I finally got my copy of the album, and after a few spins I'm mostly loving it! There's a couple of tracks that don't sound particularly brilliant, but most of the album is quite immersive and hypnotic. I love how both the vocals and beats are constantly on the verge of breaking into more avant spheres, but they always fall back into the pop mold. Like Kate said, there are lots of things going on beyond the surface "song" level, so it feels like repeat listens will be rewarded with this album. But at the moment I'm loving the energy and immediacy of "Unchained" the most.
My only disappointment is that Panther didn't collaborate with Burnt Friedman here, as I'd hoped. I can see how producing the whole album with Herbert makes it more cohesive, but I would've loved to hear more stuff like "Machine in the Ghost". Maybe on the next Friedman album?
― Tuomas, Monday, 30 May 2011 19:48 (twelve years ago) link
This album still sounds pretty hot, repeated listenings haven't reduced its power. Pretty much the only thing I don't like about it is that the songs are so short (almost all of them are 3 or 4 minutes), would've liked to hear some more of electronic tweakery like the cut-up vocals in the beginning of the first song. Maybe there'll be some remixes later on though?
― Tuomas, Monday, 13 June 2011 09:10 (twelve years ago) link
This is pretty good, and I don't usually like Herbert productions.
― Matt DC, Tuesday, 5 July 2011 11:42 (twelve years ago) link
I'm not super familiar with Herbert, but to me this feels like a "proper" solo album, in that even though there are various bits and pieces that sound clearly like Herbert (the cut-up vocals in the first tune, for example), you always feel it's Panther who's running the show, from the beginning to the end.
― Tuomas, Wednesday, 6 July 2011 06:51 (twelve years ago) link
This is a fine, fine album. Played Rise Up when DJing before an Oxbow show recently and two people came up and asked who it was (this usually never happens).
― YOUTUBE ...the people over there tell the truth. (stevie), Wednesday, 6 July 2011 08:57 (twelve years ago) link
Is she the same person as 'Mistress Barbara' who appears on this track? Sounds very similar.
― Matt DC, Wednesday, 6 July 2011 09:04 (twelve years ago) link
She did make a point in interviews of stating that the whole album was already completely written before Herbert got involved. So I suspect his role as "producer" was more like the rockist definition of "guy who puts the finishing production touches on everything" rather than the usual dance sense of "guy who does all the music start to finish and whacks a singer on top."
― Karen D. Tregaskin, Wednesday, 6 July 2011 09:29 (twelve years ago) link
Probably, yeah. The album sleeve credits her and Herbert as co-producers on every track.
― Tuomas, Wednesday, 6 July 2011 09:50 (twelve years ago) link
It's not his contribution I'm questioning really but I don't generally like his whole sound. Also, annoying and gimmicky. But it certainly feels like 'her' album in the way that a Bjork album does regardless of whether she's working with Mark Bell or Matmos or whoever.
― Matt DC, Wednesday, 6 July 2011 10:01 (twelve years ago) link
Discovered "Moonlightpeople" from people repping for it on the EOY campaigning thread - gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous. Wouldn't have guessed Herbert was involved from the production, heh.
― etc, Thursday, 12 January 2012 20:34 (twelve years ago) link
So sad I wasn't in this thread from the beginning.
― Johnny Fever, Thursday, 12 January 2012 20:36 (twelve years ago) link
Ha, I actually nommed "Moonlightpeople" in the 2010 ILM end-of-year poll too (it was on BP's digital EP that came out in autumn 2010), but maybe this year it'll finally get its due? Though IMO "Dizzy" from the album is even better.
― Tuomas, Thursday, 12 January 2012 21:31 (twelve years ago) link
Eh, sorry, I meant "Unchained", which is clearly the best tune she's ever done. Though "Dizzy" is very pretty too.
― Tuomas, Thursday, 12 January 2012 21:35 (twelve years ago) link
Glad this thread got revived. This is one of those records I heard last year and thought, "this is going to be a big deal." And then it wasn't.
