Soma

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com essential recording
Like the wild mushrooms that fungus enthusiast Robert Rich turns into gourmet dishes, the pieces on Soma seem to emanate directly from the ground, without belonging to any species hitherto defined. New Age? Nah. Ambient? Not exactly. Fungoid tribal trance? Maybe. Rich, the drone provocateur who invented the "sleep concert" in the early '80s, and Roach, proto-ambient pioneer whose Dreamtime Return remains a classic of organic New Age, distill a potent nectar of heartbeat-paced percussion--including rain sticks, clay water pots, kalimbas, and sequenced drums--and reverberant flutes, didgeridoos, and canyon-sized synthesizers. More rhythmically active than either the Roach-Vidna Obmana duet Well of Souls or early Roach electronica like Traveller, Soma--named for the Vedic potion said to deliver the drinker to God--is a Southwest vision quest that suggests Terence McKenna's psilocybin-mushroom theories: a connection to the very soul of the earth through ethno-botanical ingestion. Bottoms up... --James Rotondi

Soma,Steve Roach,Robert Rich,Hearts of Space,New Age,New Age / Meditation,Pop


Soma

Soma
Future
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • A lot of range whie remaining true to the genre
  • Emulation slightly outweighs imitation
  • Stunning - Years of Pleasure
  • Electronica Noir on Melting Ice
  • Times Exists To Fool Me and Our Lives Are Just a Game
Future
Soma Sonic
Manufacturer: Sonic Images
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

GeneralGeneral | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music
Trip-HopTrip-Hop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | New Age | Styles | Music
Pop RockPop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Dance & DJ | Indie Music | Stores | Music
GeneralGeneral | New Age | Indie Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:
  1. Simplicity
  2. This Utopia
  3. Melodica
  4. Wholeness & Separation
  5. Extra Virgin

ASIN: B00004S57N
Release Date: 2000-03-21

Tracks:

  1. First Wave
  2. Twenty Past Midnight
  3. Crazy Moon
  4. Blue Skies
  5. Falling
  6. Future
  7. Road To Nowhere
  8. Bound
  9. Relapse
  10. Backslide
  11. Metro
  12. In The Blink Of An Eye
  13. Backslide (Remix)

Amazon.com

In Soma Sonic we find the elusive potential of a group that mixes seamlessly through the various genres of their electronic domain. Instilled with creative and technical dexterity, Dominic and Francois Paterson combine cavernous layers of music to offer a powerful dose of deep listening. With hauntingly seductive tracks, Future picks up on the electronic currents forged by Portishead and Massive Attack. But by scratching beneath the surface of their ambient trip-hop appeal, the group further fashions downtempo cadences and melodies that weave through a futuristic urban soundscape. The effect is refined by the tranquilized vocals, droning guitars, and brassy synth tones. Displaying its sonic diversity, the concluding portion of the album advances into snared drum & bass, electro new wave, and a symphonic trance selection wrought with the tension of an Orbital track. After brushes with major-label courtship, the duo released this first-rate, self-produced album through independent channels, including Amazon.com's Advantage program. But after receiving repeated accolades through these unconventional networks, it didn't take long for the music industry to notice the siblings' dynamic talent. And so they have arrived after securing major-label support. To glimpse the prospect of what's to come from these electronic purveyors, follow the elemental progressions of their Future album. --Lucas Hilbert

Album Description

Down-tempo electronic trip-hop. Slow, funky beats over lush string soundscapes and enhanced by female vocals. Bristol- styled British trip-hop. For those who like Massive Attack, Portishead, Tricky etc.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars A lot of range whie remaining true to the genre.......2006-12-23

I too must compare this to one of the greatest albums ever, Mezzanine. I don't, however, feel like they are trying to imitate. This album contains an incredible amount of variety but none of it reaches too far beyond the expected moody-down-tempo. Backslide and Blueskies is a little on the jazzy side while In the Blink of and Eye is down right Techno. But Crazymoon, Falling, Future and Bound are just perfect. Unfaltering back beats, good bass with female melancholy lyrics.
In my mind there are three albums woven together by three of the best songs of the genre, Portishead - Roads, Massive Attack - Black Milk and Soma Sonic - Crazy Moon, so it would be difficult not to compare them.
In the end though all the songs on this album do work well together. Soma Sonic - Future just feels good.

3 out of 5 stars Emulation slightly outweighs imitation .......2006-10-04

Diverse electronic stew of tracks may be dating already, but is still a worthy entry into any Portishead, Massive Attack, even early Aphex lackey's collection for the impressive combination of alot of the better old school references. Working within the tried and tired standard trip-hop/electro engineering, to the album's credit the songs, though predictable and sometimes routine, manage to take the exploited genre on quite an eclectic trip with an impressive palette of downtempo ditties, and a few refreshingly upbeat ones, even if they do sometimes drag a bit. I guess the best way to classify something of this nature is to either label it an amazing mediocrity or a mediocre amazement, like most all the grey area of that vast music ocean, barring our cruel subjection inciting countless, usually fruitless debates. This is an album that falls under the must-own-for-fans-of-the-genre/stick-to-other-premier-artists-of-the-field-if-you-are-just-starting type decisions, and a pretty good case is made for Soma's debut.

