid but it's a brilliant refreshing change in their sound.