Designs in Rhythm

Last updated
Designs in Rhythm
IceChoirDesignsinRhythm.jpg
Studio album by
Ice Choir
ReleasedSeptember 6, 2016
Genre Synthpop
Length32:13
Label
  • Shelflife
  • Fastcut
Producer Kurt Feldman
Ice Choir chronology
Afar
(2012)		Designs in Rhythm
(2016)
Singles from Designs in Rhythm
  1. "Unprepared"
    Released: June 28, 2016

Designs in Rhythm is the second studio album of Ice Choir, a synthpop project led by American producer Kurt Feldman. The record borrows the sound from the group's previous effort Afar (2012) and adds an accessible and modern element to it. The press release from Shelflife Records categorized the album's tracks as "shimmering, infectious, maximalist pop gems" with "lush production and irresistible melodies." Promoted with a single, "Unprepared," two music videos, "Designs in Rhythm" and "Amorous In Your Absence," and a Japanese tour, Designs in Rhythm was released in September 2016 by the labels Shelflife and Fastcut Records to positive reviews from professional critics.

<i>Afar</i> (album) 2012 studio album by Ice Choir

Afar is the debut studio album of Ice Choir, the project of former The Pains of Being Pure at Heart drummer and The Depreciation Guild lead Kurt Feldman. It was released on July 31, 2012, by Underwater Peoples. It received mostly positive reviews from critics, with positive reviews highlighting Feldman's use of the 1980s influences and more varied responses criticizing the cheesiness.

Contents

Composition

The press release by Shelflife Records categorized the songs on Designs in Rhythm as "shimmering, infectious, maximalist pop gems" with "lush production and irresistible melodies." [1] The LP is a 1980s-esque pop [2] record featuring elements of the works of Tears for Fears, [3] the soundtrack for the arcade game Out Run (1986), [3] J-pop, [4] and R&B. [5] In the words of Collin Robinson of Stereogum, the album features "gauzy" vocal performances and an "adventurous layering and texturing of synths that pulls you into a dream-like aesthetic and snaps you out of it artfully with intricate musicality." [5] Robinson also wrote that the tracks have changing rhythmic structures where "some [songs] will have you grooving along and others will have you flat out dancing." [5] Lyrically, all of the songs have vague concepts left up to listen interpretation. [1]

Tears for Fears English pop/rock band

Tears for Fears are an English pop rock band formed in Bath, England in 1981 by Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith. Founded after the dissolution of their first band, the mod-influenced Graduate, Tears for Fears were initially associated with the new wave synthesiser bands of the early 1980s. Later, the band branched out into mainstream rock and pop and attained international chart success. Tears for Fears were part of the MTV-driven Second British Invasion of the US.

<i>Out Run</i> 1986 video game

Out Run is an arcade game released by Sega in September 1986. It is known for its pioneering hardware and graphics and innovative features such as nonlinear gameplay and a selectable soundtrack with music composed by Hiroshi Kawaguchi. Designed as a racing game where the goal is to avoid traffic and reach one of five destinations, Out Run was set up for players to enjoy the experience of driving.

J-pop, natively also known simply as pops, is a musical genre that entered the musical mainstream of Japan in the 1990s. Modern J-pop has its roots in traditional Japanese music, but significantly in 1960s pop and rock music, such as The Beatles and The Beach Boys, which led to Japanese rock bands such as Happy End fusing rock with Japanese music in the early 1970s. J-pop was further defined by new wave groups in the late 1970s, particularly electronic synth-pop band Yellow Magic Orchestra and pop rock band Southern All Stars.

Designs In Rhythm's production style is a more accessible and mainstream version of that on Ice Choir's previous album Afar (2012), [3] which consists of what Allmusic writer Tim Sendra described as "achingly pretty vocals, lots of very sophisticated melodies, pleasingly factory-fresh synths" and "cheesily processed guitars." [2] This modernization is most evident on the songs “Noosphering” and the Carly Rae Jepsen-esque cut “Amorous in Your Absence,” [3] which features vocals from A Sunny Day in Glasgow's Jen Goma. [4] Sendra described the production as "note-perfect" and "nary-a-wrong-move," writing that the album "sounds like an OMD or ABC or Scritti Politti album with all the fluff stripped away and only the bright and shiny parts left." [2]

Carly Rae Jepsen Canadian singer, songwriter and actress

Carly Rae Jepsen is a Canadian singer, songwriter, and actress. Born and raised in Mission, British Columbia, Jepsen performed several lead roles in her high school's musical productions and pursued musical theatre at the Canadian College of Performing Arts in Victoria, BC. After completing her studies, she relocated to Vancouver and later competed on the fifth season of Canadian Idol in 2007, placing third. In 2008 Jepsen released her folk-influenced debut studio album Tug of War in Canada.

