Visions

Grimes | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 21, 2012)
• Original Release Date: 2012
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: 4ad Records
• ASIN: B006OAB2XO
• In-Print Editions: Vinyl  |  MP3 Music
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (65 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,437 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #33 in Music > Dance & DJ > Electronica

Track Listings

1. Infinite Love Without Fulfilment

2. Genesis

3. Oblivion

4. Eight

5. Circumambient

6. Vowels = space and time

7. Visiting Statue

8. Be A Body

9. Colour of Moonlight (Antiochus) [feat. Doldrums]

10. Symphonia IX (My Wait Is U)

11. Nightmusic (feat. Majical Clouds)

12. Skin

13. Know The Way

Editorial Reviews

Grimes is the moniker of Canadian producer, singer and artist Claire Boucher. She approaches music in a way that is both sensually pleasurable and exploratory; sonic experimentalism run through a 'pop' filter. The music is youthfully schizophrenic and searching, a voyage into the yet undefined territory of post-internet, re-spiritualized sound. Grimes strongly values a physical and communal experience of music (it's danceability), experimental vocalization, and psychedelia. Grimes is self-indulgence, devastation and ecstasy. humanity, spirituality, escapism, identity, reality.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 38 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars 4.5 Bitter Sweet Electro Dream pop February 27, 2012

By Smoking Ace

Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase

Grimes' Visions is like audio dark choclate: At times bitter, sort of sweet, but on the whole you can't deny that this is satisfying stuff. There are a lot of familar sounds here: Some elements of The knife, Lykke Li, J-Pop, Dream pop, maybe even a little Kylie Mynogue. But the way the parts are put together makes for a sound that is 100% her own. She creates songs that are in a realm where listeners don't know if they should dance or chill out to it in a bean bag chair.

This isn't going to be everyone's cup of tea. Grimes' music follows in the footsteps of artists such as Bjork and Kate Bush in its inaccessability. But in contrast to those artists, Boucher blends her vocals in to the background. Her lyrics don't seem to be so much about expressing an idea as they are about adding to the enigmatic atmosphere of the lush synths. It works. This album is a hazy dream that is as hard to describe as it is to wake up from.

"See you on the Dark Night"

Track Ratings:

1.Infinite Love Without Fufillment- 4/5 Short opening that instantly introduces Grimes' unique pop style.
2.Genesis- 5/5- A truly Beautiful song, the synths are out of this world lovely along with Grimes' siren like vocals.
3.Oblivion- 5/5- The Beat is irresistable. I might have to say this is my favorite.
4.Eight- 4.5/5- Chipmunk Vocals. Still Quite Fun.
5.Circumambient- 5/5- One of the few tracks where Grimes' voice stands apart from the synths. This song is like a neo-soul
song sent through a funhouse mirror.
6.Vowels=Space+Time-5/5-Infectious yet sorrowful
7.Visiting Statue- 3.5/5- The album loses a little bit of steam at this point, but not too much.
8.Be A Body- 5/5- Very Catchy, Very Dancable, Very awesome.
9.Colour Of Moonlight (Antiochus) [feat.... Doldrums]- 4/5-A Grower. Didn't stand out at first.
10.Symphonia IX (My Wait Is U)- 5/5- Great Song.
11.Nightmusic [feat. Majical Clouds]-4.5/5- Around here the album regains the energy it lost a few songs ago.
12.Skin- 5/5- Best song on the album
13.Know The Way- 5/5- For its brief time limit, the song is emotionally powerful.
14. Angel [Amazon Bonus Track]- 4/5- Short but satisfying bonus track

Album packaging- 4/5-I don't usually rate things like this, but the packaging design is really really cool. Though there are no lyrics that come with it.

Overall-4.5/5 Highly Recommended Read more ›

33 of 39 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Bizarre, Off-Kilter, Exciting February 25, 2012

By M. Olson

Format:Vinyl|Amazon Verified Purchase

The electronic & spacey sound isn't necessarily unique, but pair it with the odd vocals and you have something quite special. Like other musicians with "odd" voices (Joanna Newsom, Ian Curtis, Billy Corgan), either you get used to it or it'll never do it for you. At times the sound scapes sound very Japanese music influenced, alien, or ambient. Really something special in a world of familiarity. Repeated listens are rewarding. Great music for long drives. One of the best of 2012, for sure.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent February 28, 2012

By Alex Pasternak

Format:Audio CD

I'm not going to do a song-by-song review or anything, but I cannot stop listening to this album. So many excellent songs. Genesis & Oblivion start the album off on a great note after a short intro, and then just wait until Circumambient! A highlight of the year so far.

Update: After listening to it extensively on (legal) streaming, I decided to go ahead and buy a physical copy on CD, especially after someone said the packaging was great. I'm extremely disappointed, as the packaging is completely barebones. No insert, no lyrics, just a digipak and the physical disk. I'm somewhat glad I bought it because it lets me support the artist a little more directly, but this is not how you package a CD if you're trying to get people to still buy physical media.

Music: 5 stars
Actual CD of Visions: 1.5 stars

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Circumambient Indeed April 30, 2012

By Alf R. Bergesen

Format:Audio CD

It took me a couple of spins of Visions' first single, Oblivion, to get used to Claire Boucher's baby ghost vocal stylings, but by about the fourth or fifth listen, I was hooked. I immediately downloaded the rest of the album and I've been listening to it on repeat ever since. A one-woman electronic band, Grimes can lay down some funky beats, and she uses her voice like another instrument, weaving rich, almost ethereal, yet often danceable tunes, thick with rythm and melody. The album presents a good mix of uptempo songs and almost sensual slow burners, and it all flows together seamlessly. Her talents in composition and orchestration are truly impressive.

Be forewarned, though: Grimes' voice is probably not going to appeal to a broad audience. She often sings in a pretty high register, or in a breathy whimper, and it takes a little while for the ear to appreciate her vocal talents. Her voice is actually remarkably versatile- sometimes she sounds like the Sundays' Harriet Wheeler, other times she sounds like Enya, and sometimes even, Stacy Q. The voice is the key component of her musical arsenal, though. She does all kinds of things with her voice, sampling it, looping it, putting it through a delay, using it as a percussive instrument. Coupled with her impressive studio talents, and her ear for melody, it is a potent weapon.

Overall, Visions is a truly powerful and memorable listening experience. Like a dark, rich beer, it does take a little getting used to. But if you are a patient listener in search of slightly different fare, you will likely find it a rewarding investment.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars I LOVE THIS and it makes no sense that I do September 14, 2012

By I AM

Format:MP3 Music|Amazon Verified Purchase

If you had asked me a few months ago if I liked pop-sounding electronica with copious amounts of samples and higher-pitched/baby-voiced vocals, I might have laughed and exclaimed, "Hell no!" But Grimes is proof that it is always better to remain open in life so you don't miss out for the simple fact of self-limiting rigidity, because her music is nourishing, inspiring and makes me dance and feel happy.

I found Grimes one day on accident during an Odyssey through YouTube in a video of her performing at SXSW. Her presence, fearlessness in creativity and self-expression are beautiful and an inspiration.

This album is wonderful! I highly recommend it...even to people who wouldn't normally listen to this kind of music!