Plaid

Product Description:
The Christenson Family celebrates life in its fullness through the wide variety of songs sung on this CD. This is family fare. Enjoy!

Plaid,Christenson Family Singers,Plaid,The Christenson Family celebrates life in its fullness through the wide variety of songs sung on this CD. This is family fare. Enjoy.

Average customer rating: Fun and nostalic You had to be there Love those boys in plaid! And the guys are sweet too! Forever Plaid is Forever

Forever Plaid: The Heavenly Musical Hit (1990 Off-Off-Broadway Cast) Various Artists - Soundtracks Manufacturer: RCA Victor Broadway ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music Musicals | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Similar Items: Holiday In Plaid Pump Boys And Dinettes (1982 Original Broadway Cast) Forever Plaid Forever Plaid: The Heavenly Musical Hit : Vocal Selections I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change (1996 Original Off-Broadway Cast) ASIN: B000003F2X Release Date: 1990-11-27

Tracks:

1. Three Coins In The Fountain
2. Gotta Be This Or That/Undecided
3. Moments To Remember
4. Crazy 'Bout Ya Baby'
5. No Not Much
6. Perfidia
7. Cry
8. Sixteen Tons/Chain Gang
9. Tribute To Mr. C: Sing To Me Mr. C/Dream Along With Me/Catch A Falling Star
10. Caribbean Plaid: Kingston Market/Jamaica Farewell/Matilda, Matilda
11. Heart And Soul
12. Lady Of Spain
13. Scotland The Brave
14. Shangri-La/Rags To Riches
15. Love Is A Many Splendored Thing

Customer Reviews:

Fun and nostalic.......2007-01-21

If you ever get a chance to see Forever Plaid on stage, GO! It is one of the best shows out there, and this CD will keep the memories coming back every time you hear it. Two thumbs up for the "Lads in Plaid"!

You had to be there.......2005-10-19

I think there is a later version of this collection, based on a recent revival of the show in Las Vegas. Ignore it. This is the one to own. Probably the only people who can truly appreciate these performances are those old enough to remember the original "guy groups" imitated (or should I say reproduced) by this cast. That is, you must have been at least an adolescent in the early fifties, just before rock and roll replaced popular music. (Get it? R&R is popular, but not music.) However, it is quite possible that a few people from later generations, boomers and beyond, actually have some appreciation for melody, harmony, and sentimental lyrics. I hope so.

Love those boys in plaid!.......2004-06-25

A relative saw FP in the original off-Broadway production years ago, and purchased the tape after the show, making copies for us all. I've seen it twice in local productions and absolutely love it. The music of course is terrific as is the patter and interactions of cast and audience. The music is fun to sing along with, too.

And the guys are sweet too!.......2004-03-31

hey, I'm a theatre techie and I was the costume mistress for Forever Plaid (with 3 original members) in the fall of 2002 in Riverside, CA. What an amazing show. The guys couldn't have been sweeter to me and it was by far the show I'm most proud of in my career.

As for the cd.. the next best thing to hearing the boys! Be prepared to fall in love and never, ever get the songs out of your head :)

Forever Plaid is Forever.......2004-03-23

I love Forever plaid even though it was a long time ago. But when i heard of them i thought they were heavenly good. I hope soome band like them will come back and sing. I just love Forever plaid even i saw a play of them. I would say im a big fan even though they probably not together but they sure make a good hit.

Thanks (fan of FP)

Laura

Average customer rating: Love the Plaids! Not Plaid Tidings Great!

Holiday In Plaid Original Cast Recording Manufacturer: Varese Sarabande ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music General Christmas | Holiday | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music General Christmas | Holiday Music | Special Features | Music Similar Items: Forever Plaid: The Heavenly Musical Hit (1990 Off-Off-Broadway Cast) Forever Plaid Forever Plaid: The Heavenly Musical Hit : Vocal Selections Grey Gardens - A New Musical (2006 Original Broadway Cast) Curtains (2007 Original Broadway Cast) ASIN: B0000Z808E Release Date: 2003-12-16

Tracks:

1. Talk Christmas/Cool Yule
2. Let It Snow
3. White Christmas
4. Carol Of The Belles
5. Catered Holiday Affairs: Oh, Little Town Of Bethlehem/Mele Kalikimaka/Christmas In Killarney/The Dreidel Song
6. Calypso Christmas: Day-O/Kingston Market/Jamaica Farewell/Mathilda
7. Merry Christmas
8. 'Twuz The Nite B4...
9. Jingle Bell Medley: Joy To The World/Merry Christmas/Home For The Holidays/Jingle Bells
10. I'll Be Home For Christmas
11. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

Customer Reviews:

Love the Plaids!.......2007-01-10

This is a wonderful addition to the Plaids! Now I can have them truly all year long! Saw this show in San Diego this year, loved it. I have seen Forever Plaid many times (huge fan!), but this was really special.

