Question:
This topic/poll might better fit with the electronic section, being that this is electronic music. But it was released on a kind-of-independent label in Mago. Besides, I know a few people who wouldn't consider themselves electronic music fans who enjoy Fennesz's Endless Summer. So let's hear it. What do you guys and gals think of this album? I know it's five years old now, but it's one of my top five faves of all time.

Choices:
10.0
8.0-9.9
6.0-7.9
below average
Total garbage

 

Oh yeah... Endless Summer would be my selection for the greatest album of the decade thus far and is quite possibly the most beautiful electronic album ever recorded. I know I've said it before, but I still, after all these listens, can't imagine how it was created. It does not sound like a person created it - rather, it seems as though it organically just came to be. At first, it was so alien to me, though slowly it grew on me until I couldn't imagine going a couple days without listening to it. I find it to be one of the few indispensible recordings in my collection. It's perfect.

One of my top albums of all time as well, musicfanatic....... if you couldn't already tell...

quote:

Originally posted by Platypus Quest:
Oh yeah... Endless Summer would be my selection for the greatest album of the decade thus far and is quite possibly the most beautiful electronic album ever recorded. I know I've said it before, but I still, after all these listens, can't imagine how it was created. It does not sound like a person created it - rather, it seems as though it organically just came to be. At first, it was so alien to me, though slowly it grew on me until I couldn't imagine going a couple days without listening to it. I find it to be one of the few indispensible recordings in my collection. It's perfect.

One of my top albums of all time as well, musicfanatic....... if you couldn't already tell...

Is there any other electronic albums that you'd recommend, even if they're not at the same level as Endless Summer? It's obvious that you and I have the same taste!

And totally off the subject, but I will forever owe Pitchfork (in particular, Mark Richardson), for informing me of this album's existence. It's probably not too popular to give the 'Fork dibs on this site, with all the bashing going on.

I've never listened to Endless Summer because from everything I've heard, you have to listen to it about 20 times before it starts to sound good. Did you guys find that to be true? Because I really don't feel like investing 20 hours just so I can enjoy a record, especially since there's no guarantee that I'll like it at all. It's just like Tolstoy's "War and Peace." I'll never crack that book open, because I know that I could read 10 other books in the time it would take me to read that one.

quote:

Originally posted by RavingLunatic:
I've never listened to Endless Summer because from everything I've heard, you have to listen to it about 20 times before it starts to sound good. Did you guys find that to be true? Because I really don't feel like investing 20 hours just so I can enjoy a record, especially since there's no guarantee that I'll like it at all. It's just like Tolstoy's "War and Peace." I'll never crack that book open, because I know that I could read 10 other books in the time it would take me to read that one.

I think you'd like it after about 3 or 4 listens. Some songs are dense, for sure. But even then, you can detect beautiful under-lining melodies contained within the noise. I own about 100 or so albums in the noise/electronica genre (not counting more traditional techno), and this album is far superior, in my opinion, than the others.

If you ever decide to listen to it, let me know what you think.

Yeah, it takes a few listens, but that shouldn't deter you from listening to it. The rewards are endless.

Hmm... I'm not sure what else really sounds like Fennesz and you are probably into Autechre and all that stuff on the Warp Lebel (right?). The only other thing I can think of that is comparable to Endless Summer is maybe 94 Diskont by Oval. I think it's on iTunes now. It's good, but it's no Endless Summer.

i haven't listened to endless summer (though it sounds like i need to!), but i do partake in "venice" once in a while. i think another sort-of-similar artist is Tim Hecker. i have "radio amor" and "mirages" and they are both excellent. pretty minimal but very engaging if you you can get into this style of music. definitely worth checking out if this is your style.

Dead-on recommendation. Thanks not eric.

sweet. since i'm feeling on a roll:

GAS - pretty beautiful sounndscapes that don't have much to hold onto in the way of melody, but awesome anyway.

THE WIND-UP BIRD - guitars and violins making up som of my favorite ambient/electronic music. a little more structured in some senses. what he does on "Whips" with the song that has the voice message...incredible.

everyone i know who likes fennesz likes these two records as well. also, they (we) like polmo polpo, eluvium, windy and carl, mountains, and jim o'rourke's electronic material. i also just heard this album by a band called Growing that sounded really awesome, i need to check that out.

let's keep the hot tips coming for this style of music, i'd love to find new things like this.

