Gettin' High on Your Own Supply

by

Apollo 440

Edit

Apollo 440 have established themselves as a prominent force in danceable trance music with their previous two offerings. But in this album they went over the top in everything, mixing a dozen of styles together to some very credible result! I can understand people who dismiss this album, because it's so very different from what @440 were doing before, but it doesn't make it less worthy of your attention.

It starts out with an instrumental "Are We A Rock Band Or What...?", that, just like its name implies, is an ambient relaxed synth-dominated short intro. But it's quick to burst out in a hard-rocker on a break-beat base, "Stop the Rock". Somehow it reminds me of The Prodigy, or Chemical Brothers' "Block Rocking Beats", only that this one is more straightforward.

Guitar riffing continues on through "Crazee Horse", to "Cold Rock the Mic", and on to "Lost in Space". They all got mostly samey feel to them, the first 3 perhaps are closer to The Prodigy, while "Lost in Space" is a harder number, almost aggro-metallic at its core. Tasteful use of samples and sampled voices provides classy touch.

"For Forty Days" throws some drum-n-bass upon the listener, and it has a strong melody, too.

"Heart Go Boom" is a funny number, that starts out with a cartoonish theme, but later explodes in a techno-rock madness with underlined drums.

"The Machine in the Ghost" is a downtempo ambient piece, which is quite long and demonstrates good development.

"Blackbeat" is a techno-rocker with a touch of hip-hop influence.

"Stadium Parking Lot" is another highlight. With its mighty shouted chorus and pounding drum, this is the song that Beastie Boys would be proud of.

"Yo! Future" again mixes trance with rock.

"High on Your Own Supply" is another bizarre eclectic track. With vocals from a B-class horror movie and spooky melodic lines, it's a great electronica number with plenty of atmosphere. A gem!

The album ends out with "The Perfect Crime", which is a mellower number with latino-touched melodies, that reminded me of any Tarantino movie soundtrack.

All in all, I like this album! Listening to it, you are treated with a dozen of musical styles, most of which are executed and mixed together perfectly. This might be the best eclectic album out there. For those open minded and liking bizarre music, very recommended.

ApolloFourForty have been listening to "The Rockafeller Skank" and The Lo-Fidelity Allstars.A lot.This CD mixes 70's southern rock riffs,Fatboy Slim-ish beats and a whole lotta of whatever they get high on.The single "Stop The Rock" is so cheesed out that it becomes cool in time.It's hard not to smile at this song which sounds like the members of a Vocational Rehab trying to do techno.It wins you over in its goofy seriousness.The rest isn't all so removed from their previous CD "Electro Glide in Blue" which had the best all time @440 song in "Ain't Talkin''Bout Dub".A lot of these songs try to reach that plateau but the lame overused raps leave A LOT to be desired.They sound like a local metal band playing with a drum machine while sniffing paint thinner.That's not to say its all bad, it IS very listenable.The second best all time @440 song appears at track 12..the title track "High on Your Own Supply"..this really sticks out because it sounds unique and not tied to the glue of the rest of the CD.It actually sounds like DJ Shadow and Portishead covering a Tom Waits song with a drunken village idiot pulled in off the street to provide vocals.It is most cool.All in all..3 stars for sheer stoned audacity.