grantcorp

Member Since: May 31, 2003
Rank: 33408
Average Vote Received: Correct (4.02, 1854 votes)
last 10 days: Correct (4.05, 58 votes)
Rated 6678 releases, average: 3.66
Profile:

Konstrukcja: ZSRR/Rosja
Uzytkownicy: ZSRR/Rosja
Dlugosc: 21.5 m
Srednica: 1.86 m (1 stopien), 1.55 m (2 stopien), 1.34 m (3 stopien), 0.8 m (PBV)
Waga: 45,100 kg
Ladownose: 1 x RV na PBV
Glowica: Jadrowa 550 kt
Naprowadzanie: Bezwladnoœciowe kontrolowane komputerowo
Paliwo: Stale + PBV
Zasieg: 10,500 km
Dokladnoœæ - dane: rosyjskie (CEP) 900 m, zachodnie (CEP) 150-250 m
Liczba egzemplarzy: Nieznana
Liczba uzbrojonych: 360 (09.2000)
Projekt: Biuro Projektowe Nadiradze
Wykonawca: Zaklad Budowy Maszyn Wotkinsk

Seller Rating:

100.0% positive (22 ratings)

Buyer Rating: 100.0% positive (535 ratings)

grantcorp's groups (13)

Reviews:

Iambia - Provocateur - 20-Nov-09 12:57 PM
Progress is one of those small labels that has earned a reputation for quality, and consequently a cadre of admiring listeners. In recent years however, it seems the brand has been somewhat diluted. Carrying the number nineteen is a new album by the Greek project Iambia who present a rather stereotypical blend of melody and pumping beats that flank some growling vocals of a supposedly provocative nature. At its best moments it sounds a bit like Decoded Feedback but the refrains lack that certain catch and the sound in general feels a bit more repetitive.

And then there is the thing with the samples. The band upholds the tired genre cliché of adding samples for sampling's own sake. And why is it that they have chosen to start with one of the most recognizable ones? Case in point: We are a mere ten seconds into the first track when you can hear a classic used on Skinny Puppy's old album "Rabies" (don't try to tell me Iambia have never listened to Skinny Puppy...). Seriously, the recycling of one-liners in the EBM genre is appalling and instantly devalues the music; before long you sit completely oblivious to whatever they are screaming about and try to remember where first you heard a particular quote. Revisit the music if you must but at least have the decency to skip those overused effects.

Overall good production values and the bonus disc contains some mixes that are fine and on par with the album content, though neither disc really warrants any questing to find it. Unless you are a discography completist this one can safely be given a pass, it is about 15 years too late to be taken seriously anyway.

Alucidnation - Get Lost - 14-Nov-09 07:50 AM
A very strong downtempo album with carefully crafted ambientish pearls, suitable for that kind of inner reflection which usually takes place at the hour when the sun has crept way below the horizon. The disc features some truly otherworldly gems and it is therefore unfortunate that it is held back a bit by the rather cheesy vocals tracks that appear here and there to break up the dreamy spell it has put on you. Overall though a very pleasant listen and heartily recommended.

Deuter - Mandala Meditation - 12-Nov-09 12:26 PM
Although I am certainly no expert on the topic, the Mandala suite did not strike me as being of a particularly meditative nature. It consists of four roughly equally long pieces of different nature. The opening segment is highly percussion driven and far from relaxing. It is followed by the second piece of processed guitar and synthesizer, complete with waves and seagulls. It then gradually slows down through the third gentle guitar piece and the fourth and last phase which initially felt a bit of a rip-off, being nothing but fifteen minutes of silence ended by a single gong.

This somewhat unorthodox approach stems from a particular meditation technique from the Osho foundation, located in Poona, India. The listener is encouraged to take different stances for each track. At the start you are supposed to run frenetically on the spot (hamster wheel?), second to sit with closed eyes and open mouth, third to lie down with open eyes and rotate your view in a clockwise fashion. Finally you are supposed to close your eyes and lie still doing nothing for the duration of the last track.

Whether or not this will bring your energies in line or not I will refrain from commenting on. Suffice it to say it is probably not what you would expect from a quick glance on the cover and title, especially if you are familiar with Deuter's other works. That said it is still a decent listen that delivers what it intends to.

Element 4 - The Early Tracks - 03-Nov-09 02:00 PM
This release is a fine example of what happens when traditional EM is cross-pollinated with eurohouse and early trance. Although the EM-crowd is normally a pretty conservative lot, preferring to stick to the analogue synthesizers and possibly a bit of progressive rock, sometimes brave pioneers do gaze longingly at their rivals in the dance music scene. Perhaps they are dismayed at the fact that dance music has garnered a much broader following or maybe some guys were truly inspired by it. Whatever the reason, one of the more productive fellows in this hybrid-genre is Mr. Saher, here with his Element 4 moniker used for "dance"-oriented music.

Although it is far from unlistenable and manages to stay within the borders of tolerable most of the time it is not easy to find any redeeming qualities to speak of. The songs are dull and repetitive and reek of cheese. Most tracks are overly long and would have benefited from a brisk cut in half, salvaging only the "best" parts. The trancier portions are vaguely reminiscent of the more celebrated trance/EM-hybrid Mind-Flux on IC, only blander. The major audiocrimes stick out in the housier efforts, especially in ear-cringing pieces such as "Voice In Mind" which feature sampled 90's style wailing female house vocalists, absolutely vomit-inducing stuff. Perhaps I am a bit harsh on this release. After all, much of the eurohouse hasn't aged that well either but the point is, please leave it to the regular producers. Iiiyeaaah-hoouuhhh, uuuhh-huuuhhh!

Various - Shanghai Lounge Divas - 01-Sep-09 09:51 AM
The French have Edith Piaf, the Germans Marlene Dietrich and China has its own legends like Chow Hsuan and Bai Kwong. The Lounge Divas compilation transports you back to the golden era of the 1930s, a time when the Chinese avantgarde on the east coast was heavily influenced by the West. Beijing may be the unquestionable capital as far as traditional culture is concerned, but Shanghai has long upheld a more modern and playful profile. In celebrating the 100th anniversary of EMI China in 2003, the label tasked Ian Widgery to rework some of the classic tracks for a new generation of listeners. The result is a dozen cut up numbers reeking of contemporary electronic lounge and breaks. Further reissues proceeded to include the original unmolested songs as well as some other pieces from the era. And here we are again in 2009 with yet another reissue in exquisite packaging complete with short biographies of the most important divas.

I would suspect that a fair number of people cringe at the sound of these modernized songs much like any other heavyhanded cover transforms a well loved song into something new. Ignorant listeners though, such as myself, will most likely find the best electronic versions (they are a bit hit and miss) to be just as captivating as the originals. Highly recommended for all curious minds out there.

View all 120 reviews...