plaid Not for Threes - Trainer (appreciation)

As you have probably seen, someone on the Aphex Twin subforum started a weekly topic for a review of a specific album, which could really work with Plaid as well, as there is plenty of material and it's a way of keeping the discussion on this subforum. I am including LP's exclusively, so the first one is Not for Threes, released in 1997.

(I know Mbuki Mvuki is considered to be an LP too, but the future Trainer appreciation thread will include the same tracks, anyway). If you want to include EP's as well as other collabs (Repeat, Mind over rhythm) just let me know.

The idea is that you do either a track-by-track review or just say whatever you want, leaving your impression on the record.

_{Not For Threes (1997)}

Abla Eedio - This is a wonderful start. It gives me a spatial sensation right from the begining and has a very uncommon signature that i love. The percussion really sounds heavy, but doesn't weight in my ears. The break at around 6:40 is on of my favorite moments here. It's a great first track for me, because it gives the feeling of entering some place, like an ancient greek metropolis.

Kortisin - This one is very playful and sounds funny. I don't really like when i hear something that sounds like a guitar in electronic music, so it's not the best mood for me, but definitely has a good atmosphere.

Headspin - The begining is beautiful. The transition to percussion is very sudden, but from there everything sounds flawless. There's a specific moment around 2:58 that brings Balil's Uland (or Island Praise) to my memory.

Myopia - caribbean beach is an instant image that comes to my mind. Very playful. I like these transitions between playful songs and more serious compositions, they bring dynamic to the album.

Lat - short but integral. Classic plaid sound. I love the synth lines (?) in the background.

Extork - i really would love to hear this track without Nicollete's Vocals, because i am sure i would prefer it that way. It starts in such a way that you don't know what to expect, and suddently these Balil like sounds kick in and it continues very interesting until the end, but the vocals are just something that is preventing me from hearing what it actually matters.

Prague Radio - this tracks is epic. I imagine a movie sequence going along with it. Actually the different moods this track contains make me think of a whole soundtrack compressed into 5 minutes. It's incredible.

Fer - love how it progresses. Typical Plaid's change of pace around 2:50 and more subtle melody starts kicking in.

Ladyburst - This one seems strange to me, but i like the playful melody.

Rakimou - this sounds very dramatic to me, in a classical way. I wonder if Plaid could express this feeling without the violin notes, but using merely machines.

Seph - kinda Kraftwerky in the begining and continues in a very Plaid-ish way until an intense final part.

Lilith - this one is so mysterious. Specially because Bjork adds her beautiful voice here. I can't explain how i feel about it, except that it kinda makes pressure in my ears, but in a pleasent way. It's really absorbing and i like that.

Forever - i love this tiny piece. The start really catches you for a few seconds, then the melody kicks in, followed by a subtle bass line, continuing harmonically through the end. It's really well balanced for its short lenght.

Getting - Not really like this one, but i don't deny its quality.

Milh - Even on the piano notes you can sense there's a Plaid touch, in the begining. Very good keyboard work, and subtle but powerful strings.

Undeson - Simple construction and beautiful melody. Very good one.

Spudink - Definitely my favorite here. I love how soft it sounds in my ears. If this song was something three-dimensional it would be constantly levitating. Not sure, but i think i hear a subtle acid line until around the 2:30 minute mark just before the melody starts kicking in a very graceful way.

--

Throw your general or more specific opinions into this thread, and enjoy the music!

Nevermind the title. I was going to start with Trainer until i noticed we should do it chronologically and the title ended up being a real mess.

It should be Plaid - Not For Threes (appreciation)

god damn, not for threes brings back some memories. absolutely amazing album. one of my all-time favorites.

i don't have time to get into a track by track rundown yet. but i just want to say that spudink on the undoneson 12" is one of their best songs ever. floaty and spacey with a kick ass bass line. shimmering lead synth. lush pads. so classic.

