Customer Reviews

Where Did the Night Fall

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Thinking that UNKLE would return to the club/DJ sounds of "Psyence Fiction" is like thinking Massive Attack might put out another "Blue Lines" - ain't gonna happen. Instead, Britain's second-greatest 'DJ collective' (Massive, of course, being the TOP DOGS!) have released a great follow-up to "War Stories", continuing to produce interesting, progressive alterna-rock that sounds like almost nothing else out there. And this time, even a little more haunting and less rock-oriented. No "big" names on this release, a la Ian Astbury or Rob Del Naja, but that makes this album even more unique, with vocals handled by a small, select group of revolving male and female singers who all helped to compose each of the songs on which they appear. Definitely one of my favorite albums of 2010. And check out the '180' that Groove Armada did with their new one "Black Light" - an 80's-inspired electrobash that also turns their past completely on its ear. Along with Massive's "Heligoland", a great year for "British DJ Duos"!!

A band that has had a truly transformative journey, UNKLE have reached a point with their newest LP that seems to combine all their past albums to create something that could best be described as electronically informed psych-rock. Whatever you want to call it, this feels like a new chapter for UNKLE - like this is the sound they've been looking for. The balance of sonic elements is wonderful. A series of collaborations from the likes of up-and-comers and under-appreciated groups such as Autolux, The Black Angels, and more congeals into a simultaneously cohesive and diverse listening experience. Though the whole thing is seriously fantastic (don't let Joy Factory pass you by), some of the highlights for me include Follow Me Down, Caged Bird, and The Runaway - 3 tracks with 3 different though equally talented female vocalists. Follow Me Down features a stunning vocal by Sleepy Sun's Rachel Williams that simply must be heard, while Caged Bird with Katrina Ford displays a similarly powerful performance - both women carrying enormous presence, though never at the expense of the song (quite the contrary). Perhaps on the other side of the spectrum is Lisa Elle of Dark Horses, who goes in the other direction for The Runaway: what she lacks in terms of sheer power she more than makes up for in mood. Somehow she manages to convey menace, fear, and apathy all in the same song to ultimately come across like a severely disturbed Alison Goldfrapp. Great stuff. Probably my favorite song on the album.

Aside from the excellent music, the deluxe packaging for Where Did The Night Fall (which I purchased directly from the UNKLE website) is likely the best I've seen since War Stories. Record companies take note - this is how you combat piracy: the included lyrics, liner notes, and especially the amazing photography are expertly presented. This is exactly the type of thing I look for when seeking a physical copy of a band's new album.

And speaking of the incredible photography, UNKLE's music video for Follow Me Down is essentially the album artwork in motion, which makes total sense since it was directed by WDTNF's extremely talented art directors Warren du Preez and Nick Thornton Jones. It's one of the best music videos I've seen this year and may only be in competition with the newly released music video for The Answer (directed by The Road's John Hillcoat). It's genuinely inspiring work, which shouldn't be a shock at this point. Despite James Lavelle's shortcomings as a traditional musician, he's always pointed UNKLE in a direction that's ensured its growth creatively and otherwise. By consistently surrounding himself with talented others who believe in the project, there's no reason to expect UNKLE's resignation any time soon.

(If you have the album... put on The Answer before reading :)

Regretfully, I dismissed UNKLE for years based on a few tracks that I thought were 'alright' but not mind-blowing. Josh Homme, DJ Shadow, Tom Yourke etc. I love, so I gave their tracks a listen and decided their solo stuff/main acts hit me a little harder. Interestingly, since the release of Where Did The Night Fall and my obsession with the album, I've gone back and now love all the earlier UNKLE releases. So, this diatribe here might reveal two things: keep trying with a band because you never know when their music is ready for you, and Where Did the Night Fall is a fantastic album to begin with. I think it is one of the more approachable albums UNKLE have put out, and one of the most diverse. The alteration of feelings within this collection goes light to dark, fast to slow, deep to surface so often yet so seamlessly. I LOVE each and every guest artist, whether or not I know their other music. Not a single song feels like it misses the mark, which can often happen with compilation albums like this.

