Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #11522 in Digital Music Album
• Published on: 2007-11-06
• Released on: 2007-11-06
• Running time: 0 seconds

Customer Reviews

Best Album of 2007
This is an album I have been waiting on for over a decade. Let me explain, Tom Middleton was one half of the influential electronic bands Reload, Global Communication, and Jedi Knights. The last album of original material this man released was in 1996, so in essence, his fans have been waiting 11 years for his solo album to dawn. As this gets my vote for album of the year, there is a bittersweet side to it, 2/3 of the songs are old compilation tracks, some dating back to 1998 that are seeing their first cohesive album release here. While I'm thrilled to finally see a full-length solo album from Tom, I have listened to some of these tracks so many times, it's really hard to hear them with a fresh ear. He has, however, collaborated with several visual artists to produce videos for every track on the album, which he is performing live on an upcoming world tour. Taken with the visuals, it's easy to see the dated songs in a new light. Anyway, I'm not going to complain about being delivered fresh gold. For those of you not familiar with Tom Middleton as a producer, and simply as an eclectic DJ, you must hear what the man can do behind the keys. His classical piano training, along with a love of classic Detroit techno, and ambient pioneers such as Vangelis & Tangerine Dream, produce a unique sound that is both accessible and melodic, without sounding commercial. Imagine ambience, with melody, while flowing to the beat of life. I can see him becoming the next successful electronic act, ala Zero 7, but I, and I'm sure the rest of his fan community would like to keep him to ourselves.

Breathing life into electronics
Tom Middleton, if you aren't familiar with him, is one of the top electronic music producers in the world. He has worked with Aphex Twin, helping compose the classic "Analogue Bubblebath." He partnered with Mark Pritchard as Reload, Jedi Knights, Chameleon, and most famously, Global Communication. And over the last several years he has made a huge impact on dance floors as Cosmos.

Middleton's talent is for warm, otherworldly journeys into sound. Lifetracks, his debut solo album on Big Chill Recordings, is the culmination of nine years working on more personal music. Guitar chords and piano keys are featured heavily, but the result is essentially Balearic bliss. Tracks like the dramatic "Beginning of the Middle" and the brilliant "Shinkansen" pulse through aquatic, oscillating synths and gorgeous, ricocheting guitar licks.

The sensual "Moonbathing" is more successful than the orchestral "St. Ives Bay" or the sweeping jazz chords of "Yearning," which are less my cup of tea. Yet chilled beauty is all around, speaking more directly on "Astral Projection," it's shimmering melodies hovering through the darkness like bumble bees. And "Enchanting," borrowing water pump sounds from Global Communication's classic "Obselon Minos," feels like a soft kiss goodnight.

All of Middleton's music takes the listener to a deep place, either internally or within a communal setting. That's the joy on display here, the man's devotion to heart and humanity. That exuberance might be too much for some at first, but his genius for weaving acoustic and electronic sounds around an organic core rewards patience and repeated listens, making Lifetracks one of the year's ambient highlights.

As down to Earth as it gets
I heard a track of this on National Public radio and it is the latest craze of Tom Middleton. I have been knowing this man well lately, especially with his Renaissance 3D release. This album has downtempo, underground house in it. He has done a good job of putting together jazzy synths and some tracks sound like just the sort of thing for me to relax to. I'll listen to this when mixing together lentil soup or to be pre occupied when being busy. Tom continues to do a good job. This sounds like the "Cosmos". This is defintly Tom!!