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PTOLEM - the almagest
ROCKERILLA, rivista di musica e cinema.
(english vers.) Intelligent dance music with frequent instrumental incursions. Fractals of digital sound and syncopated breakbeats ("1950 DA") that leave space to inserts of dark soundtrack music. As if Boards of Canada decided to weighten their geometries with loud guitars stolen from hard rock - Patrick Brocca, one of the two Swiss musicians behind Ptolem, works with Meshuggah's Fredrik Thordendahl when he is not writing soundtracks. As if, in a composition stance that is rarely really dialogic, epic and elegant post-rock ("Equant Point", "P-band Wavelength") was contrasted with the steps of a limping or vintage robotic machinic matrix ("Ring Structure").
Vincenzo Santarcangelo / ROCKERILLA, italian monthly magazine of music and cinema
Reviews on CD BABY the most indie music :
author: Thomas Bourquin / murmures.info
This swiss combo is named after the famous Ptolemy and bases its music upon the mathematical model set out by the astronomer in his treaty "The Almagest". The group develops ethereal synth soundscapes, mixing cold electronic instruments with warm acoustic sounds. Influenced by various artists (such as Boards of Canada, Aphex Twin, Autechre, Trentemoller, Populous, New Order, Philip Glass, Arvo Pärt, Mötley Crüe, James Newton Howard, Basil Poledouris, Angelo Badalamenti and Howard Shore), Ptolem, although promising, follows too many threads to deliver an album which is homogenous throughout. Nevertheless, this effort is well worth listening to.
Fragment - unknown album
french webzine of music / review at Core and Co chronique
The String Quartet Tribute to Sonic Youth
Johnny Loftus, All Music Guide
Vitamin's String Quartet Tribute to Sonic Youth begins with an austere reading of the Daydream Nation classic "Silver Rocket," performed instrumentally for violin, viola, and cello. The piece captures both the jerking tension of the original, as well as a fractured, modernist chamber music sensibility that's exclusive to the strings. Equally winding versions of "Theresa's Sound World" and "Little Trouble Girl" appear later; this theme probably has something to do with Sonic Youth's music itself -- at times resembling a sort of modern chamber music. "Kool Thing" replicates its source's rhythm and melody more closely, and "Superstar" settles satisfactorily between the Carpenters original and Sonic Youth's spooky cover. Overall it's one of the more intriguing string tributes, offering plenty of twists and turns, especially for veteran Sonic Youth listeners.
Jason Jrug "the real deal music man" (Toms River, NJ/USA)/ Amazon. com
I tend to buy these string tribute albums and get disappointed, but this one is really good. The strings sound damn good and all the songs are very recognizable. Silver Rocket sounds awesome! Even if yr not a hardcore SY fan, you might wanna pick this up. (If you are, GET IT). The entire album except for a few songs sounds spot on and really hits the spot when you are in the mood. The SY string tribue and the Radiohead O.K. Computer string tribute albums are the best string albums I've heard.
The Scorched Earth Orchestra Play Metallica's Master Of Puppets
Mr No Name (Richmond, VA, USA) / Amazon.com
..This symphonic tribute proves that even classical musicians can rock! At times, I've even found myself headbanging to this cd as if it were the original album from the 80's! ... This cd stands as a true testament to the masterpiece that is Master Of Puppets. ...Even if you are not a Metallica fan, If you just like classical music, I strongly reccomend this cd to you.
H. Weston (New Zealand) / Amazon.com
There are countless Metallica tribute albums available and several orchestral interpretations of their music, but this is the one to Kill them all! The most incredible thing about this album is the way The Scorched Earth Orchestra manages to extract new colours and go deeper into these classic Metallica songs, all while keeping the dark and brooding nature of the original. ... This album grows on you and is a must have for any true Metallica fan.
C. Sublett (Virginia Beach, VA, USA) / Amazon. com
Reminiscent of the best adventure movie soundtracks, arguably rivaling (but not surpassing) the all mighty "Conan: The Barbarian Soundtrack" for sheer thunderous symphonic joy. ... Amazing album, just amazing.
