Customer Reviews

Time Tourist

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

 

 

The most innovative time was pretty much over for the Warp label in 1996, and this album basically sounds like an afterthought on the famous "Artificial Intelligence" series. While "Time tourists" isn't a big departure from B12's first album "Electro-Soma", it remains more consistent and melodic. On the other hand, some tracks like "Infinite lites" and "Scriptures" (taken from the collection "Artificial Intelligence II") are surprisingly club-oriented and percussive. Highlights are "Gimp" and "Phettt", both driven by superb, mysterious, and melancholic melodies. In my opinion, "Time tourist" is one of the most beautiful and enjoyable albums coming from Warp artists and it's a must-have for all fans of mellow techno soundscapes. Other available efforts by B12 include some tracks on Warp's label compilations and a new CD-single release called "3EP". "3EP" rather leans towards drum 'n' bass and shows that there's still some creative fire in this band.

This is the kind of music your great grand children will find in the attic 200 years from now and will be jamming to at a nightclub hidden on the back of one of Saturn's moons. This CD is a few millenia ahead of everything with in the electronica genre and everything outside. So do your descendants a favor and get this now. Very well orchestrated sound effects and breaks as well as groovy baseline. Techno heads be warned these tunes, in my opinion, are on the intellectual side. However, one can shake it to some of the tracks.
Enjoy!

Nothing B12 did could really trump "Electro-Soma", but that's not to say "Time Tourist" is bad. In fact, Time Tourist probably has cooler songs then "Electro-Soma" did, but it has too few of them. Whereas most every track on "Electro-Soma" is fantastic, "Time Tourist" suffers from obvious filler. A lot of the tracks also sound pretty similar to the musical style found on "Electro-Soma". Most of the tracks make GREAT background music ("Phettt" especially). Tracks like the first one, "VOID/Comm", however, are so awe-inspiring (it gives me goosebumps every time I listen to it) that it makes this album a worthy purchase if you like this genre. Recommended.

Highlights include:
"VOID/Comm"
"DB5"
"Phettt"
"Epilion"
"Scriptures"
"The Silicon Garden"

The follow up to the majestical 'Electro Soma' could never outdo or match it, but 'Time Tourist' stands on its own as another fine production from the B12 boys.

All the elements are here; beautiful synth melodies, smooth beats and spacey basslines. It does actually soundlike a soundtrack for space.

If you are at all into electronic music and prefer the more thoughtful and well crafted style of electronica over the dancey trash, then you can do no wrong with this.

Ambient melodic techno with much subtlety and restraint in the perfect places. production values through the roof, hi-fi setups will thank you. meant for listening, but dancable (i don't dance). mostly upbeat, with just a dash of bladerunner. beautiful balance between pretty & slightly forlorn, never menacing. this is as good or better than 'electro-soma' and easily ranks up there with the best of black dog productions. This album is a truly special gem. Get it while it's readily available.

It's been ten years since I purchased this fantastic second release by B12 and not a minute of it sounds dated or dull in the least. In fact I would go as far as to say this is a gorgeous album--imaginative, vibrant and futuristic without trying too hard to be. The melodies on here sparkle amidst deep ambient textures and sharp, spangly rhythms and beats. It's reflective without being boring--perfect music for daydreams and mental space (or in this case time) travel.

I grew up with groups such as Cabaret Voltaire and this music's much more complex, sophisticated and simply better than any of their early stuff (and I love that stuff) while in many ways very similar to the direction that the Cabs would soon go towards the end of their career in the early ninties, with Richard H. Kirk continuing in a similar fashion, making stellar, atmospheric, beat/rhythm oriented electronic music.

Anyhow, enough on the Cabs here. If you want good, classic "electronic listening music" without the gimmics then pick up this fantastic musical mind movie at once! Plus there's some amazing cover art to boot. Nothing short of a classic.

This is a favourite of mine. I usually have it on in the background when I am needing to knuckle down and do some work.

It helps me focus.

Wow, it's from 1996 and in 2010 I still feel like this belongs in 2996.

Amazing music.

Amazing cover art!

...so I purchased this one as well - it's good, but as I'm typing this review many months later, I'm not recalling anything particular about it... good, but not memorable?

I bought this album in the mid-nineties. I just re-played it after not hearing it for quite some time. I think I like it more now than I did then.

A nice blend of ambiance, translucent pads, detroit-ish digitalia and nice mellow beats. Stands up well to Carl Craig, Aril Brikha, Theorem, etc...

Where are these guys now?