Artist: Daedelus Album: Exquisite Corpse

Year: 2005
Duration: 0:0-1

An Honest Assessment of Daedelus' Exquisite Corpse: A Masterfully Crafted Work of Art

When it comes to musical experimentation, few artists can hold a candle to Daedelus. With every album, the electronic music producer explores new territories in sound, often pushing boundaries and redefining genres. One of his most intriguing works is the 2005 release, Exquisite Corpse. In this blog post, we'll take a deep dive into this album, complete with a brief history of the artist, an overview of the music genre, a review of the best songs on the album, and an honest critique of the work.

First off, let's discuss the artist behind the music. Daedelus, whose real name is Alfred Darlington, is an experienced producer and musician who has been active since the early 2000s. Hailing from Los Angeles, he is known for his unique brand of electronic music, which often blends elements of hip-hop, jazz, and classical music. He has released numerous albums and has collaborated with artists such as MF DOOM and Flying Lotus.

With Exquisite Corpse, Daedelus aimed to create an album that sounded like it was recorded live, complete with accidents and mistakes. The album is heavily influenced by the sampling culture of hip-hop, relying heavily on found sounds and snippets from other genres. However, instead of simply pasting these sounds together, Daedelus deconstructs them and rebuilds them into something entirely new.

One standout track on Exquisite Corpse is Drops, which features pensive strings, a chaotic drumbeat, and haunting vocal samples. The song is a perfect example of the album's unique mix of sounds, which manages to be both discordant and harmonious at the same time. Another notable song is Astroboy, which incorporates funky percussion and a catchy melody.

The most innovative part of Exquisite Corpse is its use of sampling. Daedelus doesn't just sample recognizable sounds; he manipulates them beyond recognition, creating entirely new sonic landscapes. However, this experimentation can sometimes make the album feel disjointed, with some songs feeling more like sketches than fully realized compositions.

In terms of criticism, while Exquisite Corpse is undoubtedly a groundbreaking work of electronic music, its reliance on sampling can sometimes come across as lazy. Additionally, some listeners might find the album's intentionally lo-fi sound off-putting. However, these are minor quibbles in an otherwise impressive body of work.

In conclusion, Daedelus' Exquisite Corpse is a masterfully crafted work of art that defies classification. Its use of sampling and found sound is both innovative and exciting, and the album is a testament to the artist's creativity and skill. While it may not be for everyone, those who appreciate musical experimentation and boundary-pushing will find much to enjoy in this album. Overall, Exquisite Corpse is a must-listen for anyone interested in the future of electronic music.