FSOL* – Lifeforms

While un-enticing, the single proves to be a solid head and heels above the expectations of one owning the double cd of the lifeforms lp. Extremely important is path 4. It sounds like prehistoric America where Mayan civilisations sacrificed women and children in hopes of fertile soil and rich crops. Utterly beautiful and undescribable by words, the singing is so raw and sinful-sounding that the artwork on the back and front would make sense. A hidden gem this one is, but there is nothing that compares to this, even in national geographic films or other professionally produced soundtracks to hauntingly mesemerising sequences, or just anything else.

FSOL certainly don't just throw singles together with several remixes and release them as mini-compilations. They create mini-epics that stand on their own as individual works instead of just a small sample of a larger whole. "Lifeforms" was one of the more percussive numbers on FSOL's ambient album masterpiece of the same name. Here, the basic idea of the song is expounded upon to create seven individuals parts, or songs. Part 3 is the album version, and the only other song that even sounds remotely like the original is part 5. Every other part is an individual creation. Part 1 is an abstract intro that introduces several melodies that we'll hear later in the album including a hauntingly gorgeous vocal from Cocteau Twin's Elizabeth Fraser. Part 2 has that gorgeous voice again along with creepy Eastern string samples overlaying a chugging repetitive bassline that builds momtentum to the album's peak in part 3. Part 4 is the most ethereal and melodic of any part. A duet of sort between a gorgeous soothing vocal and jarring creepy vocal is backed up by twinkling piano samples and chords. The last three parts 3 refrain and further develop ideas from parts 2 through 4. Part 7 is an eerily soothing closer with it's strange eastern strings and amalgamation of sounds from earlier parts. Really, I can't say enough about the quality of the music contained on this album. Anyone who liked the Lifeforms album will certainly enjoy this.