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Review #1
Seven track mini album from Irish electronic producer The Last Sound, the album features a collection
of three original pieces along with several reworkings of tracks by Anne Garner, I.Am.An.Exit, Skylight
and Lieselle, some very very dark electronica sounds akin to the pulsating bass heavy sounds of the likes
of Autechre and even Aphex Twin, the minimal distorted beats get slowly hidden behind layers and layers
of white noise, bass heavy synths and swirling glitchy sound effects, this wouldn't sound out of place
on the likes of Warp records but luckily for us we have Irish based Go Away Recordings to look after
this kind of high quality underground electronica.
Review #2
Also on Go Away is '1Meyes' which is an interesting CD by THE LAST SOUND. Some lush electronic soundscapes
and melodies with nice crunchy beats. There's lots going on here and there are some sublime moments. I
think this one will appeal to those of you that like the Benbecula stuff although this is possibly slightly
more experimental in places.
Review #3
Things progress at a far more measured pace than The Last Sound's last sounds, that is, 2004's Skids.
The murky and sinister intro of Rev sets the tone, and its one that suggests darkness and depth more than
anything else.
As Hohm slowly accumulates a protective surround of synths and keys, Envelopd wraps itself in a blanket of prog rock
tendencies with an apocalyptic finish. I think it's fait to say that 1M Eyes doesn't have the same instant shininess as
Skids did, where I used to place the first three or four tracks on repeat and let it do its thing. Instead it offers up
a lot more density; pretty much every track feels like a heavier and more textured Boards of Canada.
Its murky warmth does take a while to settle down, so it's probably not one for the faint of heart. After a while it
begins to redeem itself, in no small part thanks to the aforementioned Envelopd. The reworking of Liselle's Hardcore
Obsessive in the form of H:O is similarly impressive, and closing track Vastnesses is probably the best Last Sound penned
composition on display here.
Given the nature of 1 M Eyes, as a mini-album comprised mainly of reworkings, and the fact that there are still some great moments buried amongst the less remarkable remainder (it just takes a while to find them), I'll probably give The Last Sound the benefit of the doubt for the time being.
Review #4
I never heard of The Last Sound, a project since 1997 by one Barry Murphy. Apparently he is influenced by
progressive rock as much as electronics, and he uses computers to create his sound. The Last Sound uses
hardly any signs of breakbeat or gabbacore, but moves around in the world of ambient techno, but the
synthesizer parts in this music do remind me indeed of some rather dubious progressive rock music. I must
admit the music by The Last Sound didn't really grab me, it was too laidback at one point but perhaps too
chaotic at other times in a, again, prog-rock manner. Pieces were a bit too long and too single minded to
be really interesting throughout. Sort of ok as background music, but not really engaging enough for me.
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