Pendulum - In Silico

[Dr. Z]

A quick review from me based on my first listen to this album:

Hold Your Colour was an absolutely storming album from the Australian-based Drum and Bass outfit Pendulum. A truly magnificent collection of tracks that combined to make the album one of the dance highlights of 2007.

2008 sees the release of their latest offering, In Silico. This album is markedly different from their last album. It is very much more of the singing and instrumental influences from their last album but at a vastly slower pace. My ear tells me that most of these tracks lie somewhere between 80 and 100bpm, a far far cry from the frenetic pace of their last album.

Those of you that have listened to the first single from this album "Granite", released late last year, could be excused for not believing that this album is much different from their last outing but that track stands out as being the only thing to touch on the magic that they seem to have lost.

I put this album on expecting a riproaring rollercoaster of Pendulum-styled drum and bass but what I actually got was a strange feeling of indie music with a bit of a beat. Think more Cooper Temple Clause than anything else and you wont be too far off. (In fact, the guitar riff in 'Different' is almost certainly lifted from Panzer Attack by the Cooper Temple Clause)

In my opinion at least, this album is a huge disappointment.

[divine]

Give it a few more listens, it's a grower.

I've liked it more the more I listen to it, just try not to expect it to be HYC mkII and it's not really too bad.

Besides, I figured it would be a lot different considering they've pretty much all out changed from a DnB DJ trio to a live band now, with an extra 3 members.

If you want more 'old pendulum' then grab some of the tracks off the greatest hits album if you've not already got it. Stuff like Minds Eye, Guns at Dawn, Parameter, Aphid, Everythings Blue...

[karbon]

i was kinda hoping for a return to a jungle sound gold kinda sound with a bit more of the guitary influences. sadly we got this. not impressed at all.

[divine]

When you consider the roots of the forming members (one was a DJ, the other two were more into punk/rock/metal bands) i'm surprised the original style lasted as long as it did

[Dr. Z]

The Tempest is kinda backwards of how they have gone, I think

I really wanted the whole album to be how the last minute and a bit are of that track, but instead it was more like the first 5 minutes of it

[divine]

My favourite of the album is Mutiny from 3:00 onwards for about a minute. The start of the track is a bit meh, followed by some WTF then the good bit at 3:00, then some more 'meh'

[Dr. Z]

Originally Posted by divine`

My favourite of the album is Mutiny from 3:00 onwards for about a minute. The start of the track is a bit meh, followed by some WTF then the good bit at 3:00, then some more 'meh'

See, that would be awesome if it wasn't supposed to be a Drum and Bass album. That sounds like it could quite easily have come from the Arctic Monkeys meeting Muse - which is fine (and I do like it!) but for the love of god, where is the drum and bass?!

[divine]

Originally Posted by DRZ

See, that would be awesome if it wasn't supposed to be a Drum and Bass album.

Well, if you look at their site, their focus isn't really DnB any more. It was never going to be a proper DnB album.

[LeperousDust]

I think this album is fantastic, its a step away from what they do normally, but i love it. Seeing the on the 16th too, and i can't wait, hope they play loads of there new stuff

Really really enjoying the *whole* album tbh....

[Jonny69]

I don't think I've heard any Pendulum before this album which I listened to yesterday. I like it. It's Topshop music, reminded me of being in Topshop.

I got bored of rave/hardcore/jungle/drum and base over a decade ago. It just all became the same and mainstreamed itself to death. It's nice to see some of the old flavours coming back.