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Zero 7
Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed albums.
Hard Islands
Generally favorable reviews
Based on 11 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 0 votes
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Album Info
Label: Border Community
Release Date: 18 May 2009
Discs: 1 disc
Genre(s): Electronic, Indie
Summary
This is the second full-length album for the British electronic artist.
Also On The Web: Official Artist Site
What The Critics Said
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
Observer Music Monthly
The result is writ large on this brilliant second album, which welds his drifting soundscapes to fractious, rapturous techno.
Read Full Review >PopMatters
Hard Islands is the nasty business that grabs a hold of your short and curlies and never lets go until your rocks are off.
Read Full Review >musicOMH.com
Impressively, then, Nathan Fake has shown he is very much more than a one trick pony, with a bold second album statement that gets more impressive with every listen. We should watch his every move closely.
Read Full Review >Pitchfork
With only six songs on offer--one of which is a 75-second interlude called 'The Curlew'--it's hard to feel like this is the assertive, confident statement Fake has it in him to make. As a strategic move out from the ghetto of nostalgic IDM Nowheresville, though, it'll suit just fine.
Read Full Review >cokemachineglow
Hard Islands is hardly a wash, just frustratingly short of the sound statement Fake wanted to make.
Read Full Review >New Musical Express
Ultimately, it lacks the variety or the startling sonic leaps that would make it essential. Interesting, but no cigar.
Read Full Review >PopMatters
A few of the Hard productions are among Fake’s finest to date, but this release--its short running time aside--works primarily on a collection basis, as if it were two separate EPs gathered for one release and nothing more than that.
Read Full Review >Uncut
His tunes have taken a tougher, more urban tone, with stand-outs 'The Turtle' and 'Basic Mountain' building to hard edged concrete peaks, drenched in acid Rephlex bleeps. [Jun 2009, p.85]
Mojo
Hard Islands is evolution. But some will hanker for Fake's fluffier vintage. [Jun 2009, p.102]
Q Magazine
This impressive follow-up finds him lacing hard-edged techno beats with quirky shifts on tone and texture. [Jun 2009, p.121]
Drowned In Sound
There’s no doubting that sensory sensations offered here can hold the listener, but most likely they'll be enjoyed a helluva lot more while chemically-enhanced; essentially this is not a record designed for home listening.
Read Full Review >What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this album is 0.0 (out of 10) based on 0 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