Not Plaid Tidings.......2006-12-06

This is a lovely compilation of Christmas music in the Plaid tradition. I just wish the song "Merry Christmas" had been recorded by the original Smudge, David Engel, whose rendition of this song is just gorgeous. What we *really* need is a cast recording of the recent productions in San Diego and La Mirada (winter 2006) starring three of the original Plaids. But this CD does include several songs from the show and is a terrific addition to a holiday library.

Great!.......2005-12-20

First of all, if you're looking for a soundtrack to the show Plaid Tidings, this is not it. I was dissappointed when I found that out, as there are some great non-Christmas songs in that show. However, that is my only complaint about this fantastic holiday CD featuring the Plaids. Great songs, fantastic vocals, wonderful sense of humor, if you like the Plaids or classic guy groups in general, or hey, a fan of Christmas music, you owe it to yourself to pick this up.

Average customer rating: One of the Best Good groove, great listen Radiohead is NOT dead you moron. Great album, less filler! AWESOME ALBUM

Double Figure Plaid Manufacturer: Warp Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music General | Techno | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music Electronica | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music General | Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music IDM | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music General | Dance & DJ | Indie Music | Stores | Music Electronica | Dance & DJ | Indie Music | Stores | Music IDM | Dance & DJ | Indie Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Not for Threes Rest Proof Clockwork Trainer Spokes Geogaddi ASIN: B00005JA1C Release Date: 2001-05-29

Tracks:

1. Eyen
2. Squance
3. Assault On Precinct Zero
4. Zamami
5. Silversum
6. Ooh Be Do
7. Light Rain
8. Tak 1
9. New Family
10. Zala
11. Twin Home
12. Tak 2
13. Sincetta
14. Tak 3
15. Porn Coconut Co.
16. Tak 4
17. Ti Bom
18. Tak 5
19. Manyme

Customer Reviews:

One of the Best.......2006-04-24

One of their best, if not their best. And one of the best of the genre -- atmospheric, smart, dreamy, melodic, interesting, and just enough quirkiness and oddity to keep you listening. Fans of Tosca, K & D, non-thump ambient rejoice.

Good groove, great listen.......2005-07-07

From start to finish, Plaid's 'Double Figure' is a solid album with a classic ambience. A thouroughly enjoyable experience, I reccomend it to anyone with complex taste, for a good listen.

Warning; Album contains a good dose of slightly fruity sounding "classic" synth, interspersed with solid grooves and amazingly crisp sonic textures.

Radiohead is NOT dead you moron........2005-04-16

Ok that reviewer who said Radiohead's "Amnesiac" cd was sad, you seriously need to fine tune your taste in music some more. Because it's a fact that that cd was one of the best to ever come out, and it still remains a classic to this day. Amnesiac rules, deal with it like a man and shut up.

Plaid are at the top of their game with this brilliant effort, and all of those nay-sayer reviewers that have bashed this cd, well it's quite obvious they have absolutely no idea what they are talking about. Calling Plaid a "second rate Autechre" only proves further that you're an idiot, of course Autechre is better than Plaid but that's not the point here. The point is, Plaid is good and if you are a fan of electronic ambience, get this cd.

Great album, less filler!.......2003-12-08

Plaid is my favorite band out there and every other CD of theirs that I've bought hasd gotten a 5-star rating. This album is almost there. Somebody else on here said that "the first four songs alone are worth the price of the album" and I agree. In particular, 'Eyen' is an amazing track. I love how Plaid incorporates real instruments into their music, and the guitar in this song is great. The song has so many different emotions going on -- as Plaid's music usually does -- and it builds in a very smooth and energetic way. 'Zamami' is a very nice tune, too -- very jazzy and mellow, very relaxing. My other two faves are 'New Family' and the final track. 'New Family' is rather simple in its construction -- almost poppy -- but the melodies are just so sad and heartbreaking; the final track uses vocals in a great way, and is a perfect finish to the album. So, overall, there is a lot of great stuff. However, the 'Tak' tracks really get to me. They start out interesting, with nice melodies and beats, but then they end after a minute. What's the deal? I just don't like it when a band puts such blatant filler material in there. Plaid is amazing, and Double Figure is a very good album, but I would start with "Not For Threes" or "Rest Proof Clockwork" first.

AWESOME ALBUM.......2003-07-05

This one of plaid is certainly the best plaid album ever! but the others are also great in their genre. If you never heard of plaid or any of this kinda music you'd better listen to this album cause this is who they are. Listen to "ËYEN" for instance or "FAMILY MAN" the melody in al the songs is on of the best i ever heard on this album and i certainly recommend also the other plaid albums if ya like this one... and asking for more
i've said.