This album has 11 excellent collaborative tracks that all feel natural, and they progress effortlessly. The 3 uncollaborative tracks (nowhere, heavy drug, and ablivion) of course feel natural and are great additions to the cd. I must admit, I do basically skip nowhere and heavy drug every time listening through. Heavy drug always reminds me of some fleet foxes song I despise so I skip it. Besides that, I really do enjoy every song.

Some highlights among them: Follow me down and caged bird are AMAZING, primal and intense songs. Caged bird particularly blows my mind with how raw and mysterious Katrina Ford delivers on it. She sounds like a drunk gypsy woman to me, its amazing.
Ever Rest and On A Wire have a similar, energizing yet depressive quality to them.
Both The Runaway and Joy Factory I have claimed as my 'favorite' songs at different times. I think these songs are timeless. I love Autolux too, so if you enjoy that song check out their other stuff- its pretty similar.
I always get ablivion stuck in my head, its a track I usually start with when I decide to listen to UNKLE. On a wire has a similar 'time running out' feel, and is very well put together.
The last two tracks- The Healing and Another Night Out again I could put on a favorites list. I love the Healing, the title is so appropriate. The way Gavin Clark sings reaches into my heart and proceeds to stitch up emotional scars. It really heals.

Lastly, I'd like to mention The Answer. I'm sorry, but this song cannot be topped on my happiness chart. This is my sunny day, get in the car, wheres the excitment?!, float on a cloud... song. If theres one reason to get this album, I'd say get it for the spiritual healing this song and the healing will produce for you. This music is medicine.

Thanks for reading!!

A brief instrumental "Nowhere" opens the new CD by UK Electronic/Dance/Trip Hop outfit UNKLE, followed by the echoey psychedelic "Follow me down" with Sleepy Sun on vocals. With that, they return with album #5 which features an armada of guest vocalists and an eclectic sound.

"Natural selection" featuring the Black Angels is a groovy psychedelic song, while the sublime "The answer" featuring Big In Japan reminds one of The Stone Roses.

The frantic "On a wire" is more electronic and features Elle J, who appears again with a spoken delivery on the dark brooding Trip Hop "The runaway". Gavin Clark features on the lovely jangly "Falling stars", as well as on the dreamy "The healing".

Not every song features guests though, "Heavy drug" is a brief interlude, while "Ablivion" is a synth-driven atmospheric Dance number with skittery beats. Closing is the epic ballad "Another night out" with Mark Lanegan giving a tremulous Bowie-style croon against a creepy soundscape with theatrical strings.

This year has been great for Electronic music with spectacular albums from Gorillaz, Massive Attack, Bomb The Bass, and Groove Armada. Now we can add UNKLE to that list. Simply brilliant!

UNKLE has been a constantly evolving sound - both in line-up and style. Each time Lavelle & Co. release a new album, it takes me a moment to readjust, but I've learned to trust and sit back and wait for the genius to hit me. It always has - I still have "Burn My Shadow" as my ringtone, since even just the little snippet reminds me of all that's best in music and life.

Where Did the Night Fall is solidly produced, and the lyrics are sly and subdued. The music is all well-done and flows nicely. It still feels UNKLEish.

Unfortunately, it's missing something this time. I think it's missing some keystone songs to hold the entire album together. Each one of the songs feels like one of the transitional tracks from the other albums - I don't mean "filler", just there's nothing that makes me want to stand up and dance or sing on its own. Picture going to a dance club, and it's usually particular songs which will get people out there, build up the energy, and then the transitional tracks maintain that rhythm. Here it just feels like maintenance. I don't need the big names (Ian Astbury was the first artist I know about before hearing him on an UNKLE track - even Radiohead was introduced to me via Lavelle), I just want the big, bold sound. The only outright negative is that Gavin Clark is my least favorite of the vocalists UNKLE has used, but he seems to be a mainstay now.

