Customer Reviews

Unconscious Ruckus

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4 star:		(1)
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Review by: Pietro Da Sacco at igloomag.com
(02.22.05) In the past few years we've witnessed an abundance of artists blending real instrumentation with synthetic, electronic music. Within these windows of inspiration comes the human instinct to immediately recognize the beauty nestled between crispy beats and meandering rhythms. Artists such as Bitcrush, Christian Kleine, Ulrich Schnauss and edIT have seamlessly crossed the limitations of typical electronic noodling by incorporating the soul buried inside their guitars and by utilizing voices (distorted or not) within their emotional compositions. Accessibility has always been the key with any musician trying to attain a broader appeal --this is not to say that an artist must compromise quality in their creative palette, but instead, they realize the significance of meaning and realization of their sound. Such is the case with Appogee's debut release for Kanpai Records.

Unconscious Ruckus opens with the aptly titled "Ep[i]phany," a breathtaking college-radio friendly piece where ethereal guitars are smeared against uplifting lyrics, dripping beats and inspirational effects. "Ntheme" takes on an encapsulating, unrelenting emotional journey through reflective ambiences, subtle drum'n bass and drenched guitar moments that inspire nothing but creative brain-juice. Elsewhere on Unconscious Ruckus, subtle industrial-rock elements breath life into rusted machines ("Creeper" and "Y Illuminative"). "I'm Yours" could easily be the favorite old-time melodic indie tune we used to request at the local radio station while the edIT-styled funk-jazz of "This Moment" blends instrumental R & B pieces with creative lyrical splashes. The introverted ambient-chill of "Coral" has a nostalgic flavor that doesn't let up, and it's at this time that we begin to realize the substance unveiling itself on this album. "Kddr Mov.2" and "Kddr Mov.3" could be considered broken mirror images that refract skewed light through chilly Orb/777-styled ambiences while textured drum'n bass highlights its counterpart, respectively. Closing up with "Meaning of Life," time stands still and a contemplative mood sets the stage for a three-minute break until Appogee closes up with a studio conversation that was probably inspired during a jam-session where musical ideas bounced around a 12-pack of Newcastle. Quite interesting, to say the least.

Unconscious Ruckus shines bright on its own, creating a style that blends polished drum'n bass with sonic exploration. Filled with inspiring lyrics, samples, and forward thinking musical collages, Appogee leaves a trail that will certainly appeal to a wide audience willing to accept a change of pace in the overly saturated field of experimental electronics.

Appogee (or Jay to those who have listened to him long enough) is one of the best DJs in the underground scene, at least as far as my world stretches. If you are looking for emotion, story, and some form of musical/stylistic intelligence in music then I must push this CD in your face. Previous works of his have included remixed country music (while not being my favorite you got to give props where it is due) and stints in film/tv music, something that is not discussed as much in the biz or in the music listening world, but still something noteworthy.

So, let me break this CD done for you, considering that you have stumbled upon this review and are taking time out of your life to extract information from said review.

1. EP[I]Phany- Soothing beats mixed with earthy vocals gives me a sense of mysticism, god, and the meaning of life, but then again I could be looking into it too much.
2. Ntheme- Something a little harder, think Mega Man I level 2 mixed with the sound of wind and a slight dash of guitar and volcanic mist. There you have it.
3. This Moment- Caring, a serenade if you will, it is nice to listen to, but I am more into the beats, while the love is great I am a music man. God, wonderful guitar work, classical.
4. Y Illuminative- One of my top three songs from Appogee, the voice comes from a badass author (27 points if you can guess who) and the mix of beats with voice is simply mind bending, the moment is there and gone, needs no explaining.
5. Creeper- YES, dark, Appogee normally does not go the dark route, but I can see something inside wanting to ooze out in this song, you can hear songs in the background with whispers everywhere, then HARD, then SOFT, HARD, SOFT, great work.
6. Coral- The video for this song is amazing, Appogee's voice is both funny (only to me probably cuz I met the guy) and innocent in the song. "You have to live it to really understand it, and that is why we are here." How much better can you get in a track. He is talking about life by the way, or at least I think so.
7. I'm Yours- Ha, while this specific song has personal meaning to me in terms of getting a laugh from me it is still well made, once again the use of voice and beat is wonderful, something that is normally either overlooked or misunderstood in the drum/bass/beat/techno/electronic scene. Once again, just my opinion.
8. KDDR Mov.2- The epic song, while at one point I thought an earlier version of this was 11 minutes long this still has the Kubrick grandeur to it while still telling a story through music.
9. KDDR Mov.3- Ah, here is the second part of the song, so that is where the 11 minutes went, two songs, I got it now. Conclusion to the epic story that is being told, can you guess what that story is, I don't think there is a right answer, but I got my own.
10. Meaning of Life- "Change." Possibly one of the best songs I have ever heard in my entire life. No jokes. I would not lie about that. I can listen to this song all the time because it is made up of total strangers speaking on the meaning of life, these are your fellow humans, let alone Americans, talking about the meaning of our existence. Yes.
10 1/2. Secret Song- Wait about a minute and half and enjoy the remixing skills of Appogee at work on what seems to be a botched skit done in the studio. Hilarious.

Extra Note: I have found out through Appogee's email listing thang that the company selling the CD will send you an extra CD if you purchase it from their web site. Either way check Appogee out, listen to free music (Check out the remixes if nothing else, the Bright Eyes one is literally my favorite song right now), or purchase the CD. http://www.purevolume.com/appogee Share the wealth, love, and music.

Little Cush Out.

Appogee's underground flavor takes you beyond the limits of space and time. Mixing intricate modern beats with electronic artistry, each song seeps into your skin with deft harmony. Enchanting low-key lyrics not only set the mood but create the entire hypnotic atmosphere itself. The tracks take hold of you as you ride along each melodic twist and turn. Appogee dares to experiment with ethereal yet incredibly down to earth rhythms in ten amazing electronic syntheses.