Average customer rating: A Superb Place to Start....if your New to "Plaid" a genre unto themselves Sebadoh and Portishead went to the Bahamas on LSD... an excellent composition Amazing

Not for Threes Plaid Manufacturer: Nothing Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music General | Techno | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music Electronica | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music IDM | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Electronica | Dance & DJ | Indie Music | Stores | Music IDM | Dance & DJ | Indie Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Rest Proof Clockwork Double Figure Trainer Spanners Peel Sessions ASIN: B00000F1EL Release Date: 1998-10-13

Tracks:

1. abla eedio
2. kortisin
3. headspin
4. myopia
5. lat
6. extork
7. prague radio
8. fer
9. ladyburst
10. rakimou
11. seph
12. lilith
13. forever
14. getting
15. milh
16. undoneson
17. spudink

Amazon.com

Seven years after their last release, former Black Dog members Ed Handly and Andy Turner finally get around to putting out a second album. The duo's polyrhythmic soundtracks are now embellished with live instruments and the lush voices of techno divas like Nicolette ("Extork") and Mara Carlyle ("Rakimou"). Plaid manage to hang on to the sparse intensity of Black Dog even with the new frills, only now the songs offer much more in terms of listening experience. Particularly noteworthy is the quietly detailed collaboration with Björk on the jazzy and warm "Lilith." Clearly worth the wait. --Aidin Vaziri

Customer Reviews:

A Superb Place to Start....if your New to "Plaid".......2005-02-16

Plaid have had a celebrated past with electronica, having long since not only been part of a (then) fledgling 'Warp' label. but this release, An album, before they made the jump to the Warp Label, is nothing, if not a consistently re-firmation that Plaid have been consistently making superb albums for sometime now, that are an amalgamation of: trip-hop, electro-techno, IDM, Experimental and ambient electronic, that remain tightly woven across the tracks on their albums and retain a cerebral yet hypnotic sound, that is remarkably unique to them, and all the more surprising that this album still stands up brilliantly today, as it did, when released back in 1998.

The album opens with "Abla Eedio", that is a energetic piece of experimental electronica, fused with the ingenuity for melody and skittering beats that would later become someting for a trademark sound for Plaid. It even has a little of that 'Start' / 'Stop' dynamic with the sound, that is probably more associated with music based around 'Glitch', it's a wonderfully powerful statement of intent for the album and proves to be a very strong opening track. More incredibly "Myopia" is electronica, by way of a pairing with a Caribbean/Calypso melody, that seems like it's been lifted directly from a tropical fruit drink advert, with the subtle twinkling Melody coupled with the Caribbean vibe and the sampling of some superb steel drums , this is a reasonably different departure in sound from the rest of the albums more hypnotic & freewheeling sound, and yet doesn't feel completely out of place, such is Plaid's ability to make albums that are varied in sound, but remain complete in structure.

Anyone familiar with Plaid's remix of "Nicolette's - No Government" will be in similar territory here, with the harsh, and stunningly abrasive "Extork" with the direction of the music taking a surprisingly Utopian & ambitious approach with driving stark beats, persistent bass effects, on a tune, that harks back to the sound of someone like 'Aphex Twin' at some of his more Acerbic. This is one of only a handful of vocals tracks on the albums, but the restrained use of vocals on those tracks is impressive, as Plaid give more emphasis to fractured sound, and Clinical rhythmic beats and solid bass lines, than being reliant on vocalists, to carry the tracks.

The move to a more industrial sound is largely complete with the excellent "Fer", with it's brooding metallic sounds, and galvanising beats, its spare on the percussion side of things and instead focuses on Lo-Fi Bass, and uplifting synths balancing out a very detached and nocturnal arrangement, almost intrusive series of rhythms, that although minimal in their construction are nonetheless significant in this track, that feels similar to the work of early "Autechre", as it remains stripped back to it most basic levels, yet strangely hypnotic and paranoid, and just as reliant on crisp drum-machine patterns to produce something more recognisable by ambient-techno, than electronica.

If your new to Plaid's distinctive brand of electronica, you really couldn't find a better place to start than this album. It combines everything that is so superb about Plaid. A remarkable album in that is not only is melodic and beautifully arranged, but shows a high level of ingenuity and diversity, that makes this such a delight to listen to, and shows that not only do that have a keen ear for sound, but also know how to fully expolit that sound for the benefit of the recordings, that sits on the more comfortable end of intelligent electronic music, and the fact that even today, that the tracks all stand up more than admirably and remain as enjoyable listenable as they did back on its initial release, highly recommended.

a genre unto themselves.......2004-12-12

it gets to me when people say that plaid isn't as good as autechre. they're two entirely different styles of music. And from what i've heard (tri repetae by autechre and every plaid cd) i can easily say i like plaid more. from what i've heard of autechre you can hear the link between them and electronica, you can see how it branches out. plaid has nothing leading to it. it's this whole new thing, especially on this album. eclectic and groundbreaking, this and restproof clockwork show the potential that electronic music truly has.

