This item is delivered in an easy-to-open recyclable box and is free of excess packaging materials. Learn more or visit the Amazon Frustration-Free Packaging Store. |
Frequently Bought Together
Product details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By monkey_g
Format:Audio CD
This is darker than Substrata which I loved and grew on me incidentally after some initial uncertainty.
Very minimalist and also quite repetitive more akin to "drone" music in places, but don't let this put you off if you're new to it. There's a lot to hear so you'll need a good system and some good speakers/headphones especially. Beautiful.
Very minimalist and also quite repetitive more akin to "drone" music in places, but don't let this put you off if you're new to it. There's a lot to hear so you'll need a good system and some good speakers/headphones especially. Beautiful.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By B. R. Souter
Format:Audio CD
Substrata was a fabulous work of pure genius IMO, so its a shame to have to rate this at only 3 stars, but unfortunately it didn't appeal to me much, I found the opening tracks a bit depressing (as opposed to the mystical introspective feel of Substrata). However, the inclusion of some jazz style rythms later in the album is a very nice idea, and there are a couple of gems on this album if you have the patience to find them, so worth buying in that respect. Hasn't made me think any less of the fabulous Geir Jensen and his musical talent!!
20 of 23 people found the following review helpful
By M. D. Vicary
Format:Audio CD
The last couple of Biosphere albums were dissapointing compared to Gier Jessen's earlier works but Dropsonde is a return to form. If you liked Substrata and Cirque then your bound to enjoy this album as Jessen returns to the glacial textures and sounds that made those albums so stunning and beautiful to chill out to. Biosphere's use of jazz rythymes on some of the tracks is reminisent of the sounds he used on Cirque so this new album is equally as powerful and yet quiet and beautiful at the same time.
Note on the album artwork: For some reason the cloud/crosshair artwork from the original vinyl LP and currently shown on Amazon has been changed to a kalaedoscopic solar eclipse effect, which dose'nt really suit the music (or indeed Biosphere's concept) as well. Still this is a brilliant record to add to anyone's electronica collection.
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
By RM
Format:Audio CD
After four ambient albums that have become increasingly experimental, Geir Jenson has evidently decided to take a new direction with Dropsonde. The key difference with this album to previous ones the use of some dense percussion in certain tracks. It seems like a move away from ambient into a different sub-genre of electronica.
It is not a radical transition. There are a old-style ambient style tracks, minimal and without drums, such as 'Dissolving Clouds' and 'Warmed by the Drift' which conjure images of a cloudy or rainy day like the artwork on the cd (it is a shame the artwork tells us what to think). Many of these are as good as previous works, but despite the different theme, it is indeed time for a change because he has done much of this before.
The new-style tracks have varying degrees of success. Some of the tracks have jazzy drum loops. They work well on 'In Triple Time' because there is a strong melody played over the top, but not as well in 'Birds Fly...'; I feel the synths and effects here are more subtle and the drums distract your attention from them. In this track, as well as others, I think he is stuck between two styles. On the one hand, the subtle ambient sounds are undermimed by drums but on the other, the drums cry out for a stronger melody to be played over the top to stop it being boring. The elements do not quite work together. It would be interesting to see him make some stronger melodies in his music if he is to continue to focus more on percussion.
Among some of the average tracks are a couple of highlights. 'Daphnis 26' is a glowing experimental piece with a beat that becomes increasingly catchy; you are tapping your foot by the end of it.... Read more ›
It is not a radical transition. There are a old-style ambient style tracks, minimal and without drums, such as 'Dissolving Clouds' and 'Warmed by the Drift' which conjure images of a cloudy or rainy day like the artwork on the cd (it is a shame the artwork tells us what to think). Many of these are as good as previous works, but despite the different theme, it is indeed time for a change because he has done much of this before.
The new-style tracks have varying degrees of success. Some of the tracks have jazzy drum loops. They work well on 'In Triple Time' because there is a strong melody played over the top, but not as well in 'Birds Fly...'; I feel the synths and effects here are more subtle and the drums distract your attention from them. In this track, as well as others, I think he is stuck between two styles. On the one hand, the subtle ambient sounds are undermimed by drums but on the other, the drums cry out for a stronger melody to be played over the top to stop it being boring. The elements do not quite work together. It would be interesting to see him make some stronger melodies in his music if he is to continue to focus more on percussion.
Among some of the average tracks are a couple of highlights. 'Daphnis 26' is a glowing experimental piece with a beat that becomes increasingly catchy; you are tapping your foot by the end of it.... Read more ›
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By Park Walker
Format:MP3 Download
Forgetting about previous, & following works from Biosphere, Dropsonde deserves to be reviewed in its own right.
It's a truly great album, with very nice textures and drones.
Minimalistic beats creep in at points, offering a further lift, but not taking long to be absorbed by the pleasant monotony of the surrounding swelling tones.
I highly recommend this album to anybody who enjoys minimalist ambience of this genre.
It's a truly great album, with very nice textures and drones.
Minimalistic beats creep in at points, offering a further lift, but not taking long to be absorbed by the pleasant monotony of the surrounding swelling tones.
I highly recommend this album to anybody who enjoys minimalist ambience of this genre.
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
By "andnoise"
Format:Audio CD
This is beautiful ambient, electronic music. Along with Marconi Union, Loscil and a few others, Biosphere seem to be developing a new school of ambient music that draws on contemporary electronica especially from the Basic Channel / Berlin scene while maintaining the depth and beauty of such artists as Brian Eno ans David Sylvian.
Essential listening!
By Hillsman
Format:Audio CD
For me, this is Biosphere's last great album and definitely warrants at least 4 stars. Prior to Shenzhou & Autour De La Lune, I wouldn't describe any of his individual productions as purely ambient - more collections of different electronica genres, which is no bad thing as purely beatless ambience can quickly become rather dull, unless sufficiently laced with relevant samples and/or melodies of some sort.
Cirque is one of my favourite Biosphere albums in that it features more "upbeat" tracks with interesting beats and drum patterns that border on drum & bass at times - the combination of Algae & Fungi Parts 1 & 2 is an absolute highlight for me. And Dropsonde marks a return to this slightly more upbeat style - we've got heart-warming ambience of course (Sherbrooke), but as a fan of jazz-infused drum & bass, there is plenty on this album to make the heart flutter. Hugely accessible and highly recommended.
Cirque is one of my favourite Biosphere albums in that it features more "upbeat" tracks with interesting beats and drum patterns that border on drum & bass at times - the combination of Algae & Fungi Parts 1 & 2 is an absolute highlight for me. And Dropsonde marks a return to this slightly more upbeat style - we've got heart-warming ambience of course (Sherbrooke), but as a fan of jazz-infused drum & bass, there is plenty on this album to make the heart flutter. Hugely accessible and highly recommended.
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
›
Go to Amazon.com to see both reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
