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On its surface, the music makes you want to get up and dance. Perhaps the most well known track is "Frontier Psychiatrist", made famous in part due to its music video, but it would be somewhat unfair to say that this track is representative of the album. With their creative and seemingly tireless approach to sampling, The Avalanches take many of the basic Musique Concrete ideas of Pierre Schaeffer and Pierre Henry and transport them to the 21st century. But for the listener who isn't quite in the mood to dance, the album is subtle, nuanced, and a joy to just sit back and listen to--again and again and again. While the album is whimsical, entertaining, and at times bordering on the absurd, its theatrical characteristics shouldn't overwhelm its technical brilliance.
The album features everything from eclectic drumbeats to electronically affected voice loops to ephemeral moments of ambient sound. It is upbeat, uplifting, and immensely entertaining. When listening to "Since I Left You", it isn't difficult to recognize many of the characteristics that have influenced more recent sample-based music, even though the record is less than ten years old. I will make my recommendation with one caveat that I don't even think can be called a criticism: the tracks on this album are not meant to stand alone, and the album should be listened to in its entirety (and not on shuffle) to be fully appreciated. Like any great album in any genre, it can be appreciated on multiple levels.
On the contrary, many of the other tracks have a faster pace, driving rhythms, more densely layered sounds, and less emphasis on speech samples than "Frontier Psychiatrist." This isn't to say that the rest of the album lacks the imagination or originality that fans of "Frontier Psychiatrist" will remember. The album contains over 3,500 vinyl record samples, and each track flows effortlessly into the next with crisp editing and careful layering of sounds. Unlike with most traditional albums and less well-executed sampling albums, I pick up something new each time I listen to "Since I Left You." Whether it is the lingering echoes in "Summer Crane" or the details of the overlapping conversations at the beginning of "Diner's Only", The Avalanches find success in the little things. The title track opens the album, and within a few seconds, it combines spoken word with a wall of sound that can't really be pigeonholed into one genre.
Throughout the album, the music maintains intense rhythms and themes, never ceases to be interesting, and perhaps most importantly, is extremely fun. Though they do not form a tight concept album in the traditional sense, the tracks of "Since I Left You" combine a number of common themes, motifs, and ideas to form a single, coherent thought. Whether you are a connoisseur of sampling or just introducing yourself to electronic music, "Since I Left You" by The Avalanches is a must-have album. Masterful arrangements are vital to an album that includes such a diverse array of samples, and The Avalanches are more than up to the challenge. Traditional instrumentation, electronic noises, spoken voice loops, and singing are all important to the overall sound of "Since I Left You", and the album strikes an excellent balance in this respect. But before you buy the album, it might be a good idea to listen to a few other tracks, such as "Flight Tonight" or "Radio", which give a more accurate indication of the overall feel of the album.I would highly recommend this album to anyone who appreciates great music and especially to those with an ear turned toward samples and electronics. From melodic voices to phones ringing to smooth violins to electronic soundscapes to faint metallic percussion, each sound in this album is unique, but each is neatly woven into the others. Buy it, listen to it, and repeat.
With contagious hooks, persistently riveting rhythms, and a refreshing collection of off-the-wall sounds sampled from all over the map, The Avalanches ignite a party throughout a full hour of music. You will not be disappointed. Even if you aren't a big fan of sampling, or if you prefer a more stripped-down sound, it will be difficult not to appreciate what The Avalanches bring to the table. And with such intricate and varied layers, the listener never gets bored. You will be hard-pressed to find a suitable single anywhere on this album (though "Frontier Psychiatrist" and "Live at the Dominoes" come close).
