reviews

Formica and Cork Tiles Album Reviews

The debut EP from A Pyxie Worm's elusive and seemingly unknown producers draws influences mainly from downbeat and ambient, integrating a beautifully wide collage of warm and breezy atmospheric sounds that float, drift, fall and gently caress the senses throughout these intensely dreamy tracks. A Pyxie Worms sound is very reminiscent of Four Tets Paws and Pauses debut album, Aphrodezia and the lighter more ambient sides of Bonobo's earlier work. However the album does retain its own sound and is the perfect antidote for a busy mind with its twisting textures in sound and deeply atmospheric soundscapes which constantly lure the mind to another place or dimension. While most of the tracks gently meander with little direction or structure, this doesn't seem quite so critical due to the nature of the music. Highlights include the beautifully dreamy Maidenbower with its gorgeous cascading harp which creates an almost oriental style vibe that blends well with contrast of the wide atmospheric organs. Kites and Bicycles also has some really lush layered guitars with its busy alternative beats and well placed effects. Formica and Cork Tiles provides A Pyxie worm with a great platform to further expand their sound and provides the listener with a vehicle to escape the pressures of day to day life.
- Free Souls: UK

I enjoyed the contents of the box and walked free from my computer smiling to myself as I listened to it in the sunshine. It looks nice and sounds nicer. The albums extra track sounds really good loud with a tasty beaujolais by the way! And my wife liked it (which is high praise indeed!!)
- Andrew: UK

Without a shadow of a doubt this album is a stunning piece of art...
I suppose there is a track to suit every mood and frame of mind. I've had "I cut off my dolls hair and now she's bald" on the loop the whole day today.
- Kat with a K: UK

A stunning piece of work, each track seems to be saying something different but from the same place, same spectrum but different shades. It's a lot like Boards of Canada in that sense. I love the drum lines on Marshmallow Mountain, the water like imagery of Harbourside, and the beautiful yet oddly sinister I Cut Off My Doll's Hair And Now She's Bald. Strong sense of originality too. Genuine and inspirational, keep it up.
- in a state of permanent abyss: UK

Well what can I say “F*****G AMAZING!” If you enjoy bands like Zero 7, Air, Massive Attack, Bjork you’ll be sure to like this band. I love the CD and will be sure to buy future CD’s. This music is great to chill out too or have a romantic night in with that special person. If like me, you travel a lot, it is an amazing CD to listen to on the road. I would say this CD is a must - add it to your collection.
- Sunshine: UK

I just got it in the mail today and I listened to it a million times. I listened to it in the park, in the street, on the bus, in class, in the cafeteria, in the car, in a truck, on a bridge, on a walk, in the middle of a highway, in the woods, while baby sitting, doing homework, doing nothing. I play it loud and I hum along and I smile. It makes me forget that animals are being tortured, and that babies are being abandoned. It reminds me that there is beauty in this messed up world. I love every single thing about it. Thank you for creating this masterpiece. Whoever doesn't have this is missing out huge.
I just really LOVE the CD.
- Loser Levi: Canada

A haunting and evocative album, transporting the listener down to the deep subterranean worlds of the unconscious. Familiar sounds of the world around us mixed with haunting melodies creating an experience that is at once both familiar and unfamiliar. Each track has a distinctive flavour and feel, taking you to it’s own unique landscape. ‘Harbourside’ to the eternal sea, ‘Marshmallow Mountain’ to the world hiding under the kitchen sink and ‘I Cut Off My Doll's Hair And Now She's Bald’ takes us to a Tim Burton-ish fairytale woodland. The final track ‘Fuzzy Things and Butterflies’ conjures up images of open roads, freshly cut lawns and clear blue skies. This is an album that will calm any place in which it is heard, deeply soulful and melancholic, a must for late night chills everywhere.
- Petra Creffield: UK

Kites and Bicycles - Nice to chill to, yet not so chilling that I need to put a jumper on... I like.
Harbourside - This is the one I really like. It sounds like something
I visage credits from a film scrolling down to.
Maidenblower - Birds! It sounds magical, I imagine toadstools and rabbits listening to this in a field.
Long Evening - Oriental sounding at the beginning and in the middle.
It reminds me of medieval music to for some strange reason, yet another thumbs up kids.
Marshmallow Mountain - Cello? I can join you in a live performance of this.
I Cut Off My Doll's Hair And Now She's Bald - You know I like this because it has a Edward Scissorhands-ish beginning and middle.
Another nice fairylike one...huzzah!
The Mysterious Bonus Track - Firstly I approve of the name. Secondly this sounds kind of underwater/reversed which is fun to listen to. It reminds me of robots. It sounds so different to the rest,but yet so good.
You are rather talented I'd say!
- Carly: UK

