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Overview |
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 Compost 185-2 (CD) Compost 185-1 (LP) |
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CD Tracklisting: |
"Dark Days Exit" is showing the artificial intelligence and sensitivity of electronica, indie pop, folk, post rock and old school ambience with warm jazz elements, and reminds a bit of French film soundtracks, too. LISTEN CAREFULLY! With its fine subtle electronica and sublime moody electro tingles we think this album is very special. "Like liquid LSD" (Rage /ZA) It touches base to the worlds of Stereolab, Notwist, Console, Plaid or these likes, as well as it please the Compost old school fans, because some people say it reminds them of A Forest Mighty Black, Taran or others say it has the early Kruder & Dorfmeister vibe. Indeed a bit of everything, but unique enough to stay alone as an outstanding album 2005. Both Peter Kruder and Richard Dorfmeister loved the album from the first note and gave us top quotes. The artist is a little star in South Africa, a cool looking and very inspired guy, who had two albums previously released on African Dope Records. But this album could be his breakthrough. For sure he makes an interesting interview partner.
Background info:
"Laband is still in his twenties. Maritzburg-born, Durban-bread and Cape Town-based. He thankfully took up computer music instead of surfing, and was in various guitar-based bands (including Fingerhead) before having a solo piece included on the Koert Kotze en die Vrouekolonie CD. Laband´s fiendish and phat foray into introspective electronics was highly promising and the highlight of a critically acclaimed project. He also had two notable inclusions on the excellent Sound of the Durban Underground collection. He already produced two fantastic albums, but this time he's going real deep and shows us his “Dark Days Exit“.
As Felix told U.K. magazine “Dazed & Confused“, “That South Africa is a land of weird contrasts which definitely comes through in my music. I'm not afraid to throw things around. A lot of European stuff is quite formulistic, people stick to a certain sound and a specific way of doing things. I try to throw that out of the window.“
Felix Laband
"An Electric Boy Wonder!“
(Greg Bowes)
The music of South Africa's premier electronic musician, is fluid and deceptively simple, freakish, quirky but user-friendly, funky and day-dreamy. Polyphonic funk like the sound-adventures of Warp´s “Boards Of Canada“, “Autechre“ or “Aphex Twin“ and measures at the same time the dope downtempo flavour of their label-mates “Nightmares On Wax“. If one had to categorise the musical style of Felix Laband he would have to create a new genre called "Indietronica". There's a level of professionalism in his work that is breathtaking.
He is a sheep in a wolf's clothing...looking like a tough rock-star makes it really hard to believe that this guy produces music softer as soft can be. He is one of the best Electronic Acts in South African today. This piece is gonna take you on a journey from which you never will return. Follow Felix into his brave new world of music...
By the way, Felix is not only a super talented musician, Felix is more a kind of artistic all-rounder. He is a graphic designer, a video artist and a sound designer for movies. He did the covers and the whole artworks for all his records of course also with "Dark Days Exit". Also he produced two really innovative music videos for his last album. Felix is a true artist who is reaching out for more.
To be continued...
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Support by Morpheus, Kikko Solaris (Radio SIS), Simon Harrison, Pedo Knopp.
"Felix Laband wirkte ebenso sehr beeindruckend auf mich!!!"
Robag Wruhme / Wighnomy Brothers
"It has the dark sparkle of Air`s `Moon Safari`, random trippy flashes of Pink
Floyd´s earlier sounds, and if David Lynch had based `Twin Peaks` in Cape
Town´s City Bowl, then this would work as the soundtrack."
SA / Rockdigest
“...“Miss Teardrop“ is a sublime brill supertune....sneaking carefully into your ears and remaining there for a long long time...excellent!"
Richard Dorfmeister / G-Stone
"The soundtrack for sensitive people's lifes - very recommendable."
Martin Gretschmann / The Notwist / Console
“... an inspired and deep album of esoteric kindness and warm technology...had a very sensual evening with this record...candles, massage-oil and this music could save your relationship!“
Peter Kruder / G-Stone
“Sometimes dark and sinister, always a little melancholy, infused with a retro hipness that is entirely cocktail inspring. Felix´s greatest quality must be his use of space – the music breathes with space around the beats, fresh fresh fresh. Infinitely listenable, espacially outdoors.“
World Online
“An insane swirling ambient dub glitch freak show.“
Dazed & Confused Magazine
“The album is a warm space of melody and rhythm that lets you move through colours of nostalgia and déjá vu with endless possibilities of hearing something new.“
Philippa Cameron
“Laband´s superbly-layerd, multi-tiered soundscapes are tantalizingly tranquil and intriguingly unique – they amble like ambient and slip into the bloodstream like liquid LSD.“
rage.co.za
"If I was single I´d marry this guy right away!“
7cut / Compost Records squad
“...if you have too less money to travel to South Africa, no problem, just listen to “Dark Days Exit“ and close your eyes...“
Nat Queen Cool / Sounds Good Inc.
“Kraftwerks´s AUTOBAHN might have been a prelude but this is the omega! Fur sure!”
Helene Ramos Galagarza
“The new album takes Felix's music deeper than before. 'Whistling in Tongues'
is a hypnotic tune perfect for late-night driving.“
Ennio Styles
Support by Morpheus, Kikko Solaris (Radio SIS), Simon Harrison,
Pedo Knopp
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