[i:Vibes] Madrid - Warm Waters [Aporia Records]

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Madrid - Warm Waters [Aporia Records]

21:32 - February 16, 2004

by Andy P

It is not often that you get a truly crafted debut album. Here you have 10 tracks of pure genius but Who Are They?, What's so special about the album? Read on to find out

Madrid – Warm Winters

This is Canada’s answer to AIR and Boards of Canada. The duo originally hails from Niagara Falls but now both are Toronto Residents. One has a degree in film and the other has a degree in botany. Madrid is made up of Duncan Christie and Adam Perry. This is their first album called Warm Waters, which was released on Aporia Records, which is also based out of Toronto.

1.Warming

This is basically an intro, very short but it wets your appetite for what follows. It is a little guitar driven piece. You realize that it is chilled out within the first 10 seconds and that is what direction album follows.

2.Stereostar

This is really where the album picks up the pace. This song is synth driven, with a vocal that not quite clear. It is a male vocal sung in a whisper type tone but it works. You hear wind noises and with the chill backing part, it gives you this sunny beach feeling.

3.Campfiring

Song three reminds me of campfire sing longs from camp because it has that type of feel to it. It has a guitar backing, which gives you the campfire feel. This song contains a catchy thumping type bassline with a vocal but this time, it is a female spoken vocal. At this point, you get the campfire feel but it is not because of the female vocal, it is because of the guitar parts that make it sound so summer camp like.

4.Tierra Del Fuego

This is probably the most jazzy song of the album; it has the Gilles Peterson type feel to it. Tierra Del Fuego is a song that Gilles Peterson and likeminded deejays would play. It moves away from the jazz type feel near the end of the song but this is a nice tune. It is at this point, you start to gain the summer blissed out beach feeling and I like this album. Madrid are not trying to hit you over the head with any of their tracks and they slowly and gently ease you into the tracks. At this point, you realize this is the reason why the album flows so well.

5.Wondres

If I needed something to remind me of the beach during the cold Canadian Februarys then this tune would be it. The song starts out with the sound of the wind blowing, which gives you a very calm feel. The background is a blissed out beach feeling, which continues the chill out theme. The vocal kicks in and you drift off into a warm sunny place. Just a truly blissful track and then it gets even better when the flute is added in to the song.

6.Quick Space

An electrical organ drives this track and again you get the blissed out beach feel. You also tend to realize that at this point in the album that the people behind it are truly talented musicians. They may not be known by a lot of people but listening to the first six tracks, you realize that they will be a music duo to watch in 2004.

7.White Clinical

Here, we have a very nice track that is pushed by an extremely funky bassline. I think that the bassline adds to the song and gives it this listen to me quality.

8.Trafficking

About two minutes into track number eight; you realize why Madrid has been touted by the press as one to watch for. Their style is similar in some regards to established musicians and if it worked for them, why not Madrid. This song reminds me of Banco De Gaia because the vocal is almost chant like and it reminds me of “Last Train to Lhasa”. They also tend to use the vocal sparingly, which is good because they are letting the other parts of the track push it and the vocal is used to complete the track.

9.Fast Track

The chill out feeling continues with the second last track. The bassline sounds similar to a Lemon Jelly production. This is why I enjoy it so much because they are unique in many ways but they also tend to remind me of things that other groups did right. The melody in this song is addictive and ear pleasing. They add a vocal at this point, which is not quite a singing vocal but almost a spoken vocal. Add a soothing guitar to this, mix and stir and it serves your ears in a calm way. This is chill out, the way that it was intended to be made.

10.June Park

Sadly, every album has an ending and at this point, I wish they had made maybe one or two more tracks. This is a great way to end the album, they started well with a nice introduction and they end off with a nice chill track. This sounds like Ulrich Schnauss, in his “Far Away Trains Passing By” album. The background beats are lush and precise and it gives you the feeling of being on the beach. That is a great way to end a debut album.

Tracklisting

1.Warming
2.Stereostar
3.Campfiring
4.Tierra Del Fuego
5.Wondres
6.Quick Space
7.White Clinical
8.Trafficking
9.Fast Track
10.June Park

Conclusion:
This album is stunning and precise in all aspects. It started off well with an introduction that I feel not many artists tend to use to their advantage but this is works well. Madrid gently glides you through 10 tracks of pure sunny beach chill out. They will definitely be ones to watch for in the future and judging by the talent of this album, they will achieve much in their musical careers. This is an essential purchase for the fans of Air and Boards of Canada because most of this album is done in similar fashion. I can’t wait for the next release from Madrid