Styles of the Unexpected [EP]

Track Listings

 
1. Urbanite Rocks
2. Girl On A GoPed
3. Return Of The Spooky Driver
4. Pickpocket
5. Diode
6. Doe-Eyed
7. RiderBrow

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Solo EP for Badly Drawn Boy collaborator and labelmate. 40 minutes of post rock, French pop electronica with cinematic themes...mmm! Tracks include, 'Urbanite Rocks', 'Girl On A GoPed' (with Jane Weaver) and 'Doe-Eyed'. Standard jewel case. 2000 release.

Styles of the Unexpected,Andy Votel,Xl / Beggars Us Ada,Pop,Rock,Rock/Pop
Styles of the Unexpected
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Flowing "Styles"
  • Worth checking out
  • Easy Listening...Oh Yeah
Styles of the Unexpected
Andy Votel
Manufacturer: Xl Recordings
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

GeneralGeneral | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music
ElectronicaElectronica | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Rock | Styles | Music
Pop RockPop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
Similar Items:
  1. All Ten Fingers

ASIN: B0000509HK
Release Date: 2001-04-10

Tracks:

  1. Urbanite Rocks
  2. Girl on a Goped
  3. Return of the Spooky Driver
  4. Pickpocket
  5. Diode
  6. Doe-Eyed
  7. Riderbrow - Lee Gorton, Andy Votel

Album Description

Solo EP for Badly Drawn Boy collaborator and labelmate. 40 minutes of post rock, French pop electronica with cinematic themes...mmm! Tracks include, 'Urbanite Rocks', 'Girl On A GoPed' (with Jane Weaver) and 'Doe-Eyed'. Standard jewel case. 2000 release.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Flowing "Styles".......2005-06-18

Andy Votel is startlingly young, considering his wide range of accomplishments: he is already a DJ, producer, remixer, talented musician and label head, with Badly Drawn Boy on his roster. With that sort of accomplishment it wasn't surprising that, as a prelude to two full-length albums, he eventually released a EP.

"Styles of the Unexpected" is not terribly unexpected to fans of Votel's remix work. It's a sweet, melodious mix of jazz, post-rock, electronica and little sonic flourishes. It opens on a suitably pleasant note with the slow-motion percussion and xylophone being overlaid on a bed of soft synth. It's a nice way to start things out.

Then it shifts into the surreal jazz of "Girl on a GoPed," with Jane Weaver singing quietly over a weird collage. "Pickpocket" and "Diode" backpedal to gentle blippy pop. Things finish up with the vaguely orchestral "Riderbrow," which is wonderfully self-assured and steady, ending it on a note very different from the opener.

Not that there's no exploration at all: Votel does a bit of dabbling in more conventional electronica, and the result is a maddening little bit of bubbling sci-fi dance chaos. Elsewhere, he stretches into post-rock; the panoramic "Doe Eyed" is just a sweet, soft expanse of sound with a bit of guitar here, a bit of xylophone there.

"Styles of the Unexpected" is one of those rare EPs that feels longer than it actually is. Were this just another synthy trip, then it probably would have been terribly boring, but Andy Votel packs on the musical layers until it feels at least an hour long.

The layers themselves could take hours to dissect -- most of the time it's electronic blips and synth waves, with xylophone, rhythm section, sax, organ and cello. Plenty of samples, but so subtle they're heard to unearth. "Return of the Spooky Driver" briefly breaks into a guitar rhythm that is almost insanely catchy, but it soon dies away into alien blips once more.

"Styles of the Unexpected" is not quite unexpected, but has the glorious, eerie twists that will keep you listening right up to the final seconds. Which are, by the way, waves crashing and a quiet string solo. A must-have for music fans.

3 out of 5 stars Worth checking out.......2005-03-15

I purchased this CD simply because of Andy Votel's connection with Badly Drawn Boy and Twisted Nerve Records. I wasn't disappointed.

This CD is a clever mix of low-key, easy-going electronic music with influences ranging from jazz to hip-hop. Equally suited for headphones or a party, the CD makes great background music, it's major downfall being that it is simply too short.

Andy Votel is a creative individual who seems to have a natural inclination toward experimentation. It's pretty easy to find this CD for cheap, so there's nothing to lose!

