electro glide in blue

apollo 440

sony, 1997

Mood—all over the map.

Sample: "Vanishing Point"

Thoughts— Apollo 440 is definitely one of the artists, along with BT and Aphex Twin, that made me interested in electronic music. I wasn't familiar with the concept of sampling at the time, so the scattered samples on this album went over my head. They still do, really - Van Halen's track "Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love" is the basis of Apollo's "Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Dub", but I've never listened to Van Halen, so what do I care?

Much of the music I grew up with sampled classics, but these new songs were the first time I'd heard the originals, so sampling, to me, is less about referencing the past and more about found sound and what new things can be done with existing recordings. I suppose that's why it doesn't irk me too much when an artist I don't like samples one I do. It's just having fun with music.

With the exception of the gloomy, croon-y "Pain In Any Language", this album is fun and invigorating. It's an album of moments. Sometimes it's intense, spy movie soundtrack, other times party beats. I gravitate toward electronic artists that keep me guessing from track to track, and Apollo 440 is good at that. I think of this album almost every time I'm not sure what I want to listen to, but I want something good.

"Vanishing Point" is my unwavering favorite, but "Tears of the Gods" and "Krupa" are strong contenders for second. The aforementioned "Pain In Any Language" is one I could do without for the most part. I'm not into the vocalist's style, but it is redeemed by it's harpsicord infused French film feel. I wouldn't skip the song unless I was driving and wanted to keep it upbeat.

Luckily the album ramps up to a great finale. "Steath Mass In F#M" references and builds a synth groove upon a vocal sample found at the top of the album, and then after a brief silence "Raw Power" ends the the whole thing with a bang.

Recommended? Yes.

Link—apollo440.com

Tracklist
1. Stealth Overture
2. Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Dub
3. Altamont Super-Highway Revisited
4. Electro Glide in Blue
5. Vanishing Point
6. Tears of the Gods
7. Carrera Rapida
8. Krupa
9. White Man's Throat
10. Pain in Any Language
11. Stalth mass in F#M
12. Raw Power