Artist: The Future Sound of London
Album: Lifeforms
Label: Astralwerks, Virgin, Caroline Records
Format: 2 x CD, Album
Discogs: http://www.discogs.com/Future-Sound-Of-London-Lifeforms/release/2512?ev=rr
Released: 20 May 1994
Genre: Electronic
Style: Leftfield, Downtempo, Experimental, Ambient
Credits: Engineer – Yage
Photography [Cover Model] – P. Knott
Photography [Front] – Peter Atkinson
Photography [Gatefold] – Alistair Shey , Martin Poole
Producer, Written-By, Artwork By – FSOL*

Written-By – Dougans* , Cobain*
Codec: FLAC

Tracklisting:

(Disc-1)
1.1 Cascade (6:00)
1.2 Ill Flower (3:25)
1.3 Flak (4:53)
1.4 Bird Wings (1:30)
1.5 Dead Skin Cells (6:51)
1.6 Lifeforms (5:18)
1.7 Eggshell (6:46)
1.8 Among Myselves (5:53)

(Disc-2)
2.1 Domain (2:48)
2.2 Spineless Jelly (4:42)
2.3 Interstat (0:55)
2.4 Vertical Pig (6:45)
2.5 Cerebral (3:31)
2.6 Life Form Ends (5:03)
2.7 Vit (6:48)
2.8 Omnipresence (6:39)
2.9 Room 208 (6:13)
2.10 Elaborate Burn (3:16)
2.11 Little Brother (5:13)

This album—or soundscape, as it could be described—is quite simply spellbinding. Released during an especially productive period for the loosely termed “ambient music,” LIFEFORMS had considerable impact upon the musical picture of 1994. Few (if any) outfits could claim to have bettered FSOL’s epic offering that year.

LIFEFORMS equally rewards both intensive and passive listening. Intensive listening reveals a taut structure, with long periods of timelessness suddenly pushed onward by contemporary dub and house beats. Passive listening gives a 90-minute collage of sound that provides a chilled-out antidote to the pace of modern life. Running water, distant chants, tribal rhythms, and various Eno-esque noises are all presented here in glorious surround-sound. Listening on headphones reveals the beauty of the soundscape even more brilliantly. FSOL must have spent many a late night learning how to employ sound technology so well. It’s time well spent, though, as LIFEFORMS is a masterpiece that stands comparison with great ambient albums by the Orb, Brian Eno, and the KLF. Recommended without reservation.