5 out of 5 stars Stunning - Years of Pleasure.......2006-06-15

It's not often that you end up listening to a disk continuously for 4 years, but Future is on my ipod, in my car and on my home hifi, and I continue to find it the most satisfying electronica album I have.
Deceptive in it's intitial simplicity, Future is deeper and darker and more complex than almost any other trip-hop out there.
If you don't have this album in your collection... well, that's what's missing in your life.

5 out of 5 stars Electronica Noir on Melting Ice.......2004-04-07

Mellow and chill with an erotic groove, like melting an ice queen. The sort of record you can leave on repeat and not be distracted while you paint, smoke, or makeout. Has a mood similar to Mojave 3, though more electronic and driving. "Bound" is the high point for me, one of the sexiest songs of the past decade.

Movie buffs should note how the main guitar lick in "Road to Nowhere" is inspired/sampled straight from William Olvis' score to John Dahl's 1993 noir film "Red Rock West" starring Nicholas Cage and Lara Flynn Boyle.

5 out of 5 stars Times Exists To Fool Me and Our Lives Are Just a Game.......2004-01-18

I'm not really sure how to describe sonic layers of beauty and do them justice when they walk off-the-beaten path of what one is accustomed to, so I'll try it another way. When I'm sitting in my house all alone, finding the turmoil of the day a little too much or the depression of the day-to-day existence too vivid to struggle out from under, I oftentimes want to forget it and pretend the day away. I simply want some form of escapism to take it all away, some mental form of Calgon to make life seem right again, and that's normally when I turn to music.

Its honestly times like those that made me a music addict and have extended my collection because I know that it can give me what I want legally. With it I can set a mood that allows my mind to wander, and I oftentimes find myself utilizing that function and turning my mind onto something electronic to specifically fit that notion I'm catering. Experiences don't have to be spontaneous, after all, but can instead be tailor-made from the cloth of different stimuli and that's the therapeutic gospel a third of my compact disc collection preaches. Depending on the moment and what I'm feeling, I've adopted many types of music to induce a setting. Electronica, synthpop, ballads; they all join together on the crusade that helps me feel above all the weights in a sometimes dreary world. And that feeling, that wanderlust that allows you to travel a lot farther than the confines of your own back yard, is one of the reasons I like Soma Sonic.

While trip-hop as a whole is a wide range of selections and all of Soma Sonic doesn't have the same effect on me, one song on the album is actually pretty bewitching when my minds demands it. I initially picked up the album because of it, too, noting that I could set "Fallen" on repeat, let the sounds wrap around me like a audio shroud, and that it would allow me to zone my cares away. The voice inside the music is calm and soothing and enticingly female, and the beat moves enough to not be too fast and not be too slow but to set a mood that's just right. I can simply set with my feet up, a drink in my hand and the volume at an optimal level, and that song alone carries me away because it hits on the way I feel and yet it makes things sound all-too-surreal.

Besides that song, there are some other pieces that complete it as a work and that I return to time and again. "Road to Nowhere" is one of those, with the beat that reminds me of desert storms for some reason, and "Bound" is another because I like a lot of the musical layering and, of course, the vocals. "Relapse" is a song that grew on me after a while, with it blending into the blur of the sounds and fitting some of my moods pretty well, and a lot of other songs took up that mantle as well. And then there's the beauty in "Backslide," the oddity in the beat composing "In the Blink of an Eye," and the list goes on and on.

Because of some of the composition of the album, this is actually one of my favorites and is one I try to push on everyone I run across. To put it another way and to give it credit for its impact, this would be one of the first discs I'd replace if all of my music were to suddenly vanish and I was forced to start from ground level. I absolutely fell in love with the way its layered, the substance within its songs, and the way the music simply allows me to feel. If you've never found an album that allows you to enjoy electronic sounds and a voice that soothes you like a ghost floating through your headphones at night, then it's a taste that I'd recommend for you to try out. You simply need a place you can sit, calm at your heels and something warming you from the insides, and it - especially the vocalist Katalin Kiss - will provide the rest of the experience.
Soma Holiday
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Awesome cd
  • Absolutely Incredible
  • Great album
  • Highly Underrated
  • Clearing the Air
Soma Holiday
Greenwheel
Manufacturer: Island
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

GeneralGeneral | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Rock | Alternative Styles | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Rock | Styles | Music
Pop RockPop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
Similar Items:
  1. Swim
  2. Back to the Innocence
  3. Superkala
  4. Sleepwalker
  5. Vonray

ASIN: B000066S32
Release Date: 2002-06-25

Tracks:

  1. Shelter
  2. Sustain You
  3. Breathe
  4. Louder Than Words
  5. Strong
  6. Drowning Man
  7. Faces
  8. Identity
  9. Disappear
  10. Dim Halo
  11. Radiance
  12. The End

