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Pan Sonic - X - 01-Apr-06 08:11 AM
Like all bands, Panasonic have good moments, and lesser good moments. This "X" compilation is a very weird one because it is by far NOT a best-of compilation... Far from it, actually. Yet, it isnt a compilation of their worst moments either. Rather, it is a collection of their typical, more "so-so" tracks from various releases. For example, the piece they took from their "B" EP is what I consider to be the weakest track off that EP, but thats just my personnal tastes. I wouldnt call this one a "must have" for Panasonic fans, but there is an unreleased piece, the track "O", which is a preview of their collaboration with Neubautens F. M. "Mufty" Einheit under the band name VVE. Still, a very saught-after and rare collectible, a great addition to any Panasonic collector out there.

Pan Sonic - Aaltopiiri - 01-Apr-06 08:11 AM
After a slightly disapointing "A", I was more sceptical about this recording than I had ever been about a Panasonic release. But then again, if I have high hopes for the bands recordings, that is my problem. But my fears quickly dissipated after the third track off the album was done. This is another "classic" entry into the bands ever expanding catalogue, and a rather pleasing one too. My general impressions are that this time around, they have cleaned up their sound (if that is even possible) and tried to make some of the tracks from this album slightly more accessible to non-Panasonic ears. This does not mean they have sold out and become commercial, but rather that, for the most part, most pieces from this disc seem a tad less "aggressive" than most other albums from the past. As usual, there is the Panasonic mixture of rhythm-oriented pieces, drone/hum/ambient pieces, and of course the louder, more static/noise oriented releases. I was told the track listing on the 2-record LP release differs from that of the official CD release, which will make my next comment irrelevant to those who dont own the CD version; somewhere in the middle of the CDs pieces is the main experimental/ambient portion, and theres a drone/static excerpt/piece which almost sounds like a remake of John Carpenters/Alan Howarths uncredited introductory piece from the 1982 classic "THE THING" (note: the Carpenter/Howarth soundtrack portions for "THE THING" are not available on the official soundtrack of the film). You can rank this release as another very good addition to the bands discography, and like "KULMA", can be a good introductory point for those not familiar with the bands sound.

Pan Sonic - Kulma - 31-Mar-06 07:47 AM
I am one of those crazy fans that actually has a copy of each release of this album: both the "Blast First!" original pressing with the complete uncensored band name on the cover (before the legal disputes) as well as the "Mute" re-issue with the second "a" missing in the band name. "KULMA" represents another good introduction to the electric world of Panasonic, with a good selection of their various styles. From the rhythm-heavy pieces like "Teurastamo" and "Vapina" to the chilled-out mechanical illbient of "Aines" and "-25", Panasonic explore their usual routes, letting their machines do the driving, and leaving the actual humans behind the project acting more like passengers. Although the Panasonic sound is not for everyone, "KULMA" may be a good introductory point to new listeners who havent hear other releases. Special notice to the last piece "Moottori" which is by far one of their most abbrasive (but not noise) rhythm tracks ever put to disc.

Pan Sonic - A - 31-Mar-06 07:47 AM
I have to admit that although I consider myself a seriously die-hard Panasonic fan, this release (the full-length album "A") is perhaps what I consider to be the weakest link in the chain of their incredible discography. Dont get me wrong, this is by no means a "bad" release, but to my own ears, I feel that there is much lacking from the Finnish boys this time around. The general feeling seems to be a lack of energy or intensity which is usually predominant in their recordings. Again, Panasonic explore a mixture of rhythms (very dub-raggah at times, and non-regular step patterns), repetitive electronics, and noisy soundescapes. But once again, my own feelings towards this release is that it never seems to take off; it barely glides around ground level, and seems more concentrated on their experimental ambient side than their harsher rhythm style. But perhaps this was their intention, since a few months later they released the EP "B", which is as close to dancefloor Panasonic as one can get.

Barry Adamson + Pan Sonic - Motorlab #3 - 30-Mar-06 05:12 PM
The oddest thing about this release isnt the sounds featured on the disc itself, nor the rather "creepy" cover and artwork design (as said by many female friends), but rather the emotional reaction the listener (you and I) gets every time the recording is being heard. A very short CD (just around the 30 minute mark), made even more short by the fact that about 1/2 of the audio recording actually belongs to The Halfler Trio. I also feel I have to say the the second piece (stuck between the main track and that Halfler Trio mix) barely deserves the title of "piece" being but a few seconds long of human snoring. Still, if you can get passed the short duration of the disc (and the full price tag I had to cough up) it remains a very strange, dark, unsettling, and mostly disturbing audio sculpture, crafted with impressive precision from all parties involved, and performed even more spectacularly. Still, potential listeners must be warned that there is very little of that "typical" Panasonic sound present in this recording. If anything, that Halfler Trio mix sounds more like Panasonic than the original piece. An enignmatic release, open to interpretation, and not for everyone.

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