Cornelius - Sensuous
 

I just got this today and have been giving it a listen sounds good! Its like a more refined version of Point, which is a good thing. Anybody else out there given it a listen and want to chime in?

Re: Cornelius - Sensuous
 

Is this guy Japanese? Like the Cornelius who is remixing songs by ex-YMO members?

Re: Cornelius - Sensuous
 

Yeah, he's Japanese and quite prolific in remixing other people's tracks.

I really loved Sensuous too and it's definitely in the top 10 I sent along to Matt for this year. It took me a few listens to get into it, because - as was said - it definitely does sound like Point++. Which disappointed me, because if you look at the differences in style and sound between his prior albums ("First Question Award" to "69/96", then to "Fantasma", then to "Point"), he practically reinvents and rejuvinates his sound in each one. That's not really the case in Sensuous, and I couldn't help but start mapping songs between the albums (ie. Fit Song reminds me of Point of View Point, Gum reminds me of I Hate Hate, Wataridori reminds me of Another View Point, etc etc)

However once I stopped trying to be an amateur critic and actually listened to the songs themselves (and it probably helped that I was able to see him play the album live a few weeks back) it actually clicked and now I absolutely adore it. Even though I think the best song from the Sensuous sessions is not even one that's on the album, it's the b-side "Cue" from the single for "Breezin'".

Anyway, yeah, top stuff.

Re: Cornelius - Sensuous
 

You don't live in the US do you Bargo? If he came to the states and I missed him im going to be pretty pissed. Im still reeling from the last show I saw of his from about 5 years ago.

It also seems to me like every time he remixes someone elses track it always comes off sounding like a Fantasma B side. Same sound effects and all. That might just be me but I dont think so.

Re: Cornelius - Sensuous
 

it hasnt seen stateside release yet.

i like it okay but i keep thinking it's yet to really click.

wataridori/gum combo = love.

Re: Cornelius - Sensuous
 

Nah, I'm in Australia.. he did a whirlwind tour through here a few weeks back, I'm not sure whether it was part of a global one though. Looks like he's playing gigs in Japan for most of this month.

It was a truly great show, I swear the band members must be psychically linked or something.

Re: Cornelius - Sensuous
 

I picked that up, it's good, but I think the Yellow Magic Orchestra original is better...one of the best electro-pop ballads ever made!

Re: Cornelius - Sensuous
 

Wow, I didn't even know it was a cover. Thanks for the info! I grabbed YMO's version and it's great. :)

Re: Cornelius - Sensuous
 

I finally picked up this one (after I got all his other ones) and I do like it quite a bit...as mentioned the combo of Wataridori and Gum is fantastic. I think that Point may be better but only slightly.

Oh, and he's playing in Chicago on May 7th...I would have to skip classes to be there (the classes before finals no less!) so I need to know is it worth it? I am seeing LCD on the 6th (my birthday!) so it would make me very sad if I couldn't see him...but school's important too isn't it??

Re: Cornelius - Sensuous
 

If you haven't seen him live before (and I'm assuming by your post that you haven't), then yes, it definitely is. He puts on a fantastic show. The songs don't differ too much from their album counterparts, but the band are just amazingly tight and jaw-droppingly good in parts. Wataridori was just phenemonal, and so was the opening moments of the concert (which I won't spoil, because it's cool.. though I liked the Point tour's "play behind the curtain" opening better).

I've seen him on both the Point and Sensuous tours.. the only disappointing thing about seeing him the second time around was that a lot of the concert was very reminiscent of the first time I saw him. And it was a bit short, around 80 minutes.

Edit: I hereby absolve myself of any responsibility if you fail your exam though ;)

Re: Cornelius - Sensuous
 

No I haven't seen him, I have only known about him for three months! I guess I will have to tell my professors I will be out that day. Not that they'll understand! :/

It is disappointing that he only plays about 80 minutes...I would imagine he does most of Point and Sensuous now...anything of Fantasma? I would love to see Count Five Six and that Magoo Opening track...I love it!

