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Polydistortion | 
| Artist: Gus Gus
Label: 4AD
Category: Music
List Price: $16.99
Buy Used: $1.89
You Save: $15.10 (89%)
New (1) Used (20) Collectible (1) from $1.89
Rating:  33 reviews
Sales Rank: 697163
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 5 x 0.5
EAN: 5014436700521
ASIN: B000024JEO
Publication Date: 1997
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Tracks:
| • | Oh [Edit] | | • | Gun | | • | Believe | | • | Polyesterday | | • | Barry | | • | Cold Breath '79 | | • | Why? | | • | Remembrance | | • | Is Jesus Your Pal? | | • | Purple | | • | Polybackwards |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
Gus Gus create a multi-vibe stir with Polydistortion. At times as cold and icy as their frosty homeland (Iceland), at other times a rumbling volcano of pyrotechnic rhythms, the CD is a study in the dynamics of the electronic. Atmospheric without ever being boring, Gus Gus rely on soul-filled or breathy vocals to turn their compositions into some of the more interesting and accessible aural amalgamations ever committed to disc. "Believe" is a rhythmic juggernaut, while "Gun" is a moody study of beats and texture. "Why" is particularly stunning, a sparse torch song carried along by a Fender Rhodes-style piano line. More eclectic than electronica, Gus Gus make aural sculptures out of rhythm. --Steve Gdula
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| Customer Reviews: Read 28 more reviews...
 ambience unmatched April 29, 2000
Charles R Gigante (Los Angeles, CA United States)
15 out of 16 found this review helpful
the more i listen to this album, the more i absolutely love it. there is a certain innocent tone that engulfs the compositions, making this a highly complex, yet accessible work of art. gus gus were obviously noticed because of the hype that surrounded their friend and like-minded neighbor, bjork, but their talents deserve attention with or without her. this album, polydistortion, is an insanely addictive electronic masterpiece that jumps from one sub-genre to another by fusing each song structure's theme with tripped out electronics and lush, seductive, musically intelligent chord progressions and arrangements. While the songs with driving beats have brought about the most attention, I fell in love with the more ambient and sexy tracks like the unforgettable "why?". This song is a simple electronic piano and vocal arrangement that has soul just bursting out of the seams. Polyesterday is another favorite, featuring a very cool bassline and smart lyrics. Overall, the ambience of the record as a whole is unmatched by anything gus gus has done recently. (though i love 'this is normal', i feel polydistortion is superior in many respects.) for a truly significant electronic masterpiece of the 1990's, pick this beauty up.
This IS the better of their two albums, January 7, 2000
Justin Ratcliff (S.Pasadena, Ca.)
11 out of 11 found this review helpful
I was really impressed with this album. I can't tell you how many times I passed it up at the store too, because I just wasn't sure. I've been burned many times in the past taking chances on bands I'd scarcely heard. I hit gold on this one. I cycled through all the tracks the first time I played it trying to not get my hopes up. I had actually purchased "this is normal" first. I like this album more. In fact I love this album. The song Polydistortion it's self is a total groove that will keep some part of you body moving it's entire 6+ min. length. Theres only really one track on here I pass, and thats track 5. The last track "purple" is an unbelievably beautiful techno song that has the ability to put you in the most peaceful state of mind. This is a great album.
 WHAT WERE THESE GUYS SMOKING? September 28, 2003
Shashank Tripathi (Gadabout)
11 out of 12 found this review helpful
Cuz I want some of it too. What a delectably ambient album. "Blur" meets "Depeche Mode" meets "Moby" meets "U2" of yore. Very different, goovy numbers. Try Polyesterday for instance which more than any other showcases Gus Gus' mild penchant for the four-to-the-floor electronic pulse and their psych-pop beats. Fabulous stuff.
One of my best purchases in the last two years December 5, 2001
Michael Choi (Chicago, IL USA)
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
Much of what I feel about this album has already been put into words by many of my fellow critics. Thus, all I will say is this: I consider myself an extremely finnicky listener, and I definitely reserve my highest praise for works that I genuinely feel deserve such accolades. Having said that, this album is fantastic. In fact, I'm listening to it as I write this review.
I had few expectations when I first purchased the album. In fact, my curiosity about Polydistortion arose because two of the tracks on this CD appear on Sasha & Digweed's Northern Exposure II East Coast---which is, in my mind, the most finely crafted, technically sound, and emotionally consummate electronica album ever conceived. Thus, I thought I would give Polydistortion a listen. There is real art in their music. They blend so many elements and styles, and are never contained by a genre or preconception.
The opening track piqued my curiosity, which is important. "Believe" was very different from the mix used by Sasha and Diggers, but still very cool--the beginning rolls in with an almost-funk sound which created a different mood than in the aforementioned mix (which was more like dark, resonating lullabye). I dug "Cold Breath '79" which immediately brought up images of dark cobalt interiors of European castles, as well as a level from Castlevania 3 for the NES (apologies). "Purple" was, of course, classic and almost exactly per the usage of the track in Tranceport and NE2:EC. The track that really grabbed me was "Why?". It was pure cosmic jazz in the vein of Air. It was eerily reminiscent of "All I Need" off Moon Safari, though I prefer Beth Hirsch's vocals. Regardless, a fabulous haze of thick meloncholy and slow, tripping, almost aquatic tonalities. Perhaps my favorite track on the album. At times trip-hop, other times dark groove, but always slick and melodically complex, this album takes the listener on a real voyage. A must have.
Still One of My All-Time Favorites August 16, 2006
The Super-Trendy Counter-Culture Hipster King (Western Colorado)
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
I was 17 when this album came out, and I remember seeing the videos to "Polyseterday" and "Believe" on MTV's AMP way back in the day, and I remember I used to record that show every week in hopes that I would catch them.
Now almost 10 years later, this album still rocks my socks every time I hear it. A lot of people don't like this album, or GusGus in general for that matter, but GusGus's music (especially around this era) is right up my alley.
Spacy, yet totally butt-shaking. Icy and dubbed, yet so hot it's on fire.
My favorites on this album are Believe, Cold Breath '79, Why?, Remembrance and Polybackwards (the hidden track at the end). But all the songs are great.
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