Sebadoh and Portishead went to the Bahamas on LSD..........2003-01-31

... and proceeded to kick the ... out of a calypso band while they were in the middle of a set, all the while commiting the whole thing to tape to later be remixed and polished by Tricky.

at least.. that's the feeling i get from this CD. sound interesting? maybe it is, but it's just not interesting enough for me to listen to more than once. that's not to say that it's a bad album.. there are some really stand-out tracks on it, like Extork, Kortisin, Lilith, and Rakimou. Actually, almost all of this album is more than listenable, but it doesn't ever come into focus as an album.. more like a collection of singles with a little bit of filler thrown in for padding. Therefore, it's difficult for me to recommend this to anyone other than to say it's far from the worst music i've ever heard, even in the down-tempo / trip hop genre, but people looking for something inspired and inspiring should look elsewhere.

an excellent composition.......2002-10-25

This is simply an extremely creative and beautiful album. Plaid seems to paint in colors more vivid than nearly all others who have taken the electronic approach to composing music. The songs are simple and yet complex and subtle at the same time. All moods and emotions seem to be represented, yet still a single motif unifies the work. The vocal tracks (including the collaboration with Bjork) complement the "instrumentals" very well. The balance Plaid has achieved gives the album tremendous staying power as well as initial appeal. This one is definitely a gem.

Amazing.......2002-07-19

I am a fan of all genres of music, and own over 500 CDs, but this one is on my top 3 list. Once you ignore the annoying vocal tracks (there's only 3 or so), you get into some truly wonderful music. Hands-down, the best track is #2 Kortisin. These guys have taken electronic music into another realm, and their compositional skills paired with their ability to come up with beautiful yet emotionally ambiguous melodies puts them far beyond everybody (except Boards of Canada -- Music Has The Right To Children is also in the top 3 ;). Worth every penny.

Average customer rating: If you want to know why experimental "dance music" is "dance music"... Must have Plaid's Trainer is a lesson in history. Classic primitive yet pleases

Trainer Plaid Manufacturer: Warp Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music General | Techno | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music Electronica | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music General | Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music IDM | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Electronica | Dance & DJ | Indie Music | Stores | Music IDM | Dance & DJ | Indie Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Double Figure Not for Threes Spokes Rest Proof Clockwork Parts in the Post ASIN: B0000516ZE Release Date: 2000-10-31

Tracks:

1. Uneasy Listening
2. Anything
3. Slice Of Cheese
4. Link
5. Perplex
6. Summit
7. Bouncing Checks
8. Yak
9. Scoobs In Columbia
10. Chirpy
11. Prig
12. Eshish
13. Blah
14. Norte Route

Tracks:

1. Fly Wings
2. Whirling Of Spirits
3. Choke And Fly
4. Small Energies
5. Jolly
6. Letter
7. Soft Key
8. Reishi
9. Uland
10. Tan Sau
11. Android
12. Angry Dolphin

Amazon.com

Plaid are arguably Britain's most influential electronic act. The twosome--both former members of Black Dog--have been responsible for some of the most groundbreaking electronic music ever recorded. Trainer is an attempt to chronicle the pair's early '90s heyday. Comprising rare singles and unreleased tracks, it's more an alternative history than a comprehensive "best of" compilation. Still, it does contain some of the duo's most inventive and enjoyable material. Ed Handley and Andy Turner have always worked across the dance spectrum, and Trainer fluctuates between playful electronica, chattering techno, and prototype jungle. They even find space for some Latin house, blissful ambiance, and rave-era breakbeats. All 25 tracks are blessed with Plaid's trademark electronic melodies and deft synth touches. It's this attention to emotion, mood, and melody that elevates Handley and Turner above their workmanlike peers. Trainer is a fitting tribute to their genius. --Matt Anniss

Album Description

26 track compilation for techno duo comprised of Andy Turner and Ed Handley, formerly two-thirds of Black Dog. It features their rarest and oldest material, compiled in chronological order it includes tracks from rare 12' singles and a fewpreviously unreleased tracks. Two paper sleeve Cd's with gatefold sleeve packaging. 2000 release.

Album Details

Techno.andy Turner and Ed Handley Til 95 were Two Thirds of Black Dog.

Customer Reviews:

If you want to know why experimental "dance music" is "dance music"..........2006-07-28

...then listen to Plaid's Trainer. This is the best way to see how 80's techno, after diversificating into diverse branches and, in this case, early-houseish techno, gradually evolved into that which is called "IDM" (or Plaid's brand thereof... in the case of other bands like Autechre you should rather listen to some Front 242 or Coil, apart from straight 4/4 electro, and then just follow the band in case's evolution.)
So, perhaps, you should keep in mind that if you don't appreciate that period around 1986-92 when techno stopped being "electro", you will find this release sort of lackluster. But if you're into that sound, and, moreover, if you think that Plaid's trademark "plastisound" synths are worth listening at all, you should quite definitely get Trainer. Perhaps not all the collection is outstanding (keep in mind that this is a quite complete compilation), but, really, you just can't skip tracks like Uneasy Listening, Blah, Summit, or the classic Jolly. But if you don't like late-80's techno or early 90's IDM, just get the best tracks from a friend and that's it, really. Still, it might make you want to listen to early post-techno, so why not try it?
In short, Plaid's Trainer is very recommendable, but still a case of "listen-before-you-buy", so be cautious.