It's still a good album, it just hurts to feel like I'll have to pick and choose tracks instead of simply putting it in the player and letting it take the party for a ride.

From the first vocal track Follow Me Down I knew this was going to be a chore to get through. Have owned it since it was released and it hasn't grown on me at all. Off to the opportunity shop for this one.

I am not fluent in English, hence my review will be short.
I believe this album is the best album of UNKLE and quite frankly the best album in this genre.
But what is the genre of this album? At the border between Rock, Eletronic, Trip-Hop, Psychedelic, not easy to classify. But for sure this album is (for me) very innovative.
I like how the multiple voices, the rythmes, the electronic, the guitar/bass mix together (a true architecture) and vary. I am just afraid, or should I say 'concerned', about the fact that UNKLE goes back to simple Rock and become one of the many good and boring Rock band that play the same thing for the last 20 years (see Money and Run track).

Another great outing by UNKLE. Dark enough, mellodic enough, avant garde but listenable all the way through. Excellent and recommendable to everyone!

First off if youre an unkle fan buy this deluxe box version with the incredible packaging artbook and bonus disc of instrumental versions which i actually prefer over the studio album! I appreciate unkles and the labels efforts to win me over with deluxe artwork etc as many artists are doing to avoid the "download" which to this day i have never used! Call me old fashioned but i still buy cds and sometimes vinyl as i like experiencing the whole aspect of music liner notes pics etc! But its this same old fashioned approach that leaves me disappointed in a way with unkles material the last few years! To me nothing has topped the original unkle - the slow moody Unkle of lonely Soul and rabbit in your headlights fame! Ironically the last track here with Mark Lanegan on vocals does just that - slow moody haunting -perfect! Elsewhere there are moments when the material slows during a break or a buildup and i think theres the Unkle of old! But overall most of this material follows along the way of Never never land and War stories- moody but upbeat shoegaze britrock with some electronics strings and psyche production thrown in- and ofcourse that isnt bad! But unlike the flaming lips latest embroynic which i think is fantastic and more Unkle than Unkle - here theres almost too much effort on song structures and "catchiness" instead of atmosphere and creativity! In the end its good - the guest vocals do their usual solid jobs- the production is never an issue but i keep waiting for the special "feeling" that gripped me on Psyence Fiction and their rare mix cds and parts of Never never land! However the bonus disc of instrumentals and the truly well done box artwork etc atleast make me feel i didnt waste my money- maybe with time this will grow on me but the last two albums didnt so im not convinced! While its better than most it still lacks the quality that takes it to the next level- In some ways Unkle and Dj Shadow both hit their peak early and continue to release good but not great material!This falls into that category in my opinion!

People who are disgusted with the mediocrity prevalent in current popular music often times wonder why there isn't much great music being made anymore. Well actually it is being made, and albums like this one prove that there are still artists with integrity and vision. There is some very good, even great, music on this CD and I can't understand why it hasn't found general acclaim. I also owned and loved previous albums Psyence Fiction and Never Never Land. I realize that people don't buy CD's anymore, but for those that still crave the depth and breadth and height of music that strives to be art and actually achieves it, this is for them. I first heard the Runaway track on Sirius chill, and since Unkle uses a variety of contributing vocalists, I didn't immediately know that the song was from a band I already respected this much. I think I just grasped why Unkle isn't huge--they don't have trademark vocals or style that can be categorized. They're consistently great but there's no signature sound. For me though, this ads to the genius--they can cherry-pick vocalists to fit the mood of the song. Their songs have more of an individual identity than a band identity. Kind of like another one of my favorite bands that tread these same waters--Massive Attack. I'm so glad I purchased the whole CD instead of just the one song!