Re: Cornelius - Sensuous
 

well, this one was a dud for me, i sort of went with it and then just kid of dropped it. i forgot all about it until this thread was bumped, but it's seeing stateside release fairly soon...

Re: Cornelius - Sensuous
 

Yep, he did a few from Fantasma (Count Five Six, Star Fruit Surf Rider..). Not a lot from the earlier albums except Brand New Season and a b-side I can't remember the name of. You're right in that most of it is Point/Sensuous. The visuals are great too, if you haven't seen any of his music videos, you're in for a treat. :)

Re: Cornelius - Sensuous
 

I am going to that chicago show in May. And I can tell you that its worth your $15. He is a fantastic performer in addition to being a fantastic musician,which is a rare commodity in music today.

Re: Cornelius - Sensuous
 

I got this last week (finally I check and the UK release is out) and basically it's Point but less good. Point was full of proper songs and deep layered instrumentals with a couple of weird short pieces (Bug and I Hate Hate) which worked in the context of the album. This one tries the same formula but doesn't have the ideas and makes you wish he'd just record Fly or something again. This should have had more ideas and more depth. I don't dislike it, it's just that with Point he showed us he could write some really interesting, kind-of-danceable, experimental pop music. Here he's leaned heavily towards the experimental which manifests itself in running one idea into the ground per track and leaving each track almost completely devoid of a groove.

Does anyone else think that the sampled vocal bits on Gum sound like KK Slider from Animal Crossing?

Re: Cornelius - Sensuous
 

Okay, you guys were right, the show was amazing. The videos were really awesome (especially Tone Twilight Zone, Like a Rolling Stone, and Fit Song), and we were front and center. He picked the guy next to me to come on stage and help him play the theremin, and I got to play his little calculator sampling device. Everything was so well synched up and rehearsed that it just may be the greatest show I've ever seen. A friend of mine that I took wants me to make him a CD with all the songs he played on it, and besides I want a setlist as well, so if anyone who went can help me with this:

Breezin
Waitidori
Gum
Smoke
Drop
Tone Twilight Zone
Count Five or Six
I Hate Hate
Brand New Season
Point of View Point
Like a Rolling Stone
Beep It
Music
Fit Song
Star Fruit Surf Rider
Sensuous

and for the encore:
Some cool jam track (if anyone knows what this is, I'd really appriciate it!!)
Sleep Warm


Go see it if you have a chance! Especially if you weren't quite convinced on Sensuous - I still don't think it's as good as Point or Fantasma (then again, not much is) but it really gives you a cool idea of what the album's about. His technique is great, I just wish some of the songs were fleshed out a little more. Still, Waitidori is amazing (during the show, he got it out of sync for a couple of seconds, which really made me realize how hard it would be to play a song where the reverb is half the melody) and Fit Song is easily one of his best.

Re: Cornelius - Sensuous
 

Glad to hear you had a good time. :) With regards to the track above, you're most likely referring to the track "E" (which I don't think has been on any albums or singles).

Did it sound similar to the one in this live clip?

Re: Cornelius - Sensuous
 

Yeaah, that's it! That's the one where we got to play the calculator-type device. I wish he'd release that track...as much as I like songs like Drop, Breezin, or whatever, when the band really got down to it and rocked out it totally ruled, especially during I Hate Hate...who knew they could actually play that fast?? The video of the boxers synched up to Count Five or Six was really fantastic too.

Also, you're right about the opening...the silhouettes of the band members flashing on the curtain while they played bits and pieces of Beat It, Close Encounters, and even two of the themes from Super Mario Bros. was really cool. After hearing that my friend, who never even heard of the guy, said "this is going to be a great show, I can tell". Was it similar for Point?

It's a strange thread, this one...on page one I don't even know who Cornelius is, just that he sounds familiar, and now here I am raving about how great his live show is.

Re: Cornelius - Sensuous
 

2 UK shows coming up at the end of the month, both of which will be a pain in the arse for me to get to. Feel I should make the effort though. Sounds good!