Style: Electronica-Indietronic | Hip Hop
Orange Crush – “Autumn Reflections” (Archaic Horizon)
Stonewashed Electronica | It's time to write about Orange Crush. His debut album "The Field" back in 2006 got me already, but somehow I never managed to review it. Recently, Orange Crush published his second full-length and there is no excuse not to let you know about it eventually. Fancy lush Downbeat Electronica, ca. 1998? Go for it!
Orange Crush - "Invocation" (MP3)
Orange Crush - "Snow Bound" (MP3)
Orange Crush - "Quiet Skies" (MP3)
Let's start with the obvious reference: Boards of Canada. I'm sorry, Karl, you must have heard it a thousand times... The heavy influence of the Scottish pioneers is the reason I never sang the praise of Orange Crush I guess. Solid production, good tracks but something was missing on "The Field", Endersons' debut for Archaic Horizon. On "Autumn Reflections", apparently nothing has changed. The improvements, however, are subtle and essential.
Tonal synth- and organ chords, simple three-parts melodies, relaxed Downbeat- and Hip Hop beats, dense instrumentation, loads of atmosphere: the ingredients are the same. Now and back then, Orange Crush sounds dusty, sun-beaten and not much like Vest-Agder in Norway where Endreson lives. A spongy 70's feel is omnipresent throughout the album, certain stems seem to wave and warp like recorded to old tapes.
In the end, it's the melodies that make "Autumn Reflections" a better record than "The Field". Enderson is on point and writes songs rather than recording sound ideas. This is a bit more conservative, but it makes a wonderful album that gives you an idea what the Summer in 2009 may taste like. Ace!
MP3 Electronica Music Download
Download: "Autumn Reflections" (ZIP)
Artist-Website: myspace.com/orangecrushmusic
Release: Orange Crush - "Autumn Reflections"
Netlabel: archaichorizon.com
About the Author
This article was written on 16.April 2009 by Bettina Rhymes.
Bettina Rhymes is the journalist alter ego of Sven Swift. Swift runs the established CDr- and Netlabel 12rec.net and acts as a Netaudio DJ every now and then. Next to his job at Phlow Mag, he writes reviews about free music at RUBored.org. Read more articles written by Bettina Rhymes.
(13 votes, average: 3.92 out of 5)
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8 comments
The Field is still one of my favourite electronic albums ever! Looking foward to this one!
16. Apr 2009 at 11:24 pm
Link #1
Good lookin' out on two fronts. The release, for one… and the heads-up regarding Archaic Horizon. I hadn't stumbled on them before.
16. Apr 2009 at 11:30 pm
Link #2
big miss mr gregoire!
17. Apr 2009 at 7:53 am
Link #3
YAY! big one! like it very much!
18. Apr 2009 at 3:37 pm
Link #4
This is an a way to obvious copy of Boards of Canada. Using the same rhythm, patterns and melodies. Poor.
11. May 2009 at 5:55 pm
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Quiet Skies sounds great. More influenced by Manual then BOC.
19. Aug 2009 at 2:25 pm
Link #6
Sounds Great!! thank you very much
28. Aug 2009 at 2:52 am
Link #7
[...] I had to think of early Lamb or other forward-thinking "Trip Hop" acts. From the world of Netaudio, Orange Crush, Endless or Nic Bommaritio might suit for comparison.Albeit not actually at the edge of [...]
9. Feb 2010 at 1:43 pm
Link #8