Customer Reviews

Strange Cargo

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

 

 

The Strange Cargo series by William Orbit is by any means wonderful music. This particular album is the first of the series. It's got fast rhythms and some slow ones, so it's going to meet the varying tastes of different listeners. If you have questions or doubts about buying this album, get William Orbit, The Best of Strange Cargos. Best of Strange Cargos is a compilation of songs from his 4 cd series, which includes 4 songs from the first Strange Cargo album. The Strange Cargo series wil provide hours of listening enjoyment to all who purchase this album. I recommend it with flying colors and hope you enjoy it too.

Most people hadn't even heard of 'ambient' when this album came out. I first bought it on vinyl when it came out on the IRS NoSpeak label which was dedicated to instrumental music (other releases included Billy Currie and Stewart Copeland). At the time it was a novel idea. Not many people were making instrumental music. Nor had the popularity of electronc music in general surged to the proportions it enjoys today. There are moments of sheer brilliance on this album. Orbit chose not to craft his sound as discreetly as Eno's but instead used the addition of electric guitar solos, drums and lots of keyboards. What you got was a sort of spaceman-crime fighter soundtrack. Don't forget, Miami Vice was still on TV when this bad boy came out and people thought Jan Hammer was a genius! The dance beats that permeated the later Strange Cargo releases didn't appear on this album because no one at the time had thought to mix the elements. Moby and the Orb still had yet to appear! Given that, this album made a great contribution to the thriving electronic scene we enjoy today. Pick it up now, enjoy and file under proto-ambient.

The 1st Strange Cargo CD is a very satisfying varied mix of electronic styles, beats with some good old fashioned electric guitars (well, at least that's what they sound like). Some of it sounds like dramatic background music from a spy flick, some is slow, some is fast, the themes tend to develop in interesting lines.

Despite what the Amazon reviewer says, this is not soulless machine music. If you are not fond of synths & sequencers, this won't work for you, but you don't have to be a tech-geek to like this stuff. I think it is easily the most interesting and varied of Orbit's Strange Cargo series, although all three have their own merits.

Contrary to the editorial review (are you guys trying to sell this album or what?), I found Strange Cargo to be absolutely brilliant. Along with other William Orbit projects, this album soars. The human touch is the layering and building of the arrangement of each track. Well thought out and constructed, Strange Cargo is an example of the power of technology in music and a landmark effort in this genre.

I know this is going to sound so weird but I love the movie Youngblood. Patrick Swayze and Rob Lowe 1980's hockey movie. I have been looking for the score all of my life. I found an Out of Print CD of the soundtrack and it only had one track of William Orbit's score and the rest was 80's hair band crap. This album is amazing, some tracks are from the film, i love the movie and the soundtrack so much. Yes, I'm probably the only person who wanted the score to Youngblood, but if you are looking, you have to get this album, great for YOUNGBLOOD FANS!!! This is your last stop to try and find the score, I love this album!!! YOUNGBLOOD!!!

After having heard Strange Cargo III, I thought I should try out the original Strange Cargo, but it is surprisingly mediocre. It makes good background music (i.e. elevator music). It's just too understated, not *out there* enough. Don't buy this if you're hoping for the more recent William Orbit sound.