Must have.......2003-11-13

Truly, one of the greatest early releases of an 'IDM' artist. From the moment it starts off with Uneasy Listening, it will have you dancing till the very end, hitting the listener with everything from strong, driving techno, to relaxed jive and beautiful, etheral ambient mixtures. While the first CD is more oriented towards tonal, listener friendly dance, the second CD consists of pieces which focus on either ambient motifs and more abrasive percussive tunes, which means it is definately going to be harder to digest for a lot of listeners. Reagrdless, this CD is truly an amazing compilation, and will help listeners to discover where the roots of the IDM genre come from. This is a must have along with Aphex Twin's Selected Ambient Works Nos. 85-92, Autechre's Incunabula, and U-Ziq's Tango n' Vectiff.

Plaid's Trainer is a lesson in history........2003-08-01

I use iTunes for my listening services. I try to make good use of the "My Rating" feature that Apple's included, and while I have yet to rate every track from this release, most of them are rated 3 of 5 stars.

Normally, I only buy great music. That means 5 stars, across the board, and I know it before I make my purchase because I've either heard the album before hand, or can judge by previous releases by that artist how much I am going to like the new release. That didn't work this time; I've rated almost every other Plaid track that I have as 5 of 5 stars.

This isn't the newer, genius stuff that Plaid is now known for, but it does stand on its own as a guide to how the sound has evolved over the years. I can appreciate it for the fact that it helps me understand who Plaid is, and enables me to appreciate where they've gone in recent years.

I hope that all the "supa-diehard" fans buy this album; I can't see any reason you would be disappointed. If you're more into the later, mellow, IDM style of Plaid and don't have a passion for earlier, purist techno, you may be better off picking up some individual singles from this time period rather than spending your good money on this compilation.

Classic.......2001-07-22

Plaid show how incredibly influential they continue to be in regards to the whole 'IDM' scene. This is a collection of old recordings that have, until now, been so rare they were virtually impossible to find. Those people who whine about their sound not evolving after listening to this (listen to their NEW album Double Figure if you have doubts), it's because the music on this album is all 7, 8, even 10 years old. But that doesn't hold any water anyway as this stuff is still dripping with soul and more innovative than 95 percent of new electronic music being pumped out today. This really is an essential purchase!

primitive yet pleases.......2001-07-18

listening to this plaid release is like looking at a box of photographs spanning your childhood up to your early twenties. there will be many similaries throughout yet as you get older you become more mature. such is the case with 'trainer'. those who are giving this CD poor ratings or bad reviews either are not diehard plaid fans or were expecting plaid brilliance found on 'double figure', 'rest proof clockwork' and the like. if you're looking for that then you'll be disappointed. instead, offered here is a double CD of plaid (and their various incarnations) in their early years. granted, this stuff is primitive but what electronic music made back in the late 80s/early 90s wasn't? the plaid sound is still here, less refined and honed as in later years and some tracks ARE pretty bad. other tracks sound as cutting edge today as i'm sure they did back in the day. 'tan sau', 'norte route' and 'android' are outstanding tracks that with a little bit of modern day tweeking could easily slip onto a new plaid release. my favorite track would be 'choke and fly' or 'slice of cheese'. i'm not sure which as the packaging makes it difficult to tell what is on what CD. Each CD is encased in a paper slipjacket with the titles printed on the outside and only the number of the CD printed on the CD. If you take both CDs out of their slipcasing you may be hard pressed to tell which CD goes into which case as there is no indication on the slipcasing. this happened to me. anyway,track three on one of the CDs is awesome. kind of jazzy. oh yeah, 'scoobs in columbia' is also a really cool latin flavored number. this CD is NOT junk... or really bad. it's a wonderful document of an incredibly talented group. highly reccommended only for true plaid fans. if you're not a true plaid fan, stick with their newer stuff because you'll probably hate this.

Average customer rating:

We Are Reasonable People Autechre Manufacturer: Warp Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD ASIN: B0009R5Q8A

Average customer rating: TJ NORRIS' igloomag.com REVIEW :: Famliar territory still yields some great results more black dog than ken downie so so disappointing... cold beats, warm melodies

Spokes Plaid Manufacturer: Warp Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Ambient | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music General | Techno | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music Electronica | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music General | Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music IDM | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Similar Items: Trainer Double Figure Peel Sessions Rest Proof Clockwork P-Brane ASIN: B0000C8XK7 Release Date: 2003-10-27

Tracks:

1. Even Spring
2. Crumax Rins
3. Upona
4. Zeal
5. Cedar City
6. B Born Droid
7. Marry
8. Get What You Gave
9. Buns
10. Quick Emix

Album Details

Moody and Luscious Songs from Warp's Vanguard Act, Plaid. Heavy with Emotion and Haunting Melody, Drawing on the Power and Immediacy of their Exceptional Live Shows, this is Another Classic. Plaid Are One of Warp's Biggest Selling Artists, on a Par with Autechre and Squarepusher, with a Large Loyal Fanbase.