A Sunny Day in Glasgow are an American shoegazing band formed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Formed in 2006, the band has undergone many line-up changes since then, with Ben Daniels as the only constant member.

Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark British new wave group

Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD) are an English electronic band formed in Wirral, Merseyside in 1978. Spawned by earlier band the Id, the outfit is composed of co-founders Andy McCluskey and Paul Humphreys, along with Martin Cooper and Stuart Kershaw (drums); McCluskey is the only constant member. OMD released their debut single, "Electricity", in 1979, and gained popularity throughout Europe with the 1980 anti-war song "Enola Gay". The band achieved broader recognition via their album Architecture & Morality (1981) and its three singles, all of which were international hits.

Release and promotion

On June 28, 2016, Stereogum premiered "Unprepared" as the lead single of Designs in Rhythm. [6] The track garnered favorable reviews upon its release. BrooklynVegan called it a "listening shard of romo pop, jam-packed with great little details, that could’ve soundtracked a dozen Reagan-era movie montages." [7] In writing for Pitchfork , Cameron Cook said, "far from stuck in the past, Ice Choir deliver a nostalgic fantasy almost on par with [the original 1980s decade]." [8] On September 6, 2016, Stereogum premiered Designs in Rhythm for worldwide streaming. [5] Fastcut Records released the CD and vinyl version of the album in Japan on September 7. [4] On September 9, Shelflife Records released the LP on vinyl in the United States and on digital stores worldwide. [1] From December 3 to December 7, 2016, a tour took place in the Japanese cities of Kobe, Tokyo, Hiroshima, and Hamamatsu promoting Designs In Rhythm. [9]

Stereogum is a daily Internet publication that focuses on music news, song premieres, and irreverent commentary. The site was created in January 2002 by Scott Lapatine.

A lead single is the first single to be released from a studio album, by a musician or a band, usually before the album itself is released.

BrooklynVegan is a music blog founded in 2004 focusing primarily on music related news and events taking place in and around New York City.

On December 19, 2016, Stereogum premiered the official music video for the title track, which was directed by D.V. Caputo [10] who also created the cover art for Designs in Rhythm. [1] The video involves the band members in CGI landscapes, described by writer Chris DeVille as "an instructional film crossed with a video game." [10] On February 21, 2017, the video for "Amorous in Your Absence," directed by Ethan Young, premiered via The Fader . [11] It depicts Feldman and Goma who are stuck in a series of "nightmare" Pierre et Gilles-style advertisement photo shoots. [11]

Computer-generated imagery Application of computer graphics to create or contribute to images

Computer-generated imagery (CGI) is the application of computer graphics to create or contribute to images in art, printed media, video games, films, television programs, shorts, commercials, videos, and simulators. The visual scenes may be dynamic or static and may be two-dimensional (2D), though the term "CGI" is most commonly used to refer to 3D computer graphics used for creating scenes or special effects in films and television. Additionally, the use of 2D CGI is often mistakenly referred to as "traditional animation", most often in the case when dedicated animation software such as Adobe Flash or Toon Boom is not used or the CGI is hand drawn using a tablet and mouse.

The Fader is a magazine based in New York City that was launched in 1999 by Rob Stone and Jon Cohen. The magazine covers music, style and culture. It was the first print publication to be released on iTunes. It is owned by The Fader Media group, which also includes its website, thefader.com, Fader films, Fader Label and Fader TV.

Pierre Commoy and Gilles Blanchard, also known as Pierre et Gilles, are French artists and romantic partners. They have been producing works together since 1976, creating a world where painting and photography meet. Their art is peopled by their friends and family, anonymous and famous, who appear in sophisticated life-size sets the artists build in their studio. They meticulously apply paint to the photographs once printed on canvas. Accomplished image creators, Pierre and Gilles have built up an extraordinary contemporary iconography on the frontier between art history and popular culture.

