Artist: Younger Brother
Title: A Flock Of Bleeps
Label: Twisted Records
Date: April, 2003
Tracklisting:
1 - Weird On A Monday Night (9:36)
2 - The Receptive (5:57)
3 - Evil & Harm (6:03)
4 - Crumblenaut (6:31)
5 - Scanner (8:24)
6 - Even Dwarves Start Small (6:47)
7 - Magic Monkey Juice (6:59)
8 - Finger (8:11)
9 - Safety Zone (3:45)
10 - Bedtime Story (2:48)
Review:
1. Weird On A Monday Night - Starts the album off with a slow build-up. Some female vocals in there also. Then it gets to the main body where there's guitar and all sorts of various sounds that intersperse through the track. Excessive random samples of things but they seem to fit a little bit. This is the longest track of the album and it feels a little bit drawn out more than necessary. Mostly a chill track but would be better chill without most of the random vocal samples. I suppose the random samples is why it's called weird on a Monday night. Transitions into the next track...
2. The Receptive - Guitar and Michele Adamson begin the track with a laid-back feel. Not quite sure what the lyrics are but I guess you could always look em up; not really going to focus on them. Synth usage is not over the top but it doesn't dazzle either. Kind of mediocre a little. Makes me feel like I'm sitting outside at a one of those minimal black metal graded tables at a cafe sipping on coffee or something in France. I think there's a dub or bass sound that's somewhat low pitch in the background. I think Adamson is pretty much the highlight of this track since her voice is very sultry and smooth. Like the first song, it bleeds into the next track.
3. Evil & Harm - There's a vocal sample that sounds like it's from some Old Testament verse of the Bible. Not even sure why it's even incorporated into the song other than to kinda be related to the title. Synth usage is at a higher level of use in this track after the vocal sample. Same tempo as the previous song to give that kind of laid back sensation yet not necessarily in the same way. Acoustic guitar comes in eventually with a simple melody and then a synth compliments it and then takes over for a bit; which is the part I like about the song. Yet again, it blends into the next track (I think they all do at some level except for Magic Monkey Juice).
4. Crumblenaut - Probably my most favorite track out of the whole album. Harder synth line and Adamson (again) take this track to a place where none of the previous tracks have been before. Kind of elevating the mood a fair bit into something else. Still has the same tempo pretty much as any of the other tracks (I'm pretty sure all the songs on the album are the same tempo). However, if you don't like altered vocals all that much, then you will be hard-pressed to like this track. There's also very sound effects added in to give kind of a dripping sound effect, which I think the track needed.
5. Scanner - Buzzing kind of sounds in the beginning. Then pops into a little bouncy melody with dub and other stuff. There's once again another vocal sample that's been run through effects to give it a small chipmunk (kinda) voice. Probably a good thing that it's a small voice and not just a blatant, pretentious one like some of the other ones are. Another layer of sounds is added about a little over a third into the song to keep the bouncy feeling going. I think this one is not as monotonous as The Receptive or Evil & Harm can be. Although, this song is like eight minutes long and it seems to not wrap up that well but it definitely doesn't drag along like the starter one did.
6. Even Dwarves Start Small - If you think that the vocal samples are done, you are sorely mistaken (well, most of you know this shit anyway). This time it's some hippie talking out of the left side of his ass. When he's finished, the song get's going. Similar bouncy beat as the last track only gives more of a "you're moving along now" kinda thing. Like, the story is progressing to a different chapter or something. Can't quite explain it without using the usual normal things you would describe it with. At the same time it feels like a continuation of Scanner for a good portion. There's a very short chill section around the middle of the piece but it's very short and then it goes back to the bouncy tune. The hippie returns here and there before the track ends.
7. Magic Monkey Juice - Despite having more and more vocal samples of random stuff in this track, I actually like them this time around because they make me feel like a little weirdo in a good kinda way (if that is any at all possible, heh). Synths are heavily in use for this one. Short guitar sounding like a keyboard bit around the middle and then gears up for a ethnic vocal sample with echoes and effects and such. Eventually near the end of the track the monkey juice sample is distorted and slowly becomes undistorted by the end.
8. Finger - Synth being sweeped slowing back and forth begins the track with other various things. The main melody sounds like something out of a sci-fi movie. Another ethnic female vocal played here and there. I feel like I'm on a journey somewhat with this track. On a dry, dirt road in the country marching my way on it like I have some important purpose and the extra weirdo sounds are like the distractions I come across on my valor walk. Finger sample in the midways. Doesn't really make all that much sense. Must be from some old movie that nobody knows about or has forgotten (I certainly haven't seen it). The female vocals for this one are actually not that bad. They fit fairly well in the track.
9. Safety Zone - Very heavily effected synths at the beginning that are a transfer from Finger. Turns into a reggae influenced track (at least, I think so). Echoes and samples afoot. One of the shorter length tracks of the album. Well, the second shortest track of the album. Fades out to the last track.
10. Bedtime Story - Acoustic guitar becomes the focus of this track. Has a very homey feel to it (hence the name, most likely). Very relaxed tune. I feel like I'm sitting on the dock of my vacation home up in the woods with a lemonade and a good book and it's a very sunny day with a light breeze. Basically the ideal scenario you ever want to be in when you want to relax (well, by yourself, that is anyway). Low volume effects to a minimum as the track slowly fades out to completion.
Favorite Tracks:
4, 9, 10
Overall:
This is probably not my favorite album from YB. I think I'm liking The Last Days Of Gravity a fair bit better now that I look at this album on closer inspection and criticism. It's still an okay album, though, for when you just want to chill out and not care what is playing. But I suppose that could be bad for the album if that's only what people do with it. I think this album, as said by most of you really, could do without the majority of vocal samples that were implemented and focused more on the music.
