- Audio CD (17 July 2000)
- Number of Discs: 1
- Label: Sport
- ASIN: B00005KFVX
- Other Editions: Audio CD | MP3 Download
- Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 96,558 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
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Product details |
Track Listings
| 1. Exercise 1 |
| 2. Private Road |
| 3. Cylons In Love |
| 4. I Love My Man |
| 5. Invisible Pedestrian |
| 6. Chocolate Wings |
| 7. I Remember Johnny |
| 8. Swollen |
| 9. Welly Top Mary |
| 10. A Ribbon for My Hair |
| 11. Irritating Noises |
| 12. Always |
| 13. Exercise 2 |
Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Humour. Not enough of it in electronic music, or so they say. Well, thank goodness for Programmed To Love because as it says on the sleeve notes-"They are Bent". Obvious innuendo aside, the duo are actually bent in the sense that their approach to making electronic music is seriously skewed. The two are Masters of Whimsy, building lush soundscapes from humorous dialogue, fey electronica and even a few frisky efforts like the thinly veiled metaphor for sodomy that is "Chocolate Star". As listening experiences go, the sample-based Programmed to Love is a genuine pleasure. Blankets of melody rise and fall gently over innocuous rhythms, with the odd cosmic sound thrown in for good measure. The duo allegedly locked themselves in a studio for a couple of weeks with just their equipment and a load of vodka for this album, but while some of the tracks bear an amusing, crapulous quality (such as the now classic tune "Swollen", the folkish, almost unearthly "Private Road" (featuring vocalist Zoe Johnston) and the lewd "Chocolate Star"), many of the tracks here are simply enigmatic and charming. From the acoustic chug of "Cylons In Love," the funky "Invisible Pedestrian" and the subtly sweeping feel of "I Remember Johnny", this is a very original and captivating album that posits a genuinely alternative sound to the likes of other downtempo acts like Air, Zero 7 and Royksopp.--Paul Sullivan
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I bought this album on the strength of "Swollen", I had never hear of "Bent" at the time. The album is a fascinating eclectic collection of songs, electronically based rhythms and samples from artists not usually associated with modern electronic/dance music (i.e. Nana Mouskouri, Norrie Paramour Orchestra etc)and the wonderful voice of Zoe Johnston (Faithless) on two. There are at least four variations of this album available (2 UK versions,US version and French as far as I am aware), the 13 track UK release is possibly the best choice as it contains all but one of the tracks on the US version(the 10 track UK version does however feature a 19 minute track af three sections called "Always"; containing "Always","Toothless Gibbon" and a third sction not present on any other release).
This is an album that has become one of my firm favourites, lookin forward to the next release "The Everlasting Blink" (February) featuring artistes from disparate areas i.e. David Essex,Captain & Tenille and Billy Jo Spears.
I am convinced that these will be two classic albums many people will have in their collection in ten years time.
This is an album that has become one of my firm favourites, lookin forward to the next release "The Everlasting Blink" (February) featuring artistes from disparate areas i.e. David Essex,Captain & Tenille and Billy Jo Spears.
I am convinced that these will be two classic albums many people will have in their collection in ten years time.
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
You will have heard Bent already - they are the sort of band that produce music that the good TV and advertising people pick up on. It's fantastic - easy, tuneful, haunting, complex (which I know contradicts the easy). One of the few albums that I will actually listen to all the way through - a complete work with no bum tracks. Something to come home to and relax with. Great song titles. I love the bonus track (although recording the five minutes of silence before it kicks in on my MP3 player is a bit of a waste.
If you've bought any compilation with a Bent track on, and like it, you will not regret exploring them further.
Lovely Lovely Lovely
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
These guys deserve megastar status and personally I think it's only a matter of time. Quite a few of these tracks have already been used in TV adverts and most Ibisa chill-out collections will have a Bent track tucked in them somewhere. From the opening quirkiness of "Excerise 1" with it's swirling synths and soothly stabbing chords the chilled pace is set for a truly exhilarating ride through dreamland. Each track has an individuality of it's own yet still having that undeniably cool Bent sound. Soothing Female Vocals on "Swollen" & "Private Road", Opera inflected vocals on "Always" (I swear I can see Snow White skipping through the woods), Mike Flowers (or is it Edwyn Collins?) type vocals on "Chocolate Ways", and even the children singing "London bridge is falling down" on the final hidden track (believe me it works) transport you through glorious, richly textured soundscapes. Play it once and it will never leave your CD player. An odd but strangely wonderful sense of humour is constant thoughout this album and once you've succumbed to Bent's soothing charm you'll be hooked and hunting down all of the 12" singles which are all totally worthy on their own. Outstanding!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
A very nice sounding album
I bought this album after seeing them interviewed on TV. It wasn't there latest album but it was the cheapest, so I went for it. Read more
Published on 20 Nov 2005 by J. Bushell
Schizophrenic...
There are songs of genius on this album, and that's what makes it so listenable. There's also some dross. At least the dross is different and unformulaic. Read more
Published on 3 Oct 2005 by Mr. Robert Murphy
Disappointed...
After hearing all the great reviews for this album, and falling in love with Swollen, I was expecting great things. Ideas of Goldfrapp-esque were obviously my downfall. Read more
Published on 21 Feb 2004 by "beastieuk"
Chillout classic
I bought this on partially recommendation, but due to the track 'I love my Man' which is on the Back to Mine Faithless album, which samples a Nana Mouskori track. Read more
Published on 28 Oct 2003 by "gmorris114"
best album I've heard this year - straIght up
I don't do a lot of reviews, but I have been stung into this one by some of the rubbish written about this album here. Read more
Published on 10 Oct 2003 by gregburroughs
simply astounding
This CD is simply brilliant. The song " Swollen" has got to be one of the most haunting, poetic and beautiful peices of music ever composed. Read more
Published on 3 Sep 2003 by rebecca romalis
A little weak in places
I bought this album after hearing 'Swollen' and 'Always' - which, are arguably the best tracks on the album. But as has been said before, Bent can be weak then they are, well bent. Read more
Published on 5 April 2003 by "big_o_g"
Music to wash your windows by.
I bought this recently and it's been played quite a lot in the few days that I've had it. The highlights in my opinion are 'Private Road', 'I Love My Man', 'Swollen' and 'A Ribbon... Read more
Published on 19 Feb 2003 by a person
At their best when not so bent
Bent are afraid to admit they make beautiful music. It's true. When the duo (Simon Mils and Nail Tolliday) focus their will on making charming records the results can be stellar:... Read more
Published on 21 Nov 2002 by Richard Diaz
Healing
I bought this album for one song: "Always."
But it would prove that Always was just a tip of the iceberg. Read more
But it would prove that Always was just a tip of the iceberg. Read more
Published on 3 Oct 2002 by Christian Lowensprung
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