Customer Reviews:

TJ NORRIS' igloomag.com REVIEW :: .......2006-02-04

TJ NORRIS' igloomag.com REVIEW ::
(11.03.03) The anticipated new work by Plaid (Andy Turner, Ed Hanley) starts right off with a distorted lullaby with chilling vocal styling provided by Lucca Santucci, and after 2 minutes this romp swings fully into jumping rhythmics.

"Even Spring" steps deeper into past electro than ever before, and with such smarts. This is minimalist beat purely redefined. On "Crumax Rins" the percussion is sonorous and heavenly, timed like Dali's melting clocks, just oozing away. The vibes are resonant and form smoke rings, lingering in order. This should have been their debut recording, it's got the underpinnings of originality and basslines aplenty. Vinyl cut-ups and static's are pretty commonplace in today's electronic music scene: Plaid one-ups the rest by taking the high-end snap of vinyl groove pitch building "Upona" - reinventing something that could be called post-glitch if its main intention weren't to then funk it all up with even groovier beats.

Since the mid 90s these gents have only brought good to the scene, have remixed and remodeled some of todays most innovative artists' records, and by the sounds of it crafting new territory that not only keeps up with the Joneses but melds multiple genres into a fine listen. "Zeal" will surely be one of the first platters to spin independently in laser-lit automation. Its gutsy Kraftwerkian breath-work is playful and yet all grown up. Plaid have the right balance of mystical ambience and experimentation, launching them from an atypical rhythm beat box. Asian influences drift into a patchwork of slow-tempo moodiness on "B Born Droid;" a sultry tango that would nicely complement cruising a late night subway.

This ten-track disc is an immediate pleaser, especially for those who like sounds that can be coy, conceptual and at the same time funky and salacious - like the bobbing happy-go-lucky flavor of "Get What You Gave". Some sort of calypso-driven disco meets jazz-hot meets the wild kingdom. "Buns" sounds at first to be something ala Trio's "Da, Da, Da" but soon blends arctic visions derivative of the tectonic era of John Foxx and Gary Numan. Plaid has basically reshaped the 80s on Spokes and its update should last longer than its potential 15 minutes.

Famliar territory still yields some great results.......2005-01-24

I've been a Plaid fan for about two years now. My first entry into their music was Double Figure, around when I first started getting interested in the whole IDM and electronic music thing. Back then, everything sort of blended together and the difference between most IDM artists was almost impossible to tell(except for Autechre or Aphex Twin). These days, my ear is a bit more discerning when it comes to breaking down what seperates the Aphex Twin, LFOs, FSOL, Squarepusher from the newer breeds like Prefuse 73, Chris Clark, Jimmy Edgar and any other listening techno that's surfaced recently. What I'm mainly trying to get at is that back in the day I couldn't tell you why I liked something and trying to put anything thought into why I enjoyed this type of thing was just impossible. Which in turn leads me to believe, that if this album were released any earlier I would have loved it more.

Plaid's sound has been all over the place in their nearly 15 year career. From the early b-droid sound of songs like Uneasy Listening and Scoobs in Columbia, to their hyper programmed, intense days of Not For Threes, finally stripping their sound down to almost electro-pop elements for their Double Figure, Plaid has seemingly always been a group aimed at pushing their sound to the next level. Which is why Spokes is such a standstill. It still contains hyper-evocative melodies and moody electronics. Tough, numble percusion and soundscapes that most people couldn't dream up without a heavy dosage of haulcingens and an ear for solid production. But somehow, Spokes almost feels trite in comparison to their previous work(both Black Dog or otherwise). The territory is too similiar, too famliar to make it anywhere near the best of their work. And its not just Plaid that's been suffering from this. Squarepusher, Aphex Twin, and several others from the glory days of IDM are slowly seeing its harder and harder to push the latest angle when your not sure what that angle is. I constantly keep asking myself, where can music like this go when nearly every texture, sound, bpm and combination of all three has been explored?

But not all is lost. While it sounds like Plaid wrote this on several lazy sundays or maybe on a tour somewhere, there is still some stellar songs to come out of this ten song hit and miss album. I would recommend picking up some of Plaid's earlier material before checking out Spokes. But for new comers to Plaid, I think there is plenty to enjoy here if you've never heard this kind of music. Its still a well produced album, just not their best.

more black dog than ken downie.......2004-08-21

this album seems to harken back to ed and andy's old days with the black dog, though with an updated, more polished feel. moreso than previous plaid releases, "spokes" has a continuous sound that flows from each track to another. very different from "double figure" or "not for threes", in which each track stands on its own, some as great singles, others not so memorable ('rakimou' and 'new family' are two of the best songs ever written, imho). but with "spokes", each track is only part of the whole. 'marry' and 'zeal' have their moments, but no track really stands out much more than another. taken as a complete album, however, they are very effective. the differences between each of plaid's albums are so great that it makes it hard for me to compare them at all, each having their strengths. in general, "spokes" has a darker sound, lacking the playfulness of previous plaid work. the melodies are still there, but this time they're more layered and "implied" (if that makes any sense), and it might take a few more listenings to get into this release compared to the earlier albums. but this ability to produce such a variety of moods, while still being plaid, is what gives plaid their longevity and makes them such an influential band.