Amazon.com

Talk about making a good first impression. "Shelter," the leadoff track from Soma Holiday, is a carryover from the blockbuster Spider-Man soundtrack. It's the ultimate score for Missouri newcomers Greenwheel, a meat-and-potatoes American rock band that operates somewhere between Matchbox Twenty and Nickelback. Heavy guitars and easy hooks propel songs like "Strong" and "Dim Halo" into pyrotechnic-shooting arena territory, but the group also has a sensitive side to contend with on more contemplative cuts like "Breathe" and the impressively colossal "Identity." The platinum records are theirs for the taking. --Aidin Vaziri

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Awesome cd.......2005-08-24

This was the first cd I ever bought and it has been one of my greatest buys. I heard the song Breathe on the radio but it wasn't getting played that much in West Palm Beach, Florida so I called the radio station a couple times asking them to play it and they told me what the album and band was called and told me to go buy it. I did and to this day it is still one of my favorite cds. I can listen to the entire album. The band is so talented and it's a pity they don't have more recognition. The type of music is rock but it's not to heavy and it's not to soft it's just right. They also care a lot about their fans which you can see by going to their website: greenwheel.net Greenwheel is awesome.

5 out of 5 stars Absolutely Incredible.......2005-08-19

Soma Holiday is, without question, one of the best rock albums I have ever heard. Every time a song from it comes on in my playlist, I get that feeling you get when your favorite song comes on the radio or something. ALL of the songs on Soma Holiday are like that. How many albums can you say that about? Not many.

Greenwheel are not nearly as well-known as they should be, considering their level of talent.

5 out of 5 stars Great album.......2005-06-22

fabulous album, every song is good. Kind of annoying listening to melissa etheridge botch my favorite song off of their album, though

4 out of 5 stars Highly Underrated.......2005-04-24

How have guys as talented as Greenwheel not gotten more recognition? Especially given the current and aweful state of rock music, this group should have come rocketing up to the top. Sadly, they are currently being hidden in the shadows for only those lucky few of us to discover. The album is ripe with powerful lyrics, emotion filled vocals, and great instrumentals. This is a band that has started at the top and is looking to take the top to a whole new level.

5 out of 5 stars Clearing the Air.......2005-04-01

First of all, this CD is amazing! I first heard "Strong" on EA Sports NHL 2003. I told myself I had to get this album and it did not disappoint whatsoever! This album is consistent throughout which is a big plus. This is not one of those albums that falls off after getting halfway through!

As far as whether or not "Breathe" is theirs or not. Greenwheel wrote "Breathe". Melissa Etheridge is/was on the same record label as Soma Holiday. The record company came to her saying that Greenwheel was not going to release "Breathe". The record company did this before they decided to release it as one of their track. I thought it was odd that I totally knew the lyrics to a Melissa Etheridge song, until I realized she was covering them. I give Greenwheel a lot of credit for someone like Melissa Etheridge to even consider covering on of their song.

Go buy this CD!
Simplicity
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Good, but no future. .
  • Great album
  • Smooth Latino-Trip-Hop
Simplicity
Soma Sonic
Manufacturer: Subsonic Recordings
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

GeneralGeneral | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music
Similar Items:
  1. Future
  2. Nuages du Monde
  3. Wholeness & Separation
  4. Modernism
  5. No More Sweet Music

ASIN: B000FJH1EE
Release Date: 2006-07-01

Tracks:

  1. Lovestory
  2. The Well (remix)
  3. Memories
  4. Simplicity (instrumental)
  5. Life's Seasons (remix)
  6. Could It Be Real (remix)
  7. Oxygen
  8. Love In 3D
  9. The Well (french mix)
  10. The Carousel
  11. Simplicity

Tracks:

  1. Could It Be Real
  2. Everything
  3. Rien
  4. Life's Seasons
  5. Stormy Evening (remix)
  6. Memories (remix)
  7. Corona
  8. The Well
  9. Domino
  10. Stalemate
  11. Simplicity (epic remix)

Product Description

A scintillating blend of jazzy rhythms, electronic grooves and live instrumentation with awe-inspiring vocals. Soma Sonic's 22 song sophomore release "SIM-PL-CI-TY" featuring the stunning vocal style of French chanteuse Christelle Pechin was recorded over 2 years in France, Switzerland, Canada and the U.S., these truly unique songs bring together the genres of nu- jazz, lounge, chill-out, house, triphop, pop and dub.

Customer Reviews:

3 out of 5 stars Good, but no future. . .......2007-06-23

Great beats, a bit more uptempo than Future.

A little too much vocals for my taste.

I bought this album with the thought that it would be like thier first album, and its nothing like it.

So, if your looking for a sound like "Future", do not buy this album.

5 out of 5 stars Great album.......2007-04-10

The best song definetly is "memories" original version. It has this latin flare to it and this very sensual rythms which turn any boring environment into a spicy warm tropical ambient... that's the only reason I bought this album. Then I found a few other songs are good as well. Good for sex or just to get inspired and lounge around.

