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Player Piano

Memory Tapes

Player Piano

Danceable indie pop from the former Hail Social frontman, just don't call it chillwave

ADM rating[?]

6.9

Label
Something In Construction
UK Release date
04/07/2011
US Release date
12/07/2011
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  1. 8.5 |   The Line Of Best Fit

    The constant cataclysmic shift between the honey suckle and bitterness of Player Piano makes it a wonderful bittersweet symphony
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  2. 8.4 |   Beats Per Minute

    So masterfully constructed and the mood throughout so consistent that the key complaint must be that it has to inevitably come to an end
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  3. 8.0 |   The AU Review

    A fantastic release that showcases Hawke’s production prowess with dance worthy tunes that also engage on an emotional level
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  4. 8.0 |   Drowned In Sound

    For someone who’s naturally inclined to back his way into the shadows, this is the sound of a man taking a significant step forward. The limelight awaits
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  5. 8.0 |   Rave Magazine

    A wintry affair, but just beneath the chill, there are layers of brightness and warmth to be discovered
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  6. 8.0 |   Uncut

    Hints at a talent that will outlive hipster buzz. Print edition only

  7. 7.0 |   Spin

    Player Piano's handcrafted tales of loneliness and bad romance draw quiet power from Hawk's charmingly reedy vocals
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  8. 7.0 |   musicOMH

    Hawk flits between moods with such frequency as to both delight and confound an audience
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  9. 7.0 |   BBC

    A musical jacket potato: satisfying, but never amazing
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  10. 7.0 |   The Fly

    Peppered with enveloping synth sounds and soaring, delicate vocals
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  11. 7.0 |   Bowlegs

    Though it may lack some of the magic captured on the debut, it still drops ahead of many playing a similar sound
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  12. 7.0 |   Consequence Of Sound

    Hawk succeeds in combining upbeat, pulsing dance beats with the emotional darkness of love
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  13. 6.7 |   A.V. Club

    Lush, scatterbrained bedroom pop that’s catchy, though confounding
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  14. 6.5 |   Prefix

    This is a solid record, at times sparse and moody, at times lush and hopeful, but always chill. Very, very chill
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  15. 6.0 |   Tiny Mix Tapes

    A pleasure, not a revelation
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  16. 6.0 |   Blurt

    The weakest element here is Hawks' voice. It's not distractingly bad, but at times it sounds like he's attempting to sing better than he may actually be capable of
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  17. 6.0 |   Pitchfork

    A curiosity more than a flop
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  18. 6.0 |   Q

    Bizarre, diverse and all the better for it. Print edition only

  19. 6.0 |   Mojo

    The clean production places too much focus on his wimpy vocals. Print edition only

  20. 6.0 |   Clash

    Upbeat, pleasant but not his most successful adventure
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  21. 5.0 |   FasterLouder

    The whole thing goes down like a spoonful of sugar with no medicine
    Read Review

  22. Back to main chart

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Memory Tapes: Player Piano

  • Download full album for just £4.49
  • 1. Music Box(in) £0.89
  • 2. Wait In The Dark £0.89
  • 3. Today Is Our Life £0.89
  • 4. Yes I Know £0.89
  • 5. Offers £0.89
  • 6. Humming £0.89
  • 7. Sun Hits £0.89
  • 8. Worries £0.89
  • 9. Fell Thru Ice £0.89
  • 10. Fell Thru Ice II £0.89
  • 11. Trance Sisters £0.89
  • 12. Musicbox(out) £0.89
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