fans of plaid would also enjoy any of dutch artist kettel's releases ("dreim", "smiling little cow", "ha ha ha look at this", etc.), sadly absent on amazon.

so so disappointing..........2004-04-10

spokes was released just when I had discovered Plaid. A friend of mine lent me some Plaid cds and I was instantly hooked by them. First i listened to Rest Proof Clockwork and soon I loved their little melodies, their sometimes childish arrangements, so lovely music! Then I listened to 'Double Figure' and I also liked it a lot. 'Not for Threes' is the one I liked less, but it's also very good.
I was then looking for electronic instrumental bands and Autechre and Aphex Twin didn't make it for me. They sound to me much too soulless; that didn't happen with Plaid, so I soon became a lover of their music.

and just then I knew a new album was going to be released. I looked forward to listening to it. And my disappontment was terrible. The songs in spokes sound to me repetitive, dull, terribly boring. Not that there aren't some good moments, but they are scarce, and I seldom finish a song; gone are those nice little melodies, gone is that SOUL inherent to the songs in their previous albums. here everything sounds like it didn't sound before: mechanical and boring.

at least they have made 3 extraordinary albums.

cold beats, warm melodies.......2004-03-22

In my opinion this album is way superior to double figure. It is more consistant in both quality and sound(with the possible exception of 'Get what you gave').
Even spring is immense from start to finish. It seems a little disjointed at first but the latter half of the song builds some beautifully simple melodies over what seems like a stumbling, clumsy beat.
B Born droid has been criticized for being a little too plucky and synthy, but it really does work.
Marry is an outstanding track, defininately my favourate.
This album can't really be compared to 'not for threes' or 'rest proof clockwork' because the sound is so different. This album seems a bit cold at first, but the melodies are fantastic with beats to match.

Average customer rating: TOO SHORT FOR 5 STARS This guy is amazing

Plaid Blues Saraceno Manufacturer: Red Distribution, in ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Blues Rock | Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock Guitarists | Rock | Styles | Music General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Hard Rock | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Similar Items: Perpetual Burn Michael Lee Firkins Dragon's Kiss ASIN: B000008KF5 Release Date: 1995-06-13

Tracks:

1. Last Train Out
2. Elvis Talking (You Think It's over But It's Not)
3. Scratch
4. Friday's Walk
5. Little More Cream, Please
6. Girth
7. Lighter Shade of Plaid
8. Cat's Squirrel
9. L.A. Vignette
10. Exit 21
11. Tommy Gun

Customer Reviews:

TOO SHORT FOR 5 STARS.......2004-06-17

Inventive guitar playing all the way. Nodding references to many styles and awesome technique. SARACENO should have been one of the biggest names in this form of musik. If you like the work of HOEY / SATRIANI / VI etc. than this should be in your collection as it is up to the highest standards. The playing and compositions are first class and only the duration of approx 25 minutes means 4 instead of 5 stars. For a CD with 80 minutes capacity, that is simply not good enough. Just as well that it is a brilliant 25 minutes.

This guy is amazing.......2003-09-09

Blues Saraceno was the poster-boy of Guitar magazines back in the 80's, and for good reason: he can really play. Of course, there are a lot of guitarists that can tear it up, but on "Plaid," his 2nd solo album, Saraceno shows he's every bit the guitar hero as guys like Vai and Satriani.

Joe Franco is a monster on the drums and shines on every track. His contributions make this so much more than so many run-of-the-mill guitar instrumental records.

Saraceno has 2 other solo records (Never Look Back and Hairpick) as well as a new band called Transmission OK that is COMPLETELY different than his solo stuff. In between, he recorded an album with Poison (Crack a Smile) and toured with the group briefly.

It's been a few years since I've heard about any new Blues projects. Hey Blues, pick up your guitar and play, dude. And you, reading this review, go get Plaid. It's excellent.

Average customer rating: Astonishing, hard rocking and lively Excellent Celtic Music

Plaid MacKeel Manufacturer: Celtic America Llc ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | International | Styles | Music ASIN: B000065PNU Release Date: 2002-01-01

Customer Reviews:

Astonishing, hard rocking and lively.......2004-06-19

My ex and I actually saw this band live at the Scottish Games in Virginia several years ago. It was a horribly hot day in July, but the music was even hotter! Even the little kids were up on their feet and dancing their brains out. Fleur Mainville absolutely smokes on acoustic fiddle! The unique combination of bagpipes, electric guitar, pounding bass beat and fiddle will have you on your feet and dancing in no time, too. Without doubt, this is my favorite Celtic band and changed forever my expectations from modern Celtic rock music. Fabulous!

Excellent Celtic Music.......2002-11-22

Excellent combination of Highland sound and rock-n-roll. Great pipes, great fiddle.

