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The Ideal Condition
 
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The Ideal Condition [CD]

~ Paul Hartnoll
3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
Price: £9.98 & this item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
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Product details

  • Audio CD (29 Jun 2009)
  • Number of Discs: 1
  • Format: CD
  • Label: ACP Recordings Ltd
  • ASIN: B000OPP7PY
  • Other Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
  • Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 9,131 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Listen to Samples and Buy MP3s

Songs from this album are available to purchase as MP3s. Click on "Buy MP3" or view the MP3 Album.

Samples
Song Title Time Price
Listen  1. Haven't We Met Before? 4:25£0.69
Listen  2. For Silence 4:02£0.69
Listen  3. Simple Sounds 4:54£0.69
Listen  4. Please 4:02£0.69
Listen  5. The Unsteady Waltz 4:28£0.69
Listen  6. Nothing Else Matters 4:09£0.69
Listen  7. Patchwork Guilt 4:46£0.69
Listen  8. Aggro 4:18£0.69
Listen  9. Dust Motes 5:22£0.69

Product Description

CD Description

Paul Hartnoll was for fifteen years half of the cult Brit electronica duo Orbital, in which he performed with his brother Phil. Three years after their split, he presents this debut solo album, in which he expands on the core Orbital soundof airy, arpeggiated ambient techno. Grandiose orchestral elements vie with harder, club-bound vocal tracks, including the single 'Please' which features the lachrymose vocals of The Cure's Robert Smith.

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Customer Reviews

22 Reviews
5 star:
 (9)
4 star:
 (9)
3 star:    (0)
2 star:
 (1)
1 star:
 (3)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
3.9 out of 5 stars (22 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Soundtrack-esque!, 14 May 2007
By Munkazoid (London, England) - See all my reviews
The long-awaited solo album from one half of British dance music pioneers Orbital. Nobody can deny how influential and groundbreaking their style was, and still sounds to this day. So in the 3 years since Orbital's official end, in what direction has Mr Hartnoll's musical creativity taken him?
The answer - loads of directions!

There's a bit of something for everyone here, particularly if you're a film director and are in need of a soundtrack... Departing somewhat (but not totally!) from Orbital's downtempo electronic soundscapes, this album is much more organic, with grand orchestras and choirs galore, and is certainly a very mature piece of work on the whole.
Paul Hartnoll has managed to blend the sweeping, building orchestral songs with starkly contrasting vocal tracks, without the album sounding messy and unfocused.

All in all, it's not only going to appeal to staunch Orbital fans, but also to a wider audience because no doubt we'll be hearing some of the tunes on the TV and in films at some point!
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars An evolution and courageous personal expression, 4 Jul 2007
By M. Cooter "south_coaster" (Portsmouth, UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
Paul will never be completely unshackled from his Orbital legacy, and given their low-key history, it is inevitable that most of his early audience will be curious Orbital fans.

Listeners will get a hybrid of orchestral electronica both clearly from the same mind. There are definite traces or Orbitals best work there, but also a more refined evolution.

4 of the more electronic tracks instantly blew me away, with 'For Silence' being my personal favourite for sheer beauty, then a close run race between Patchwork Guilt, Nothing Else Matters and the excellent collaboration with Robert Smith, 'Please'.

But there is something else here too, the real *live* orchestra that Paul assembled for the recording shows a more mature artist and adds a thrilling depth. It's not as immediately accessible, but I do get where he's coming from and congratulate him on being brave enough to do what is true for him.

Buy this album, get next to the best speakers / headphones you can find and allow Paul to show you where his head's at, it's a rewarding trip.
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10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant album - dare I say, better than Orbital?, 8 Jun 2007
By Mr. Stuart Bruce "DonQuibeats" (Cardiff, UK) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)      
What a brilliant album this is. The first single "Please" made me expect that this sound exactly like an Orbital album, but it's different, just the right amount of different to please both Orbital fans and new listeners. It's very strong, polished and confident.

In interviews Paul Hartnoll has said that he's been aiming to get more into doing film soundtrack work, and in this album you can definitely tell.

Hartnoll's use of an ensemble of violins and a choir on tracks like "Haven't We Met Before?" and "Nothing Else Matters" is brilliant, just the right balance of authentic and electronic.

Tracks like "Please" and the extremely David Bowie-like vocals on "Aggro" give the album a slightly rockier edge in parts.

Stand-out track for me is "Patchwork Guilt". As with Orbital albums in the past, there's one track that I could listen to over and over again without getting bored, and on this album "Patchwork Guilt" is it.

My ONLY criticism would be that at under 50 minutes, it is too short. It would have been a bonus if some of the tracks had been extended, maybe to Orbital-like proportions, as this album really leaves you wanting more.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Like Orbital meets Ennio Morricone (with some vocals)
Cards on the table - I love Orbital, I've grown up with them from "Chime" onwards. I was a bit worried about what this would be like. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Pob75

5.0 out of 5 stars ORBITAL BROTHER PULLS AT THE HEARTSTRINGS IN A MAGNIFICIENT WAY!...A REAL SUPRISE AND AN INCREDIBLE MEISTERWORK.
Seeing as orbital probably wont be getting back together in a hurry- they're brothers, and possibly to maintain some sanity/resepct/love after nearly 15 years composing together,... Read more
Published 15 months ago by Mr. S. R. Dhain

5.0 out of 5 stars Superb
Superb album , 'Patchwork guilt' is a lesson to all how to make electronica however i dont think 'Aggro' should of been put on the
album it really upsets the flow.
Published 17 months ago by Mr. Tyrone Power

1.0 out of 5 stars Extremely Disappointing
Some reviewers say that this album is courageous. He's quite obviously strayed way out of his comfort zone. Read more
Published 23 months ago by woppo

5.0 out of 5 stars It's new, it's exciting, get over it!
I agree whole heartedly with JimmyX2 - this is a great album, he's done something different and although a couple of tracks are a bit clumsy it works as a whole. Read more
Published on 27 Sep 2007 by Wall boy

5.0 out of 5 stars AMAZING
I was very concerned when I read that someone wanted to put a zero rating for this album. Why? The only reason I can come up with is that the reviewer doesn't like the orchestra... Read more
Published on 1 Sep 2007 by Mr. J. Ekema

5.0 out of 5 stars missing orbital anyone?
i got into orbital pretty late and by the blue album it was all over and i was pissed cos i loved their sound and there are traces of it in this album but this album is much more... Read more
Published on 8 Aug 2007 by daniel

4.0 out of 5 stars A solid album
The most I've enjoyed an album created by anyone with the surname of Hartnoll since... oooh... The Middle of Nowhere (which I consider to be the last good Orbital album - not that... Read more
Published on 26 Jul 2007 by Mr. R. P. England

4.0 out of 5 stars Wow
I had extremely high expectations of this CD. Patchwork Guilt and Simple Sounds. Pure genius!
Published on 24 Jul 2007 by Athena

4.0 out of 5 stars Quality!
A lot of mixed reviews here, and yes we all Know the Orbital story.
For me Orbital always meant quality, and emotion, and for me this has it. Read more
Published on 21 Jul 2007 by AndyBaby

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