Sublime, serene, tranquil, haunting, trance inducing, mellow, chilled, clipety clop tappety tap, twinkle twinkle and stop, ching ching then go. An aural delight!
- Amanda: UK

I really enjoyed the CD. The highlight for me is definitely "Harbourside", it's just so dreamy. I look forward to hearing some new music from you soon.
- Will B: UK

Just got the album, and I’m lost for words, it is artistic, amazing, easy listening and outstanding to find just a few words to describe it. It puts me in a good mood listening to it, and I really envy your artistic talent, proud to have your album in my collection.
- Shell: UK

If you do not own this CD, then i recommend you buy it NOW!
A true piece of art, which is creative and beautiful...
I Cant wait to hear more music from you.
- Kezz: UK

Absolutely love it! Some of the best music I've heard in a long time.
Love love love love LOVE it.
- Beautiful Llama Fiend: UK

Well I received my CD popped it in my stereo and right away I noticed the sounds quality... I had been listening to the tracks online on my ancient 'hand me down' speakers.... this ethereal enchanting music filled my room and I listened till it was over... when I thought... I would like to hear more! The music is very visual and stirring and creates pictures in your mind, I find it both beautiful and inspiring.... I can't compare it to anything I have heard before. I am really grateful I have this to listen to while I paint!
- Karen: Canada

Exhausted, feet aching and hungry. All that was soon forgotten for there was a lil brown envelope in the middle of bills, junk mail and some more bills. After a sudden vacuum frenzy to clear away the sudden small nuclear winter when she simply tore open the envelope, there it was - The lil green gem. The quiet sonic beauty that followed, almost shy in its lil dialogue within themselves was breathtaking. Sounds gathered from mundane situations and brought forward to create the kind of music that is grafted from the silence of life. Birds, a typewriter, rain, a child giggling...
The favorite of the tracks on Formica and Cork Tiles, at least the author of these words sure thinks so; Marshmallow Mountain or as she would rather put it ‘The One With Them Strings And A Lady With The Voice In Space’.
- Pirkitta: Finland

I've been listening to this CD over and over again and can't recommend it highly enough!!!! Very psychedelic and dreamy. We'll be playing this round the tree during the summer. Beautiful.
- The Wishing Tree: UK

I got the "Formica and Cork Tiles" CD from A Pyxie Worm and it sounds wonderful. I especially love the 2nd track "Harbourside" and the 6th track, "I Cut Off My Doll's Hair and Now She’s Bald". It's wonderful and intriguing...great music, relaxing and positive.
- Florina: Romania

If you’re wondering whether to spend your pennies on a APW CD, then, please do. It’ll be the best thing you’ll ever do. It’s utterly amazing and I’m not just saying that. I’m not licking their arse - they truely ARE amazing! I can’t decide on which my favourite is because they all just blow me away...
- christeena bbz: UK