Average customer rating: Plaid - Rest Proof Clockwork 4.44 stars, despite this bit of trivia for fans: A very beautiful...and playful album. GREAT!!! Music to create crop circles by

Rest Proof Clockwork Plaid Manufacturer: Nothing Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music General | Techno | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music Electronica | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music General | Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music IDM | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Electronica | Dance & DJ | Indie Music | Stores | Music IDM | Dance & DJ | Indie Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Not for Threes Double Figure Peel Sessions P-Brane Trainer ASIN: B00000J8BZ Release Date: 1999-06-22

Tracks:

1. Shackbu
2. Ralome
3. Little People
4. 3 Recurring
5. Buddy
6. Dead Sea
7. Gel Lab
8. Tearisci
9. Dang Spot
10. Pino Pomo
11. Last Remembered Thing
12. Lambs Eye
13. New Bass Hippo
14. Churn Maiden
15. Air Locked

Amazon.com

British music rag NME once dubbed Black Dog "the most revered techno outfit since Kraftwerk." After Ed Handley and Andy Turner disbanded Black Dog in 1995, they began recording under the name Plaid. While Not for Threes was overshadowed by the ghost of Black Dog, Plaid's sophomore outing, Rest Proof Clockwork, shows a slightly matured sound. Both albums were recorded for Plaid's home-base label, the techno-pioneering Warp, and though often filed under "intelligent dance music," their sound is less fitting in the clubs than in one's living room. Many of the tracks here have a playful, childlike quality ("Dang Spots"), while others recall the retro, switched-on sound of Wendy Carlos's soundtrack to A Clockwork Orange ("Lambs Eye"). A must-have for anyone seeking to expand their techno horizons. --Courtney Reimer

Customer Reviews:

Plaid - Rest Proof Clockwork.......2004-11-21

I simply must tell the world about an absolutely incredible album!
I'm kicking myself because I didn't get to hear about this album until recently. Five years have passed since Plaid gifted the world their masterpiece: Rest Proof Clockwork.
I am writing this after only my first hearing! Its THAT good!!

Lets go through the tracks as we find them...

First track;

4.44 stars, despite this bit of trivia for fans:.......2003-09-19

Ed & Andy are apparently lifting tunes from poor dead composers, sans acknowledgement in the sleeves. Track 8 "Tearisci" is Erik Satie's "Piéces froides: Danses de travers III" cut short. Come on, guys! Give credit where credit is due ... (You can hear a beautiful version of the song on Erik Satie ~ The Early Piano Works two-disc set. :)

A very beautiful...and playful album........2002-07-22

This is truly an electronic album that steps outside of the normal boundries. It doesn't limit itself to the basic bass-snare-bass-snare format of most other "electronic" albums on the market. Plaid have forged an album that is both intricate and erratic, playful and beautiful.

Plaid has always made albums that bear simalarities to the more popular and cliched electronic albums on the market. Their albums are not nearly as eclectic as say, the Aphex Twin, Mu-ziq, or Squarepusher. And they have never delved into the mechanical meloncholy that is Autechre. Instead, they bring in samples of guitars, scratch records, and use a variety of synth sounds to construct complex orchestrations that push the very boundries of music itself. It is strange, in a way, that a band that is so complex and can be considered as a mainstream dance act, can also abide so closely with classical compositions and experimentalism. Perhaps the best example of the way in which they combine various aspects of various genres into single songs is on the track Dang Spot (track 9). On this song, they begin with a short ambient interlude with intangable voices and a very simple melody. As the beauty that is the intro progresses, a second melody is delicately drawn into the fray. After a few sampled screams and screeches, the main body of the song starts, a very playful melody counteracted by variations of the same melody in different octaves backed by an off-kilter looped drum-beat. As the song continues, the seem to go to progressive influences and slowly change the song in subtle ways over time.

This very characteristic of most of Plaid's songs. It may not be overly new or original, but it truly is beautiful and alot of fun.

GREAT!!!.......2002-07-20

Well, all the tracks on this CD are not perfect, some are quite boring. But still the good songs are good enough to make this a fantastic record. Just listen to "Lambs Eye", a musical masterpiece(note how the bass turns to treble and gets replaced by another bass pattern).

Music to create crop circles by.......2002-07-16

I just wanted to chime in and agree with the gentleman below that "Ralome" is one of the most outrageously sublime and transporting pieces of music I've ever heard...compares with some of my favorite tone poems by Debussy and Vaughan Williams. Wow! I got this album on vinyl from the Warp site and when the needle dropped on that track I was blown away. The whole album is great; musically witty with little motifs that get stuck in your head weeks after hearing them, then you wonder if you really heard the music or if it's just backwash from a strange dream you had...all of Plaid's albums are great but this one is my favorite.

Music Album:

1. Pleasures of the Street [Import]
2. Proto Bohob
3. Ramadan
4. Rich Beyond Words
5. River Man [CD-single] [Import]
6. Rock on [Import]
7. Sacred Heart [CD-single] [Import]
8. Shall We Gather
9. ShapeShifting
10. Shoot Out the Lights [Import]

Music Album