5 out of 5 stars Smooth Latino-Trip-Hop.......2006-07-19

Lovers of smooth Trip Hop are gonna love the latests offering from Soma Sonic. Much brighter and warmer than « Future Shock » (which is an essential for anyone's electronica collection with its industrial shadows and mechanical rhythms), Simplicity is closer to France & Dom's disks - both light and melodious. If you like it smooth and sumptuous with a bit of latino, and you're looking for something new, and you like france&Dom or Thievery Corporation then Simplicity is for you.
Soma: Experience in Psychoacoustic Healing
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Relaxation to the Heights!
  • Excellent
  • a little disappointing
  • Wife and I have loved this for over a year.
  • disappointing
Soma: Experience in Psychoacoustic Healing
Tom Kenyon
Manufacturer: Relaxation
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

GeneralGeneral | Jazz | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | New Age | Styles | Music
MeditationMeditation | New Age | Styles | Music
Meditation MusicMeditation Music | New Age | Indie Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:
  1. White Gold Alchemy : Tools for Transformation
  2. Sound Transformation
  3. Mary Magdalen Energy Meditations: Alchemical Practices To Elevate And Balance The Serpent Power Within
  4. The Ghandarva Experience
  5. Ambient Support: For Learning, Working, and Creating (Ultimate Brain)

ASIN: B00000C40Q
Release Date: 1998-09-29

Tracks:

  1. Lullaby
  2. Healing Waters (Chant To Amakua)
  3. Oceana (Oh-Shee-Ahna)

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Relaxation to the Heights!.......2001-09-28

I will never tire of this CD. I play it for prayer time, relaxation before retiring at night and whenever I just need calm, peace, tranquility and quiet. This CD has a haunting way of taking you into another state of mind and helps to release any tension. The chants of the monks lulls you to the above places and to your deep center. The background music is a marvelous mind alter-er that soothes you. This CD lives up to its subtitle: psycho-acoustic healing! Take it to your massage therapist to play while you relax! Outstanding!

5 out of 5 stars Excellent.......2001-08-08

The first time I meditated with this CD, I had the best meditation that I have ever experienced. I seemed to go to a level where external noises and extraneous thoughts just didn't register. My meditation group now uses this CD regularly with powerful results for everyone involved. We are all in agreement that the second part, the chant to Amakua, is the best.

3 out of 5 stars a little disappointing.......2000-07-10

After reading the other reviews I was very exceited to get this CD. However, I had none of the experiences others noted. In fact, I found some of the vocals very depressing - wailing sounds of someone in a lot of emotional pain. The last song is good, and that is why I gave it 3 stars. The last song has what I believe are whale sounds and good vibrational tones to which my body responded.

5 out of 5 stars Wife and I have loved this for over a year........2000-06-03

My wife and I listen to this during the night. If one of us wake up we press the play button and we're back to sleep in no time. It's also awesome to meditate to. I've had some training in using music for healing and over the years I've heard nothing I love so much and never tire of hearing.

1 out of 5 stars disappointing.......2000-05-30

If you've listened to Tom Kenyon's Ghandarma and are looking for something similar you'll be disappointed. This music is completely different and the experience is not spiritual. This is ordinary background music
Soma City
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Salem is probably the most underrated in years!
  • Exxxxxxxxxxxxxcellent.
  • essential listening
  • a harder rocking Graham Parker...
  • A great debut
Soma City
Kevin Salem
Manufacturer: Roadrunner Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

GeneralGeneral | Rock | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music
Similar Items:
  1. Ecstatic
  2. Glimmer

ASIN: B000000H67
Release Date: 1994-10-25

Tracks:

  1. Lighthouse Keeper
  2. Amnesia
  3. Will
  4. Shot Down
  5. Forever Gone
  6. Diviner
  7. Falter
  8. Deeper Hole
  9. Resist
  10. Remain
  11. Ruin You
  12. In a Whisper

Amazon.com

Despite the merits of Kevin Salem's debut solo album, it's difficult to get past his association with that other no-frills guitar-playing singer-songwriter with a receding hairline. Compared to Freedy Johnston, Salem's neither as engaging nor as dynamic. Given a fair chance to strut on Soma City, though, the former sideman for Johnston proves himself a mature, sophisticated songwriter and bandleader in his own right. Midtempo rockers like "Will" and "Lighthouse Keeper" and the moody ballad "Ruin You" come off as faceless and boring at first, but blossom with repeated listenings. As with many better records, gratification on Soma City is hard won--it's better the twentieth time than the third. Still, the stylistic marks of his days with Johnston weigh heavily on Salem. And with his apprenticeships done, the question remains whether he can emerge as a viable frontman out of the shadows of his former employers. But if he proves he can't, we still gain from more of the same. --Roni Sarig

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Salem is probably the most underrated in years!.......2006-08-01

The first CD I ever heard of Kevin Salem was "Glimmer" and after some years looking for "Soma City" I came across it in a recent trip to the United States. The price tag said $1, but I would have picked it up even if it had said $20. I loved "Glimmer" so much I needed to check this out. And it was what I expected and more.

