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Artist description
Melodic/Experimental rock |
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Music Style
Melodic/Experimental rock |
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Musical Influences
Mogwai, Elbow, Godspeed, Doves, Sigur Rós, Faultline....etc |
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Similar Artists
Mogwai, Elbow, Godspeed, Doves, Sigur Rós, Faultline |
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Group Members
Lee Yates:- Guitar/Vocals/Bass and all other noises |
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Instruments
Guitar,Bass,Drums,and any noise that sounds good |
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Albums
A 5 track CD called |
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Press Reviews
REVIEWS
This five-track disc is a demo from "Idee Fixe", the solo project of musician Lee Yates from Essex, England. All five tracks are available for play or download from www.mp3.com/ideefixe . Recorded in Yates's bedroom studio these songs combine guitar and bass with electronic drums and subtle vocals. This results in a distinct musical style simultaneously haunting and beautiful. The artist defines "Idee Fixe" as "an idea that dominates the mind; a fixed idea; an obsession." I couldn't discern any particular philosophical or intellectual idea that seemed to dominate these tracks, but each song is musically centered around this concept of a fixed idea. Melodies and rhythms are repeated throughout any given song, but subtle variations and dynamics keep this music from being boring. You won't be thrashing around to these tracks, but it makes a perfect soundtrack for any mellow or melancholy situation. For curious listeners, I recommend downloading the MP3 files and playing them in order. On the surface these songs sound minimalist, but a close listen reveals intriguing depths within and in between the layered tracks. My only major criticism with the music is that there is not more of it. I feel that Yates has only scratched the surface with Idee Fixe, regarding both the individual songs and the entire collection. I hope to hear more from Idee Fixe. This disc has captured my attention, and for those who are equally captured by these songs, I recommend keeping an eye on this talented artist.
Jason Holstein: getunderground.com 2nd December 2002
25 year old Lee Yates, noble resident of deepest, darkest Essex is Idee Fixe. For the nerdy and knowledgeable out there, Idee Fixe is ‘an idea that domintes the mind: a fixed idea : an obsession’, but then you probably knew that already. Now if Mr. Yates Idee Fixe happens to be his music, he’s not far off the obsession obsessed soul his name claims to be. A patient and tranquil mind is what you need to create the beautiful sounds that this 5 track EP offers up, all instrumental, all conscientiously molded into flowing but individual segments. Tracks 1-4 float in a starry sky, a soul ressurected after a maudlin evening of embarrassment to lift itself far from anything that resembles life-form, reality or consciousness. However fifth and final track, I Gave It All I Had sidles close to sinister and unhinged Reznorian chill that will at some point turn up on an equally chilling soundtrack to a lost-in-the-woods-no-one-can-save-us-now movie.
All in all something quite special,
by marie plum www.twinstarrevolution.com 4th January 2003
I've been in touch with Lee for a few months now. In case you don't already know, I'm Unintentional, a one-man band with a few CDs, a bit of a following, etc. I emailed Lee after coming across his band's music online, which consisted of recordings from band practice. One particular track, entitled Got Left Behind, caught me as an example of how good these guys are.
Since then, Lee has become a one-man outfit, and completed his first EP/demo, entitled "For You". Consisting of five tracks, the album's cover is composed of a fine subway photo by Amy Leggett , more smart artwork from her can be seen on the Idée Fixe website. I'd heard one of the tracks on mp3.com before I received the CD and was a bit suspicious - I must have been ill or not listening properly since it felt like something was lost. I'm glad I got the CD, though. Perhaps it was the low quality of the MP3 that threw me off.
So on with the review. Five tracks, all varying in length from 4:09 to 6:23.
Lee seems to be making his mark with repetativeness. This is not a bad thing, and nothing like it sounds. I'm still a big fan of the classic Chicago house music that evolves around repeating the same thing over and over, with slight variation. These days, people are trying too hard to come up with songs that have funky time changes and chord progressions that throw you off. Oceansize, previously one of my favoured new-and-upcoming bands, have gone a little too far in their latest EP, throwing in all sorts of random stuff to try and implant variation, something that lets them stand out from the rest.
And so a band/outfit like Idee Fixe, in which (for the most part) the songs consist of the same one or two chords played in progression, is a slight blessing. It gives me less to think about when listening, but also makes it kinda hard to write about, because I'm so used to this sort of music playing in the background. But I'll give it a try. And I'll be as honest as I can be, whilst keeping Lee on my good side so he sends me more CDs. :)
The first track starts with the drums, which are evidently the produce of a drum machine. The track is pretty minimal, lacking in something that I can't quite place my finger on. Then again, it is an introduction track, and leads on nicely to "You/Me + Everything", so I'll let this one slide. "Y/M+E" brings things up nicely, continuing the same repeating style from the previous track but introducing a steadier guitar line, and even what works as a breakdown, which then kicks back in with power.
Whilst all this is going on, you can't help but feel that the song is still lacking a tiny, tiny something. It's well conceived, well written and well played, but the drums are lacking variation. The way the song kicks back in with extra guitar is a nice touch, but the drums could do with a little tweaking there. But then, these are the hazards of a drum machine. A real-live drummer would kick back in with more power because it's in his training - it's a natural thing. It's the same way the song would speed up ever so slightly at that point. But programming a drum machine with that kind of accuracy is nigh on impossible. Not to rock my own boat but I tried something similar with "This Boy, He Wouldn't Talk To The Girls", the only song in which I used drums. I simply sped up the drum track during one point and then brought the song down to just a guitar, after which the whole thing kicks back in with additional drums. Then, as the song is finishing, drop some of the drums.
It's horrible to have to define drumtracks. Everyone who wants to use drums in a track should definitely use a real drummer. You can't get a good enough drum machine.
The CD closes with "I Gave It All I Had", which turns the whole CD into darker territory, whilst still retaining the same style and feel. One thing that did impress me is the guitar line played throughout. When coupled with the bassline, it sounds generically sinister, but once the bass and drums end, you're left to realise that the guitar line is actually very "pretty". So you listen to the whole song again to see if you notice, and even though it's still there, you can't even tell. I like that in a song.
And so concludes my silly little review. An Extremely promising start. If you ever feel like doing a collaboration,Lee, you know who to ask. Your playing/songwriting is spot-on
Darryl Ashton 30th October 2002
French name, but it comes from England though...for those who can't speak one word of French, idee fixe stands for a sort of fixation of the mind, an obsession or a desire. And that's the whole meaning of the music itself that is created by Lee Yates aka Idee Fixe. This musician from Essex offers here a sort of intelligent DIY-postrock that has the basic ingredients of Slint but he does something rather original with it though.... I don't know if the small labels still have their force like they used to but if this was released some years ago it would have ended up on a label like Wurlitzer Jukebox and it'd be labelled as the next big thing in postrockworld...today, things are hidden more than ever, despite the expand of information, you read it here, so give it a try....
Original Sin |
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Location
Essex, England - United Kingdom |
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