Formica and Cork Tiles
myspace ces derniers mois, A Pyxie Worm, duo londonien d’origine mais islandais dans l’esprit, part enfin à la conquête du vaste monde avec un premier EP autoproduit des plus prometteurs.
Et ça tombe bien, car de grands espaces il en est question dans Formica And Cork Tiles .
De grands espaces imaginaires sans doute, puisque le mystérieux duo anonyme de A Pyxie Worm - "un mâle et une femelle" selon leurs propres mots, et vraisemblablement des jumeaux, "expulsés d’un oeuf bleu deux ans avant le ’Summer of Love’ " -, auto-représenté sur sa page myspace sous la forme d’une statue d’argile debout au milieu d’une rue, bras ballants et tête basse, vient de Londres. Pour autant, à en croire l’artwork très réussi - l’art sous toutes ses formes est une source d’inspiration avouée chez A Pyxie Worm - à dominance verte et organique de ce premier EP, nos deux amis aiment la nature. D’ailleurs ils le revendiquent, et ce jusqu’à travers leur nom, association d’une plante rampante et d’un vers qui disent-ils "grandissent et se déplacent tout doucement, s’insinuant peu à peu dans les vies et les oreilles des gens pour tantôt les faire saigner, tantôt les apaiser".
De grands espaces froids dont ils exhortent paradoxalement la douceur, comme le font par ailleurs Björk, Sigur Rós et Múm. Trois influences islandaises qui s’imposent à l’écoute de Formica And Cork Tiles , et que ne renie pas le duo puisque qu’il avoue volontiers considérer Debut de Björk et Takk... de Sigur Rós comme ses deux albums préférés, tandis que la page de Múm a longtemps tenu le haut du pavé parmi ses "top friends" sur myspace.
Mais de rythmiques hip-hop en synthétiseurs analogiques - et ce dès l’onirique et lumineux Harbourside et ses percussions doublées de handclaping -, on ne manquera pas non plus de penser à Boards Of Canada, dont A Pyxie Worm partage le goût du tout instrumental, ne donnant pour piste à l’auditeur que les seuls titres des morceaux : à l’imagination et la sensibilité de chacun de faire le reste.
De grands espaces plus ou moins abstraits, car si le duo se dit influencé avant toute chose par ce qu’il voit, des morceaux tels le magnifique I Cut Off My Doll’s Hair And Now She’s Bald ou le non moins réussi bonus track sans titre de l’édition limitée du EP, en forme d’hommage parfait à Boards Of Canada justement - rires et exclamations d’enfants semblent tout droit venus de leur Music Has The Right To Children -, sentent bon les réminiscences douces-amères de l’enfance. "Nous ne chantons pas, mais nous avons des paroles", précise A Pyxie Worm sur myspace...
Oui, peut-être bien de grands espaces rêvés, alors, comme semble le sous-entendre l’intro du morceau d’ouverture Kites And Bicycles, une scène de restaurant pleine de voix et de bruits du quotidien - et l’orage grondant en fond sonore - qui s’effacent peu à peu devant une guitare acoustique, une batterie et un djumbé, premiers instruments d’une échappée mentale vers un horizon plus intime. Un morceau néanmoins presque épique par moments, et dont la rythmique froide et abstraite finira par tour à tour se dérégler, s’emballer puis s’effacer devant cette guitare chaude. Ce sont ces nappes évanescentes (indirectement ?) héritées de Massive Attack, sans cesse en mouvement, qui rendent la musique du duo anglais si passionnante, comme par la suite sur Long Evening Shadow par exemple, peut-être le morceau le plus réussi du EP. Rappelant au début l’ambiance des albums de Múm, claviers en arrière-plan, sonorités électro, et xylophone cristallin en avant -, il fait bientôt place à une guitare jouant une mélodie en totale rupture avec la précédente, lorgnant sur la musique de chambre mais avec un lyrisme retenu presque morriconien.
On pensait déjà à Múm et à son Summer Make Good à l’écoute de Maidenbower, éclairé par une harpe digne du Vespertine de Björk. Des claviers mortuaires et un tambour discret de marche guerrière à la Godspeed You ! Black Emperor s’y opposent à des chants d’oiseaux, qui finissent par l’emporter. Mais sur l’éthéré Marshmallow Mountain, à la mélodie déréglée très "musique nouvelle" sur rythmique à la Aphex Twin et dont les instruments à cordes se mêlent à leurs imitations synthétiques, une voix aussi pure qu’abstraite mène la danse, lançant de temps à autre une douce exclamation venue d’un autre monde : une montagne en marshmallow mais à l’ombre inquiétante... qu’y a-t-il donc par-delà les grands espaces qu’elle surplombe ?
Le néant ? Peut-être bien, à en croire le final à nouveau menaçant de I Cut Off My Doll’s Hair And Now She’s Bald , fausse berceuse enfantine sur un air de boîte à musique qui n’aurait là non plus pas déparé sur l’immense Vespertine . Arrangée de cordes et claviers, elle passe d’une douce mélancolie au désespoir le plus profond en quelques claquements de doigts avant évanouissement. Ne demeure alors que l’écho de cordes synthétiques assourdies... la fin d’un rêve ? Peut-être tout simplement la fin des illusions...
- RabbitInYourHeadlights - IndieRockMag.com: France


