Clark* - Body Riddle

Not only is it the best album of 2006, but also one of the greatest records ever made by anyone, anywhere. Multi-layered, breath-taking organic sound almost literally flows out of the speakers/headphones and starts living on its own with each and every track. Orchestral surroundings, mesmerizing bleeps, distant echoes, distorted beats, crushy crisps... Bitter-sweet world of Chris Clark is a place where everything is perfectly balanced and immaculately produced. Only few managed to get so high and Clark is one of them. Absolutely prodigious and essential album.

Wow, this album is great! Clark is like Amon Tobin - I don't necessarily mean the terms of music; rather a chameleon-like ability to switch between various genres without losing the density. Clark is obviously very talented and full of good ideas and his debut album proves that very well. One of the best albums of 2006, I'll definitely watch this guy's further career. Hopefully his best work is yet to be recorded.

This is easily Clark's most accessible work. While I am a huge fan of his, and like pretty much every track he's released so far, many people who I attempt to "turn on" to his music find it a little too electronic, glitchy, maybe even hectic. Body Riddle, however, has a healthy dosage of live drums and analog samples that make it more organic and universally likable.

Ted is the track that seems to be garnering the most attention, and for good reason. However, The Autumnal Crush is easily my favorite track. It's chock-full of emotion, near tear-inducing, yet it doesn't accomplish this through the commonly-used method of melancholy cello or piano lines. It does so with a simple repeated synth melody, a live drum riff and the swirling sounds of an autumn wind storm. It's simply spine-chilling.

Best album of 2006, or ever as far as I'm concerned.

Body Riddle has to be the best album of the year, in my opinion. That release is a solid sequel to Clarence Park and Empty The Bones Of You, after an endless 3 years. The album is more focused on melody and abstract beats. The fusion of abstraction and beauty both magically mix together, resulting a masterpiece that is Body Riddle. The best track is obviously "Matthew Unburdened" because it's so dreamy with the use of piano, string instruments and beats. Too bad the album only lasts 42 minutes, which is short for me. But it's worth a 42 minutes of such masterful material. Chris Clark is an underrated artist and I think people should know him more, notably with this wonderful release.