Yeah... I have the Eluvium album from last year and it is excellent. Tracks 1 & 6 are outstanding.

quote:

THE WIND-UP BIRD - guitars and violins making up som of my favorite ambient/electronic music. a little more structured in some senses. what he does on "Whips" with the song that has the voice message...incredible.

I'm not a big noise/ambient fan. In fact, I hardly like any of that stuff at all. But Whips is excellent, except there's one track I absolutely cannot stand and I think it's the one you like so much.

The Wind-Up Bird did an album with 1 Mile North and Colophon called "Conduction. Convection. Radiation." that some how slipped under the radar last year. It's excellent and highly worth seeking out if you're a fan of the artists discussed in this thread. 1 Mile North in particular is brilliant and their album "Minor Shadows" has found its way into my stereo on many a quiet night.

Also, The Books! What about The Books?

I LOVE THE BOOKS. "Read, Eat, Sleep" is one of my favorite songs EVER.

quote:

Originally posted by RavingLunatic:
I'm not a big noise/ambient fan. In fact, I hardly like any of that stuff at all. But Whips is excellent, except there's one track I absolutely cannot stand and I think it's the one you like so much.

yeah i hated that song when i first heard the album. at the start it seems kind of boring, and then it just gets so grating and dirty. but to me this is the exact opposite of what so many artists end up doing, which is staying inside these boundaries they (or others) have created, and i found myself strangely drawn to it. whips plays both sides of the coin, and i love the album for that (and for doing it excellently).

quote:

Originally posted by Cantos:
Also, The Books! What about The Books?

yes what about the books? i didn't enjoy the second album much, but i hear this newest one is unheralded genius. is this true?

This message has been edited. Last edited by: not eric,

I've only heard their last album, which is allegedly their worst (or at least, one of those albums that everyone describes as "everyone claims this album isn't as good as their other work except me" and no one actually says it wasn't that good -- I take this to mean "I know these guys are good but I don't really like this album but I don't know why" or something similar). I found it boring. Qualification: I think vocal samples are virtually always the devil. And I did think "An Owl With Knees" was one of the best songs of last year. I guess I should check out their first two albums though.

quote:

Originally posted by dubs:
I've only heard their last album...I found it boring. Qualification: I think vocal samples are virtually always the devil. And I did think "An Owl With Knees" was one of the best songs of last year. I guess I should check out their first two albums though.

I don't like extended vocal samples either, but occasional short ones can sometimes work. I didn't like the Books' first or last album much at all, but The Lemon of Pink was quite good. You should try that one if you want to listen to more Books, Dubs. Thought For Food has some really extended vocal samples, like a couple entire songs practically.

quote:

yes what about the books? i didn't enjoy the second album much, but i hear this newest one is unheralded genius. is this true?

Really? I thought the Lemon of Pink is by far their best album and one of my all time favourites.

I haven't heard Endless Summer. How does it compare to Venice (I like Venice)?

Others related:
Bird Show - Green Inferno
Eluvium - Talk Amongst the Trees (my favourite of the genre)
Wind-Up Bird is awesome (Deafening live)
William Basinski

This genre is my indulgence and I have been looking in to these titles. Tell me if you have heard of or like them:

Stars of the Lid - The Tired Sounds of...
Deaf Center - Pale Ravine
Mise En Abyme - Jesquibel

Boomkat.com always have a lot of good stuff in this genre.

I agree. Of The Books' albums, I love The Lemon of Pink the most, though I do enjoy them all.

Venice is a fine album, though I just don't think it compares to Endless Summer. For one, there is considerably more variation on Endless Summer and the melodies are much richer. I think I remember a writer for Pitchfork in his review of the album that he would catch himself humming the tune of the title track's final moments. Though it may seem odd for a Fennesz song, Endless Summer boasts some of the most intoxicatingly beautiful melodies you will ever hear - they're just buried under layers and layers of sound and aren't always so easy to excavate. Still, songs like "Endless Summer," "Caecilia," "Shiseido," and even the manic "Before I Leave," and what the hell - EVERY song on the album, are absolutely gorgeous. I could go on and on here, but I have to get back to work....