ROCKERILLA, rivista di musica e cinema.
(english vers.) Intelligent dance music with frequent instrumental incursions. Fractals of digital sound and syncopated breakbeats ("1950 DA") that leave space to inserts of dark soundtrack music. As if Boards of Canada decided to weighten their geometries with loud guitars stolen from hard rock - Patrick Brocca, one of the two Swiss musicians behind Ptolem, works with Meshuggah's Fredrik Thordendahl when he is not writing soundtracks. As if, in a composition stance that is rarely really dialogic, epic and elegant post-rock ("Equant Point", "P-band Wavelength") was contrasted with the steps of a limping or vintage robotic machinic matrix ("Ring Structure").
Vincenzo Santarcangelo / ROCKERILLA, italian monthly magazine of music and cinema
Reviews on CD BABY the most indie music :
author: Thomas Bourquin / murmures.info
This swiss combo is named after the famous Ptolemy and bases its music upon the mathematical model set out by the astronomer in his treaty "The Almagest". The group develops ethereal synth soundscapes, mixing cold electronic instruments with warm acoustic sounds. Influenced by various artists (such as Boards of Canada, Aphex Twin, Autechre, Trentemoller, Populous, New Order, Philip Glass, Arvo Pärt, Mötley Crüe, James Newton Howard, Basil Poledouris, Angelo Badalamenti and Howard Shore), Ptolem, although promising, follows too many threads to deliver an album which is homogenous throughout. Nevertheless, this effort is well worth listening to.
Fragment - unknown album
french webzine of music / review at Core and Co chronique
The String Quartet Tribute to Sonic Youth
Johnny Loftus, All Music Guide
Vitamin's String Quartet Tribute to Sonic Youth begins with an austere reading of the Daydream Nation classic "Silver Rocket," performed instrumentally for violin, viola, and cello. The piece captures both the jerking tension of the original, as well as a fractured, modernist chamber music sensibility that's exclusive to the strings. Equally winding versions of "Theresa's Sound World" and "Little Trouble Girl" appear later; this theme probably has something to do with Sonic Youth's music itself -- at times resembling a sort of modern chamber music. "Kool Thing" replicates its source's rhythm and melody more closely, and "Superstar" settles satisfactorily between the Carpenters original and Sonic Youth's spooky cover. Overall it's one of the more intriguing string tributes, offering plenty of twists and turns, especially for veteran Sonic Youth listeners.
Jason Jrug "the real deal music man" (Toms River, NJ/USA)/ Amazon. com
I tend to buy these string tribute albums and get disappointed, but this one is really good. The strings sound damn good and all the songs are very recognizable. Silver Rocket sounds awesome! Even if yr not a hardcore SY fan, you might wanna pick this up. (If you are, GET IT). The entire album except for a few songs sounds spot on and really hits the spot when you are in the mood. The SY string tribue and the Radiohead O.K. Computer string tribute albums are the best string albums I've heard.
The Scorched Earth Orchestra Play Metallica's Master Of Puppets
Mr No Name (Richmond, VA, USA) / Amazon.com
..This symphonic tribute proves that even classical musicians can rock! At times, I've even found myself headbanging to this cd as if it were the original album from the 80's! ... This cd stands as a true testament to the masterpiece that is Master Of Puppets. ...Even if you are not a Metallica fan, If you just like classical music, I strongly reccomend this cd to you.
H. Weston (New Zealand) / Amazon.com
There are countless Metallica tribute albums available and several orchestral interpretations of their music, but this is the one to Kill them all! The most incredible thing about this album is the way The Scorched Earth Orchestra manages to extract new colours and go deeper into these classic Metallica songs, all while keeping the dark and brooding nature of the original. ... This album grows on you and is a must have for any true Metallica fan.
C. Sublett (Virginia Beach, VA, USA) / Amazon. com
Reminiscent of the best adventure movie soundtracks, arguably rivaling (but not surpassing) the all mighty "Conan: The Barbarian Soundtrack" for sheer thunderous symphonic joy. ... Amazing album, just amazing.
© pbrocca 2011