  On 5/22/2010 at 5:19 PM, Joebot Kill said:

god damn, not for threes brings back some memories. absolutely amazing album. one of my all-time favorites.

i don't have time to get into a track by track rundown yet. but i just want to say that spudink on the undoneson 12" is one of their best songs ever. floaty and spacey with a kick ass bass line. shimmering lead synth. lush pads. so classic.

Yea. I heard Spudink first on the Undeson 12" and fell in love with it. Undoneson is a great track too, altough not as good as the Spudink.

I agree with the above. :)

going to have another listen to Not for Three's this evening, over a nice little BBQ.. and a few cold beers.. it's gotta be done! :)

i'll get back to you with some thoughts........

btw, nice thread, Ruiagnelo. this will keep the forum active again, since the recent 5.3.11 love has been destroyed.

have a wikkid-awesome Saturday evening everyone :)

  On 5/22/2010 at 5:36 PM, sirch said:

I agree with the above. :)

 

going to have another listen to Not for Three's this evening, over a nice little BBQ.. and a few cold beers.. it's gotta be done! :)

i'll get back to you with some thoughts........

 

btw, nice thread, Ruiagnelo. this will keep the forum active again, since the recent 5.3.11 love has been destroyed.

 

 

have a wikkid-awesome Saturday evening everyone :)

Yea mate, we will have plenty of discussion in the future:

1. Not for 333's

2. Rest Proof Clockwork

3. Trainer

4. Double Figure

5. Parts in the Post (maybe)

6. Spokes

7. Greedy Baby

8. Tekkonkinkreet and Heaven's Door OSTs

9. SCINTILLI (maybe it will be out already by this time :))

  On 5/22/2010 at 4:56 PM, ruiagnelo said:

Extork - i really would love to hear this track without Nicollete's Vocals, because i am sure i would prefer it that way. It starts in such a way that you don't know what to expect, and suddently these Balil like sounds kick in and it continues very interesting until the end, but the vocals are just something that is preventing me from hearing what it actually matters.

Well it does crop up briefly in DialP (as I'm sure you know already), but I agree that the entire track as an instrumental would be so much better. I do like her vocals on this though.

  On 5/22/2010 at 11:13 PM, Caretstik said:

  On 5/22/2010 at 4:56 PM, ruiagnelo said:

Extork - i really would love to hear this track without Nicollete's Vocals, because i am sure i would prefer it that way. It starts in such a way that you don't know what to expect, and suddently these Balil like sounds kick in and it continues very interesting until the end, but the vocals are just something that is preventing me from hearing what it actually matters.

Well it does crop up briefly in DialP (as I'm sure you know already), but I agree that the entire track as an instrumental would be so much better. I do like her vocals on this though.

I prefer the vocals of her own albums.

I don't hate these vocals, i just don't like them here.

  On 5/22/2010 at 11:29 PM, ruiagnelo said:

  On 5/22/2010 at 11:13 PM, Caretstik said:

  On 5/22/2010 at 4:56 PM, ruiagnelo said:

Extork - i really would love to hear this track without Nicollete's Vocals, because i am sure i would prefer it that way. It starts in such a way that you don't know what to expect, and suddently these Balil like sounds kick in and it continues very interesting until the end, but the vocals are just something that is preventing me from hearing what it actually matters.

Well it does crop up briefly in DialP (as I'm sure you know already), but I agree that the entire track as an instrumental would be so much better. I do like her vocals on this though.

 

I prefer the vocals of her own albums.

I don't hate these vocals, i just don't like them here.

I know I'm a bit late to the party, (just noticed this thread right now tbh)

But I was just listening to Extork again for the first time in a long time, and I actually really like the vocals here. I tend to prefer instrumentals to vox trax as much as the next electronic fan, but here it works for some reason. And I love that screech sound that comes in around 1:38. Hard!

I also really like the little interlude Lat right before it... wish it had been developed into a full length track. Nice transition.

prague radio is my favorite plaid song. so epic. i freaked out recently when i started watching the x-files from the beginning and heard that "i'm afraid they're coming back.." sample in the pilot.

