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JET SET RADIO

Vulgar Unicorn

Eclectic Prog


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Vulgar Unicorn Jet Set Radio album cover
3.43 | 29 ratings | 5 reviews | 10% 5 stars

Good, but non-essential

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Studio Album, released in 2000

Songs / Tracks Listing

1. This Is Where It All Began (11:17)
2. It Didn't Used To Be This Way (5:08)
3. Powder, Groom, Hardpack (2:44)
4. I Saw The Messenger Of The New God There (8:44)
5. Secret Spot (7:37)
6. I'm Beginning To Think I Can Cure A Rainy Day (4:28)
7. Diabolical Scheme (5:19)
8. More Money Than I Know What To Do With (4:55)
9. Tierce De Picardie (8:07)
10. Scherzo In C Minor (3:08)

Total Time: 61:27

Line-up / Musicians

- Bruce Soord / performer (guitars...)
- Neil Randall / performer (keyboards...)

With:
- Hugo Drax / vocals (1,2)
- Nick Lang / vocals (3,6)
- Damien Edwards / vocals (4,7)
- Chuck Babbage / synth & sequencer programming
- Archer MacLean / piano
- Lisa S. / sax
- Robert Davi / trumpet
- Mendosa / marimba
- Mark Horsey / Shanai
- Yu Suzuki / Koto
- Doug Liman / double bass
- Bruce Campbell / drums



Note: The actual instrumentation could not be fully confirmed at this moment

Releases information

CD Cyclops ‎- CYCL 068 (2000, UK)

Thanks to ProgLucky for the addition
and to Quinino for the last updates
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VULGAR UNICORN Jet Set Radio ratings distribution


3.43
(29 ratings)
Essential: a masterpiece of progressive rock music(10%)
10%
Excellent addition to any prog rock music collection(52%)
52%
Good, but non-essential (31%)
31%
Collectors/fans only (0%)
0%
Poor. Only for completionists (7%)
7%

VULGAR UNICORN Jet Set Radio reviews


Showing all collaborators reviews and last reviews preview | Show all reviews/ratings

Collaborators/Experts Reviews

Review by tszirmay
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Honorary Collaborator
4 stars This release is chock full of trippy loops and groovy atmospheres , propelling the often quirky lyrics along at a brisk pace. Less psychedelic than the Ozric Tentacles, surely less techno than Yello but as groove oriented as mid-era Porcupinr Tree, Neil Randall and Bruce Soord (of Pineapple Thief fame) weave a highly distintive style, sprinkled with a very English touch, detailing tons of effects, liberal doses of " faux-Jazz" & outright symphonics that cavort with electronica. The entire opus is a continuum, a free flowing exploration of "chill" sounds with vivid soundscapes that flirt with the outer edges of conventional prog. Perhaps an aquired taste for some but then I never consider myself a critic (there's enough garbage out there in Pop land to slam) , more of a reviewer who loves the wide parameters offered by our beloved genre! But look at all the positives here: Soord's great guitar inventory, genuinely unique, Randall's vivid keys and reptilian bass and in keeping with prog tradition , they have a real drummer (bruce Campbell) instead of those damn computers.Yes, there are definite pastings of blurps and beeps to the overall sonic picture but I cannot help feeling that this is so unpretentious, picturing the musicians smiling and having fun creating this off-the-wall stuff. An open mind leads often to paradise. 4 knobs
Review by kev rowland
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Honorary Reviewer
3 stars The two guys from Yeovil have finally returned with their third album, which seems to have been 'nearly ready' for ages. They have utilised some guest musicians and vocalists (if you can honestly believe all of the credits on the insert), but for the most part, it is just Neil Randall and Bruce Soord in the studio. They boast of being one of the few truly progressive bands left in the UK, and they certainly sound very different to the norm. Very keyboard based, although not New Age, it is an album that takes a lot of listening to. It is not New Age, but at times, there is the danger that they could disappear in a puff of complexity.

Being progressive for it's own sake is not an end to itself, although these guys obviously do not feel that this is the case. Very interesting, but sometimes too damn clever for its' own good. Treat with care.

Feedback #59, July 2000

Review by b_olariu
PROG REVIEWER
3 stars Third release named Jet set radio from 2000 and maybe their best so far, keeps the same atmosphere, almost the moods and texture are in same level with the predecesor but in places is a little more solid and tight. I like a lot to this band how easy they can go from an prog piece with complex enough arrangements to jazz and fynky moments on another tune. The prog moments are well melted in this context with great and inventive textures from diffrent musical soundscapes, funky, space, jazz moments and gives in the end an entertaining album, even again to diverse in sounds for just one album. Another 3 star album for me, this Jet set readio can be intristing enough for prog listners, the musicianship is great, intristing ideas and I must tell this band is something else in prog field, in a good way in the jungle of bands that emerged in the '90's. They bring a fresh air in the prog world with most unusual arrangements but in same time very original in places. Good album with some excellent tunes like, I Saw The Messenger Of The New God There and Scherzo In C Minor .

Latest members reviews

3 stars By far, the best Vulgar Unicorn album till today. Nice floating melodies, interesting and attractive symph prog sections and attractive mixtures of several prog genres made this album a piece worth to listen and enjoy. There are some sections a little bored and too long but besides this perso ... (read more)

Report this review (#301759) | Posted by progadicto | Sunday, October 3, 2010 | Review Permanlink

4 stars The best album by VULGAR UNICORN. The 10 songs span on a wide range of moods within the scope of the band's style. Intrumentation is rich and eclectic, but smoother and more electronic/space/psychedelic than rocky, as was the previous album, and you might miss the guitar slides from "Sleep With T ... (read more)

Report this review (#7652) | Posted by | Friday, January 7, 2005 | Review Permanlink

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