Vertical Theory

Haujobb

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 22, 2003)
• Original Release Date: July 22, 2003
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Metropolis Records
• ASIN: B00009W8N5
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #281,201 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not as good as I first thought., October 27, 2003

By	J. Rayne "chiastic_slide" (Salisbury, MD United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Like Polarity, this album had me gripped at first. It's got great music, good vocals, and some catchy lyrics at points. However, now that I've been exposed to Haujobb's earlier (and better) albums, especially their mid-career works (Solutions, Matrix, and '99) this albums seems to be a bit less of a masterpiece. Now, don't get me wrong, it's still a great album,
but now I can recognize its flaws. A good portion of the tracks seem to blend together into a single kind of sound that's not bad, but not exceptional. In fact, that basically describes the entire album -- not bad, but not their best work. Still, the album is very good, but it's not as good as it should have been.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not to expectations but what do u expect after "Polarity", May 16, 2005

By	shockj2000 - See all my reviews

I guess you hear one of the best albums ever and you expect the next to be up to these standards or better. This is the case with "Polarity" I was so blown away with this album that I never thought the next album which I highly anticipated could be less than that. This is an excellent album as all are still, but not an absolute favorite. I think the original penetration song should have been included instead of a remix but who am I. Still you have a great mix of industrial beats and dark erie vocals with a slightly less urban dance sound to be good enuff to achieve that audible high your looking for. I'm such a fan I hate to rate this a four but probably suits the album grade.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Vertical Progression, November 26, 2004

By	Shadowcast (Ohio) - See all my reviews

Introducing Haujobb, one of the few innovators and original musicians in a genre known as EBM (Electronic Body Music). If you are familiar with the genre however, Haujobb needs no introduction. One of the few EBM outfits to bring together successfully elements of minimal electronica and mature ambient, Haujobb turns a stale, dancefloor-ridden style into something interesting. There's just as much here for Aphex Twin and Gridlock fans as there is for the ravers.

Each successive Haujobb album grows more mature, experimenting in one direction or another. Vertical Theory is a culmination of Haujobb's past, and a welcome step into the future. That is the beauty of this group; they provide something with their distinct sound, but choose not to grow stale, repeating territory they know.

Vertical Theory, in specifics, brings together the danceable grooves and futuristic textures found on their last album (2001's Polarity) with the minimal drum'n'bass and lush ambience of NinetyNine. The first track, "Renegades of Noize", is somewhat standard Haujobb territory, danceable with nice atmosphere. "S.adow" is a move in the right direction, a dense landscape of synths and pads, hard rhythms, not to mention some suprisingly catchy vocals, an oddly beautiful track.

Next up is "The Noise Insitute", starting us off with a quirky synthline and distorted 4 on the floor dance rhythms. One thing's for sure though, Haujobb's 4x4 beats are never boring; they never stagnate. There's always something new going on, some new rhythmic element. Whether it's a tweaked clap, an odd distorted sample, or a slight offset of the kick, there's no boring "boom boom boom boom" here.

Skipping ahead with the tracks, "Claim the Planet" and "Faith In Chaos" are the highlights of the album. "Claim the Planet" has an off-kilter synth section, backed by stuttery rhythms and Myer's vocals vocoded and slipping over top the crystalline atmospheres. "Faith In Chaos" continues, with an emphasis on interesting rhythm and noise, before a more up front beat pattern comes crashing in, startling you with its immediacy. Myer's vocals are also electronically aided in this track, plenty of distortion. The track builds to a climactic chorus section, stating "deal with the demons....the last man on earth doesn't know he is alone, doesn't know it is his fault...."

Overall, this album is an excellent release for Haujobb and their forward-thinking progressive electronic sound. Similar to this release is the album by Myer under the Architect moniker, called "I Went Out Shopping To Get Some Noise".