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Recording A Tape The Colour Of The Light
by
Recording A Tape The Colour Of The Light Image
Metascore
74

Generally favorable reviews - based on 15 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.1

Universal acclaim- based on 8 Ratings

  • Summary: This is the long-in-the-making debut album for the instrumental Montreal band that shares two members (Sarah Neufeld and Richard Reed Parry) with the Arcade Fire.

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 15
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 15
  3. Negative: 0 out of 15
  1. Village Voice (Consumer Guide)
    91
    [Bell Orchestre] varies its cunningly sequenced, gratifyingly brief instrumental tracks with such old-fashioned amenities as textured melodies, pleasing dynamic shifts, and passages that, if they don't actually r-o-c-k, at least bound down the road in an excited manner.
  2. Magnet
    90
    Capacious, intimate and brimming with both whimsy and tension, Recording A Tape is what classical music might sound like from some advanced alien civilization. [#70, p.86]
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  3. Under The Radar
    80
    Recording's musical vignettes display equal parts languor and incitement. [#11, p.105]
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  4. AllMusic
    70
    A debut that sounds a lot like New York urbanites the Rachel's and the Clogs, but a little more dangerous.
  5. Slant Magazine
    70
    The first third or so of Recording A Tape lags a bit, mostly because Bell Orchestre seems reluctant to show all its cards right out of the jewel case. However, once you reach "THROW IT ON A FIRE," the horns and percussion begin to drive, and the album grows progressively stronger.
  6. Mojo
    70
    There's a beguiling musicality at play that puts pleasing melody at the centre of even the most outre detour. [Dec 2005, p.102]
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  7. Spin
    42
    Flavorless chamber pop. [Jan 2006, p.91]
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See all 15 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 7
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 7
  3. Negative: 0 out of 7
  1. kurtt
    Mar 5, 2006
    9
    I personally find it quite refreshing and I love how the album has a whispy unity that works as a whole. It really has grown on me!!!
  2. TaylorE
    Nov 22, 2005
    9
    These guys are awesome. The CD is a bit boring in parts, but I don't give, I don't have ADD or anything. Plus, they're These guys are awesome. The CD is a bit boring in parts, but I don't give, I don't have ADD or anything. Plus, they're essentially an instrumental branch of my favourite band, The Arcade Fire… Collapse
  4. RaphaelA
    Nov 22, 2005
    9
    This score reflects the fact that I listened to the album after hearing them live. They are fantastic live.
  5. SeanT
    Dec 11, 2005
    9
    very excellent orchestral post rock. easier to listen to in one sitting than godspeed and its nice to see something really deeply musically very excellent orchestral post rock. easier to listen to in one sitting than godspeed and its nice to see something really deeply musically talented coming from a member of arcade fire. let's just hope he is just as good in Islands… Expand
  6. davem
    Oct 6, 2006
    8
    Solid album, see them live, it's fantastic.
  7. ldavidson
    Nov 16, 2005
    7
    Good but a little boring in spots.
  8. coolerstillr.muckfluck
    Feb 6, 2006
    4
    yeah...not quite. no.