Idiology

Amazon.com's Best of 2001
Snatching cohesion from the jaws of chaos can't be as easy as Andi Toma and Jan St. Werner of Mouse on Mars make it sound. Their weirdly off-kilter brand of skittery, IDM song craft always depends on uncommonly interesting melodies, even while those melodies swim in digitized madness. It's a trait that also shows up with a vengeance in Werner's other band, Microstoria (with Oval's Markus Popp). Most shockingly, with their recent work, Werner's penchant for tuneful warmth and relentless experimentation have led the band to--get this--use actual instruments. Their last proper full-length, Niun Niggung (the late 2000 release Instrumentals was originally released on vinyl in 1997) included ever-so-slight leans toward more acoustic instrumentation, and the music here continues to bring in occasional bits of French horns, clarinets, even the odd guitar chord. "The Illking," for instance, contains only the barest electronic tidbits amid the lazy lull of a lush string section. Still, the flipped-out drill & bass of songs like "First: Break" go the opposite direction, dissolving and re-emerging in Squarepusher-esque bursts of computerized sonics. Along the way, there are avant-garde-ish oddities like "Unity Concepts" and the hyped-up beat salad of "Doit," which sounds like carnival music as performed by malfunctioning robots. When all the pieces come together for Mouse on Mars like they do on this release, it's a peculiar musical beast, but one that's still absolutely lovable. --Matthew Cooke

Product Description
Idiology is the duo's seventh album. This time around MoM surround themselves with strings, woodwinds, brass and the band's own heavily modified fleet of machines. Kicking off with 'Actionist Respoke', the album's first single, MoM officially declare their independence from glitchtronica's shoegazing legions. Longtime collaborator Dodo Nkishi lends a uniquely warped vocal sensibility to the track which also features MoM's darkest grooves to date. 11 tracks. 2001 release.

Tracks:

Actionist Respoke
Subsequence
Presence
The Illking
Catching Butterflies With Hands
Doit
First : Break
Introduce
Unity Concepts
Paradical
Fantastic Analysis

Amazon.com's Best of 2001

Snatching cohesion from the jaws of chaos can't be as easy as Andi Toma and Jan St. Werner of Mouse on Mars make it sound. Their weirdly off-kilter brand of skittery, IDM song craft always depends on uncommonly interesting melodies, even while those melodies swim in digitized madness. It's a trait that also shows up with a vengeance in Werner's other band, Microstoria (with Oval's Markus Popp). Most shockingly, with their recent work, Werner's penchant for tuneful warmth and relentless experimentation have led the band to--get this--use actual instruments. Their last proper full-length, Niun Niggung (the late 2000 release Instrumentals was originally released on vinyl in 1997) included ever-so-slight leans toward more acoustic instrumentation, and the music here continues to bring in occasional bits of French horns, clarinets, even the odd guitar chord. "The Illking," for instance, contains only the barest electronic tidbits amid the lazy lull of a lush string section. Still, the flipped-out drill & bass of songs like "First: Break" go the opposite direction, dissolving and re-emerging in Squarepusher-esque bursts of computerized sonics. Along the way, there are avant-garde-ish oddities like "Unity Concepts" and the hyped-up beat salad of "Doit," which sounds like carnival music as performed by malfunctioning robots. When all the pieces come together for Mouse on Mars like they do on this release, it's a peculiar musical beast, but one that's still absolutely lovable. --Matthew Cooke

Album Description

Idiology is the duo's seventh album. This time around MoM surround themselves with strings, woodwinds, brass and the band's own heavily modified fleet of machines. Kicking off with 'Actionist Respoke', the album's first single, MoM officially declare their independence from glitchtronica's shoegazing legions. Longtime collaborator Dodo Nkishi lends a uniquely warped vocal sensibility to the track which also features MoM's darkest grooves to date. 11 tracks. 2001 release.

Customer Reviews:

Hmm........2006-05-15

I was deciding between 4 and 5 stars, and the breaking point was the fact that this album is so hard for me to think about in a rating manner. That alone pushed it to 5 stars.

Good music.......2005-10-08

From what I've heard of Mouse on Mars so far, I like them very much. I gave this album 3 stars because it is not their best. It's still pretty good. I don't have a favorite album of theirs, but I really like their style and upbeat (most of the time) attitude. I would say that the best tracks on the album are: 1,2,5,6,7,8. I just like the more "traditional" tracks the best. the only problem i have with this album is the "song" Unity Concepts. What the hell is going on here? this is a narrative not a song. I usually skip it anyway but is just an annoying gap in an otherwise great piece of art.

