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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
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
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
15 of 15 people found the following review helpful
By Dave Dark
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
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
By "gwiltychan"
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
By A Customer
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!
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Audio CD
I bought this album on the back of hearing the superb Private Road, the instrumental part of which you'll recognise from the Carlsberg advert from earlier this year: 'If Carlsberg ran a bank, it would probably be the best bank in the world.' The vocals on Private Road simply add to this gloriously blissful tune.
The rest of the album is similarly dreamy and mellow and you'll love it if you're a connoisseur of chilled out sounds along the lines of Air and Zero 7.
I'm usually one of those people that reads album reviews with a fair degree of scepticism. Trust me when I tell you Programmed To Love is an absolute gem. It's one of those rare albums that keeps you captivated from start to finish, and I liked it so much it inspired me to write this.
The rest of the album is similarly dreamy and mellow and you'll love it if you're a connoisseur of chilled out sounds along the lines of Air and Zero 7.
I'm usually one of those people that reads album reviews with a fair degree of scepticism. Trust me when I tell you Programmed To Love is an absolute gem. It's one of those rare albums that keeps you captivated from start to finish, and I liked it so much it inspired me to write this.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By J. Bushell
Format:Audio CD
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.
If you like modern sounding dance, chill-out, and something well produced then you can't go wrong with this.
If you like modern sounding dance, chill-out, and something well produced then you can't go wrong with this.
I think albums have a perfect time of year. This one is a Spring time album.
The first track is also a funny introduction to the album. Don't be put off by it. I laugh everytime, and theres no hiss involved whatever.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
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. To start with the bad stuff -'Cylons in Love' and 'Chocolate Wings' take at least 100 listens before getting used to. But the good stuff is so memorable. 'Private Road' is heartbreaking, 'Swollen' is one of the most beautifully sad songs I've ever heard. It's delivered with stunning vocals. But my favourite track is 'Always.' It reminds me of early 80s electronica, of The Pet Shop Boys at their beginning - it shows what magic can be worked with sampling. If only Bent had cut out the naff three or four songs - it would be timeless. Bent's best album is 'Aerials' But 'Programmed to Love has moments of brilliance and moments of rubbish - this is a schizophrenic album that's definitely worth a listen.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
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. If I hear any more about Swollen and Allways being the best tracks on the album I will get seriously irate. They are good tracks, but stand out only in their being more upbeat, more commercial and a damn sight less original and musically uplifting than the majority of the rest of of the album. Take Cylons in Love for example - lush acoustic riffs in the foreground, accompanied by the metallic crooning of lovelorn robots - you simply don't get this sort of stuff anywhere else - and what's more the quality of the melodic composition is as high (if not higher) than the originality of the arrangement.
I know I am not the only person to listen to this album solidly for months - then forget about it - then rediscover and listen to it for months again - it's that good. And anyone who says that Swollen and Allways are the highlights here must be severely aesthtically retarded.
I know I am not the only person to listen to this album solidly for months - then forget about it - then rediscover and listen to it for months again - it's that good. And anyone who says that Swollen and Allways are the highlights here must be severely aesthtically retarded.
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4.6 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
1.0 out of 5 stars
Awful
This review comes from an internet game. You buy an album you've never heard of from a shop. Then you write your impression of it before and after listening to it for the first... Read more
Published 4 months ago by BS on parade
5.0 out of 5 stars
top class
Programmed to Love is a great album, full of classic tunes such as Cylons In Love and Swollen. Bent are one of the great progressive dance (if that is the right term) acts of the... Read more
Published 5 months ago by Ghost Dog 808
2.0 out of 5 stars
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"
5.0 out of 5 stars
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"
5.0 out of 5 stars
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
4.0 out of 5 stars
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"
4.0 out of 5 stars
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
3.0 out of 5 stars
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
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