Fundamental - The Zeus review

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Eldritch · #1 Post by **Eldritch** » Fri 07 Apr 2006, 6:00 pm

The arch-enemy of this board Zeus seems to have laid his hands on Fundamental too. Here's what he thinks of it. Oh, and he's not going to share it with anyone. What a meanie.

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01. Psychological

This is exactly like the instrumental white label 12'' version with Neil singing on top. There's not much of a song structure, Neil sings the same few melody lines on top and the synth riff is more or less a reply to his singing. The phrasing is similar to a nursery rhyme, it's all a bit weird and creepy. The backing track is immaculately produced and while there's not much of a song otherwise, it really works and sets up the album vibe quite nicely. In fact, I'd say it's a better album opener compared to God Willing. 7/10

02.The Sodom and Gomorrah Show

Contrary to what some reviews and the title suggests, this is not a Hi-NRG disco stomper or particularly epic sounding, if you count out the big-ish intro. It's a bit 60's with hints of glam rock then it goes a bit b'side-y or like something off Robbie Williams' first album. I don't really understand why this has been raved about so much, it just doesn't feel special at all. I guess the chorus is supposed to be uplifting and catchy and it's not bad by any means, it's just that it feels like a spectacularly produced re-write of I Didn't Get Where I Am Today. I also oppose to the use of the lyric 'where angels fear to tread', that should have stayed on Discoteca. 6/10

03.I made my excuses and left

As has been previously reported, this has a very long intro with a sample going 'I'm all alone again, I'm all alone', not too dissimilar to Moby's 'Why does my heart feel so bad'. The cello riff follows the same melody then there's a break and Neil starts singing over a really, really sad tune. While it doesn't have an obvious chorus, it's by far not one long verse as it has enough musical parts and is quite elaborately written. The title is then followed by the cello riff. This is really beautiful. 9/10

04.Minimal

This is seriously good. Production is amazing, lovely synth bits and guitar strums. The chorus is a bit chirpy and the tune is generally a bit like Blue by Eiffel 65 (shock! horror! etc.). I don't think this would have worked as a lead single, while it's really good, I'm With Stupid seems to be the correct choice. The often mentioned New Order bit is indeed very, very much like New Order then it's followed by big strings and pizzicato violins. 9/10

05.Numb

People will probably generally dislike this because it does sound like something Aerosmith would sing but...Neil's vocal works and he sings like he genuinely means it et al. The orchestra/production is again, fantastic, without being massive. It sort of manages to compliment the song without being annoyingly huge and for the sake of it. Musically, it's just like the Diane Warren demo. I personally like this both musically and the particular PSB version of it. 8/10

06.God willing

Whatever

07.Luna Park

This is probably my least favourite track of the album. There are elements of it that I quite like but what works as a chorus, I find very, very weak. The whole thing is a bit Beatley musically. In typical PSB-trying-to-make-a-tune-less-dull, there's a middle bit that doesn't really go anywhere. 4/10

08.I'm with Stupid

Everyone's heard this already. It was the correct choice as a lead single. 9/10

09.Casanova in Hell

This is cute and quite alright overall, it's a bit like Hey Headmaster/The View From Your Balcony and again sounds a bit 60's to me then the middle break goes all Phil Spector. Not bad. 6/10

10.Twentieth Century

It's the return of The Chord Change, God bless. Yeap, PSB are back using the SAW classic chord change, not used in a PSB tune since New York City Boy. This has an octave bassline and it's again, quite alright, but nothing spectacular. There's a guitar break later for some reason then it's back to something not a lot different from something off Neon Nights by Dannii Minogue. OK, I suppose 6/10

11.Indefinite leave to remain

Last of the ballads, mix of guitars and electronics, wouldn't have been out of place from Release although it's arguably better produced. A bit bland. 5/10

12.Integral

It's been raved about, it's been hyped, it's everyone's favourite, it's the best tune in the world ever TM, oh my f*** GOODDDD etc. But is it actually any good? Well, it is. It's exactly like Bodies Without Organs only bigger and has some fab robot bits. The riff sounds a lot like the chorus from Let's All Chant and there are some fantastic string stabs during the middle break. It does have the strongest chorus and all but...it sounds very, very 1994 which while works alright for me, I can't see this becoming the hit it would have been at the time. It has huge novelty value and that's its biggest chance of making any chart impact so it can go either way, there's an off chance it might become a huge hit single or it'll just be another #12 or so.. Here's hoping. 9/10

Overall, there's nothing on the album that's appallingly bad as a lot of Bilingual/Nightlife and well, nearly all of Release were but, it doesn't seem to have something spectacularly brilliant either. While there's nothing here that I dislike and most of the tunes seem to be instantly likeable, it doesn't seem to have any tunes that I would eventually rate among the best PSB have ever done.

It's just all well, very nice and as Chris said, it sounds expensive and Trevor Horn has produced everything to death without bouldozing over the actual songs. There's just something missing here and except from Integral and I'm With Stupid, there are no other obvious singles, even Minimal which is among the highlights of the album wouldn't work and it was a wise move to change it.

So...it's not a bad PSB album at all and it will be generally liked by the fanbase but...if you're waiting for something up there with the classics, well, you will be slightly disappointed. While I like the album a lot and it will probably grow on me even more, there's just some sadness surrounding it, it's the product of an ageing band that has really tried this time and it well shows but...