― Evan R, Thursday, 12 January 2012 21:36 (twelve years ago) link
Yeah, I was kinda expecting the album get a lot more critical acclaim than it did. You'd think BP's combination of fierce artsiness and underlying popist sensibility would be like manna for the critics?
― Tuomas, Thursday, 12 January 2012 21:40 (twelve years ago) link
It was manna for me. Between hearing it and making my ballot (just a matter of weeks), it became my #2.
― Johnny Fever, Thursday, 12 January 2012 21:59 (twelve years ago) link
Huh, she did a cover of the Talking Heads' "Once In A Lifetime" w/Kid606 in 2010 (link).
― etc, Friday, 13 January 2012 12:12 (twelve years ago) link
really enjoying this, my favorite of the eoy-nomination new discoveries.
― fighting growlbacks bottomless spirit pit (reddening), Monday, 16 January 2012 05:12 (twelve years ago) link
Tuomas, you did a great of repping for her job getting your nominations in so quick. As soon as I heard the two songs you nominated I ordered the album. I've played it loads over the last few weeks and ending up putting it in my top ten.
Along with the tracks that have been mentioned, Last Dance is one of my favourites.
― Kitchen Person, Monday, 16 January 2012 10:08 (twelve years ago) link
This album remains awesome, I'm glad that she's finally seeing some ILX appreciation. (I've kind of listened to it so much this year that I'm a bit burned out on it, but it's definitely AOTY territory for me.)
― Drexciya's Midnight Runners (Wheal Dream), Monday, 16 January 2012 10:41 (twelve years ago) link
Where did Barbara Panther go? Her fb page was most recently updated just last month, but it seems all she's been doing lately is dj gigs. ;_;
― Ⓓⓡ. (Johnny Fever), Saturday, 6 February 2016 06:07 (eight years ago) link
I played this again last month, wonderful record
― Brian of Morbius (stevie), Saturday, 6 February 2016 12:14 (eight years ago) link
https://soundcloud.com/barbara-panther-804037132
Finally some new music! Quite a nice tune, though maybe kinda tweer than what'd you'd expect from her?
― Tuomas, Friday, 13 May 2016 10:58 (seven years ago) link
Yes!
― Ⓓⓡ. (Johnny Fever), Friday, 13 May 2016 12:29 (seven years ago) link
https://soundcloud.com/barbara-panther-804037132/strange-fruit
It's what it says it is.
― Ⓓⓡ. (Johnny Fever), Thursday, 16 February 2017 00:43 (seven years ago) link
https://soundcloud.com/beapanther/feminine-1
New tune, this sounds pretty awesome! The lyrics are quite something, dunno if I fully agree with this Earth Mother stuff, but I love how unabashedly idealistic she is.
― Tuomas, Saturday, 27 October 2018 12:50 (five years ago) link
And how her singing style on this tune reflects that.
It'd be nice to get a proper record from her again, not just a tune on Soundcloud once a year or so.
― Tuomas, Saturday, 27 October 2018 12:52 (five years ago) link
yay! https://open.spotify.com/album/6DJlhwLF6EowqY6tCvct8Z?si=zEH5UguUQQewrw2zZbZt_A
― technopolis, Tuesday, 27 August 2019 18:58 (four years ago) link
Full album out now.
― Johnny Fever, Friday, 6 September 2019 01:05 (four years ago) link
Oh whoops, I guess that's what the link directly above was to.
― Johnny Fever, Friday, 6 September 2019 01:06 (four years ago) link
...and another!
https://matthewherbert.bandcamp.com/album/muramuke/
Full blown Herbert collab. It's pretty great!
― technopolis, Tuesday, 25 October 2022 19:43 (one year ago) link
hey this is really fucking good
― your original display name is still visible (Left), Tuesday, 25 October 2022 20:45 (one year ago) link