February, 2004 archive

They look like a robot out of Star Wars, and contain state-of-the art technology. The BeoLab 5 speakers are audiophile speakers that are part hi-fi and part sci-fi.
Since the early 80’s, Bang & Olufsen engineers have have worked in the scientific development of acoustics, researching the physics of ideal sound reproduction and psychoacoustics. The BeoLab [...]

This style grows out of the tradition of classical orchestral music and features synthesized orchestration. It often features melodies and harmonies that are neo-romantic in style.
The best orchestral electronica uses electronics as an important element in a wider palette of instruments, to create new types of orchestration that would be impossible using traditional instruments. It [...]

Blade Runner is a science fiction classic, and it has a classic electronica score to go with it.
In the early eighties, Vangelis helped redefine the world of soundtrack music with his scores to films like Chariots of Fire and Blade Runner. Chariots of Fire won him an Oscar, but his music for Blade Runner is [...]

The First Seven Days is one of the great early works of electronica. Released nearly 30 years ago, the music is a set of seven rock-fusion tone poems inspired by the idea of the seven days of creation.  It was a head-trip when it was released, and the remastered CD re-release makes it sound better than [...]

Captured! By Robots is one of the stranger bands in history. It is a one-man band, which is fairly rare these days. Jay Vance plays and sings, in shackles, a sort of pop sideshow metal. But what truly makes the band unusual is that he has robots accompany him on drums and guitar.
According to band [...]

Conquest of Paradise is a sumptious combination of orchestral electronica, folk melodies, choral vocals and renaissance influences.
Vangelis is the Tchaikovsky of electronic music; he’s a fountain of beautiful melodies and an innovative orchestrator, but occasionally more concerned with style over substance. Like Tchaikovsky, Vangelis’ best known work is programmatic.
On 1492: Conquest of Paradise, Vangelis builds [...]

Sirens is an interesting mix of space music and classical programatic music. It is minimal orchestral electronica, with occasional acoustic instrumentation added to provide interest and flavor. Fans of new age music and Danna will enjoy this 1991 release.
Danna is a hugely prolific Canadian composer. His work is of uniformly high quality, and draws on [...]

BT is at his strongest on trance tracks, but on Movement in Still Life he takes on a new genre with every song. His hyperkinetic production style reaches new extremes as he slices and dices the sound with ginsu aplomb. Not the pure trance album that many listeners may want, Movement in Still Life is [...]

Codex Hypnos, the debut release of SourceCodeX, explores ambient spaces somewhere between music and chaos. This release is a treat for fans of experimental electronica and dark ambient music.
This self-produced CD displays a stylistic boldness and confidence that is unusual for first releases. SourceCodeX makes no concessions to popular tastes. The music is devoid of [...]

By now you may have heard of DJ Danger Mouse, and his remix of rapper Jay-Zs Black Album with music from the Beatles White Album. Now that the album has been blocked by EMI, it has become one of the most sought after music downloads on the Net. One site dares to publish the full [...]