Palpatine · #2 Post by **Palpatine** » Fri 07 Apr 2006, 6:24 pm

Awesome review! Thanks Zeus

Henrik Powers · #3 Post by **Henrik Powers** » Fri 07 Apr 2006, 6:29 pm

Good to read! Thanks

boyjohn · #4 Post by **boyjohn** » Fri 07 Apr 2006, 6:34 pm

Overall, there's nothing on the album that's appallingly bad as a lot of Bilingual/Nightlife and well, nearly all of Release were

If that's the case, the album will probably be the best of their career.

Eldritch · #5 Post by **Eldritch** » Fri 07 Apr 2006, 6:40 pm

As much as I loathe to agree with Zeus, his review does echo with my own first review a month ago. But trust me, the album does grow on you. Just don't expect another classic, another masterpiece. When you accept it as a solid effort by your fave band doing their best in their autumnal period, you'll grow to love it.

BlueSwan · #6 Post by **BlueSwan** » Fri 07 Apr 2006, 6:42 pm

Thanks Zeus!

Ghost within this house · Fri 07 Apr 2006, 6:56 pm

A good review and, more importantly for our collective psychic health, a bit of expectation management as well

DazzerUKUK · #8 Post by **DazzerUKUK** » Fri 07 Apr 2006, 6:59 pm

>As much as I loathe to agree with Zeus, his review does echo with my own first review a >month ago. But trust me, the album does grow on you. Just don't expect another >classic, another masterpiece. When you accept it as a solid effort by your fave band >doing their best in their autumnal period, you'll grow to love it.

I agree! It does grow on you....alot. 'I Made My Excuses and Left' for example is my favourite track on the album now. ...but on first listen in made little impression. I still love Minimal, Integral loses none of its impact but I'm sticking with my dislike for 'Im With Stupid!'

Luna Park however, doesn't deserve that low score!

Everyone who comes to the office and hears it, says the same thing, PSB fan or otherwise - 'it sounds so well produced'

Anyway, just a few more weeks to go before everyone can join in the debate that will no doubt rage!

Ghost within this house · Fri 07 Apr 2006, 7:02 pm

DazzerUKUK wrote:>As much as I loathe to agree with Zeus, his review does echo with my own first review a >month ago. But trust me, the album does grow on you. Just don't expect another >classic, another masterpiece. When you accept it as a solid effort by your fave band >doing their best in their autumnal period, you'll grow to love it.

I agree! It does grow on you....alot. 'I Made My Excuses and Left' for example is my favourite track on the album now. ...but on first listen in made little impression. I still love Minimal, Integral loses none of its impact but I'm sticking with my dislike for 'Im With Stupid!'

Luna Park however, doesn't deserve that low score!

Everyone who comes to the office and hears it, says the same thing, PSB fan or otherwise - 'it sounds so well produced'

Anyway, just a few more weeks to go before everyone can join in the debate that will no doubt rage!

Dazzer, could you write us your thoughts on Luna Park in the thread I've just started (or here if easier)?

Is it just high-production values? Does it have meaning? Is the Chorus weak? etc.etc..

Rorie · #10 Post by **Rorie** » Fri 07 Apr 2006, 7:02 pm

I've always found Dennis to be a good guy. He has great contacts at EMI Greece. Good for him for getting his hands on it.

R

Eldritch · #11 Post by **Eldritch** » Fri 07 Apr 2006, 7:04 pm

DazzerUKUK wrote: Luna Park however, doesn't deserve that low score!
:

Oh, I love Luna Park too. And Indefinite even more.

DazzerUKUK · #12 Post by **DazzerUKUK** » Fri 07 Apr 2006, 7:22 pm

On the surface, Luna Park appears to simply about friends going to the funfair that is Luna Park.

However, some might read more into it.....make your mind up with this sample:

And When we're getting high we're happy
Somebody's eating fire we're happy
The big wheel in the sky will make you scream....

Thunder, wonder, a storm will come one day
To blow us all away
Like dust on the moon
In Luna Park it cant be dark to soon.....

The second half of the song becomes darker....

The futures dark in Luna Park.......

A reference to drugs perhaps? Or friendship that doesn't last? Or perhaps illness a la Being Boring?

We will have to wait for the Boys to tell us!

Nickname · #13 Post by **Nickname** » Fri 07 Apr 2006, 7:23 pm

I ask myself if Integral could be consider in the future a PSB "classic". One of the PSB's Top 10 songs.

Eldritch · #14 Post by **Eldritch** » Fri 07 Apr 2006, 7:25 pm

DazzerUKUK wrote:On the surface, Luna Park appears to simply about friends going to the funfair that is Luna Park.

However, some might read more into it.....make your mind up with this sample:

And When we're getting high we're happy
Somebody's eating fire we're happy
The big wheel in the sky will make you scream....

Thunder, wonder, a storm will come one day
To blow us all away
Like dust on the moon
In Luna Park it cant be dark to soon.....

The second half of the song becomes darker....

The futures dark in Luna Park.......

A reference to drugs perhaps? Or friendship that doesn't last? Or perhaps illness a la Being Boring?

We will have to wait for the Boys to tell us!

For me Luna Park is the sibling song to Sodom & Gomorrah Show, a more placid and restrained take on the same theme. It's the circus at the end of the pier, at the end of the world, with N&C as the enigmatic ringmasters...

Eldritch · #15 Post by **Eldritch** » Fri 07 Apr 2006, 7:25 pm

nickname wrote:I ask myself if Integral could be consider in the future a PSB "classic". One of the PSB's Top 10 songs.

But what do you answer?