Thomas Dolby: Classic or Dud?

fantastic interview! tons of weird details, didn't know dolby was the arranger for Bowie's live aid set

can not wait for these reissues

http://thequietus.com/articles/01793-the-science-of-sound-thomas-dolby-versus-the-quietus

Good interview -- somehow I knew about the Def Leppard connection but had forgotten the details.

cheers both of you.
i bumped a different thread re this interview yesterday, but still very glad to see someone found the article of interest.
what was strange was how yesterday the top banner advert on quietus was actually for the remastered/re-released pyromania.

ps. even though its the longest article on quietus, this was an edited version.
i got a fair bit more back from the man - even more nerdy aspects !
at some point i will drop the full deal in my own corner and let people know if interested.

awesome

please yes. thanks for this, one of the best interviews with him I've read. got me to listen to 'Astronauts and Heretics' again, which I was mild on when it came out, good songs but the arrangements seemed less distinctive, but listening now on headphones there's tons of stuff going on. and the songs are only growing on me. looking forward to the new album.

See I go to buy these reissues only to find...they're not out yet!

for those interested, i have dropped the unedited version : here

he's back with a new 3 track EP and surprisingly it's great, they could all fit nicely onto 'The Flat Earth' http://open.spotify.com/album/1fOaX3yhWhigpi3SEChkG0

Is there a release date on the new album yet?

It was "set for early 2011" but now I'm hearing it's going to come out in the summer. I'm not at all surprised if it turns out to be good, he only really made one album that wasn't good, and he wasn't even really trying on that one (Aliens Ate My Buick). I'm guessing that it's going to be very similar to the Flat Earth. I always thought that many of the songs he wrote sort of went beyond his years so now that he's 50 I expect really good things out of him.

I was playing this new EP last night. Agreed, it's surprisingly good.

New online game to coincide with the upcoming album: A Map of the Floating City. You float around the ocean, trying to trade found objects with other players, and when you complete a set, you win an mp3. So far I've only gotten "She Blinded Me With Science" (yay?), but I think if you stick with it, you eventually start winning new tracks.

(Warning: This is one of the nerdiest, steampunkiest things ever. That said, if you want to help a sister out, email me and I'll send you an invite. I think I get points or something.)

The new album just came out, apparently. Haven't heard it yet but AV Club gives it a B+.

I was watching videos last night from when he first showed up. What an awesome look he had going on. Part of me kind of wishes the smoky eye look was a standard thing dudes could do if they wanted.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yj_yFpL6uoE&feature=relmfu

srsly all-time look! so beautiful!

The new album is surprisingly good, aside from a few duds (Thomas does Americana = dud). His songwriting is still really strong.

put off getting new album cos of that bloody track about frogs.

the video was so naff ..

tell me it works in the flow of the album better than standalone !?

It does a bit, but still not enough to keep from skipping it.

The rest of the album is much, much better than that track. Check this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfDnd5LdHBo

yeah thats much better - in fact this has been getting airplay on 6music ..
he was also on the mark radcliffe show this afternoon, but i missed most of the interview..

album arrived yesterday - after an initial listen I can say that it's got a really great sound to it, and you can tell that he labored over everything on it. reminds me a lot of The Flat Earth (its a bit longer, but still), there's really no compromise on here at all, and besides that track posted above there's really nothing electronic on it.

This album is terrific, apart from lol@dumbMerkins track 'Froglickers'. The production as you'd expect is top notch, makes me wonder why he hasn't produced more artists.

i'm going to succumb aren't i !
now i just have to decide if i want the 2 cd edition with instrumental versions ..

The production as you'd expect is top notch, makes me wonder why he hasn't produced more artists.

no kidding - definitely the best sounding album I've heard this year. I remember reading his blog where he has a big entry on how to give certain elements power without messing with the peaks too much and how to avoid sounding like everything else modern, its all pretty evident here

Anyone go for the 2cd version? There's a few unique tracks after the (pointless) instrumentals.

I'm really enjoying it overall. Sometimes I feel like an old bastard always stumping for aging favorites but when they deliver it makes up for all the mediocre indie rock I'm exposed to.

i held back due to it being £20.
normally early doors ltd editions are a couple of quid more than the std edition, not double.
also, i used my weekly allowance on elvis instead.

on a bus from Merida to Cancun I listened to "Map of the Floating City" on repeat. it's surprisingly good, especially after the first few tracks. hope it's not the last we hear from him.

well, he's touring new material over the next few weeks ..

see rundown/interview @ tQ ..

I don't know if everyone else is already familiar with this, but I heard it for the first time today and it's my new favourite thing, something about the combination between the jittery, anxious feel of the music, even with the lyrics removed, and then the authoritative, equanimous but still robust character of Angela Rippon's voice

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYw5_UoQd74

Yeah, that was one of two tracks (along with "Liepzig") that were originally on the American version. The 2009 CD/DVD reissue collects everything and then some. Still love this album and find it incredibly evocative.

yea that 2009 version is incredible. but I don't think this is the original "Urges". this is so strange. great find!

My first instinct was someone made a goofy mash-up but it's legit!

listening to the flat earth for the first time…. this has to be the best album ever

Side A definitely brings it. Who knew he could write songs like that?

But "Flying North" is king.

Metal bird dip wing of fire
Whose airlanes comb dark Earth
The poles are tethers we were born in
On the brink of a whole new deal
On the floor of a Pan Am bar
I'm staring right into the light
And I'm drawn in like a moth
And I'm flying North again...