I Cut Off My Doll's Hair And Now She's Bald

Awards:
No.12 All-Time Potential Soundtrack (Electronica) - Garageband.com
Track of The Day (Electronica) - Garageband.com
Potential Soundtrack (Electronica) - Garageband.com

Good Chill-Out Song
The fact that the song grows slowly makes it great to chill to. The mood is very relaxed and the song was really enjoyable.
- eel3: Canada

Great Flowing Melodies
Great melodies. Enchanting Mood. Reminds me of the soundtrack to Edward Scissorhands.
- Creaturesville: UK

So Pretty
Really pretty into. I really like the instrumentation and melody line. It’s an enchanting song, very different from the norm. It would make a great addition to any meditation or spa album. This piece would do really well in the ambient music scene.
- Jet Kanashi: USA

Music for a Tim Burton Film
I'm reminded of a sequence in a Tim Burton stop animation film and this feeling continues throughout. The feel is very cinematic, particularly with the string sounds, which are done very well. I'm sure this would work very well with visuals. On its own I feel it needs something to add a bit of spice to the mix but feel sure that if the song were heard in an album setting it would sit well. Good track though and I'd really like to hear it with some form of visual accompaniment.
- Verian: UK

Cool Atmosphere track
Very nice ambient song, a very good arrangement and definitely a quite relaxing tune. I like the arch section and the use of the bells, it could be used for a soundtrack in a movie. Clean job, professional.
- alexhugo: Canada

Nightmare Before Christmas
The mood put me into the night before christmas theme. Magical and fairy-tale like. Soundtracky for sure and this could be some sort of theme. The sound is excellent. This is a very powerful track, and the production is great.
- brianaalyssa: USA

Original
Love the tinkly beginning, very quiet intro with pleasant strings and easy on the ear keyboards. It's all very melancholy and atmospheric - makes a great background piece or soundtrack to an advertisement. Relaxing and mellow.
- Boscobel: Spain

Gamelan in Space
Gentle xylophone intro exudes a chilled out atmosphere, whilst a sense of underlying melody is instilled by the strings. Excellent production, full of reverb and space. Sounds like a Gamelan group in space.
- Liam Cottrell: UK

Spooky would be great over a horror film
I love the intro here, is it a harp? Great choice of instruments here..gives the track a really dark edge to it. You really should send this off as a film soundtrack, as there is lots of emotion to this tune. First track i've heard without a drum loop or any percussion on this site. I’m thinking that you are a true musician. Mastering is brilliant, maybe have the odd loud 'hit' from time to time to add to the darkness..something that the listener would not expect!!
- electromagnetic: UK

Pleasant Meditative Track
This track sounds very classical music-influenced. It is very meditative, good sounds, good for chilling out to (or putting on during a massage session, for example, or putting a baby to sleep). It has a nice meditative mood to it and some very pleasant sounds.
- gfire: USA

Nice Beat
i like the beat of this sounds fresh, and pretty good melody. Keep it up.
- BBAB: Unspecified

Mellow Mood
This has a cool mellow sound to it. The use of synths were excellent. The subtle sounds at 1:14 really perked. I must say I could have used a little more though.
- DJBillyB: USA

I Like It
This sounds like it would be great in one of those magical type movies. It kinda sets a mood and a tempo and then completely gets out of the way. I can't explain the mood really, maybe you might say "wonder"? Anyway a great attempt at making really good background music, it's nice.
- Malaker: USA

Cool Atmosphere....
The opening is quite atmospheric. The track has a nice minimalist feel to it that gradually evolves into a more complex arrangement. I thought the oboe type sound could have been brought more forward in the mix. Overall this is a really delicate well thought out piece that is never boring. The track keeps your interest. Sound a little like Sigur Ros. Cool!
- joannerees4: UK

I Love the Mood on This One!!
This song starts off really cool. It would make a great movie score.
I like how it gradually builds into new and interesting sounds.
- shaunzok: USA

Bedtime Meanderings
Quiet and gentle raindrops created by the Mike Oldfield type soft sequence - a peaceful sound with pleasant overtones. Bedtime meanderings....
- alimax: UK

Very Dreamy and Bitter Sweet
I like the sweet keyboard line interlaced with the strings,very ethereal and dreamy, the sounds are great, I picture a twisted nutcracker. You don’t sound like anyone i listen too, but I’ll listen to this anytime.
- undadoog1: Canada

