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Silver Apples of the Moon

 
Album Review: Silver Apples of the Moon

  • Artist: Laika
  • Rating: StarStarStarStar
  • Release Date: March 28, 1995
  • Total Time: 43:53
  • Type: Lyrics are included with the album
  • Genre: Rock

Review

Starting off with a clattering, noisy loop but soon settling down into calmer but no less fascinating waters, Silver Apples of the Moon makes for a great debut from the Laika collective, inventive, modern, and unafraid to take chances. Unlike many efforts from folks with a more rock-oriented background that took an electronic plunge, Silver Apples of the Moon sounds like both Fiedler and Fixsen have been working in that field for years, and with confidence at that. Certainly Fiedler's experience with Moonshake and Fixsen's production skills didn't hurt, but Laika is, in many ways, a leap into the beyond for both, slinky and dark, with an obsessive focus on rhythm and groove. Comparisons are hard to draw -- all the better for it, as it demonstrates the group's uniqueness -- but there's something of the pioneering post-punk/electro/funk spirit of the early '80s here (check out "44 Robbers," in particular), only for a later generation with a broader background palette. Kindred spirits might be early Seefeel or contemporaneous Tricky, but more for the sense of sonic adventure than specific sound. Breathy shared vocals from the two at points suggest easy listening grooves and erotic tension (it's actually appropriate that My Bloody Valentine drummer Colm O'Ciosoig worked on the arrangements), but Fiedler takes the lead most times, and very well at that. The outrageously playful "Marimba Song," which understandably lives up to its name with certain key samples, and the crisp, punchy strut of "Coming Down Glass," with a truly purring bassline, are just two highlights of many. For all the darker moods and Fiedler's breathy, attractively low-key singing, what comes across most from Silver Apples of the Moon is a sheer sense of joy, of playing with music and creating atmospheres at once lively and maybe just a touch melancholy. ~ Ned Raggett, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track TitleComposersPerformersTime
Sugar Daddy Guy Fixsen, Margaret Fiedler Laika (5:25)
Marimba Song (Lyrics) Guy Fixsen, Margaret Fiedler Laika (5:15)
Let Me Sleep Guy Fixsen, Margaret Fiedler Laika (4:23)
Itchy and Scratchy Margaret Fiedler, Guy Fixsen Laika (:57)
Coming Down Glass Guy Fixsen, Margaret Fiedler Laika (4:57)
If You Miss Guy Fixsen, Margaret Fiedler Laika (5:19)
44 Robbers Guy Fixsen, Margaret Fiedler Laika (4:15)
Red River Margaret Fiedler, Guy Fixsen Laika (3:56)
Honey in Heat Guy Fixsen, Margaret Fiedler Laika (4:23)
Thomas Guy Fixsen, Margaret Fiedler Laika (3:26)
Spider Happy Hour Margaret Fiedler, Guy Fixsen Laika (1:40)

Credits

Guy Fixsen (Vibraphone), Neil (Assistant), Margaret Fiedler (Voices), Guy Fixsen (Moog Synthesizer), Margaret Fiedler (Engineer), Guy Fixsen (Voices), Margaret Fiedler (Vocals), Margaret Fiedler (Sampling), Margaret Fiedler (Vibraphone), John Frenett (Bass), Louis Elliot (Saxophone), Margaret Fiedler (Marimba), Margaret Fiedler (Mixing), Lou Ciccotelli (Percussion), Margaret Fiedler (Guitar), Margaret Fiedler (Melodica), Guy Fixsen (Vocals), Colm O'Ciosoig (Digital Editing), Guy Fixsen (Engineer), Louise Elliott (Saxophone), Lou Ciccotelli (Drums), Guy Fixsen (Melodica), Laika (Design), Guy Fixsen (Mixing), Louis Elliot (Flute), Guy Fixsen (Guitar), Margaret Fiedler (Moog Synthesizer), Laika (Sleeve Design), Guy Fixsen (Marimba), Louise Elliott (Flute), Guy Fixsen (Sampling)
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Wikipedia: Silver Apples of the Moon (album)
Top
Silver Apples of the Moon
Studio album by Laika
Released March 28, 1995
Genre Indie electronic, dream pop
Label Too Pure
Professional reviews
Laika chronology
Silver Apples of the Moon
(1995)
Sounds of the Satellites
(1997)

Silver Apples of the Moon is the debut album by the English band Laika. It was released in 1995 by Too Pure Records.

Track listing

All songs by Margaret Fiedler and Guy Fixsen.

  1. "Sugar Daddy" – 5:25
  2. "Marimba Song" – 5:15
  3. "Let Me Sleep" – 4:23
  4. "Itchy and Scratchy" – 0:57
  5. "Coming Down Glass" – 4:57
  6. "If You Miss" – 5:19
  7. "44 Robbers" – 4:15
  8. "Red River" – 3:56
  9. "Honey in Heat" – 4:23
  10. "Thomas" – 3:26
  11. "Spider Happy Hour" – 1:40

Personnel

  • Lou Ciccotelli - Percussion, Drums
  • Louis Elliot - Flute, Saxophone
  • Louise Elliott - Flute, Saxophone
  • Margaret Fiedler - Guitar, Marimba, Vocals, Voices, Melodica, Moog Synthesizer, Engineer, Sampling, Vibraphone, Mixing
  • Guy Fixsen - Guitar, Marimba, Vocals, Voices, Melodica, Moog Synthesizer, Engineer, Sampling, Vibraphone, Mixing
  • John Frenett - Bass
  • Laika - Design, Sleeve Design
  • Neil - Assistant
  • Colm O'Ciosoig - Digital Editing

References


 
 

 

Copyrights:

Album Review. Copyright © 2009 All Media Guide, LLC. Content provided by All Music Guide ®, a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved.  Read more
Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Silver Apples of the Moon (album)" Read more