Engineers – Three Fact Fader
I’ve become a bigger fan of the Engineers the more and more the last LP grew older and I didn’t have new Engineers music to listen to. They did a remix for Bloc Party that did nothing for me, I wanted the remix to sound like what “The Fear Has Gone” sounds like on Three Fact Fader which is this new album. One thing I notice and it hit me like a ton of bricks is the song Clean Coloured Wire which heavily samples Harmonia’s song ‘Watussi‘ which we’ve posted on the blog before and don’t worry Harmonia approved it.
Here in the States I don’t see much love for this record, I wonder if any of the readers in the UK totally have a different story? is the new album huge there? not like Arctic Monkey’s huge you know what I mean. But getting back to the music, I don’t think there are many good shoegaze bands out there that get it, i’m not saying Engineers is the best example because the vocal is too dreamy, upfront, clear and sometimes makes me ask myself do I really like this like I say i do and then a nice noisy wall of sounds hushes that thought.
16 Comments Leave A Comment
drew kora says:
August 6, 2009 at 12:19 pmI bought the eningeers first disk (well, not sure if it’s the first, but the one with the amazing paintings on the cover) based off the artwork and i really, really hated it. the tunes you posted seem completely different though, maybe it’s time i give this band another listen.
Jakub says:
August 6, 2009 at 12:25 pmdrew kora –
yeah, the vox can really kill it for me sometimes, or the cleanliness or if there guitars could grow some balls at times that would make me happy, but check out “Let’s Just See” again
https://blog.iso50.com/2008/10/12/dearskatebaardharmoniadj-shadow/
the tempo and dynamics finally get nailed perfectly in that track
Schlafende says:
August 6, 2009 at 1:43 pmYes, finally some more info about Engineers! I’ve been wondering what they’re up to, I thought perhaps they had disbanded.
The self titled album did take a bit to grow on me, I definitely enjoy the last half of it more than the first half.
Good to see a new release! I really dig “Clean Coloured Wire”.
Alex says:
August 7, 2009 at 2:14 amThe first album was an immediate hit for me – I loved it to pieces. Really got in to them – but this second album has been more of a disappointment to me. I think it lacks something – typically, something I can’t quite put my finger on – but I’ve not felt as strongly about it as the first.
The first actually reminded me of albums like Lost Souls by The Doves more than it reminded me of Shoegaze stuff.
drew kora says:
August 7, 2009 at 3:57 amSince reading this post, I dug the first disk out of a box and gave it another listen (first time in years) and yea, still don’t like it. Which is a shame because I absolutely love the design and illustrations on the first disk.
…and yet, I like these tracks Jakub posted. Maybe I’ll give Engineers one more chance.
Tim says:
August 7, 2009 at 5:57 amYeah, I’m definitely NOT getting the shoegaze vibe from these guys. I think it’s more in the vein of dream pop (but that’s splitting hairs).
I dig this stuff so I’ll check out the rest of their catalog.
Brett says:
August 7, 2009 at 8:24 am‘been waiting for this record for some time. I love it… but I agree the last disc had something magical about it. I also liked that the first disc kept revealing things you may have missed on the first listen. A few of the songs on this new disc hint at that “magic” but don’t quite match that quality of the first disc.
Matt says:
August 7, 2009 at 10:16 amDefinately enjoy these
Never heard of Engineers until I heard ‘Sometimes I Realise’ remixed on Sasha’s Invol2ver album
May take a deeper look into their old stuff now that you’ve posted these
Sonburn says:
August 7, 2009 at 10:18 amLoved Sasha’s tweak of Sometimes I Realise on his Invol2ver compilation.
Jakub says:
August 7, 2009 at 10:19 amBrett –
I agree but I also think they went alil harder this time, adding that wall of sound in places that the first record didnt have
Brett says:
August 7, 2009 at 10:23 amAgree with you there, as well. I kept wanting the rest of the first disc to sound a little more like “One in Seven” So it is nicer to hear “heavier” songs on this disc.
Pablo says:
August 7, 2009 at 10:33 amI never heard of them before, but I’m a sucker for that shoegaze sound. they sound really, really close to a band called Snow in Mexico. if you’re into this sort of sleepy down tempo psychedelic guitar sound, i suggest you check them out
alessio.magenta says:
August 7, 2009 at 4:56 pmwell, i find Clean Coloured Wire’s verse (the sung in the beginning almost) quite closer to Come in Alone by My Bloody Valentine.
that’s fine.
ghostinthetoast says:
August 14, 2009 at 12:23 pmI find your music reviews insightful and entertaining. Keep up the good work.
Jakub says:
August 14, 2009 at 12:39 pmghostinthetoast –
That means a lot to me, especially since I think I might be the worst writer that visits this site on a grammar level : P
Andy says:
October 2, 2009 at 1:58 amAfter giving the new album some time, I really like it – but then I’ve loved everything they have put out to date. I don’t live in the UK any more, but am from there – and I can see this going down well there – I guess the numbers at the upcoming gigs there will give a good indication.