Search - Bubblemath :: Such Fine Particles of the Universe

Best non-classical stuff I've heard since 1975

Markus Klug | London | 11/10/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"With this debut, Bubblemath delivered the best album in rock music since Gentle Giants "The Power and the Glory" back in 1975.They are as skilled musicians as only best zappa-members (if I wouldn't know better, I'd suspect the drums on this album are played by Terry Bozzio), and their music can only be compared to the best parts of Gentle Giant, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Zappa (Apostophe/Overnihgt Sensation/One size fits all), King Crimson and Mr Bungle.Bubblemath are unparalleled in rock music. They are absolutely unique. They are a revelation. I hope they will produce albums like their debut forever. There is no more educated, more complex and better performed music in rock. If you still want more, you have dive into the classical genre. Have fun!"

Just go and buy the damn record, right now!

Review by Luis Nasser | East Coast PA. | 10/15/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I don't think I've ever said this, but I guess there's a first time for everything, so here it goes: Just go and buy the damn record, right now! I know I can get pretty wordy, so I just figured I'd save you some time.Well, I tried...This is the first I have ever heard of this Minneapolis band, and I have to say I am totally blown away by this release. It is dripping with creativity and attention to detail at every level. The packaging is awesome, and a fine way to present their music to the public.Of course, the band has absolutely zero chance of making a dent in the mainstream. But that's to be expected from a bunch of guys who take their cues from bands as diverse as Echolyn, Gentle Giant, Devo, the Stray Cats and King Crimson, with a dash of Zappa's lyrical zaniness for good measure, to come up with their own brand of original, inspired musical mayhem. In fact, these guys are so relentless in their alchemy of sounds and meters that the 70's retro junkies are sure to snivel. But who cares, you know? And don't be fooled by their façade, behind the quirky keyboard and pseudo goofy exterior lie dark, meaningful lyrics. I won't give a rating of each song, because I found after repeated listens that the whole
is greater than the sum of the parts, so I'll only advise taking the time to listen to this disc from beginning to end a few times before making any judgment. Like all densely layered music, it's not for every occasion or for every type of listener. But if you like music that challenges and tickles your brain, this one's worth it folks...Bubblemath's debut comes with my highest recommendation. And I did mean BUY the album, none of that burning and swappin and copying crap. These fine, twisted people deserve our support.Rating: 9.5 keyboards
Reviewer: Luis Nasser"

Who said there's no innovation in modern music?

Boris Kaplun | Reston, VA | 04/23/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I remember when I first picked up Such Fine Particles of the Universe. A wealth of creativity, technical skill, musical and lyrical sophistication, and attention to detail were all descriptors that I had come up with to use in my mission of spreading news of this criminally overlooked band to the world... and criminally overlooked they are, without any logical explanation.



Bubblemath takes from such artists as Frank Zappa, King Crimson, and Echolyn, while also giving a definite nod to impossibly diverse, genre-hopping bands like Mr. Bungle and Estradasphere. As such, this album is a mammoth slab of art-rock played in wonderfully expert fashion, with intricate arrangements and dense layering of instruments that gives off the impression of songs swirling around within songs that seem ready to burst at the seams at any given moment... and this condensed into tracks that rarely extend past the four minute mark. From the comical synthesizer and xylophone assault of "Miscreant Citizen", to the baffling percussion on "Be Together", to the goofy "She's No Vegetarian" that sounds like a mix of doo-wop, jazz, and surf rock, to the anthemic "Doll Hammer" that juxtaposes vibrant xylophones and upbeat guitar melodies against some seriously sinister lyricism, to the decidedly retro synths of "Forever Endeavor", and on through an equally diverse second half... these are some seriously fine musical particles (horrible attempt at humor, I know).



Instrumentally, Bubblemath features a twin guitar approach that makes for some moments of really whacked out harmonic interaction, synthesizers that range from clean piano to noisy cartoon mayhem, involved bass work, flutes, xylophones, and more. However, drummer James Swensen-Flagg is the inhumanly solid infrastructure behind everything that's going on here. His brain has no barriers, and his limbs do not know fatigue. He traverses time and meter effortlessly, plowing through complex rhythmic shifts and stylistic deviations like a hot knife through butter. The potential in this band from a purely technical standpoint is absolutely immense.



The lyrics found throughout this album are surprisingly dark, which is in stark contrast to the upbeat and energetic atmosphere of the music. They are filled with mostly questionable but provocative subject matter, double-meanings, and humor. "Doll Hammer", while containing some of the more negative and superficial lyrics on the album, does make me giggle with its bizarre portrayal of a small girl getting sweet revenge on an abusive father while the band creates a strikingly effective dichotomy with (previously mentioned) upbeat major key guitars, playful xylophone, and energetic percussion. Things like this are what make this album such a great trip.



The external packaging is also very well done. The Periodic Table of Elements is printed on the rear of the slipcase, with certain elements cut out. These elements make up the self-referential album title, "Such Fine Particles of the Universe", and are embossed on to the front of the case against a background of microscopic cells. The liner notes are quite beefy, and have weird pictures of blood cells and whatnot (from the band members, actually).



All in all, it's obvious that these guys labored over every obscure detail of this recording - a genuine show of concern about the quality of the music that we listen to. Such Fine Particles of the Universe is creative, inspired, diverse, intelligent, and is easily recommendable to anybody who looks for such qualities in modern music."