The Future Sound of London / Lifeforms
Artist The Future Sound of London
Album Title: Lifeforms
Album Cover:
Primary Genre Electronica/Dance: Ambient Electronica
Format CD (2)
Released 05/16/1994
Reissue Date 05/20/1994
Label Astralwerks/Virgin Records Ltd.
Catalog No ASW 6113-2
Bar Code No 0 1704-66113-2 9
Packaging Jewelcase
Tracks
Lifeforms [disc 1]
1. Cascade (5:59)
2. Ill Flower (3:24)
3. Flak (4:53)
4. Bird Wings (1:30)
5. Dead Skin Cells (6:50)
6. Lifeforms (5:18)
7. Eggshell (6:45)
8. Among Myselves (5:52)
Lifeforms [disc 2]
1. Domain (2:48)
2. Spineless Jelly (4:41)
3. Interstat (0:55)
4. Vertical Pig (6:44)
5. Cerebral (3:30)
6. Life Form Ends (5:03)
7. VIT (6:48)
8. Omnipresence (6:39)
9. Room 208 (6:12)
10. Elaborate Burn (3:15)
11. Little Brother (5:12)
Date Acquired 12/01/2000
Personal Rating
Acquired from Streetlight Records (Santa Cruz, CA)
Purchase Price 14.00

Web Links

All Music Guide Entry:
Discogs Entry:
MusicBrainz entry:
Wikipedia Entry:

Notes

Notes:
Manufactured, Marketed and Distributed by Caroline Records, Inc.
114 West 26th Street, New York, NY 10001

An individual catalog number is additionally printed on each disc:
Disc 1 (7243 8 39683 2 9)
Disc 2 (7243 8 39684 2 8)

Credits:
Art Direction – Buggy G Riphead
Engineer – Yage
Written-By – Dougans, Cobain
Written-By, Producer – FSOL

Companies, etc.:
Manufactured By – Caroline Records, Inc.
Marketed By – Caroline Records, Inc.
Distributed By – Caroline Records, Inc.
Published By – Sony Music Publishing
Copyright © – Virgin Records Ltd.
Mastered At – EMI MFG.

Barcode and other Identifiers:
Barcode (text): 0 1704-66113-2 9
Matrix / Runout (CD1 mirror band): ASW06113D1 MASTERED BY EMI MFG.
Matrix / Runout (CD2 mirror band): ASW06113D2 MASTERED BY EMI MFG.
Mastering SID Code (CD1 & CD2 mirror bands): IFPI L043
Mould SID Code (CD1 mirror band): IFPI 1642
Mould SID Code (CD2 mirror band): IFPI 166A
Other (CD1 mirror band): 1-1-4

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Analyzed Folder: The Future Sound of London - Lifeforms (Disc 1)_dr.txt
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DR        Peak          RMS     Filename          
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DR13   -2.15 dB   -17.98 dB  01 - Cascade.flac        
DR13   -2.19 dB   -22.38 dB  02 - Ill Flower.flac      
DR13   -2.65 dB   -17.58 dB  03 - Flak.flac        
DR14   -6.07 dB   -25.07 dB  04 - Bird Wings.flac      
DR13   -0.70 dB   -18.47 dB  05 - Dead Skin Cells.flac    
DR12   -1.04 dB   -15.47 dB  06 - Lifeforms.flac      
DR13   -0.79 dB   -18.58 dB  07 - Eggshell.flac        
DR10   -0.21 dB   -15.28 dB  08 - Among Myselves.flac      
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of Files: 8
Official DR Value: DR13
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Analyzed Folder: The Future Sound of London - Lifeforms (Disc 2)_dr.txt
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DR        Peak          RMS     Filename          
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DR13   -1.29 dB   -17.83 dB  01 - Domain.flac      
DR12   -0.40 dB   -15.36 dB  02 - Spineless Jelly.flac    
DR13   -5.05 dB   -24.20 dB  03 - Interstat.flac      
DR12   -0.05 dB   -14.78 dB  04 - Vertical Pig.flac    
DR11   -1.28 dB   -17.11 dB  05 - Cerebral.flac        
DR12   -0.05 dB   -15.22 dB  06 - Life Form Ends.flac      
DR12   -0.05 dB   -17.19 dB  07 - VIT.flac        
DR12   -2.07 dB   -17.53 dB  08 - Omnipresence.flac    
DR13   -0.05 dB   -16.77 dB  09 - Room 208.flac        
DR12   -3.99 dB   -19.36 dB  10 - Elaborate Burn.flac      
DR12   -0.20 dB   -16.42 dB  11 - Little Brother.flac      
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of Files: 11
Official DR Value: DR12
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Reviews
All Music Guide Review by Ned Raggett:

Having indulged in more explicitly ambient realms with the Amorphous Androgynous side project, FSOL returned to full action with Lifeforms, a double-disc effort that ranks as one of the best experimental techno releases of the '90s. If not as immediately memorable on a song per song basis as, say, Aphex Twin's Selected Ambient Works collections, as an overall piece, Lifeforms makes for an inventive, fascinating aural experience, as rich and detailed as the Orb's best work. Where FSOL differs from that band in particular is the comparative lack of overt humor and less immediate desire to make people groove -- this is something to listen to rather than necessarily dance to. In comparison to Accelerator, this is an extremely subtle listen, with rhythms generally buried in the mix, serving the melodies rather than vice versa. In comparison to the upfront breaks and steady house beats just two years previous, here they're stuttered, echoed, often approaching dub in pace and impact. Meanwhile, the space-alien bubbles and noises and haunting tones take to the fore, making for a disorienting, evocative experience, a mix of natural sounds and artificial elements much like the band's own artwork. Even the singles, "Cascade" and "Lifeforms," play down the beat. The one for "Cascade" is barely there, swooping samples and soft synth hooks to the fore, while "Lifeforms," for its comparatively more direct impact, relies as much on its keyboard swell and chiming melody as much as the complex overlay of rhythms. There are a few guest appearances here and there, but they're mostly notable for how the band incorporate them instead of letting them stand out -- Robert Fripp's guitar on "Flak," Talvin Singh's tablas on "Life Form Ends," and Toni Halliday from Curve doing a "vocal texture" on "Cerebral."
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