  On 7/12/2010 at 9:38 PM, Superstix said:

 

I know I'm a bit late to the party, (just noticed this thread right now tbh)

 

But I was just listening to Extork again for the first time in a long time, and I actually really like the vocals here. I tend to prefer instrumentals to vox trax as much as the next electronic fan, but here it works for some reason. And I love that screech sound that comes in around 1:38. Hard!

 

I also really like the little interlude Lat right before it... wish it had been developed into a full length track. Nice transition.

lol i thought this thread was dead.

like you, i prefer the electronic music without vocals, but they do work on some exceptions. I am recalling the first track from Beaumount Hanna's Sculptured and there are more that i like, but don't seem to remember.

I prefer samples rather than vocals.

  On 7/12/2010 at 9:53 PM, Boxus said:

prague radio is my favorite plaid song. so epic. i freaked out recently when i started watching the x-files from the beginning and heard that "i'm afraid they're coming back.." sample in the pilot.

Aaaaah so awesome, two of my favorite things combined.

Prague Radio would have made a great addition to the score of an X-Files episode, or Plaid could have "guest scored" an ep if Mark Snow would have allowed it. Although Not For Threes came out around season 5, right? The vibe of the show had slightly changed by then and was less eerie, IMO.

That reminds me, I'll have to dig out The Truth And The Light: Music From The X-Files CD... haven't listened to that in ages. Thanks!

On another note... Rakimou could have been part of a Cirque du Soleil soundtrack.

  On 7/12/2010 at 9:38 PM, Superstix said:

I also really like the little interlude Lat right before it... wish it had been developed into a full length track. Nice transition.

Love Lat. I'm probably in a minority but I can't get on with Threes and Rest Proof as whole albums like most people, I much prefer everything that followed. But tracks like Lat are like germs of the sort of later Plaid tracks I like (I feel the same about the first half of Gel Lab), where there's a kind of urgency or melancholy to the melody. Anyway, sorry, I'm jumping ahead of the cycle...

  On 7/12/2010 at 10:12 PM, Superstix said:

  On 7/12/2010 at 9:53 PM, Boxus said:

prague radio is my favorite plaid song. so epic. i freaked out recently when i started watching the x-files from the beginning and heard that "i'm afraid they're coming back.." sample in the pilot.

 

Aaaaah so awesome, two of my favorite things combined.

 

Prague Radio would have made a great addition to the score of an X-Files episode, or Plaid could have "guest scored" an ep if Mark Snow would have allowed it. Although Not For Threes came out around season 5, right? The vibe of the show had slightly changed by then and was less eerie, IMO.

 

That reminds me, I'll have to dig out The Truth And The Light: Music From The X-Files CD... haven't listened to that in ages. Thanks!

 

On another note... Rakimou could have been part of a Cirque du Soleil soundtrack.

anyway thanks for reviving this thread somehow. i was going to keep writing threads for various plaid records. but watmmers just don't care.

  On 7/13/2010 at 1:10 AM, ruiagnelo said:

  On 7/12/2010 at 10:12 PM, Superstix said:

  On 7/12/2010 at 9:53 PM, Boxus said:

prague radio is my favorite plaid song. so epic. i freaked out recently when i started watching the x-files from the beginning and heard that "i'm afraid they're coming back.." sample in the pilot.

 

Aaaaah so awesome, two of my favorite things combined.

 

Prague Radio would have made a great addition to the score of an X-Files episode, or Plaid could have "guest scored" an ep if Mark Snow would have allowed it. Although Not For Threes came out around season 5, right? The vibe of the show had slightly changed by then and was less eerie, IMO.

 

That reminds me, I'll have to dig out The Truth And The Light: Music From The X-Files CD... haven't listened to that in ages. Thanks!

 

On another note... Rakimou could have been part of a Cirque du Soleil soundtrack.

 

anyway thanks for reviving this thread somehow. i was going to keep writing threads for various plaid records. but watmmers just don't care.

Some of us do.

