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Album Details

• Artist: Telefon Tel Aviv
• Album: Map of What Is Effortless
• Label: Hefty
• Year of Release: 2004
• ME Rating:
• Reviewed by: dscanland on 2004-01-14

I missed out on Telefon Tel Aviv's debut album, Fahrenheit Fair Enough, but that shouldn't affect my opinion on the group. The duo is comprised of Joshua Eustis and Charles Cooper and their forte happens to be a blend of organic and electronic sounds that clash together to form their own brand of downtempo IDM music. They are from New Orleans, not quite the home for this type of music, but they are a group that is gaining quite a bit of attention. Their debut album got quite a few people noticing them and Map Of What Is Effortless should keep the ball rolling. On Effortless, Telefon Tel Aviv is capable of even adding a bit of a R&B feel to a couple of their songs. The duo has also done a couple soundtracks and when you listen to Map you can hear plenty of cinematic capabilities. Telefon Tel Aviv has the ability to surprise you with some elements that you don't expect but most of the album is consistent. The mix between live instrumentation and electronics is well done. They make it seem so natural for the two sides to be working together. There are string sections working beside bleeps and gurgles and it doesn't even sound strained. This is another great disc to throw into rotation and set off to work with. It should disrupt your focus but instead, expand where you are. That's the whole purpose of IDM, to reach out beyond what you think music should be. Telefon Tel Aviv manage to do that quite nicely.

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