Again, the first listen wasn't too much. But after three or four plays, when you start learning the songs, the color of it all simply changes. The songs sound tighter and then you cannot help but spinning the disc once more. And when you realize it, you are already an addict. The production by Niko Bolas is not as muscular as in "Glimmer", but it is simple and pure rock and roll. And I love that.

As for the songs, they are simply stunning. "Lighthouse Keeper" is the first one that got a hold of me, but then I started discovering other gems like "Shot Down", "Forever Gone" (great tune co-written with Butch Vig), "Amnesia", "Will" or my favorite tune at the moment, "Falter". Salem and his band can go from fast rockers to paused moments, or even long rants á la Crazy Horse like "Diviner" (in fact, Poncho Sampedro would end up playing in "Glimmer", Salem's second album). Good old classic rock like "Deeper Hole" is almost a manifesto and text book at the same time of how to write rock music.

All in all, another excellent album by Kevin Salem who is, in my opinion and together with Todd Thibaud, the most underrated singer of the last 15 years. Just check it out if you don't believe me. And remember, it's critical that you give the songs a chance. This CD is made of the good stuff, and it takes a bit of work to get to it. It will pay off, guaranteed.

5 out of 5 stars Exxxxxxxxxxxxxcellent........2005-06-03

"In A Whisper" is worth the price of admission alone. If you like melodic, power pop-like rock, spend the 3 or 4 bucks on this album (the cost is mostly shipping!), and you'll be glad you did.

5 out of 5 stars essential listening.......2005-03-20

this is an absolute gem. very few albums can boast this combination of soul, craft, and overall elation. there is a such a rare sense of urgency here. to compare salem to freedy johnston is a mistake; while they may be kindred spirits, the music here is unique and quite charged. there are many highlights and not a throwaway in the bunch, though "ruin you" seems a bit contrived until the bridge kicks in. Overall, a triumph.

4 out of 5 stars a harder rocking Graham Parker..........2005-01-14

1994 release by former singer/guitarist of Dumptruck is a nice find. I would describe him as a harder rocking Graham Parker with a tiny touch of Tom Petty and maybe Cracker. When I first started playing this I wasn't impressed but by the 5th or 6th track I was totally into it. Best tracks are "Forever Gone", the almost 8 minute "Diviner" with a blistering Neil Young like guitar solo, and the very Jesse Malin like "Falter". Syd Straw sings back-up on four songs. This can be yours for the very low price of 53 cents on Amazon.com. Act now...operators are standing by.

5 out of 5 stars A great debut.......2004-06-26

From one of the best guitarists on the planet; atop that he has an interesting soulful voice; and writes haunting melodies and lyrics; Kevin does great work on Lighthouse Keeper, Will and virtually every sublime track. Both this disc and Ecstatic are great examples of rock and roll heart and talent.
Sci.Fi.Hi.Fi._01
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • A funky ride through lots of great house melodies.
  • Great House!
Sci.Fi.Hi.Fi._01
Ewan Pearson
Manufacturer: Soma
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

GeneralGeneral | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music
HouseHouse | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music
Similar Items:
  1. Sci.Fi.Hi.Fi._02
  2. Get Physical, Vol. 2
  3. Fabriclive.23
  4. At the Controls
  5. Vol. 3: Si Fi Hi Fi

ASIN: B0009UVBN6
Release Date: 2005-10-04

Tracks:

  1. Clashing Egos - I Trusted You
  2. Lontano - Lovebass
  3. Feist - Inside and Out
  4. Husky Rescue - Summertime Cowboy
  5. Dirt Crew - Largo
  6. Ricardo Villalobos - Easy Lee
  7. Different Gear - Pop Idle (Instrumental)
  8. Brazilian Girls - Don't Stop
  9. Karu - Maraud Your Ears
  10. Spirit Catcher - Key Generator
  11. Danton - Odd Bassliner
  12. Dirk Technic - I Love You
  13. Soldout - I Don't Want To Have Sex With You
  14. Alex Visconti - I Wanna Be Your Everything
  15. Da Fresh - Broken Dream

