Heavy with lounge atmosphere, but still only subtle tweaks away from dance floor nirvana, Supreme Beings of Leisure's sophomore effort has it both ways, laying down smart rhythms in a record that grooves slow and steady like a spy on a stakeout. Less self-consciously multicultural, Divine Operating System is more sure-footed than their self-titled debut, which too often sounded like Morcheeba lite. SBOL's members are a diverse group, with members hailing from Japan, Iceland, Puerto Rico, Iran, and elsewhere, but their debut was so smooth and so familiar, it didn't sound as authentic as it should have. Divine has a not entirely original feel to it as well, given the deluge of Latin and lounge-flavored dance records that have come along since downtempo took off in the late '90s. Still, while not terribly innovative, tracks like "Divine" and "Touch Me" have a fitting R&B aesthetic and a genuine thump. The Eastern-inspired touches that made their debut such a smooth collection surface occasionally, giving slower tracks like "Rock and a Hard Place" a higher bliss quotient. But another record's worth of practice has yielded more authoritative songs, and while it doesn't have a "Strangelove Addiction" on it, the agreeably narcotic effect of the music here withstands repeated listening quite nicely. --Matthew Cooke
From URB Magazine
The Supreme Beings of Leisure's sophomore effort starts out sounding like an ultra-chic doppelganger to the Spice Girls. But once the first two tracks have plodded away to their respective holes in the ground, "Catch Me" streaks from the gate, an expansive wash reminiscent of early James Bond film themes — slinky and seductive, mixing happy pills with martinis. Close on its heels is "Get Away," an enthusiastic pumper reminiscent of the Propellerheads.
Since the sleeper success of their eponymous debut, the organic elements of the band (guitarist Rick Torres and bassist Kiran Shahani) are no longer. In the wake of their exodus, the remaining members (multi-instrumentalist Ramin Sakurai and the silver-voiced Geri Soriano) have recruited a host of blue ribbon-winning collaborators. For only $15.99 (suggested retail price), you can enjoy the stylings of Beck's wax mechanic DJ Swamp, Dust Brothers' bassist Sheldon Strickland and engineer Jimi Randolph, who's helped funk up Al Green and Earth, Wind & Fire records. Predominately shimmering and languid, at its raciest Divine Operating System achieves a poppy, disco canter that trades ass-slapping soul for sleek sensuality — think Gloria Gaynor's "I Will Survive" copulating with Portishead to produce a lovechild more at home in Los Angeles' Skybar than Club 54. At times it sprints and at times it slides, but always with a colorful, cosmopolitan athleticism that lends itself equally to cocktail hour on the Concord and Zen retreats on Mars.
Mark von Pfeiffer
Divine Operating System,Supreme Beings of Leisure,Palm Pictures (Audio,Club/Dance,Dance,Dance Music,Pop,Popular Music,Rock/Pop
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Divine Operating System
Supreme Beings of Leisure Manufacturer: Palm Pictures (Audio ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD  General
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ASIN: B00006IZNF Release Date: 2002-09-10 |
Tracks:
- Give Up
- Ghetto
- Catch Me
- Get Away
- Rock and a Hard Place
- Calamity Jane
- Divine
- Touch Me
- So Much More
- Freezer
- Perfect
- Give Up
- Ghetto
- Catch Me
- Touch Me
Amazon.com
Heavy with lounge atmosphere, but still only subtle tweaks away from dance floor nirvana, Supreme Beings of Leisure's sophomore effort has it both ways, laying down smart rhythms in a record that grooves slow and steady like a spy on a stakeout. Less self-consciously multicultural, Divine Operating System is more sure-footed than their self-titled debut, which too often sounded like Morcheeba lite. SBOL's members are a diverse group, with members hailing from Japan, Iceland, Puerto Rico, Iran, and elsewhere, but their debut was so smooth and so familiar, it didn't sound as authentic as it should have. Divine has a not entirely original feel to it as well, given the deluge of Latin and lounge-flavored dance records that have come along since downtempo took off in the late '90s. Still, while not terribly innovative, tracks like "Divine" and "Touch Me" have a fitting R&B aesthetic and a genuine thump. The Eastern-inspired touches that made their debut such a smooth collection surface occasionally, giving slower tracks like "Rock and a Hard Place" a higher bliss quotient. But another record's worth of practice has yielded more authoritative songs, and while it doesn't have a "Strangelove Addiction" on it, the agreeably narcotic effect of the music here withstands repeated listening quite nicely. --Matthew CookeCustomer Reviews:
Leisurely Funk.......2007-02-12
Sprinkled with Middle Eastern flair and heady with pumping, big-band-beats, songs like "Give Up" and "Get Away" give the album its thumping pulse. Waltz-inspired and blooming with bass, songs like "Catch Me" and "Freezer" give the album its sleek, sultry spirit. Fill in the gaps with candle-lit rhythms ("Calamity Jane"), up-tempo gloom ("Ghetto"), and jazzy electronica ("Touch Me") and you've got a wickedly sensual and soul-hearty album that's worth the price of admission.
Beautiful and brainy.......2006-01-05
The music is instrumentally creative, very danceable, zippy but with intelligent lyrics, a little angsty, and very sexy. I'm not a musicologist, but if I had to come up with a phrase to describe what this album offers, I'd say "sensual funk lounge." A blend of world, 70s, sensual jazz, hip hop, lounge, and dance, the music on this album can't be stuffed into any one easy category. What this music can do is get your body moving. Be prepared to burn some calories when you put this one on.
Very Enjoyable.......2005-08-15
Supreme Beings of Leisure- Album- Divine Operating System........2005-08-10
imported from Los Angeles in May 2005 and to tell u the truth THIS ALBUM IS DA BOMB!!!!!!!!! This album has got a very seductive, tantalising, sway of unique beats. I have this album and also the Self titled album. I am really impressed how both albums compliment each-other with beautiful bass lines, SLINKY and twisted flavours to it as-well. My favourite song of all on Divine Operating System is ''TOUCH ME''. I love the female vocalist in this song because she adds carisma to this song by her voice. This song also has a very cabaret, slinky house,strutty, bar culture to it.I personally recommend this Album to any person who is in to Deep House, Lounge and Bar Cultured-type music.I am a fan of this artist all the way from Surfers Paradise, on the Gold Coast, In Australia. This album is a Must for the Club-Goer.
You know it's bad when.......2005-07-31
The glowing reviews are done mainly by publicists and friends of the band.
This band had a chance at greatness, but unfortunately something vile must have derailed them... mediocrity rears it's ugly head.
Get the debut album, it sounds like a different band
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