Great art must provoke or inspire you, and I’m sorry to all the folks out there “awash” in Eluvium’s dreamy “soundscapes” of pure “emotion” and “beauty”, but this record does neither.
The first essential album since Spoon's 2005 Rock-Masterpiece, "Gimme Fiction", and one of the best avant-garde records of this decade The first essential album since Spoon's 2005 Rock-Masterpiece, "Gimme Fiction", and one of the best avant-garde records of this decade (along with "Up in Flames" by Manitoba, "Rounds" by Four Tet, and "Endless Summer by Fennesz"). This album is an exercise in aural beauty and invoking feelings of passion and admiration. Though clearly different, it is similar in emotive ability to Talk Talk's masterpieces, "Spirt of Eden" and "Laughing Stock". Pretty albums sound like they should be cliche, but post-rock albums are actually more prone to making soundtracks to fear (for example, Mogwai, Godspeed You Black Emperor, and even Explosions in the Sky's second album). Of course, even the rareness of the subject matter doesn't make it a unique idea. Rather, "Copia" is great not because it introduces a new idea, but because it perfects the idea, and completes it more masterfully than any albums in recent memory. This is easily 2007's best album (as of March 6, 2007 - and given that I haven't listened to any leaks). It has a timelessness that many avant-garde pieces posses. Buy it now!! Rating: 9.4/10…Expand
Gorgeous and stunning album. Definitely one of my favorite albums of 2007. And yeah, if you don't like "background music" or whatever, Gorgeous and stunning album. Definitely one of my favorite albums of 2007. And yeah, if you don't like "background music" or whatever, why listen and review it?…Expand
Album full of fantastical sounds and liberating memories. Makes younger people dream about simple life and older ones to think about wasted Album full of fantastical sounds and liberating memories. Makes younger people dream about simple life and older ones to think about wasted past. My personal favorite - prelude for time feelers.…Expand
There are a few nice moments (e.g. "Ostinato"), but I'm surprised at the critical consensus to this album, since a lot of it is almost There are a few nice moments (e.g. "Ostinato"), but I'm surprised at the critical consensus to this album, since a lot of it is almost unforgivably schmaltzy. The more piano-driven moments on the album, in particular, often overstate themselves with their melodramatic, rubato-slathered delivery, despite how conventional and safe the notes themselves are. Tracks like "Prelude For Time Feelers" and "Radio Ballet" represent the worst tendencies of new-age music -- too obviously manipulative to recede into the background, but too simple to withstand focused attention.…Expand
Big fan of Eluvium's first album, it is one of my favorites.. But what enamored me most was its lo-fidelity almost amateurish quality as Big fan of Eluvium's first album, it is one of my favorites.. But what enamored me most was its lo-fidelity almost amateurish quality as he captured sounds and loops that were so simplistic in their beauty. It seems the more 'advanced' his sound, he gets lost in his strain for perfection. While some tracks stand out, I cringe when he sits down at the piano. I find it too melodramatic, in a middle school piano recital kind of way, and he can't seem to break from a set of chords which have strung his last albums together, chords which him and I suppose others find profound, but what I find far too serious to be taken seriously.. I preferred the mistakes, Mr. Cooper! Try doing what all great artists do at the peak of their career: Bring it back to the basics.…Expand