Album Description

Soma Recordings have been pioneering electronic music since the label began in 1991. Now with the Sci-Fi-Hi-Fi collection they are bringing together visionary producers and DJ's to present a sonic snapshot of their craft. The artists have no parameters to their selection and are free to represent themselves in any style they choose, portraying influences past, present and future. Ewan Pearson begins the series in fine style with his delectable excursion through deep and provocative electronic house music. He has long established himself as one the UK's finest producers and his amazing remix ability has set the standard in recent years, with the likes of Alter Ego, Moby and Depeche Mode all calling on his deft ability to transform a track in his unique style. Since relocating to Berlin, Ewan has seen his DJ career flourish and has subsequently rocked floors as far a field as South Africa, Argentina, Mexico and Australia, while his regular gigs at Pulp in Paris, Pressure in Glasgow and Manumission in Ibiza have given him fanatical following in these places. However, it is Ewan's own `Come Shake The Whole' residency in London that gives him the most pleasure, as he says "It's there that I've learned most about playing records to people, and there that I feel most comfortable and myself when playing." This is the first time Ewan has released a mix album and to make it special he has used Ableton Live, the software has allowed him to include a range of tempos, key-match and re-edit tracks that would have otherwise have been impossible for him to do. The mix itself perfectly captures the atmosphere of hearing Ewan play live in the club, while the melody and harmony that prevails throughout creates an ideal home listening experience. The track selection conveys Ewan's unique taste and plenty of new music, some exclusives and unreleased gems including Danton `Odd Bassliner', Tim Paris' mix of Karu, Spirit Catcher's `Key Generator' and Carl Finlow's breathtaking mix of Villalobos `Easy Lee'. Ewan Pearson has outdone himself with this immaculate collection and has set the standard for the Sci-Fi Hi-Fi series, and mix compilations everywhere.

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars A funky ride through lots of great house melodies........2006-07-06

I actually purchased Luciano's Volume 2 of this series first, and then came back and found this one. They are both very different, as Luciano's is techno and minimal, and frequently devoid of melody, while this one is chock full of some very catchy house melodies. I must admit that after the first listen, I didn't enjoy it very much, as I don't usually listen to this type of house much lately. However, after the 2nd listen I was hooked by the superb mixing and the journey Ewan takes us through some simple yet very diverse sounds. There's just the right amount of electro to freshen up this standard deep house style. Vocals are prevalent, but are done cheese free and add just the right touch when needed. Not sure why this one got the title of Sci Fi Hi Fi, because there really isn't anything here to make it sound too spacey, barring a few electro jolts.

Overall, I enjoyed every track and it's a solid house mix, all the way through. Lots of slightly varying styles, but all remaining true to the standard house genre. While the Luciano CD is much closer to the Sci Fi title, this one is a good by no matter what it's called.

5 out of 5 stars Great House!.......2006-05-24

This is a nice deep house production. If you like this, check out the first full length CD for producer Quentin Allen as Karu. There are other 12" releases on Silver Network, Dadhouse, Winding Road, Mimosa & Smooth Agent. This CD is a very consistant production with a good blend of jazz, hip-hop, techno, neo-soul, and deep house all together. The beats are very crisp and sound good in the car, the house or the club. Some songs tastefully use vocal snippets to add flavor. There is even a track featuring Warren Harris aka Hanna (Shadow Records, Silver Network, Flat & Round, Freerange). If you want good quality deep house, this CD is for you.
Capsule for One
Average customer rating: Not rated
    Capsule for One
    Vector Lovers
    Manufacturer: Soma
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

    GeneralGeneral | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music
    HouseHouse | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music
    Similar Items:
    1. Vector Lovers
    2. Principles of Geometry
    3. Trans Canada Highway
    4. Sub Conscious
    5. The Campfire Headphase

    ASIN: B000803PEU
    Release Date: 2005-12-06

    Tracks:

    1. City Lights
    2. Arrival, Metropolis
    3. Substrata
    4. Microtron
    5. Nostalgia 4 The Future
    6. Post Arctic Industries
    7. Melodies & Memory
    8. Empty Buildings, Falling Rain
    9. Boulevard
    10. Neon Sky Rain
    11. Capsule For One
    12. To The Stars...

    Album Description

    Martin Wheeler returns as Vector Lovers with a new chapter of electronic bliss with his new album, `Capsule For One'. He established himself as one of the UK's best new electro producers with his eponymous album last year. Uncut Magazine declared "everything about Vector Lovers, from the Manga imagery to the chrome cool electronic disco, looks and sounds perfect." Since its release Vector Lovers has been electrocuting Europe's premier venues with his scorching live show and remixing the likes of Ladytron, Diefenbach, Tim Wright and Husky Rescue. He as also recently remixes Soma labelmates Slam and Alex Smoke, forthcoming on the label soon. With this follow up release he truly explores the parameters of the Vector Lovers sound, resulting in a deeper and more evocative album than his acclaimed debut. As Martin comments "It still has a futuristic electro feel, but is less a series of set pieces and more a journey between connected themes." The result is a pervasive, melancholic trip through a robotic otherworld, a seamless flow of glistening electronic music that aches with soul and melody. The sounds created on `Capsule For One' are more spacious and panoramic than its predecessor. The title itself is symbolic - as Martin suggests "A feeling that in the modern world of communications, crowded cities and consumer culture, we are still ultimately alone, in our own little bubbles."
    Exit 674
    Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    • Best CD I've Heard In Awhile
    • No Filler On Here, You Can Enjjoy All The Way Through
    • Simply AWESOME
    Exit 674
    Ashes of Soma
    Manufacturer: Umvd Import
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

