NOISE

I came across Archive through a friend who actually plays in the band. their album "Noise" is one of the best i've ever had the pleasure to listen to. Tracks like Noise, [%*!#] u, waste, pulse are really worth checking out. I wouldnt consider Archive to be a progressive rock band, but rather a sort of rock/trip hop sort of thing. however, it's got the genius and quality of a progressive masterpiece due to its unique style and flawless delivery.

if you havent checked them out, now it's the time!

I got to know Archive by listining to "Again" and I could not believe what I was hearing, after that Archive came in to my archive of music, it reminds me of many great bands like Pink Floyd, The Doors and they are so unique, I should say I am from Iran and even say that "Archive has atleast 5 "madly in love with you" fans here and we play some of their tunes in our underground programs. Keep it up and may the force be with you.

Neville,

Well, I came across archive through III Polish Radio, where Again became one the biggest hits in a whole history of those charts. After THAT experience (I mean Again) i was looking forward to the next album.

I must say that my high expectations are satisfied with what band gave us. I'm listening to the different types of rock, not only prog, and in my opinion Noise is one of the best albums of this year, with REM's Around the sun and Antics by Interpol. It's hard for me to find an album with such good beginning - first two songs form a real masterpiece of music, but the rest also reaches very good level. Sleep and Conscience, two beautifull ballads, Get out has this amazing anger ... similar to this that I find in Cure's Pornography. Noise has different mood than You all look the same to me - less floydish I would say. But for me it's still a prog rock band. It's silly for me trying to create nae category only for Archive, after all there is only bad music and good music. Noise is brilliant.

2,5 stars really!!

After having discovered Archive via YALTS, I must confess I was waiting to see if they would be repeating the formula. And unfortunately, yes they did repeat it. Not that I find their cross of Alternative rock - a strange brew including some traces of trip hop from their past and some post rock ambiances, the whole thing splattered heavily with Radiohead- type of melancholic vocals - particularly enjoyable or bothersome, but it cannot raise the slightest enthusiasm past the point of listening to it for a few minutes at a time.

Of course, this old writing git is absolutely no reference to speak about how terrific a young band might be excitingly new and bizarrely adventurous to some young teenage proghead. Problem is that this old buzzer does try to keep up with the time and listens to contemporary music, but he still has problem finding it any kind of groundbreaking qualities for this 04 year.

The copy I rented from the library has also got a DVD with two videoclips (including the famous but shortened Again, which not quite as charming either) and two concert footage as well as travelling film footage, all of which do not really concern the Cd proper. Weirdly enough there is an unplugged version of part of this album and it is not anymore exciting, just slightly more intimate.