Various Artists - Artificial Intelligence (10 tracks) +Album Reviews

All electronic music compilations should be like this

Jay M | Dublin, Ireland | 01/18/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This compilation stands frozen in time (like in an air bubble) in 1993, which was a wonderful year for electronic music. Around that time electronic artists were creating fantastic music, like Autechre, B12 and Black Dog on Warp, and The Orb elesewhere. It was a heyday, now sadly gone, but this compilation remains as a reminder of those times.I usually don't like compilations, so it is a sign of this compilation's quality that I rate it so highly. There isn't a bad track on here. If you like Warp, or IDM, or electronica or have the barest liking of electronic music, you really need to own this CD.The cover art is even magical, everything about this compilation has an air of quality and magic about it. They sure don't make them like this no more!"

Evocative electronica

Pieter | Johannesburg | 11/14/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This great compilation showcases some of the cutting edge artists making electronic listening music in the early 1990s. The music still sounds fresh and innovative now, especially tracks like Telephone 529 with its muted voice samples, Crystal (Autechre) and I.A.O. (The Clan). Some of these artists were no doubt influenced by Krautrock pioneers like Tangerine Dream, but they've expanded on these influences to create something quite unique. Some of the pieces are highly evocative in their multi-textured splendour, like Spiritual High by UP! and The Egg by Autechre. The sounds on Artificial Intelligence have stood the test of time very well to provide enduring listening pleasure. This one is good, but Artificial Intelligence II is even better as it contains a host of classics by artists like Autechre, B12, Link, Beaumont Hannant and Seefeel, amongst others."

Great entry point to early IDM/Ambient Techno

Kooosh | Portland, OR USA | 02/05/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If I wanted to introduce someone to early IDM, so-called "Intelligent" Dance Music, I would surely choose this little gem of an album. It contains most of the heavy-hitters and pioneers of the genre, many using aliases. Richard James, B12, Richie Hawtin, Autechre, Black Dog, Speedy J are all represented here with fantastic tracks.

I, for one, am a huge fan of the early IDM stuff, before things got a little weird in the genre. Of course, this is a matter of preference and many people will surely disagree. Some will argue that this is overly simplistic and too minimal; that the genre evolved into something better. Perhaps, but my personal sensibilities lie with this earlier, warmer, more analog-sounding style.

Once you've listened and decided that you love this stuff, there is a whole world of fascinating music to uncover. Best of luck and happy listening.

"

Two intelligences are better than one

Pieter | Johannesburg | 02/16/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This impressive 2-disc compilation showcases some of the most cutting edge examples of electronic listening music in the early 1990s. All contributions are of a high standard and the music still sounds fresh and innovative in 2010. Polygon Window by The Dice Man opens the first disc on an undulating, mid-tempo beat, followed by a series of sonic gems like Musicology's Telephone 529 with its spacey voice samples, the rhythmically complex Crystel by Autechre and The Clan, a semi-symphonic soundscape by I.A.O.

Some of these artists were no doubt influenced by the German pioneers like Tangerine Dream but they've evolved beyond those structures to create something quite unique. Multiple layers endow certain pieces with a profoundly cinematic quality, e. g. Spiritual High by UP! which has a trance-like texture in which different types of vocals alternate. Musicology's Preminition, on the other hand, has R&B type female vocals throughout.

On the second disc my favorites include Link's percussive Arcadian, B12's solemn Scriptures, Autechre's quirky Chatter, Beaumont Hannant's bubbling & percolating Utuba, former Cabaret Voltaire member Richard H Kirk's plinking, plonking & lilting Reality Net and Seefeel's chiming & echoing Spangle which reminds me somewhat of Popol Vuh's majestic Nosferatu. In my opinion Disc 2 offers more variety and contains more memorable pieces.

These artists created striking, varied and sometimes sublime sonic sculptures. With their strangely compelling patterns and arrangements, the sounds are anything but clinical. Often applied like instruments, human voices are sparingly employed on many of the pieces. Owing to the stylistic variety I enjoy listening to this compilation in one go, something I would rarely attempt in this genre with an album by one artist. Artificial Intelligence ought to appeal to a wide spectrum of electronic music lovers - from the fans of intelligent techno to the followers of the classical avant garde.
"

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