Machine Says Yes

FC Kahuna

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 19, 2002)
• Original Release Date: November 19, 2002
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Nettwerk Records
• ASIN: B000075A3G
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #162,880 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

From URB Magazine
When "Fear of Guitars," the oceanic swirl of atmosphere and stoned vocals reminiscent of new-school shoegazers the Doves channeling Kid A segues into the buzzing electro bleat of "Glitterball," it’s readily apparent that we’re in for a really freaky fun ride.

The British duo of Dan Ormondroyd and Jon Nowell have been making a musical scene since the mid’90s, when they held court over a raucous roaming London party called the Big Kahuna Burger. But once they woke up from three years of madness, a new direction towards sicker electronic manipulations led to a new club (Headstart) and a new sound, a druggy amalgamation of brutal beats and classic acid, referencing early Warp acts like LFO just as readily as DJ Pierre and, erm, the Charlatans. On Machine Says Yes, they pay homage to all of the above, from the old-school bleep of "Growler" to the creepy monotone pulse of "Nothing is Wrong," complete with totally bored robotic female vocals. And although it fits nicely into what’s considered "electro-clash," songs like these have much more bump and grind that a majority of that lot.

They switch gears nicely into the smooth, dulcet tones of "Hayling," a cool downtempo dalliance that flits somewhere between Zero 7 and Air. Even your mom will find this one relaxing.

But the bulk of Machine Says Yes is thick with throbbing dance floor throw-downs like "Mindset to Cycle" and Tiga’s DJ-ready remix of the title cut, which wraps the whole thing up with a nice big red bow.

Timothy Brown

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars By all rights this album should make FC Kahuna superstars, May 15, 2003

By	Richard Diaz (Centerville, OH United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

By all rights this album should make FC Kahuna superstars, as there's always need for a crossover dance band, someone able to meld widescreen ideas to huge block rockin' beats. Much like their predecessors Daft Punk, the Chemical Brothers, and Underworld, Kahuna's Dan Ormondroyd and Jon Nowell offer ample amounts of energy, packing Machines Say Yes with buzzing, fuzzy basslines, a shelf load of techno bleeps, and grinding, glittering funk to irresistible effect.

That formula alone carries streamlined tracks Nothing is Wrong, Microcuts, and Machine Says Yes, the latter aided by Gus Gus vocal gal Hafdis Huld into surefire hit territory. Hayling's the melancholy media darling, where her soft vocals ride on icy blips ping-ponging about. Even better, country collaborator Eileen Rose offers the emotional heart to this album, North Pole Transmission's poetic vocals given a machine serenade; computerized accompaniment that's stunningly heartfelt, and a strong statement to the duo's diversity.

Now add propulsive blast Glitterball, which clearly is a big, huge, dancehall tune chucked with laser blasts and big whooshes for club craziness, and you have one of the electronic albums of the year. Wisely this domestic release sticks the clunker Growler and a pointless bonus track at the end; you'll be satisfied way before you get there.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Holy Cr@p, June 2, 2003

By	"cgoren" (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews

I buy a lot of CD's, all genres. Dance/trance/electronic usually bores me quickly. I heard "Nothing is Wrong" on XM radio, checked out some other tracks online, fell in love, and bought the CD online instantly. Lots of funky very origional electronic music. Reminds me of Underworld and Moby in its ability to stand out from the crowd in origionality and excellence. I can't stop listening to this CD.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Drunk computers having fun in Chaos..., March 9, 2003

By	Sakis (San Diego, originally Greece) - See all my reviews

FC Kahuna differ in their approach to Techno or Electronica from the popular at this time Trancey rhythms or modern Eurodisco samples. I think they just enjoy the chaos of this magnificent album. Being a HUGE fan of Hafdis Huld, ex singer of Icelandic band Gus Gus, i had to check out this CD after hearing the two songs she had in this album on her web site, "Hayling" is just hypnotic, seductive and plain beautiful, while "Machine Says Yes" is just a great groovy song with no remorse for the sneaky beats it produces. I must say the rest of the album doesn't fail either, there is SO much variety. You start off nice and calm on the first track with Hafdis singing softly, gently, you think you are all nice and safe and then boom you are on the second song "Glitterball" and you are assaulted by phat beats that you forget all the mellowness of "Hayling" and you feel like partying down. I can't get the beat sounds off "Bleep Freak" off my head sometimes. Needless to say the chaos that is the rest of the album is pure funky Electronica fun. If you are fans of Gus Gus, Daft Punk, Basement Jaxx, Way Out West or The Chemical Brothers you'll enjoy this album.