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [2]
No RipcordStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [12]

In a review for radio station KEXP-FM's blog, Gerrit Feenstra called Designs in Rhythm one of the best pop releases of 2016, describing it as a "vibrant" and "delightful pop album, rich in 80s heritage without ever alienating fans without love for time travel." [3] He analyzed that the album was more accessible than the past works of the Ice Choir not due to a decrease of quality of the content, but rather from a change in sonic structure: "Feldman sounds less like he is trying to tribute a single snapshot and more like he’s making smart 2016 pop with a selective sound palette." [3] Another highlight in his review was the record's "shimmering sonic architecture that will win you over with equally saturated charm and technique." [3]

KEXP-FM radio station

KEXP-FM is a public radio station in Seattle, Washington, that specializes in alternative and indie rock programmed by its disc jockeys. Its broadcasting license is owned by Friends of KEXP, an independent 501(c)(3) organization. There are weekly programs dedicated to other musical genres, including rockabilly, blues, world music, hip hop, electronica, punk, and alternative country. Live, in-studio performances by artists are also regularly scheduled.

Sendra, in his review for Allmusic, labeled Designs in Rhythm an "impressive and fun" recreation of "the cheesiest, most disposable synth pop" of the 1980s, honoring it as "essential listening for '80s lovers while still sounding modern enough to steer clear of bland pastiche territory." [2] The flawless production of the album served as the primary praise and criticism in his review, writing, "There are no failed experiments, no corny crossover attempts, and no sappy ballads, which means it's a pretty streamlined listen. The flip side of that is a lack of songs that truly stand out." [2] A No Ripcord critic described it "imitation with heart," writing that the "genuine awareness and awe" is what made the group's replication of 1980s synthpop sounds so charming. [12] He spotlighted the first half of the LP as a "rich demonstration of the band’s careful ear for what makes those 80s hits so timeless," while being more mixed on the second half for being "a distinctly calmer affair." [12]

Track listing

All tracks written and produced by Kurt Feldman. [1] Track lengths from the iTunes Store. [13]

No.TitleLength
1."Let’s Music"0:52
2."Unprepared"4:07
3."Designs In Rhythm"3:49
4."Windsurf"3:16
5."Variant"3:39
6."Spectacle"1:23
7."Noosphering"4:14
8."Amorous In Your Absence"3:26
9."Comfortable"3:58
10."The Garden of Verse"3:29
Total length:32:13

Release history

RegionDateFormat(s)Label
Worldwide [5] September 6, 2016 Audio streaming Stereogum
Japan [4] September 7, 2016
Fastcut
Worldwide [1] September 9, 2016 Digital download Shelflife
United States [1] Vinyl

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Ice Choir – Designs in Rhythm". Shelflife Records Official Website. Retrieved May 20, 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Sendra, Tim. "Designs in Rhythm – Ice Choir". Allmusic . Rovi Corporation. Retrieved May 20, 2017.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Feenstra, Gerrit (September 11, 2016). "Album Review: Ice Choir – Designs in Rhythm". KEXP-FM. Retrieved May 20, 2017.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Ice Choir – Designs In Rhythm (CD/LP) 7th September, 2016 Release!" (in Japanese). Fastcut Records Official Website. Retrieved May 20, 2017.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Robinson, Collin (September 6, 2016). "Stream Ice Choir Designs In Rhythm". Stereogum . SpinMedia. Retrieved May 20, 2017.
  6. ↑ Robinson, Collin (June 28, 2016). "Ice Choir – “Unprepared” (Stereogum Premiere)". Stereogum. SpinMedia. Retrieved May 20, 2017.
  7. ↑ Pearis, Bill (June 28, 2016). "Ice Choir releasing second LP ‘Designs in Rhythm’ (stream “Unprepared”)". BrooklynVegan'. Retrieved May 20, 2017.
  8. ↑ Cook, Cameron (June 28, 2016). ""Unprepared" by Ice Choir Review". Pitchfork . Conde Nast. Retrieved May 20, 2017.
  9. ↑ "Ice Choir Japan Tour 2016". Fastcut Official Website. Retrieved May 20, 2017.
  10. 1 2 DeVille, Chris (December 19, 2016). "Ice Choir – "Designs In Rhythm” Video". Stereogum. SpinMedia. Retrieved May 20, 2017.
  11. 1 2 Darville, Jordan (February 21, 2017). "Ice Choir’s “Amorous In Your Absence” Video Is A Picture-Perfect Nightmare". The Fader . Retrieved May 20, 2017.
  12. 1 2 3 Victoria, Ellis (September 9, 2016). "Ice Choir: Designs in Rhythm". No Ripcord. Retrieved May 20, 2017.
  13. ↑ "Designs in Rhythm by Ice Choir". iTunes Store. Apple Inc. Retrieved May 20, 2017.
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