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The reliance upon imagery, track listings, and labels is par for the course with the largely vocal-free fields of electronic dance music. The Rhythm of Snow, the debut of Iceland-based producer Aalsteinn Gumundsson's alias as Yagya, is no exception, but the artwork might throw a few people off with its sharp angles and glassy effects of gray and black snowflakes (however attractive it is). The cold, sterile atmosphere that the physical package projects is unfortunate because there's a comfort in these productions, plainly named "Snowflake 1" through "Snowflake 10," that relate more to the good feelings associated with snow (jumping in a bank with a thick snowsuit) rather than the bad ones (shoveling, frostbite). Come to think of it, the label could be a little misleading as well. The soft synthetic beats, the maximal minimalism of the billowy textures, and the overall delicate touch are probably better suited for the Kompakt label than Force Inc. Akin to Kompakt's self-coined and curated pop ambient movement, Gumundsson's productions are easy on the ear and hold a deceptively catchy nature to them, completely avoiding the feel of some academic exercise. Compared to an obvious influence like Wolfgang Voigt, the granddaddy of this quasi-movement, Gumundsson is relatively liberal with the alterations he makes to the foundation of each track, twisting textures and folding them into each other with bewildering results. Beats are present throughout, ranging from a hollow tap to a racing pulse to a becalmed chug, with the latter being the most utilized. It's indeed a daunting task to take the record on in whole, but like any great ambient techno record, it leaves the impression of having no beginning and no end. ~ Andy Kellman, All Music Guide
Snow Patrol, Sisters tops in UK
As the Scissor Sisters grab their first No. 1 single in the UK, Snow Patrol reclaims the top slot on the album chart.
The Scissor Sisters ascended to No. 1 on the new UK singles chart yesterday with "I Don't Feel Like Dancin'" (Polydor), after debuting at No. 4 on download sales last week. Meanwhile, Snow Patrol outsold both Kasabian and Beyonce Knowles to return to the top of the album chart with Eyes Open (Fiction).
Scissor Sisters
It's Scissor Sisters' first UK No. 1 single, although their self-titled debut album spent four separate weeks at the top between July 2004 and February 2005. The track was cowritten by Elton John, who also plays piano on it.
Last week's No. 1 single, Justin Timberlake's "SexyBack" (Jive), fell to No. 2, while "Promiscuous" (Geffen) by Nelly Furtado featuring Timbaland climbed 15-3. Also advancing after its physical release was Robbie Williams' "Rudebox" (Chrysalis), up 30-4. Snow Patrol's durable "Chasing Cars" added to another good sales week for the band by moving up again to a new peak, 7-6, in its eighth week.
English soul singer Lemar's "It's Not That Easy" (RCA) arrived at No. 7, marking today's release of his new album The Truth About Love. The Feeling's "Never Be Lonely" (Universal Island) moved up 12-9, as its album Twelve Stops and Home improved 7-4, and Muse raced 38-13 with "Starlight" (Helium 3/Warner Bros.).
With the Snow Patrol album back up 2-1 to trade places with Kasabian's Empire (Columbia), Beyonce's' B Day (Columbia) entered at No. 3. Its 2003 predecessor, Dangerously in Love, opened at No. 1 and spent five weeks there.
The Very Best of Freddie Mercury Solo, released by Parlophone to mark what would have been the Queen frontman's 60th birthday on September 5, entered at No. 6, while Missy Elliott's Respect M.E. (Atlantic) opened at No. 7. Audioslave's Revelations (Epic/Interscope) came in at No. 12, followed by Crazy Itch Radio (XL Recordings) by Basement Jaxx at No. 16.
Long-running British rockers Iron Maiden's A Matter of Life and Death (Capitol/EMI) opens at No. 1 on the European Top 100 Albums chart. The Timberlake track climbs 40-1 on Eurochart Hot 100 Singles to end the run of 15 aggregate weeks at No. 1 for "Hips Don't Lie" (Epic) by Shakira featuring Wyclef Jean.
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