sklbns27, Nov 15, 2004
First I would like to quote from Warp's marketing blurb on their website. Warp says..
"Spokes marks a return in mood, if not production, to some of their earlier work in the 90's as The Black Dog, but retains the characteristic harmonic warmth and rhythmical sensibility they have developed as Plaid."
But from what I have heard I wouldn't get your hopes up too much on that Black Dog part they mention about. This album sounds (production wise) more like Orbital trying to make Plaid songs with a shade or just a pinch of that ol' Black Dog feel. Also right as the tracks are about to get good... it's over. Instead of a meaty song structure, a few phrases get looped building over and over until you catch on and then get that "oh the track should be over now" feel. Maybe Orbital could of lent some help on the structure to point out what parts needed to be "rocked out" on more. You hear a track progressing like "f- yeah it's going to blow up!" then sizzle, crackle, pop and fizz. The fuse burnt out resulting in the next track starting up. This happens on almost every track! I guess Warp messed up and should NOT of said anything about Black Dog. Black Dog is over and quit making up stuff that Plaid some how got "it" back Warp. It's a good album(?) but I'd like to know if there are fuller versions of these songs as each track on the CD is pretty much around 5 or 6 min. If somehow there were a longer version of this album it should of been 2 hours long on a DVD audio. Right now Spokes is too short!
4.1/5 (