It's Actually Quite Good!.......2004-11-15

I hadn't heard of Mouse On Mars until someone recomended it in one of the electronica amazon.com lists and I gotta say, this album really impressed me!

Actionist Response - My favourite song; Slams itself into your ears with a bouncing beat that'll intimidate you at first but then will invite you to play in it's world. Sounds very much like Prodigy and the energetic hyped up vocals makes you wanna get up and dance your !ss off!!

other favourite songs are Subsequence (with its fun looped vocals and squishy beats fused with some piano and violins, its sure to make your head nod!), The Illking (very beautiful orchestra and has a Disney-Like feel to it), and Firstbreak (which is straight-up hardcore techno.. very awesome) !

5 Stars...for this fantasic 'Mouse on Mars' release.......2003-10-28

Mouse on Mars have a track record, most Electronica / Intelligent Dance Music (IDM) artists would die for. Consistently producing albums extremely worthy of investigation, and steering clear of creative `Dry Spots' that other electronic artists can be prone to. Moving happy from the feel good Bouncy-Dub of "Doit" which sounds like Skewered `Ska' music feed through an energetic Drum machine, or the beautiful downbeat melodies of "Fantastic Analysis", reminiscent of a distinguished ambient album. Admittedly delivered with the same playful exuberance as someone like `Luke Vibert' (aka `Wagon Christ'), with loads of peculiar sound & effects cut & Pasted to form some beautifully abstract music (track 7 `First: Break' fits this description perfectly), so...all in all another justifiable deserved feather in the cap for Mouse on Mars. and yet another superb release to add to the pile if you're a Mouse On Mars fan.

genius at work.......2003-03-27

The thing I'm most impressed w/ Mouse on Mars about is their ability to push the envelope of their sound on each album. Idiology is no exception, in fact it pushes things farther than I expected. This album shifts between bizzare, chaotic "super mario" music and instrumental, jazzlike excursions of mice and mars. While at points I find the "super mario" music to be somewhat difficult to listen to (its pretty loud and in your face), I have to admit that one can recognize the genius and innovation at work in it--these guys aren't scared to break new ground in a way that has to be respected and admired, but I have to admit that some of the groundbreaking is at the sacrifice of pop charm and easy listen-ability that was more apparent on albums such as Niun Niggung--I will listen to the album, and probably like it more with each listen, but i cannot foresee this being one of my routine listens--even though I cannot deny there is genius at work here

Average customer rating:

Mouse on Mars: Idiology

Idiology
Mouse on Mars
Manufacturer: Import [Generic]
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Ambient | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

General | Techno | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

Electronica | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

IDM | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Indie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Electronic Pop | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Experimental Music | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

Electronica | Dance & DJ | Indie Music | Stores | Music

Dance & DJ | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B00005B368
Release Date: 2001-06-26

Tracks:

Actionist Respoke
Subsequence
Presence
Illking
Catching Butterflies With Hands
Doit
First: Break
Introduce
Unity Concepts
Paradical
Fantastic Analysis
Tape Me Baby
Stuffed Funk

Album Description

Japanese edition of the German electronica act's 2001 release with two exclusive bonus tracks, 'Tape Me Baby', 'Stuffed Funk', a sticker and special artwork. Standard jewel case.

Album Details

Japanese version featuring 2 bonus tracks: 'Tape Me Baby' & 'Stuffed Funk'.

Customer Reviews:

Mouse on Mars: Idiology.......2001-06-05

What can one say about one of the most intelligent and praise worthy duo's of the 90's? Since 1994, the combo of two enlightened German musicians, Jan St. Werner and Andi Yoma, have been pumping out dance-worthy, yet intelligent music for all to enjoy. This carries on to their new album Idiology. The cd comes out racing with the dancable Actionist Respoke. The 4/4 dance beats makes you want to get up and shake what you got! I'm not kidding. The first time I played that song, I almost ran my car off the road. With the addition of drummer Dodo Nishiki's vocals, the song is even more catchy. This whole cd is chalk full of stringed instruments as well. This is not your average "electronic" cd. Werner and Yoma have truly outdown themselves this time around with Idiology.