    GeneralGeneral | Rock | Styles | Music
    Pop RockPop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
    RockRock | Imports | Stores | Music
    Similar Items:
    1. Tomorrow Starts Today
    2. Sick Puppies
    3. Act:1: Goodbye Friends of the Heavenly Bodies
    4. The Melody And The Energetic Nature of Volume
    5. The Art of Breaking

    ASIN: B0009R19RC
    Release Date: 2005-06-20

    Tracks:

    1. Intro
    2. Emancipate
    3. You Make Me
    4. Straightjacket
    5. Somebody Else
    6. Down & Grounded
    7. Time
    8. Caught in the Web
    9. Catalyst
    10. Imminent
    11. Behind the 8-Ball
    12. Spineless
    13. Solitary

    Album Details

    With their Uninhibited Social Commentary and Pulsating Timbre, Ashes of Soma's Debut Album, "Exit 674" is an Impressionable Tease: A Viscerally Flammable Musical Experience. Outrageously Intense, Quirky - Yet Disruptively Mischievous as Its Roguish Crew. With Wired Enthusiasm Barely Containable off Each Explosive Track, One Listen is all it Takes to Realize that Ashes of Soma Are Gearing Up to Be Revealed as Canada's Best Kept Secret and Hottest New Discovery.

    Customer Reviews:

    5 out of 5 stars Best CD I've Heard In Awhile.......2007-02-23

    Amazing CD! I love every track, I am from the bands hometown and have not yet had the chance to see them live but i'm def. going too. I recommend this album if you are into bands like Breaking Benjamin, Evansblue etc. I love the guitar solos through alot of the songs it has actually inspired me to pick up a guitar and start learning, So definately this cd won't leave my player anytime soon.

    5 out of 5 stars No Filler On Here, You Can Enjjoy All The Way Through.......2005-06-16

    It starts off with an ear pleasing accoustic solo that leads right into track 2 which happens to be the first single "emmancipate" Go To ashesofsoma.com to see the video. Next you've got "you make me" which will obviously be a hit with the ladies at all shows. Straight Jacket is song 4 and it hits you hard with heavy riffs and melodic verses and choruses like most songs on the album. Then to "somebody else" which is one of my personal favorites on the album and most likely will be the second single from what i've been hearing. Down & Grounded is simply put a str8 up rock n roll track. Time is another slower ballod and very ear plesing as well. Caught In The Web is another of my favorites, it just sounds great. Catalyst is your typical meet a girl behind stage at a rock show story, great tune. Immenent is another of my favorites, great start with the accoustics and bongo's. Behind the 8-Ball can be heard at most live shows and is one of the better tracks as well. Spineless is another heavy hitting track with great harmony's and build-ups. Last is solitary which gives you a kind of tool feeling with all the change-ups, one of my favorites easily. And if you're too lazy to get up and change the cd you'll notice there's an unlisted track 14 which is the catalyst accoustic, great way to end the cd, 5/5.

    5 out of 5 stars Simply AWESOME.......2005-06-16

    I bought this CD and listened to it and there is not one song I did not like on this CD its just an awesome CD great songs great sound. I agree completely with HMV's Review and they are Canada's Best Keep Secret. I can't take this CD out of my CD player its just too good. I can't wait for the next CD to come out in stores so I can go buy it. They are not too hard yet not too soft, kinda just the right mix. Again I say their CD should go far and I recommend to anyone to go have a listen to it and tell me you don't like what you hear.
    Human Response
    Average customer rating: Not rated
      Human Response
      Slam
      Manufacturer: Soma
      ProductGroup: Music
      Binding: Audio CD

      GeneralGeneral | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music
      GeneralGeneral | Techno | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music
      GeneralGeneral | Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music
      ASIN: B000PLXFII
      Release Date: 2007-07-10

      Album Description

      Club Slam have played all around the world, championing UK underground Electronic music, whilst always living and working in their home base of Glasgow, where they have helped to develop and influence one of the best music and party cities anywhere. Ask any of the bands and DJs who have performed at their monthly Pressure parties. People like Vitalic, Luciano, Beyer, Villalobos, Mills, Hawtin, Green Velvet and Weatherall all cite the city and the club as being amongst their favourite gigs in any year. The Soma Records label is another example of their dedication to the cause. At a time where its daunting to be an independent label, Soma are incessant in their march forward, after confirming their position in history with last year's Soma 200 release in the label's 15th anniversary year. Soma artists like Alex Smoke, Vector Lovers, the Black Dog and Funk D Void all help to make their label one of the most forward thinking around. 11 tracks. Soma.
      Electro-Soma
      Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
      • Very moving and inspirational electronic music
      • Total classic, more people should have this album.
      • Absolute musical genius
      • i agree, a classic
      • mesmerizing journey
      Electro-Soma
      B12
      Manufacturer: Tvt
      ProductGroup: Music
      Binding: Audio CD

      AmbientAmbient | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music
      GeneralGeneral | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music
      GeneralGeneral | Techno | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music
      ElectronicaElectronica | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music
      GeneralGeneral | Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music
      IDMIDM | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music
      Techno-HouseTechno-House | Dance & DJ | Indie Music | Stores | Music
      IDMIDM | Dance & DJ | Indie Music | Stores | Music
      Similar Items:
      1. Time Tourist
      2. Spanners
      3. The Number of Magic
      4. Surfing on Sine Waves
      5. Virtual State

