Top Bar
Musique Machine Logo Home ButtonReviews ButtonArticles ButtonBand Specials ButtonAbout Us Button
SearchGo Down
Search for  
With search mode in section(s)
And sort the results by
show articles written by  
 Review archive:  # a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z

Emeralds - Just to Feel Anything [Editions Mego - 2012]

Just to Feel Anything is the second release from Cleveland's Emeralds. This electronica three piece has a tough task following up their very well received debut, Does It Look Like I'm Here. Having never heard the debut, I can't comment on how the two compare, but Emeralds put together a really solid album with Just to Feel Anything.

Electronica is a pretty expansive genre. It ranges from soft minimalism and ambient to bone rattling, bass thumbing club tracks. Just to Feel Anything falls somewhere in the middle, but closer to soft end. Emeralds fill their tracks with lush, atmospheric synth work and nice, well thought guitar riffs. The drums are a tad on the generic/cheesy side, but I'm not expecting Keith Moon here. The opener, "Before Your Eyes," makes me think of riding my futuristic motorcycle in an 80's movie. "Adenochrome" picks up the pace a bit and should definitely get your head moving. "Through & Through" changes the tone quite a bit. Soft, sustained synths play in the background while the guitar noodles out a heartfelt ditty. "Everything Is Inverted" almost lifts a page out of Tommy Tallarico's playbook. It's upbeat and very videogamey. "The Loser Keeps America Clean" is a definite oddball on this record. It's low, atmospheric, and haunting. It sounds like they dropped a microphone down to try and hear what goes on in R'lyeh. They don't get down there, but they do pick up some strange noises. "Just To Feel Anything" is a longer track (8+) that seems to take too long to get where it's going, and I don't know where that is.  The closer, "Search For Me In the Wasteland," goes back into the territory explored by "Through & Through." The synths have a Pink Floyd feel and this one leads to a nice climax. Very solid closing number.
 

Emeralds' second album is very solid from start to finish. There's nothing mindblowing on here, but there's nothing disappointing. With one exception, the songs don't overstay their welcome. The general tone on the album allows it to be nice background music to a good day of cleaning or staring out the window looking at stuff in your yard.

Rating: 3 out of 5Rating: 3 out of 5Rating: 3 out of 5Rating: 3 out of 5Rating: 3 out of 5

Paul Casey
Latest Reviews

Emeralds - Just to Feel Anything
Just to Feel Anything is the second release from Cleveland's Emeralds. This electronica three piece has a tough task following up their very well received de...
290324   Piranha - Piranha(DVD)
280324   Typhoon Club - Typhoon Club(B...
270324   Jerzy Skolimowski Collection ...
260324   Latex Choker - Sealed
260324   Occlusion - 59: No Input Wall
260324   Nihil Impvlse - Anabasis
260324   Marta Forsberg - Sjunger För...
260324   The New Boy - The New Boy( Th...
250324   The Stargazer’s Assistant - ...
250324   Liza Lim - Annunciation Trip...
Latest Articles

The Music of Clay Ruby & Burial H...
Over the last couple of decades Wisconsin native, Clay Ruby has been creating some of the world’s finest dark electronic music under the Burial Hex mon...
280324   The Music of Clay Ruby & Buri...
290224   Sutcliffe No More - Normal Ev...
100124   Occlusion - The Operation Is...
181223   Best Of 2023 - Music, Sound &...
051223   Powerhouse Films - Of Magic, ...
181023   IO - Of Sound, Of Art, Of Exp...
210923   Lucky Cerruti - Of Not so Fri...
290823   The Residents - The Trouble W...
110723   Yotzeret Sheydim Interview - ...
250523   TenHornedBeast - Into The Dee...
Go Up
(c) Musique Machine 2001 -2023. Twenty two years of true independence!! Mail Us at questions=at=musiquemachine=dot=comBottom