Love the Celeste
Very cool vibe on this track. sounds very much like a film score, very soothing and calming. Kind of eerie in a way as well. Great job, not much I can tell you to make it better. The mix is really clean and transparent and the sounds are very good, is that a real celeste??? Excellent
- repose2: Canada

Outstanding
At the beginning of this song I fell like I am in a dream sequence. I can see this being used for a soundtrack. It gives me good imagery. The mix and the sounds that you used are exceptional. Best song I have heard all day.
- fusion1: USA

Harbourside

Awards:
Best Keyboards (Electronica) - Garageband.com
Best Programming (Electronica) - Garageband.com
Best Mood (Electronica) - Garageband.com

Get a load of that name will you? Right up there with Arctic Monkeys for daftness. We are suckers for the thrum of a warm Rhodes and a warm Rhodes is what drives this pleasing electronica experimentonica. Very satisfying indeed.
- indiestore Recommends: UK

Creating soundscapes that need to be drifted around your room before they make any sort of sense, this is what would be going on in Four Tet’s head if he dreamt of collaborating with Zero 7. Opener ‘Harbourside’ sets the tone with its late night/early morning feel. It makes you long to wander around in the very early hours of day watching workers rubbing the sleep away and opening up the counter in the local bakery, people stumbling home from the night before not sure as to what they’ve done. It makes you want to watch life and for that it’s truly amazing. The incredibly private group (“one female, one male” is all the detail you’re getting) describe the music as “searching for the happiness you haven’t quite reached” and while that may be true for certain listeners, the feelings that this invokes will vary from bedroom to bedroom. Without wanting to sound too arsey or spiritual, this is incredibly absorbing music that pushes away boundaries and leaves you not wanting to make any comparisons but ultimately realizing that as a reviewer its your role. Put it this way if Sigur Ros forgot the need for an orchestra and instead relied solely on laptops, drums and ok, a lot of other stuff, they’d still struggle to make something as solely beautiful as this. A real surprise and a real find. For more information you can visit: http://www.apyxieworm.co.uk
- Owen McKeon - Glasswerk.co.uk: UK

Good Intro
The intro had me captivated. This song evokes a great feeling within. I like how mellow it is.
- Mimuluss: USA

THAT’S HOT!
Wow. That's really cool. Not really anything to say except that maybe the fade at the end lasts too long. Other than that it's perfect. I really liked it.
- WayofEscape: USA

Good Feeling
Very nice and good feel beginning and it does not fail during listening all. Music makes feel of hope for a better future, although sounds a little sad.
- vesilene: Poland

e-piano!
Gotta admit... I loved this song right off the bat. You honestly cannot go wrong with e-piano and a good player playing it. You've come across a nice sound here bud.
- mazurk: USA

I Always Love Melodic Tunes
This melodic intro is well done, and it has kind of tempo mood, in there. It is very well done. I give you a 8.5 out of 10. Its sounds a bit like Boards of Canada early stuff. Jeepers creepers keep it on.
- dhalius: Mexico

Relaxing
This song sounds like it should be in a movie. Very pretty, very relaxing.
I like this ALOT. The guitar and drums come in a little loud. The Mood is very sad. but I like sad songs. Reminds me of the band Japan. Well done!!
- jamesraymusic: USA

Laid Back Funky
Laid back chill out mood. Very relaxed sound. Good production.
Nice melodies. You sound a bit like Moby’s down-tempo stuff.
- Stimul8: UK

Nice Theme
Nice e.piano sets the mood. Subtle theme well played and sensitively accompanied by the drums, guitar and synth pad. I wish I had this much restraint with my tracks. The mood was good, the sound was great. Don't know who you sound like but that's probably a compliment!
- Sideway: UK

Alluring
Sweet keyboards begin it, followed by light beat. Chimes come in at 45 sec, and are perhaps a little discordant (?). Pads come in after 1 minute. Guitar arrives at 1.30 with electroclap to strengthen the groove. Chimes return at 2.20 with more backing synths. Nice airy, relaxing chill out track. Lovely keyboard and guitar playing. Alluring.
- KenThorley: Hong Kong

Nice Job
Rhodes is nice and mellow, vibe is good. good melody and harmony too. Good job overall.
- repose2: Canada