      ASIN: B000003RG2
      Release Date: 1993-06-25

      Tracks:

      1. Soundtrack Of Space
      2. Hall Of Mirrors
      3. Mondrin
      4. Obsessed
      5. Bio Dimension
      6. Basic Emotion
      7. Metropolis
      8. Obtuse
      9. Debris
      10. Telefone 529
      11. Satori
      12. Static Emotion
      13. Bonus Track 1

      Customer Reviews:

      5 out of 5 stars Very moving and inspirational electronic music.......2005-12-29

      Who would've thought electronic music could be so moving and emotional? This album inspired many future acts to take similar routes and I can definitely see why. So many highlights litter this album, and although a couple songs aren't as good the rest this remains a classic and a must have. Though the production isn't really "fascinating", it's good enough to hit you in all the right places (your emotions!). If you like electronic music you will love this (you might also like their followup "Time Tourist", too). Highly recommended.

      Highlights include:
      "Hall Of Mirrors"
      "Mondrin"
      "Obsessed"
      "Bio Dimension"
      "Obtuse"
      "Telefone 529"
      "Static Emotion"

      5 out of 5 stars Total classic, more people should have this album........2004-05-25

      B12 released this during the early days of Warp's Artificial Intelligence period, which is kind of the heydey of the "bleep" movement...

      The album features lots of traditional techno drum machines and Detroit-ish strings, plus a rather fresh usage of the rhythm section of the JD800 synth. The programming and execution of these tracks is nothing short of astounding.

      Nothing really groundbreaking though, but sort of a summation of the British take on clean Detroit style techno with a little Warp flavor thrown in. Warp would continue along different lines than these, with Squarepusher, Aphex Twin and such leading the way into drill and bass territories, but for me this was the best Warp era, and one of the best albums.

      Put it on and let yourself drift to some excellent sounds.

      5 out of 5 stars Absolute musical genius.......2004-01-18

      One of my all time favourite albums. I won't have a word said against this! Mike Golding and Steve Rutter produced this wonderful album for Warp back in the heyday of electronic music that was 1993.

      Full of pristine synths, smooth basslines, spacey atmospherics, efficient beats and Detroit-esque strings and melodies, this album stands as one of the greatest ever electronic releases.

      I'm surprised when I hear criticism of this album, some call it 'unimaginative', which I find baffling. To me, it's a very creative album. Golding and Rutter were often criticised, along with another genius Stasis (Steve Pickton), of ripping off the Detroit Techno scene and re-packaging it as their own sound. I think that criticism is highy unfair, there are differences between Detroit Techno and the music that B12 and Stasis are putting out. Sure, there may be an influence there, but that's it, it's just an influence. Stasis, by the way is a good friend of B12 and has worked with them.

      5 out of 5 stars i agree, a classic.......2003-11-03

      since usually only a fan of something will bother to write a review, the majority you see on Amazon are positive,- 5 stars. it is however my duty to call any attention i can to this cd. i bought it almost a year ago and there may have been maybe a total of three days i havent listened to it. i own over athousand recordings and theres no other i can say that of.

      5 out of 5 stars mesmerizing journey.......2001-06-26

      i own several other discs from the artificial intelligence series and i find myself listening to this one the most. bleepy is perhaps too generic of a word to describe it. every sound on electro soma comes together to create a soothing musical maelstrom. don't try to pick this one apart. b12's use of synth is mind-boggling and their drum programming is masterful. the resulting composition is not random as i find some idm.techno releases; electro soma is machine music with more heart and soul than you could imagine. few albums deserve five stars. i would give this one six if i could.

      Pop Music:

      1. Song of Seven [Import]
      2. Songman
      3. Sorcerer
      4. Speechless
      5. Stellar Collections
      6. Sufi Splendor: Music for Whirling Meditation
      7. Tai Chi for the Spirit: A Guided Meditation
      8. Tantra of Sound Harmonizer
      9. The Frog Prince: Original Movie Soundtrack [Soundtrack] [Import]
      10. The Good Son vs. The Only Daughter: Blemish Remixes [Import]

      Pop Music

      pop music

      Recommended Music:

      One at Twilight [Import]

      Neilsen: Springtime in Fünen / Odense SO

      On the Sunny Side of the Street

      Music: Die Mixparade 2003, Vol. 1 [Import]

      Ocean of Light, Best of AD Music

      Pacific Heights [Import]

      Maya Irafama

      Magnification

      Phantom Phorce/Slow Life EP [Import]

      Mozart: Symphonies Nos. 39 & 40

      Party Fever (Maxi Single) [CD-single]

      Pan [Import]

      Latin Moments: Fiesta Latina

      16 Classic Blues Songs from the 1920's, Vol. 2: My Black Mama

      I Want to Be Like You