The biggest strength to this album is how it each song flows into the next so there isn't any awkward seconds of silence between tracks; however it can be difficult at times to recognize when one song ends and the next begins.The next fun track is number three, "Radio." The song begins with the word "radio" repeated over and over from left ear to right ear. The Avalanches produced a music video with this song that really established them as a premier electronic group and may be one reason why the song became so popular.The Avalanches first full-length album Since I Left You is intriguing from start to finish. The song progresses through a soft lyrical melody from singing samples and the oft-repeated line "since I left you." The flute sample provides an interesting countermelody to the voices while a soft drumbeat keeps the song moving. The album was a huge success in Australia winning an impressive four awards from the Australian Recording Industry Association, including "Producer of the Year" as well as both "New Breakthrough Artist" and "Album." It was also nominated in five other categories, including "Best Album" and "Best Single" for their hit "Frontier Psychiatrist." Since I Left You is absolutely deserving of this recognition.The album begins with the song "Since I Left You," a title that suggests the Avalanches' original concept of the album of making it into a love story. The Avalanches long-awaited full-length album entitled Since I Left You was released in their home country of Australia in 2001. The final track, "Extra King," features slightly different return to the lyrics repeated in the first song, a satisfying conclusion to the album. `Of sorts' because the lyrics aren't completely clear. The samples, taken from songs and television recordings, fit together and create a story, of sorts, about a crazy boy who gets into trouble at school.
The Avalanches are able to do all of this and more in an incredibly complete album that is entertaining from start to finish. The lyrics change to "sending those signals, those digital signals," which again repeats many times. This modern electronic group of four musicians, led by Darren Seltmann and Robbie Chater, used over 3,500 samples of previously recorded music and television sounds to create eighteen original tracks in an incredibly creative, yet enjoyable way. One characteristic of this group that makes them so impressive is that they seem to acknowledge the electronic artists before them as exemplified in their Theremin sample found near the end of track fifteen entitled "Summer Crane." For a group to be so successful, it is important to know where their genre came from as well as do what they can to stretch the envelope to further their type of music. The track then seems to personify what a radio does. The track makes use of more electronic sounding samples that further the radio feeling of the song.Since I Left You continues to enthrall listeners over the next few tracks, but really leaves its mark with the hit single "Frontier Psychiatrist." This song is unique and catchy throughout its four minute, forty-eight second duration, and is arguably the only song whose lyrics most resemble the pop music heard on the radio today. Although the album did not follow the band's original concept of a love story, it did offer a nice ending by culminating the CD similarly to how it started. The words "since I left you" won't leave you at the end of the Avalanches' incredible album.
This album definately has sentimental value to me because it brings back memories of a good period in my life, but that's not the only reason why it holds so much value. Everyone loves a catchy tune, and the Avalanches find a new way to entice you and move you in a new way. This album is refreshing, creative and moving, attributes that are rare in music these days. The music itself has the ability to create a mystical and mysterious vibe. When I first heard this album I knew I wanted to hear it again. It is something you can listen to anywhere with anyone for any type of mood. Frontier Pyschiatrist and Since I Left You are my favorites. Bound to make you move or chill you out, whatever you're feeling.
It's one work and deserves, more than any other album I've ever heard, to be treated and listened to as such. Some parts of it may take a while to grow on you, but if you have any kind of soul it will happen.
I don't know the answer to that question, but I guarantee you Since I Left You is on a 24-hour loop in Heaven. This album is amazingly, unbelievably, mind-blowingly great.
Many people have speculated and argued about what kind of music is played on Hell's loudspeakers. They are wrong.
It is total and utter joy and freedom from beginning to end. Some people will tell you that this and that song are good, and this and that song aren't as good, and blah blah blah.
Besides, at its core it's not a bunch of different songs released on one CD, the way most albums are. It's well worth it.This is undoubtedly the greatest album ever created.
In fact, my advice would be to play these first until you fall in love with them, then move on to the other tracks. This music is so refreshing. They are definately funky. I agree with some of the other entries, you definately need to listen to it a few times before you make any decisions about it. Pay close attention to tracks 1, 2, 9, 10, and 14. I'm always grooving my head or tapping my foot to this music, which is uncommon for me.Anyway, highly recomended. If you have eclectic taste in music this is one you have to have.
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