4 out of 5 stars Easy Listening...Oh Yeah.......2001-04-21

Yeah baby, this is what I am talkin' about. Well anyway this album is great. I love the relaxing tones, nothing like some Andy Votel to crank up in the car and escape the pressures of traffic and life. Whenever I just want to listen to smooth grooves and enjoy some impressive musical art I plug this in and drift. Give it a listen, you too will be impressed :)
Styles of the Unexpected
Average customer rating: Not rated
    Styles of the Unexpected
    Andy Votel
    Manufacturer: Phantom Sound & Vision
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD
    ASIN: B0000DEREK
    Release Date: 2001-02-13
    Styles of the Unexpected
    Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    • Styles are unexpected
    Styles of the Unexpected
    Andy Votel
    Manufacturer: EMI/Virgin
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

    GeneralGeneral | Rock | Styles | Music
    ElectronicaElectronica | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music
    ASIN: B000051ZPF

    Tracks:

    1. Urbanite Rocks
    2. Girl on a Goped
    3. Return of the Spooky Driver
    4. Pickpocket
    5. Diode
    6. Doe-Eyed
    7. Riderbrow - Lee Gorton, Andy Votel

    Customer Reviews:

    5 out of 5 stars Styles are unexpected.......2005-06-23

    Andy Votel is startlingly young, considering his wide range of accomplishments: he is already a DJ, producer, remixer, talented musician and label head, with Badly Drawn Boy on his roster. With that sort of accomplishment it wasn't surprising that, as a prelude to two full-length albums, he eventually released a EP.

    "Styles of the Unexpected" is not terribly unexpected to fans of Votel's remix work. It's a sweet, melodious mix of jazz, post-rock, electronica and little sonic flourishes. It opens on a suitably pleasant note with the slow-motion percussion and xylophone being overlaid on a bed of soft synth. It's a nice way to start things out.

    Then it shifts into the surreal jazz of "Girl on a GoPed," with Jane Weaver singing quietly over a weird collage. "Pickpocket" and "Diode" backpedal to gentle blippy pop. Things finish up with the vaguely orchestral "Riderbrow," which is wonderfully self-assured and steady, ending it on a note very different from the opener.

    Not that there's no exploration at all: Votel does a bit of dabbling in more conventional electronica, and the result is a maddening little bit of bubbling sci-fi dance chaos. Elsewhere, he stretches into post-rock; the panoramic "Doe Eyed" is just a sweet, soft expanse of sound with a bit of guitar here, a bit of xylophone there.

    "Styles of the Unexpected" is one of those rare EPs that feels longer than it actually is. Were this just another synthy trip, then it probably would have been terribly boring, but Andy Votel packs on the musical layers until it feels at least an hour long.

    The layers themselves could take hours to dissect -- most of the time it's electronic blips and synth waves, with xylophone, rhythm section, sax, organ and cello. Plenty of samples, but so subtle they're heard to unearth. "Return of the Spooky Driver" briefly breaks into a guitar rhythm that is almost insanely catchy, but it soon dies away into alien blips once more.

    "Styles of the Unexpected" is not quite unexpected, but has the glorious, eerie twists that will keep you listening right up to the final seconds. Which are, by the way, waves crashing and a quiet string solo. A must-have for music fans.
    Styles of the Unexpected
    Average customer rating: Not rated
      Styles of the Unexpected
      Andy Votel
      Manufacturer: Phantom Sound & Vision
      ProductGroup: Music
      Binding: Audio CD
      ASIN: B000BRHX66
      Release Date: 2001-12-11
      Styles of the Unexpected
      Average customer rating: Not rated
        Styles of the Unexpected
        Andy Votel
        Manufacturer: Import [Generic]
        ProductGroup: Music
        Binding: Audio CD

        GeneralGeneral | Rock | Styles | Music
        ElectronicaElectronica | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music
        RockRock | Imports | Stores | Music
        ASIN: B000056P8L
        Release Date: 2001-01-16

        Tracks:

        1. Urbanite Rocks
        2. Girl on a Goped
        3. Return of the Spooky Driver
        4. Pickpocket
        5. Diode
        6. Doe-Eyed
        7. Riderbrow - Lee Gorton, Andy Votel

        Album Description

        Japanese edition of 2000 solo EP for Badly Drawn Boy collaborator and labelmate (Twisted Nerve/XL Recordings) includes one bonus track, 'Cock Diesel'. French pop electronica with cinematic themes. Standard jewel case.

        Album Details

        The Japanese version features a bonus track: Cock Diesel.

        Album Review:

        1. Surrender [Enhanced] [Import]
        2. The Teaches of Peaches
        3. The World of Dream Trance [Import]
        4. Tony Monaco Presents Hotmix 2002
        5. Totally Dance
        6. Trancemaster 2006 [Import]
        7. Traveling Without Moving
        8. V [Import]
        9. Vegas [CD-single] [Import]
        10. Vibes Asian [Import]

        Album Review

        album review

        Album Review

        Best of the Chillout Sessions [Import]

        Furtwangler Conducts Beethoven

        History of Baroque Music [Box set]

        Music CD: Straight No Chaser [Import]

        Music music-54

        Haterz be Dammed

        Green River

        Guitar Slinger

        Happy Paradise V.2 [Import]

        Haydn: Harmoniemesse Te Deum [Import]

        Jazz Studio V.5 [Import] [Original recording remastered]

        Cuentos Infantiles [Box set]

        I'm a Villain [Explicit Lyrics]

        Talk About It

        You Might Be a Redneck If...