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Christ.
"Seeing and Doing"
2005, Benbecula Records
(ben029cd)
5036319008449
Track Listing
01 fragile x
02 marsh of epidemics
03 magic piano
04 alter boy
05 marsh of epidemics (alias remix)
+ always to play (video)
After releasing the highly successful, "Metamorphic Reproduction
Miracle" album, Christ. immediately cemented his place as one of the
most respected electronica artists of the decade. After appearing live
at Sonar 2003 in Barcelona he embarked on a UK tour with Schneider TM.
Toward the end of the tour the pair played a live session on the John
Peel Show in December 2003, which has gone down as one of the best
live sessions ever.2004 saw Christ continue to promote his album
and some fresh material across Europe including Spain, France and
Finland. In October 2004 he played alongside Robin Guthrie and
Reverbaphon at the Benbecula Records Showcase in Glasgow.
Along the way Christ.’s style has matured and the first fruits of
his new output are on this classic EP. Dark, dynamic and refreshingly
playful at times, it perfectly exhibits his talents as a seasoned
producer and song writer. The EP is the perfect introduction to a
clean branch of style that hints at the magic that will materialize
within his new album later in 2005.
The EP has two further bonuses, the first being a spellbinding
remix by Anticon star, Alias. The second a video mpeg by
Christ's video designer in residence, Gavin Livingstone.
Reviews
"... what makes this artist different is his textured landscapes that
overlap and continue for what seems an eternity - the music sitting in
this moody juncture between romantic and dark playfulness, and it just
feels so right."
Ari Stein, Flux Magazine
"consummately proves that electronica can be challenging, eclectic and
emotional whilst retaining an acute sense of joyous listenability ...
Seeing and Doing does just what a good EP should; feels all too short
whilst leaving you thoroughly satisfied that you’ve not been short
changed. Buy: it will improve your life. When taken alongside
Phrizzm’s recent release we’ve come to the conclusion that unless
someone plays a second-half blinder, Benbecula are our favourite label
of the year. Game Over."
Speakers Push the Air
"Metamorphic Reproduction Miracle was one of the best records of 2003,
and so it was with justifiable glee that I sat down to listen to this,
Christ's latest EP on Benbecula ... Lazy adjectives such as 'ambient'
and 'relaxing' are bound to get thrown about in the wake of this
release, but such descriptions don't do justice to the lush
orchestration that is on display here. This is music to completely
lose yourself in, and the apparent simplicity of the arrangements
belies the depth and intricacy of it's production. Gorgeous.
4/5"
Noise Magazine
"Although nothing has filter as off yet about a second album, this EP
shows Christ. in particular creative form. Building on his previous
two releases, Seeing & Doing also suggests a slightly different
approach to sound, with substance taking the step over pure ambience.
This can only be good news."
Milk
Factory
"This EP will delight those of you with a healthy enthusiasm for the
electronic take on the world ... This could be one hell of a second
coming."
Sam Shepherd,
MusicOMH
"Almost two years after that debut LP came out, Seeing And Doing's
four new originals hint at the continuing evolution of his sound
having toured steadily, playing various festival showcases, and even
treating John Peel to an encore performance. While the same
essential ambiance remains, these new tracks have more layers.
They're richer, fuller, and somewhat more abstract. EP highlight
"Marsh Of Epidemics," which receives a remix here at the hands of
Anticon's Alias, sees noise upon noise, sample upon sample, and
synth upon synth layered steadily to a shattering crescendo by
minute five, while a too slow for stumbling beat works underneath
like a hip-hop loop missing a few sections. If you like ambient at
all, this is a must hear. Dig the Reefer Madness sample that kicks
off "Magic Piano," too. Look for a full-length later this year."
