Albums to watch

Impersonator

Majical Cloudz

Impersonator

Debut long-player from Montreal-based experimental electronic pop duo Matthew Otto and Devon Welsh

ADM rating[?]

7.2

Label
Matador
UK Release date
27/05/2013
US Release date
21/05/2013
  1. 9.0 |   All Music

    With such a wide-open sound, even the confusing and painful parts sound hauntingly beautiful
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  2. 8.6 |   Beats Per Minute

    The group’s focus, on their debut LP, Impersonator, is bare emotion and the duo’s sparse, semi-ambient electronic landscapes serve as a canvas for Welsh’s anguished inner dialogs about death, loss, and love
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  3. 8.6 |   AltSounds

    Some of the most personal and spacious sounding music
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  4. 8.2 |   Pitchfork

    The foundation of the music is synth pop, though Welsh and Otto use it to construct glacially paced, small pieces of music with almost no harmonic motion
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  5. 8.0 |   Consequence Of Sound

    By paring pop music to its core human elements, Majical Cloudz has written a record that’s bare enough to breathe inside
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  6. 8.0 |   No Ripcord

    Majical Cloudz are far from the first to bring about a warming sense of humanity through electronic music, but rarely do you see a synth-based “singer-songwriter” album pulled off so convincingly
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  7. 8.0 |   The Irish Times

    It’s a strong, singular affair
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  8. 8.0 |   PopMatters

    Its ingredients are so simple that it might have been made in a home or garage studio, but Majical Cloudz’ sound is so uniquely and deliberately crafted that it’s unlikely just anyone with ProTools could do the same
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  9. 8.0 |   Drowned In Sound

    Fans of emotional tours de force will have a great new addition to their 'best albums of the year' list
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  10. 7.5 |   Pretty Much Amazing

    A beautifully crafted album that teases at a big moment that never seems to come. The close of each song suggests that the following track will bear the climactic fruit Impersonator consistently promises
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  11. 7.5 |   The 405

    Even if Impersonator isn't the most uplifting music to listen to, it's carefully restrained and delicately expansive at the right moments
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  12. 7.0 |   NME

    Matthew Otto keeps the production spooky, surrounding Devon Welsh with minimal drones and ghostly backing vocals, which spotlight the gripping lyrics
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  13. 7.0 |   Rolling Stone

    Over a backdrop of loops and electronic drones patient to the point of static, Devon Welsh bellows lyrics so naked they're embarrassing to hear, let alone repeat
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  14. 7.0 |   DIY

    It's so true to its sound, this record, that it'll alienate a fair few. If you're not comfortable with the opening minute of 'Impersonator', chances are the rest of it isn't going to provide much of a service
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  15. 7.0 |   The Line Of Best Fit

    These songs may not announce themselves with cheer or bombast, or even pull you by the hips to the dancefloor, but they sure as hell linger in the memory
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  16. 7.0 |   The Fly

    The soul music of desperation
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  17. 6.0 |   The Digital Fix

    They bring real emotion to the persistent, occasionally repetitive, drones and solid electronic beats that make for their main output
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  18. 6.0 |   Uncut

    The instruments are always operating at the service of dominating vocals. Print edition only

  19. 5.5 |   Under The Radar

    Unfortunately, with few tracks rising above their seemingly sketched out nature, Impersonator is a breathtaking debut defined by all the things it is not
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  20. 4.0 |   Loud And Quiet

    The rolling waves of textured tones and smudged chords seem too understated to give any sense of oscillation, and the whole thing becomes a little bit over-saturated, a little bit overbearing
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Majical Cloudz: Impersonator

  • Download full album for just £8.49
  • 1. Impersonator £0.89
  • 2. This is Magic £0.89
  • 3. Childhood’s End £0.89
  • 4. I Do Sing For You £0.89
  • 5. Mister £0.89
  • 6. Turns Turns Turns £0.89
  • 7. Silver Rings £0.89
  • 8. Illusion £0.89
  • 9. Bugs Don’t Buzz £0.89
  • 10. Notebook £0.89
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