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Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed albums.
Fantasy Black Channel
Universal acclaim
Based on 18 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 25 votes
Read user comments
Rate this album >
Album Info
Label: Astralwerks
Release Date: 13 January 2009
Discs: 1 disc
Genre(s): Rock, Electronic
Summary
The debut album for the British quartet was produced by Erol Alkan.
Also On The Web: Official Artist Site
What The Critics Said
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
The Guardian
Fantasy Black Channel is the most thrilling British debut of the year for its spirit of invention, its surfeit of ideas and its ear for a good tune.
Read Full Review >Prefix Magazine
Listen carefully to Fantasy Black Channel, as the journey is slightly different with each listen. Every surreal note smacks with the infectious energy and vigor of youth, yet Late of the Pier’s musical proficiency and mélange of influences definitely belie their tender ages (early 20s).
Read Full Review >Filter
Produced by Erol Alkan, the album's solid. And the band stands a good chance of riding out the vapid waves of its trendy contempories. [Holiday 2008, p.102]
Hartford Courant
The prog-rock elements that begin the disc and surface throughout help to make the familiar sound fresh.
Read Full Review >PopMatters
They might wear their influences pretty much inked onto their sleeves, but Late of the Pier’s debut is as exciting as it is excitable.
Read Full Review >All Music Guide
Truth be told, it's still a bit of a mess, but it's a glorious and galvanizing one: a convoluted construction crammed with so many immediately gratifying moments that it takes multiple listens to extricate them all--in other words, enough instant pleasures to easily outweigh its occasional grating, overreaching, and faltering.
Read Full Review >Alternative Press
LOTP cram tons of stylistic inversions into 43 minutes. We had no idea attention deficit disorder could sound this majestic. [Feb 2009, p.102]
Uncut
Deliberately daft, but also bold and adventurous, Late Of The Pier are a hyperactive British answer to MGMT. [Sep 2008, p.90]
Drowned In Sound
They might borrow from forefathers to lay solid foundations, but Late Of The Pier have proven, with Fantasy Black Channel, that they’re a band with ability well beyond the simple sum of influential parts.
Read Full Review >musicOMH.com
This is a band that don't sound like anything else around at the moment, who aren't afraid to experiment with hip-busting funk, rock and power pop all jumping into bed together.
Read Full Review >New Musical Express
With the arrival of Fantasy Black Channel--four young men given free rein over four studios – it’s time to hail the new age of anything-goes ridiculousness.
Read Full Review >Observer Music Monthly
Fantasy Black Channel is a tour de force comprising glam, techno, and rave, all of which he twists into unimaginable shapes.
Read Full Review >Blender
They're not just churning out electro-scuz-soaked romps, they're reclaiming music's right to drop the verse-chorus form, set out on weird five-minute electronic benders and end up somewhere strange and exciting. [Oct 2008, p.80]
Read Full Review >Billboard
When these guys avoid the occasional regrettable extended downshift in tempo, the angular yet danceable set combines a mixture of menace and fun volatile enough to hint that their live shows must be irresistible.
Read Full Review >Urb
Their efforts are ambitious and commendable, but it seems like it will end up as one of those albums that may captivate you for a couple weeks--but will eventually be ousted from your recently played.
Read Full Review >Pitchfork
At its best moments, the debut sounds like an A.V. club president's wet dream, unabashedly nerdy and technically proficient. Sadly though, the record is peppered with aesthetically dubious nu-rave moments, making LOTP sound less like sympathetic revenging nerds and more like party-crazed dude-bros who just happen to own synths.
Read Full Review >Under The Radar
At their best, Late of the Pier is like some video-game-raised second coming of Roxy Music, all hooks, humor, attitude, and experimentation. But when they falter, it’s clear--they tag one too many parts into a song, never quite sure the painting’s done; or spit out throwaway dancepunk. [Year End 2008]
Spin
The quartet's fervent debut, produced by DJ Erol Alkan, offers a fabulous simulation of '80s new wave, with burping, sputtering synths and sleazy, Bowie-inspired crooning from frontman Sam Eastgate.
Read Full Review >What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this album is 8.5 (out of 10) based on 25 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
K. S. gave it a10:
Great album - one of the best in the past year or so. My thing is this - it came out well into last year.....why is it a new release in 2009?
Stephen C. gave it an8:
Some say that the Klaxons are the front runners for this fututre electro/indie/disco/rock but Late of the Pier have created a more invigorating sound.
isaac gave it a10:
An absolutely refreshing, frenetic, peerless debut, well worth the hype.
Joe K. gave it a10:
Sick Album, love it.