  On 7/13/2010 at 1:11 AM, Caretstik said:

  On 7/13/2010 at 1:10 AM, ruiagnelo said:

  On 7/12/2010 at 10:12 PM, Superstix said:

  On 7/12/2010 at 9:53 PM, Boxus said:

prague radio is my favorite plaid song. so epic. i freaked out recently when i started watching the x-files from the beginning and heard that "i'm afraid they're coming back.." sample in the pilot.

 

Aaaaah so awesome, two of my favorite things combined.

 

Prague Radio would have made a great addition to the score of an X-Files episode, or Plaid could have "guest scored" an ep if Mark Snow would have allowed it. Although Not For Threes came out around season 5, right? The vibe of the show had slightly changed by then and was less eerie, IMO.

 

That reminds me, I'll have to dig out The Truth And The Light: Music From The X-Files CD... haven't listened to that in ages. Thanks!

 

On another note... Rakimou could have been part of a Cirque du Soleil soundtrack.

 

anyway thanks for reviving this thread somehow. i was going to keep writing threads for various plaid records. but watmmers just don't care.

Some of us do.

of course mate, i wasn't talking about you, or sirch or those who posted, but the majority. i just lose all the motivation i had to revive this subforum.

  On 7/13/2010 at 1:31 AM, ruiagnelo said:

  On 7/13/2010 at 1:11 AM, Caretstik said:

  On 7/13/2010 at 1:10 AM, ruiagnelo said:

  On 7/12/2010 at 10:12 PM, Superstix said:

  On 7/12/2010 at 9:53 PM, Boxus said:

prague radio is my favorite plaid song. so epic. i freaked out recently when i started watching the x-files from the beginning and heard that "i'm afraid they're coming back.." sample in the pilot.

 

Aaaaah so awesome, two of my favorite things combined.

 

Prague Radio would have made a great addition to the score of an X-Files episode, or Plaid could have "guest scored" an ep if Mark Snow would have allowed it. Although Not For Threes came out around season 5, right? The vibe of the show had slightly changed by then and was less eerie, IMO.

 

That reminds me, I'll have to dig out The Truth And The Light: Music From The X-Files CD... haven't listened to that in ages. Thanks!

 

On another note... Rakimou could have been part of a Cirque du Soleil soundtrack.

 

anyway thanks for reviving this thread somehow. i was going to keep writing threads for various plaid records. but watmmers just don't care.

Some of us do.

 

of course mate, i wasn't talking about you, or sirch or those who posted, but the majority. i just lose all the motivation i had to revive this subforum.

Look on the bright side, this subforum may not be the most active, but it hasn't yet sunk to the depths of 'post Sean Booth/Mira Calix's wedding photos' / 'which has been Richard D James' most productive beard-length' yet (I shit you not much). And don't forget the poor old subforum, which is one of the older ones as well.

  On 7/13/2010 at 1:43 AM, Caretstik said:

  On 7/13/2010 at 1:31 AM, ruiagnelo said:

  On 7/13/2010 at 1:11 AM, Caretstik said:

  On 7/13/2010 at 1:10 AM, ruiagnelo said:

  On 7/12/2010 at 10:12 PM, Superstix said:

  On 7/12/2010 at 9:53 PM, Boxus said:

prague radio is my favorite plaid song. so epic. i freaked out recently when i started watching the x-files from the beginning and heard that "i'm afraid they're coming back.." sample in the pilot.

 

Aaaaah so awesome, two of my favorite things combined.

 

Prague Radio would have made a great addition to the score of an X-Files episode, or Plaid could have "guest scored" an ep if Mark Snow would have allowed it. Although Not For Threes came out around season 5, right? The vibe of the show had slightly changed by then and was less eerie, IMO.

 

That reminds me, I'll have to dig out The Truth And The Light: Music From The X-Files CD... haven't listened to that in ages. Thanks!

 

On another note... Rakimou could have been part of a Cirque du Soleil soundtrack.

