Future Sound of London
Presents Amorphous Androgynous - The Otherness
Psychobaby/Fullfill

Electro-hippies Garry 'Gaz' Cobain and Brian Dougans have been around for some 15 years, creating their future sounds from out of London, defining what their future sound is about. The Future Sound Of London (FSOL) was born ca 1989, and soon they had a name in the ambient house/dance/techno, organic electronica scene. They've been operating under various names and monikers: Humanoid, Far-Out Son of Lung, Smart Systems, Mental Cube, YAGE, Amorphous Androgynous. This new disc is under the latter name - Amorphous Androgynous.

The FSOL twosome has been working sort of as a multimedia-combo, dealing with all kinds of sound as well as imagery. They've put out loads of records under their various monikers - Accelerator (Jumpin' & Pumpin' 1991), Tales of Ephidrina (Astralwerks 1993), Lifeforms (Astralwerks 1994), ISDN (Astralwerks 1994), Dead Cities (Astralwerks 1996), The Isness (Artful 2002), The Mello Hippo Disco Show (Artful 2003), to name some.

Now, 2004, and ...The Otherness arrives. Being the sister of ...The Isness, and the pair has also been released as a double disc. I'm a bit confused... The Isness & The Otherness -- it seems like the 2nd disc of The Isness is The Otherness remixed and/or with alternate takes. And it seems to be another "normal" The Otherness. Then again it seems like parts of The Otherness are alternate versions of The Isness, and/or vice verca. And; is this Future Sound Of London or Amorphous Androgynous. Still confused? I am. Guess it's meant to be so. What's not confusing is the content, most of it being an indeed soothing and pleasant listen. Psychedelic trips to exotic, far off/out places. Heavenly. Sitars. Stratospheric. Asia. Pop. Instrumentals. Mental massage. Relaxation. All these are keywords in describing the sounds floating out of The Otherness.

The Otherness is a record to spend time with, to let grow on you. Right now it feels like a mysterious, but kind new friend. It's a full hour holding a wide range of music. There are some slick moments inbetween, but as a whole it sounds most exciting and radiant. Peace and glow.

Copyright © 2004 Håvard Oppøyen