Customer Reviews

Tom Middleton: Sound of the Cosmos

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I'm going to keep this review as short as possible and to the point because my words will never do this cd justice. I picked up this cd set on a trip out to London, right when it came out. I didn't get a good chance to listen to it on a quality system until I got back here to the states, so at first I was a little uneasy about the cds. However, after giving the music a chance to work its magic, I realized what it was, a true work of sonic art. So, one of the songs on this cd set was recently picked up by mitsubishi for another one of their famous commercials. They made a wise choice, for the song they picked "Breathe" by telepopmusik is beautiful and indeed melodic.

Well, I had heard of Middleton before, but I knew nothing of him. Now I am a true fan. His title is perfect as well. He's created something here that others have touched, but none have perfected quite so well. I recently listened to this cd in the right frame of mind and perspective and I realized that Tom is a genius. The former reviewer is quite right in calling him a legend in the making. The music is beautiful, it keys together quite often, if flows, if moves, it breates, it grabs you by the lobes and shakes you into that higher state of awareness that only music can. It surrounds you with an aural landscape of sound, one minute you're in space, the next your in the ocean, the next you're in a carnival, the next your are in love, the next you are being told to close your eyes and know that "I" am always there for you, the next you're being told not to think about the things you fear and to just be glad to be here. Wow. Does this spark your interest... it should.. I've listend to some pretty amazing music from a wide range of musicians. I will admit that I've been getting bored because I haven't heard anything that really sounds new, or takes me somewhere I hadn't been before, until now. Finally I'm excited about some new music. I've also recently appreciated the music by Luke Slater, but his music is different, more of a physical excitation. Tom's music is something else. Classification would lie somewhere between the heart of consciousness and the metaphysical mumbo jumbo we invent to explain the mysteries of the cosmos. So pick this cd up, sit back and enjoy this music!

If you like FSOL, Global Communication, Biosphere, Juno Reactor, The Orb, and other bands like this, you'll love this cd. It uses songs that are quite likeable but most of which you'll never hear otherwise and progresses in a similar way as these aforementioned artists, but in a new direction completely.

This album is a treasure, and a rare work of art. Cheers Tom!

p.s. with the right perspective, this mix will play with your brain!

Tom Middleton's "Sounds of the Cosmos" is a delicately engineered masterpiece that mixes a universe of sounds and beats together. It is a 3 CD collection, each CD representing a different aspect. The first CD is rhythm, the second is melody and the last CD is harmony.

For the headz, the first CD is perfect for you as it is a gumbo of various beats designed to please and soothe. Highlights for me come with the ingenious mix of New Order's Blue Monday with Tiga's version of "Sunglasses at Night".

On the second CD, kick off the footwear and load the pipe, grab your favorite partner as you'll enjoy some mellow tracks that flow, especially the "Misty Blue" remake, Herbert, and yes, Telepopmusik's best track, "Breathe".

Then when you're smoked out and ready for the ambient downtempo smoked out vibe, CD three is what you need. More of the end of the night mix, it all depends on what mood you're in when you're listening to this compilation.

This is a classic mix that will always be cherished in my collection. Throw this with Africanism, and you have two very solid mixes on 5 CDs. Anyone with those two CD mixes will enjoy years of pleasure.

I attempt to review this MASTERPIECE with my limited language skills- understand that what you are listening to here is a subconscious experience, something that takes place in the intuitive centers of your brain used for natural language processing.

This is the ONE collection that you take to the deserted island upon which you are stranded.
If there were one living person I could have lunch with, it would be Tom Middletone

So purchase this set, it will be one of the truly great things that you do for yourself.

-John

Just saw Tom this weekend - the Jedi master rocked it! So I pulled out my well worn - ok, electronic version- of Sound of the Cosmos and it sounds as good today for what had to be my 100th listen as it did on my first. Transcendent. Seamless. Controlled beats leading to uncontrolled joy. If a tsunami washed everything away I'd want to have my iPhone/iPod and this CD on it. Though we sometimes say a CD is a "masterpiece" do we ever listen to it more than a few times? The Sound of the Cosmos really is the sound of the sonic universe...mixed into a true masterpiece. Very highly recommended.

Not much to add to some fine reviews below. I'd like to convey how humane and beautiful this 3-CD mix is. Something I have not heard since Nick Warren's Back to Mine. Electronic music can often be artificial, and lets face it, self-inflated. Its nice to see how real one can be with some chunky, funky beats.

I wouldn't quite go so far as to get [pulled] in to the psuedo-spiritual stuff, but this mix album is up there with Richie Hawtin and KSR.

There is a mix here for every mood or situation. Ranging from tech-house through deep-house to chillout (for want of a better term), these 3cds represent a journey through the essential music which is moving people across the world (I'm seeing him live in less than 48hrs. Brag, brag brag).

This compliation has to be one of the smoothest soul/lounge/downtempo/bossa-flavoured house mixes I've ever experienced. The price might look a little steep at first, but bear in mind that you get 3 CDs - The Sound of the Cosmos #1, #2, and #3.

Disc #1 starts off with a track that sets the mood nicely for the whole set. It's soft, deep, house-y, with a slight jazzy flavour. Tremendous stuff. The quality dips a little at the beginning, but Disc #1 is the weakest of the three, and even then it's outstanding. Tracks 6-7-8 on Disc 1 deserve to be played over and over again, and if you put it on once, this disc will force you to let it live in your player.

Disc #2 is, in my opinion, the best of the three - my favourite tune here has to be Misty Blue (Schmoov Mix). Phenomenal sound, legendary vocal, classic tune. The mix between Misty Blue and the following track, Love Journey, has to be heard to be believed. The vocal on Love Journey sounds as though it's out of tune, and out of rhythm... but it's simply perfect. Disc #3 provides more of the same. There are too many good songs to mention.

I hate to admit it, but before this disc I'd never heard of Tom Middleton... but he is a legend in the making, if this set is anything to go by. Tom Middleton has outstanding taste, a deft ear, and an unstoppable groove.

This album is a must buy. Get it!

This is a great 3xCD mix techno disk. Disk 1 is rhythm whit fantastic mixes. I specaly love how Tom mixes New Orders - Blue Monday vs. Tiga & Zynitherius - Sunglasses at Night together.

CD2 is Melody and is as good as CD1, don't know what more is to say about CD2, it's lika CD1 but whit others traks.

CD3 is harmony and is wery, wery slow. Non of thes disks are realy fast or hard, thay are slow and sounds great.