Tiny Mix Tapes
"In follow-up to his debut album Metamorphic Reproduction Miracle,
Christ has risen up once again to bring something slightly more funky
and accessible, while still keeping pungently enigmatic overtures in
his wake as heard on "Marsh of Epidemics" (the final track is a
fortified chill-out mix of the same track by Alias) ... Still as crisp
as kettle chips, but goes down like a trancy chill pill!"
TJ Norris, Igloo
"Seeing and Doing is twenty-four minutes of masterful electronica from
Christ. ... The EP, which also includes a video by Gavin Livingstone,
offers a promising foretaste of Christ.'s next album ..."
Ron Schepper, Textura
"'Seeing and Doing' has infiltrated (my) head even more than '
metamorphic reproduction miracle ', its like an infection that causes
you to just pause and listen without even needing to focus on the
music, which goes to prove the quality is built within. I love it."
Tesselate
"Magical electronica with evasive melodies."
Only for DJs (France)
"This disc has an apparent calm character but disquieting and dark
passages certainly subtle though ... gives us good advance for the
forthcoming album of Christ announced for this year."
Guillermo Escudero, Loop
""Seeing and Doing" is a lovely release ... reveal the work of a very
talented contemporary musician, but let it be said “Marsh of
Epidemics” completely steals the show."
Electronic Desert
"Overall an excellent EP of chilled musicality and craftsmanship.
Recommended for your system in the small hours of the morning - flight
encoded bass."
Miscreat
"The most exciting aspect of this EP is evidence of Christ’s musical
development. He’s beginning to experiment with structure and style,
expanding beyond Boards of Canada clichés. I hope he continues to
evolve."
Gridface
"The Christ.'s sound is extremely fluid also when the single elements
are superimposed, through nervous particles, deep basses, captured and
filtered voices, rhythmical mesh sometimes dense and sometimes melted
in nocturnal ambient rarefactions."
Comunicazione Interna
"It is with humility that I put this offering from Scottish label
Benbecula into my disc player and immersed myself into the sound
composition being offered.
The brief intro "Fragile X" sets the tone, with a dreamlike downtempo
radio-static-enhanced rhythm, atmospheric synth, and barely
comprehensible vocal samples—possibly taken from a Freemason lodge
exercise record.
My friend and mentor William Anhang speaks of an invention in heaven
called the "pianyes" (as opposed to piaNo) whereby moving your hands
in front of this magical instrument causes it to create celestial
musics—sort of like a heavenly theremin of Creation. Track 3
("Magic Piano") is conceptually not unlike this and is a dreamy
cinematic ambient piece with no drums and makes good use of static and
synth pads and layers—though this piano is a little more down to
Earth.
"Alter Boy" is my favorite track of the EP, continuing along the same
lines of the rest, but striking a balance in the formula of emotional
synth and incomprehensible metaphysical vocal samples evoking idyllic
memories of vignettes in proper childhood catechism.
The sparse slowed down beat, ambient synth, and minimal and
understated vocal samples of track two—"Marsh of Epidemics"—gets
remixed by Alias of Anticon fame, and the track is given a somewhat
fatter drum and added melodic clarity. Though it does not quite match
the disconnected-yet-present effect of the original, the use of the
vocal sample is effective (and actually audible) and the track marches
along a little more upbeat than the original, closing the EP
appropriately.
Of special note, the "Always to Play (mpeg video)" is classic home
video footage of a burning home, the beach, and a baby playing piano,
with a beautiful ambient wash of very slow crunchy atmospheric static
beats and lush analogue keyboard melody, with a sample stating "as a
kid my mother told me not to stare into the sun." Though brief, to me
it is the highlight of the EP."
We Love Musique
"Christ.'s new EP "Seeing and Doing" takes atmospherics to a new level
... 'Seeing and Doing' establishes Christ. as a major figure in the
world of electronica."
Gaz-eta
"Beautiful"
Autres Directions
Airplay
BBC
Radio 1 "Breezeblock"
01
BBC Radio 1 "Vic Galloway"
01
Digital Nimbus
Radio Magnetic "Magnetic North"
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