Customer Reviews

Strict Machine

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

In my opinion, the original track is just barely above average, as it's a little too slow, fluffy, and cheesy for my dance liking. However, add Victor Calderone's tribal funk energy collaboration with Suryanto and this becomes one of the best dance tracks of '04. You must get this single, as I believe the imports might not have the Calderone version, and this is the one to have.

Strict Machine was arguably the best dance track off Black Cherry, (no small feat considering this is also the album that spawned "Twist" and the infectious "Train") very disco-era Blondie with a vicious bass line. Comprising all the mixes from the 2 version import singles this is definitely the most value for the money.
The mixes are sharp but the real standout is "White Soft Rope" an unreleased B-side. Just as "Utopia" nodded to Fritz Lang's Metropolis "White Soft Rope" winks at "The Midwich Cukoos" (Village of the Damned here in the states - or check out the Midwich entry here on Amazon.com if not familiar). Personally I love Goldfrapp's inclusion of schlocky subject matter and the "Midwich Children's Choir" is good fun. Definitely worth the price of the single, and the lush, live "Hairy Trees" is exquisite, more like a mix, hard to believe it's live.

Strict machine is my favourite Goldfrapp track and for this reason I searched out all the remixes to get extended versions looking for more of what I liked. Sadly the remixes on this CD all miss the key element of the track which makes the original so good: the base line. If this is not what floats your boat about Strict Machine then you might like the remixes. For me it makes this CD a disappointment and a missed opportunity

Got this because of a cell phone commercial. It's OK.

It is not a full CD but only different mixes of the same music.

This single is dubbed as electro/disco stomp and man I can't stop listening to this single. I love it when musicians really produce their own music instead of having labels make music for them. Excellent tune to use for Fashion Shows!

I have to say this is an amazing single by Goldfrapp and a great maxi single release as it has 6 different remixes in addition to the original version of Strict Machine as well as Hairy Trees (Live in London) and White Soft Rope Featuring The Midwich Children Choir. The remixes for Strict Machine all range in style or feel. Where the Benny Benassi Sfaction Extended Mix sounds like the beat from Satisfaction by Benny Bennasi which makes it a full on electro club remix and Ewan's Pearson's Stripped Machine Mix is more stripped down electro. Then there's the more housey remixes by Calderone + Suryanto and Peter Rauhofer. Overall this makes for a great package for anyone into electronic and dance music.

SJ
www.bestplaylists.com

I wasn't too familiar with Goldfrapp before I heard the original version of Strict Machine. But after hearing it & buying this single, I must say that this is one of the best singles this year bar none. Victor Calderone is on a roll with Rainwater, Naughty Girl, and now Strict Machine. This is one of his best mixes in a long time. It's an aggressive tribal workout & a real floor-filler. Peter Rauhofer's 2 mixes are great as well, with the NYC mix just a bit better than the UK mix. The NYC mix is a harder mix than the UK mix, but both get the job done. Victor's mix & Peter's 2 mixes are for the bigrooms. Benny Benassi goes down a trancy road in his mix & it's incredible. It's a great progression in his style. This is the best mix he's done so far, imo. Ewan Pearson's mix contains few vocals, but it's a cool mix that you can play & just relax to. Rowan Oliver's mix moves at a slower pace than the others, but it's good as well. There's a mix for everyone on here. This is one single you can't miss out on.

Most of the mixes here try too hard to electro-clash things imo but my favorite has to be the Calderone collaboration with Suryanto. If you are a regular or even casual club goer get used to hearing this mix because you will be hearing it all summer. As a matter of fact, it's already found its way onto most respectable dj's set lists. As one reviewer pointed out, it's a true floor filler and it's just the right length and has the perfect amount of ecstatic builds and hands-in-the-air climaxes. This reminds me of the wonderful mixes of Madonna's "Hollywood" and Beyonce's "Crazy In Love" that came out last year. But I have to say this Calderone mix kinda blows any of those mixes away.

There are not enough words in the dictionary to describe the brilliance of this record! "Strict Machine" is one of the most original and refreshing dance songs in years. Alison Goldfrapp sounds ultra-sexy here and the music is like hypnotic ear-candy. The Benny Benassi mix is by far the best and is the reason why this song has been re-released and is taking the clubs by storm. Even if you don't like dance music, you gotta admit that this is good.

If cd singles are soon to vanish, they're best disappearing in a blaze of glory such as "Strict Machine". This is a great maxi-cd that only suffers from the omission of the fabulous video (which can be found on the "Black Cherry" dvd - greedy marketers!) The b side and live track are both great, also.