 

anyway thanks for reviving this thread somehow. i was going to keep writing threads for various plaid records. but watmmers just don't care.

Some of us do.

 

of course mate, i wasn't talking about you, or sirch or those who posted, but the majority. i just lose all the motivation i had to revive this subforum.

Look on the bright side, this subforum may not be the most active, but it hasn't yet sunk to the depths of 'post Sean Booth/Mira Calix's wedding photos' / 'which has been Richard D James' most productive beard-length' yet (I shit you not much). And don't forget the poor old subforum, which is one of the older ones as well.

thats a good point. there is some dignity here at least

i guess i will write a thread about another record as well, now that i have some more free time.

even if people don't pay attention, at least i am not wasting space with useless threads.

  On 7/13/2010 at 2:46 AM, ruiagnelo said:

  On 7/13/2010 at 1:43 AM, Caretstik said:

  On 7/13/2010 at 1:31 AM, ruiagnelo said:

  On 7/13/2010 at 1:11 AM, Caretstik said:

  On 7/13/2010 at 1:10 AM, ruiagnelo said:

  On 7/12/2010 at 10:12 PM, Superstix said:

  On 7/12/2010 at 9:53 PM, Boxus said:

prague radio is my favorite plaid song. so epic. i freaked out recently when i started watching the x-files from the beginning and heard that "i'm afraid they're coming back.." sample in the pilot.

 

Aaaaah so awesome, two of my favorite things combined.

 

Prague Radio would have made a great addition to the score of an X-Files episode, or Plaid could have "guest scored" an ep if Mark Snow would have allowed it. Although Not For Threes came out around season 5, right? The vibe of the show had slightly changed by then and was less eerie, IMO.

 

That reminds me, I'll have to dig out The Truth And The Light: Music From The X-Files CD... haven't listened to that in ages. Thanks!

 

On another note... Rakimou could have been part of a Cirque du Soleil soundtrack.

 

anyway thanks for reviving this thread somehow. i was going to keep writing threads for various plaid records. but watmmers just don't care.

Some of us do.

 

of course mate, i wasn't talking about you, or sirch or those who posted, but the majority. i just lose all the motivation i had to revive this subforum.

Look on the bright side, this subforum may not be the most active, but it hasn't yet sunk to the depths of 'post Sean Booth/Mira Calix's wedding photos' / 'which has been Richard D James' most productive beard-length' yet (I shit you not much). And don't forget the poor old subforum, which is one of the older ones as well.

 

thats a good point. there is some dignity here at least

i guess i will write a thread about another record as well, now that i have some more free time.

even if people don't pay attention, at least i am not wasting space with useless threads.

can't speak for everyone obviously, but i'm enjoying the plaid forum posts more than most other sub forums (whenever i read a post in the aphex of ae subforum i vomit in my mouth a little. way too much fanboy/girlism in there!) would love to see more activity.

also this thread made me listen to not for 3s, which is one of my more neglected plaid releases - cheers!

  On 7/13/2010 at 2:53 AM, AcrossCanyons said:

 

also this thread made me listen to not for 3s, which is one of my more neglected plaid releases - cheers!

It's a magnificent record. enjoy it mate

  On 7/12/2010 at 9:53 PM, Boxus said:

prague radio is my favorite plaid song. so epic. i freaked out recently when i started watching the x-files from the beginning and heard that "i'm afraid they're coming back.." sample in the pilot.

lol (in a good way)

..ps. sorry for not adding my NF3's review yet... i will , .....

this was my favorite plaid release for a while... then rest proof clockwerk took over about 4 years ago as my fav.

  On 7/17/2010 at 5:04 AM, Mesh Gear Fox said:

just got a bunch of plaid CDs in the mail a couple of weeks ago so I'm eager to catch up with the rest of you. I've had not for threes for a year or two and it's one of my favourite electronic albums. i'm going to get it on vinyl soon if it's not too rare.

i guess it shouldn't be that hard to find. i hope you do it. it's a nice record to own on vinyl