The Isness - The Future Sound of London
The Isness Image
Metascore
62 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 12 Critics What's this?

User Score
6.3 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 11 Ratings

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  • Summary: The first new album for the English electronic outfit in six years sees the band heading in a completely new direction, away from their dark electronica in favor of a more organic, psychedelic rock vibe. Surprisingly (for a FSOL album), there's guitar, vocals, strings, and harmonica, and trippy song titles such as "The Mello Hippo Disco Show."… Expand

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 12
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 12
  3. Negative: 1 out of 12
  1. E! Online
    83
    Through it all they keep it both consistent (without being same-y) and experimental (without being disorienting).
  2. Almost Cool
    80
    Interestingly enough, the group manages to pull most of it off, but not without some stops into new-age and downright silly territory.
  3. Mixer
    60
    Its simple structures create memorable and identifiable songs. [Sep 2002, p.76]
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  4. Urb
    30
    Once you're name-checking Supertramp and ELO as major influences, it's pretty much over. [Aug 2002, p.114]
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See all 12 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 10
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 10
  3. Negative: 3 out of 10
  1. MarkP
    10
    If all music was the same I would get bored. So when a brilliant group changes their direction and it works, well, bravo!!!!! This is bloody great. One of those albums that needs to be listened to more than once, but once it clicks, it's SEX.… Expand
  2. MarkussX
    8
    FSOL's "The Isness" comes as something rather new and different from the band's earlier work. A mix of 90's-like electronic backbone and hippie and disco effects...The guitar sound is fantastic and the Richard Ashcroft-like psychedelic vocals are "hypnotic". Garry Cobain and Brian Dougans have my utmost respect… Expand
  3. RobertF
    7
    Yes, sure, this is not FSOL in the times of Lifeforms or my Kingdom, but it´s magic too!
  4. SeanT
    4
    I already know that FSOL are very good at music, I have Lifeforms. I bought this album because I thought it would amaze me in the same way their ealier stuff did. As far as I can see this album is partyly a joke, partly to keep the money coming in, and partly an exercise in Cobain's ego saying 'look at me I'm so clever I could easily have done what the Beatles and Pink Floyd did in the 60's if I had been around then'. Yes this is excellently crafted psychedlic pop, but I'd much rather have spent my money on some of the FSOL back catalouge that I don't already have on CD than this.… Expand

See all 10 User Reviews

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