Bt - Emotional Technology
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CD Details
Artist: BtEdition: Music CD
CD Release Date: 2003-12-30
Music Label: Nettwerk Records
Soundtracks:
- Intro
- Knowledge of Self
- Superfabulous
- Somnambulist
- Force of Gravity
- Dark Heart Dawning
- The Great Escape
- Paris
- Circles
- Last Moment of Clarity
- Communicate
- Animals
- The Only Constant is Change
Music reviews of Emotional Technology
Music Review: It's something beautiful, mystical
Rating: 5 Stars
What was the biggest complaint all of BT's fans when he released 'Movement In Still Life'? (I was 14 when it came out, so forgive me that I wasn't among them.) The Answer: Too much hip-hop influence ('Madskillz', 'Never Gonna Come Back Down', 'Movement in Still LIfe', 'Smartbomb', esp. 'Love on Haight Street', I think even BT was embarassed of that one). 'Movement' was saved by some of the best ambient tracks in BT's career: 'Dreaming', 'Satellite', my personnal favorite 'Mercury and Solace', and the ever famous 'Godspeed'. As a big fan of both Hybrid and DJ Rap (who just released a new CD herself 'Touching Bass'), BT's trip-hop work on 'Movement' was, by comparison, not that great. But it was 'Come Down' that introduced BT to Drums and Bass's blonde bombshell, DJ Rap. They worked together on 'Believer' ('Go' soundtrack) and her influence on BT's beats is unmistakable and beautiful.The thing we love about BT is his versatility as an artist. Each disc he puts out out has a distinctive sound to it, so saying that he's returning to form means that it sounds very differant from everything else he's ever done. He works with beat-heavy and vocal-heavy tracks much more than his previous albums, there isn't a track on here that doesn't have vocals. But where's Jan Johnston? The woman that brought some of BT's finest works ('Lullaby for Gaia', 'Remember', and of course 'Mercury and Solace') to life lends her ethereal vocals to only one song 'Technology'. Most of the CD, however, is Male vocals, which alone gives 'Technology' a unique sound. The four tracks that feature female vocals are as follows:
'The Great Escape' is a synthed and scratched introspect piece. The synths and beats hale back to 'Love, Peace and Grease', but the vocals sound straight off a Delerium CD and create a very cool tension.
'Last Moment of Clarity' is one night in London after it's rained. The music is passive, yet energetic and Karina Ware's vocals hold the promise of 10:00 on a Saturday night.
'Communicate' is two lovers dancing in a club playing in slow-motion. The beating, throbbing music under Jan Johnston's heavenly vocals create a kind of ambiance that only a true master like BT could.
'Superfabulous', despite the dumb title, is a rocking dance piece that only the most solemn stoic could sit still through. With vocals by... wait, ROSE MCGOWEN? Yes, THAT Rose McGowen, the one that 'Shrek'ed Marilyn Manson. Yes that's the dark-haired vixen from 'Jawbreaker' who apparently flipped off a cab driver. Based on this song alone, I'm going to have to rent some more of her movies.
Ever since I heard 'Firewater', I've wondered if BT is a Christian. Not one of his songs yet has given me cause to doubt that, and 'Animals' makes me wonder even more. The lyrics portray a respect for the sanctity of humanity in a way that most Contemporary Christian artists can't. Other lyrics reflect a world view that reminds me a lot of C.S. Lewis' ideas 'in 'Mere Christianity'.
'The Only constant is change' has a deep sadness to it that I've never heard in BT's usually Romantic and Optimistic music. Even 'Giving up the Ghost' was upbeat. But there is a regret and a sadness that is undeniable. In the lyrics book, there's a Polaroid picture of BT wolding hands with a woman with short brown hair as their hiking. It's torn in half and taped back together with bandage tape. Which adds a personnal touch to the song that even a young buck, like myself, with a short list of emotional exploits can relate to.
Back to the beginning: 'Knowledge of self' is some of the best Trip-hop I've heard, not that that's really saying much. It's like 'Smartbomb', only twice as good. The opening lyrics, by Rasco, say 'United we stand' and 'If you want some, come and get some'. Not exactly the most explicit lyrics ever, but it definately has a patriotic spirit to it that has been really lacking from most non-Country music released in the last two years. Very refreshing.
'Somnambulist', I'm told, is a throw-back to the early works of New Order and Depeche Mode. I was born in 1985, so I wouldn't know. I do know that's it a seriously stoked dance piece with more energy than I've ever heard in a BT song.
'Force of Gravity' is one of the most melodic songs on 'Technology' that reminds me of a fusion of 'Nocturnal Transmission' and 'Tripping the light fantastic'. But BT, man, you got close to selling out on us. Using JC Chasez, who was a member of *Nsync (I searched the internet), on a song that's actually catchier than 'Never Gonna Come Back Down', that's gutsy.
'Dark Heart Dawning' has the coolest title BT has ever come up with, it's also the weakest song on the CD. Irony, huh? It's not a bad song, it's one of the best chillout songs BT's done (right behind 'Shineaway'). But it feels like Groove Armada without the funk. It's very alone on a rainy Wednesday, until about three minutes into it, when the love of your life comes around the corner with the corona the sun breaking through the clouds surrounding her. After that chresciendo (I'm not spelling that right) it drops into a steady rhythm about half-way between the two.
'Paris', my least favorite city in Western Europe (why the 'City of Love' always smells like feces is beyond me), contains some of the coolest uses of natural (though time corrected) sounds blended seemlessly into beats and synth orchestras.
'Circles' contains the greatest guitar work BT has ever produced. If you thought the riff from 'Never Gonna Come Back Down' was cool, prepare to be amazed. It even has some Evanescence-esque bass guitar roaring at the end. DO NOT LISTEN TO THIS SONG WITHOUT FREAKING AWESOME SPEAKERS!
And that, ladies and gentlemen, is 'Emotional Technology' by BT. It rocks.
Description of Emotional Technology
Aussie edition of the electronica/dance star's 2003 album features exclusive artwork. 13 tracks including 'Simply Being Loved (Somnambulist)'. Festival/Mushroom Records.Dance & DJ CDs
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