High Places / Original Colors
Album: Original Colors   Collection:General
Artist:High Places   Added:Nov 2011
Label:Thrill Jockey Records  

A-File Activity
Add Date: 2012-04-07 Pull Date: 2012-06-09
Week Ending: Jun 3 May 13 May 6 Apr 22 Apr 15
Airplays: 1 1 1 1 1

Recent Airplay
1. May 31, 2012: Synthesis
The Pull
4. Apr 15, 2012: A Family Affair
Year Off
2. May 10, 2012: Synthesis
Morning Ritual
5. Apr 12, 2012: #YOUTHDEMOGRAPHICRADIO: EXTRA TRENDY
The Pull
3. May 03, 2012: Synthesis
Year Off

Album Review
sean m
Reviewed 2012-04-01
Though I’ve enjoyed High Places live a couple of times, I’ve never found their sound to really gel on record. Something about the producer-singer duo between Mary Pearson and Rob Barker makes so much sense when it’s right in front of you, but (to my ears) fell a little flat on past efforts like ‘High Places vs. Mankind’ -- overcrowded by too many ideas and a sonic allegiance to the oft-generic electro-indie scene. ‘Original Colors,’ by contrast, is fresh, dark, and minimally focused; many points on the record are reduced to little more than Pearson’s lilting vocals, a sparse drum machine, and simple synth bassline. Sounds like Barker has recently been spending time digging through his classic techno records, because there are clear shades of the more melodic 808 State and LFO selections through this full-length. Cold, druggy, dub-techno-y tracks that sit on the fence between a handful of genres. Tough to categorize, and seriously recommended. Check tracks 2, 3, 10, 1, or 5.

01. medium-tempo, 4x4, quasi-industrial (4:27)
02. * catchier melody, more intricate and engaging rhythms (4:29)
03. * deeper bass, dub sound effects, trotting riddim (2:22)
04. club-friendlier, techno-industrial vibe, layered vox + nice synth work (4:32)
05. echo chamber, almost Black Dice-ish (3:30)
06. techno-y rhythm, (relatively) funky bass line (4:47)
07. MIA-type rhythm + Siouxsie and the Banshees-type singing (4:03)
08. nice pad synth intro, deep rhythm (4:39)
09. brief, not too exciting (1:36)
10. * catchy 4x4 rhythm, synth work (3:51)

Track Listing
1. Year Off   6. Dry Lake
2. The Pull   7. Sonora
3. Morning Ritual   8. Sophia
4. Banksia   9. Twenty-Seven
5. Ahead Stop   10. Altos Lugares