Started as a side project of Black Dog Productions. Ed and Andy slowly began to withdraw from the Black Dog project and work on more material.
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Reviews & Discussion
I most definitely agree with the statement above (although every warp headliner is unique in it's own way). They play with sound in a most unique way, so the result is usually a vison of some kind of mechanism, be it a clock, a robo-toy or a factory. The atmosphere on a first album is cheerful and melodies easily remembered, but their sound evolved into more complex, sometimes gloomy, soundscapes. Visual (video and animation) part is also inseparable aspect of their band identity.
I mean seriously. Try to beat the sophistication, the complexity and yet musical quality of a track like "zeal", with its multiple layers, its roaring basses and the perfect yet humanized drum programming. It is full of thought and detail and I seriously think that each one of their tracks stands for something that is important to Ed and Andy. This is no "let's try and make something that sounds cool". No one nighter, this is the top end of IDM at its finest.
I can only agree. I have ssen them live three times and own pretty much everything by them. and i must say that their music, allbeit electronic, has so much sould, thought and life in it. the melancholy and depth is stunning. to me it is like they are painting their feelings with music in the weirdest possible colors. being a musicvideo artist and director i can only say that it is my biggest wish to shoot something for them.
The paradox of Plaid is that they at first 'sight' seize the attention of people who usually poorly perceive electronic sound. I think Ed and Andy discovered new horizon of IDM. Very deep insight into melody and sound makes Plaid so creative that I doubt they can ever write a mediocre release. And all the tricks they can make with original tracks... Try to get all their remixes on many releases and compare with the originals – you will definitely hear the difference. A 'must listen' for any devotee of Intelligent Dance Music.
Year after year we see music awards shows where the mainstream basks in glory- money, fame etc. A parade of mediocrity.
Why do I bring this up here? Because I think Ed Handley and Andy Turner are two of the most talented musicians on the planet. Very, very, very few musicians put you in a world you don't want to leave...make music that makes you feel like a better person for having listened to it, that inspires you, that appeals to any music lover. My 68 year old mother raised on big band and show tunes likes it, so do my friends from Asia and the Mexican lady who cleans my office.
They all like the Macarena too- so what? Answer: where are the guys that made the Macarena?
Like the mixes of Derrick May and the etudes of Chopin, the beats of Basic Channel and the soul of Carl Craig, Plaid's music adds so much to my life- has and will for a long time.
Why do I bring this up here? Because I think Ed Handley and Andy Turner are two of the most talented musicians on the planet. Very, very, very few musicians put you in a world you don't want to leave...make music that makes you feel like a better person for having listened to it, that inspires you, that appeals to any music lover. My 68 year old mother raised on big band and show tunes likes it, so do my friends from Asia and the Mexican lady who cleans my office.
They all like the Macarena too- so what? Answer: where are the guys that made the Macarena?
Like the mixes of Derrick May and the etudes of Chopin, the beats of Basic Channel and the soul of Carl Craig, Plaid's music adds so much to my life- has and will for a long time.
You might notice as you read comments on individual Plaid releases that even Plaid's fans can't really make up their minds about what's good and what's not. This is because Plaid are artists of such sophistication that it usually takes months of listening before you know what they're up to with a given album; sometimes you never find out, but return, perplexed, over and over again. Their four albums are very different and at first each seems seriously flawed, though with enough gems among the rubble to redeem it. After a while you realise that in fact it's largely gems and very little rubble, and after that there's just no calling it between the albums. (How many other artists have no undisputed best album or best couple of albums?) You just don't find depth like this in much electronic music--Plaid can really do things with sound.
Just got the new album "Spokes" and it's got some of the freshest tunes I've heard all year. Really innovative ideas that work well. Lots of resonating bell noises and some fast, diving beats. The production quality is first class and you get the feeling the boys have put a lot of time and thought into this. Full of soul. Bloody excellent.
Plaid: THE BEST BAND IN THE WORLD. Who can surpass them when it comes to writing, producing & remixing? Well, you can try and think of someone, but at the end of the day there isn't anyone! From the early days (Undoneson) to now (Spokes), everthing they have done has been of the highest quality. With an amazing insight into music they touch everyone who hears them. 'Never to be bettered, never to be beaten'
Beautiful and emotional tunes almost every time. Particularly love those tracks with interlocking cascades of xylophone type sounds (see if you can find their remix of Le Tone's 'Rocky 8'). Latest stuff ive heard is a little darker but still stupidly high quality. One of Warp's finest. Check the P-Brain EP for a good mix of styles, and Ralome on Rest Proof Clockwork for a blissed-out guitar experience with gentle snares skittering from one speaker to the other (try it with headphones).
not one shit track not one shit remix.
must be the best band in the world ever,I meat the men form plaid in cardiff a few years back and very nice lads they are to.
long live PLAID.
best band on warp and best band ever.