Additional information
On their fifth album, Labradford--a band already known for its sparse, dreamy soundscapes--tones things down even further. In approaching a more minimalist aesthetic, Virginia's favorite post-rockers drop the film-noir Ennio Morricone vibe that garnered unnecessary comparisons to Tortoise. Instead, there's a hushed, subtly electronic (it sometimes sounds like Pole's Stefan Betke is sitting in) feel to these six lengthy, untitled tracks that makes its predecessor, MI MEDIA NARANJA, sound like NEVER MIND THE BOLLOCKS. The increased use of space serves the band well, drawing the listener's attention to the sonic minutiae so vital to the band's compositions. Rather than a reduction, this process can be seen as a successful redefinition, especially on the third track, where the gentle pairing of piano with string section evokes a classical feel.
Reviews
Magnet (8-9/99, pp.79-80) - "...If [E LUXO SO] evokes a drug, it would have to be Lithium. The instrumental album compresses the emotional spectrum, trimming all highs and lows to create a semi-dazed mood of muted sadness..." The Wire (5/99, p.54) - "...Masters at conveying desolation and solitude, their work is meditative yet somehow debilitating, what with their spartan pianowork and restrained string sweeps, echo-facing into muggy silences..." CMJ (5/17/99, p.26) - "...quietly woven ribbons of guitar, keyboards, electronic beats and samples. Though the beautiful sonic landscape seems simplistic on the surface, a wealth of textures and nuances will keep patient listeners riveted." Melody Maker (6/19/99, p.52) - 4 1/2 stars out of 5 - "...Minilmalism is a tricky trick to pull off, but Labradford have done it. E LUXO SO is a beautifully sad record....Style, grandeur and beauty in a box....Of its kind, this is the perfect record..." Mojo (Publisher) (7/99, p.112) - "...slow-motion beauty...woven from repeated guitar and neo-classical piano motifs....more or less proving once again that less is more."
