Shulman - Soundscapes And Modern Tales

In Shulman's music there's some similarity to Shpongle that make me think, that these guys are just copying, but this really comes nowhere near the magic Shpongle has in their first album (and the second).
This album just seems to miss all direction and it sounds pretty dull to me. The song Small Grey Creatures has become sort of a inside joke for me and my friends, it makes me laugh everytime I hear it and makes me just want to skip to the next track after three minutes.

This oddly-titled, oddly-packaged and (spiritually) oddly-scented release from Shulman is a delight. Whether you like to think of it as one man’s soundtrack to an increasingly crazy world, or (like me) you prefer to think of it as music made by some kooky alien chaps (like the Star Wars Cantina Band messing about with Cubase), its quirky headiness and rootsy beauty are magic. On tunes like Small Grey Creatures and Avant Garden, Shulman creates a sublime unfolding atmosphere and almost manages to out-Shpongle Shpongle. He brings in huge beats (Aion), trip dub (Take A Walk Outside) and even offers half a nod to the dancefloor (fromage). Overlook the nasty taste of Jan Hammer-esque vibraphone in Shigo, and instead divert your spliffy attention to the filtered arpeggios, cut up vocals and cute dubby reflections that make this an album to soak up and enjoy. The fractal alien chorus singing yogic mantras (really) on Elements will make you weep, and the knowing and meditative groove throughout this album is world class. Love it.

Review by Damion Brown, http://www.psyreviews.com/