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PARADIGM LOST

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Reviews

Jan 1999

Loud! Magazine will review Paradigm Lost's HUMAN CD in Jan issue #2. When it comes out, we will post it right here, right away!

Jan 16 1998

CMCA gave a great review of HUMAN. Here are some excerpts from that review:

 

...Paradigm is unlike anything you've heard, and is probably best described as ...industrial in nature, though there are many different styles represented on this CD.

"The Riddle opens the CD with a rock guitar and drums. There is a good keyboard part behind the guitar, almost acting as a background vocal. The lead is almost a loud whisper... Riddle has almost a moor-ish feel at the beginning, building to a full hard rock sound by the end. This would make a good score for a sci-fi movie. It definately rocks :)

"Reason has a wonderful jammin' guitar part... Shane has a very good voice, as evidenced at the beginning of this song and on the next cut. This song is a metal-head's delight, with heavy guitars and percussion. Neat production at the end. If you're listening with headphones, it may make you a little woozy.

"The closest that Paradigm gets to mainstream is Window Pain. Shane gives a wonderful vocal on a very good melody here, executed well and backed up with an excellent keyboard part and a nice lead guitar. Like most of the rest of the CD, the lyrics are a little obscure. This track certainly has radio play written all over it!

"Sira - All Shane Version (two versions) - Are you one of those people that look at "modern" art and can't understand why it's hanging in a museum? If so, you definitely want to fast forward through this cut. It's kind of a static-y STOMP interpretation that will appeal to only the most "progressive" of listeners. Ever hear the Beatles' number 9 track off of the White Album? We'll leave you with that thought :)

"Human begins with a keyboard that is almost a voice itself - an interesting touch. There is enormous musical talent involved here folks that few will grasp on first listen. Though I hit the back button several times, I still can't tell what the words to Michael Saul's poem are... This cut is heavily produced with a lot going on, and it's peaceful in an odd sort of way (sensory overload? *s*). You can easily get enveloped into it. The Human Reprise has an almost-Oriental sound to it. Like its Human predecessor, it is also heavily produced and is a nice reprieve. One of Paradigm's biggest strengths is its production, and Human is well-produced from beginning to end. That production is especially evident on these cuts.

"Last Summer Here is the "sparsest" song on this album. It has a somewhat Ramones-like sound (forgive the comparison), and is probably the song I like best on this project. The vocal is splendid, the guitars well done, and the song has a good overall feel. Always leave 'em wanting -- Summer ends too quickly!

"The bonus track has a progressive jazz sound. G-nob improv is interesting and, for the most part, enjoyable. Good keyboards throughout... Overall, this song is an interesting addition and it sounds like they had fun doing it.

"The cover artwork is good, but a bit too dark. I think it fits the concept of the music. Almost a worlds-colliding sort of thing... To some listeners, this CD is simply going to be a bizarre cacophony. It definitely pushes the envelope. But to those who can step out of their normal preferences, and look with different eyes (or hear with different ears, as the case may be), there are some happy surprises."
--Paul Gentry

Dec 6 1998

The Pantom Tollboth offered a great review of HUMAN. Here are some excerpts from that review:

 

"New band Paradigm Lost is Shane Matsumoto, and Joe Liedtke with Ian Baird and Spring Clock Wonder. Matsumoto has also handled most of the production and engineering on this eclectic music CD which refuses to be pigeon holed. It is sometimes rock, sometimes alternative, even jazz, but mostly avant-garde industrial. The liner notes do not give any clues as to who plays or sings what, but whoever is handling the guitar work has done an able job, with a chunky, fuzzy guitar mixing it up with the industrial noise. There is a pounding back beat as well, from what sounds like mostly real drums to me.

"The music moves quickly and keeps my interest. The more noisy industrial numbers are well constructed, and the music moves through the head like a machine mind drill, carrying the listener along for the ideas. The fifth and title track, Human, is a more airy, almost trip hop tune, with some cool discord under and over a smooth bass line.

"...Throughout the record, some of the vocals are distorted and some are clear, adding to the mélange.

"...this multifarious, energetic music is worthy of notice if you are interested in checking out the fringe elements of the avant-garde industrial scene. This record is brimming with raw talent."
--Tony LaFianza

Nov 1998

Flaming Fish Music offers a very nice, long review of Human, here are some excerpts from the review:

 

"Although this CD was introduced to be as an industrial release, to categorize it as such would be quite a stretch. The content here is all over the place; from metal and modern rock to old school industrial and all the way over to blues-y lounge music. They do each style quite well... Being an industrial fan writing for an industrial 'zine, I'll focus on that aspect of the music.

"The most obvious pieces in this genre are "Sira ("All Shane" Version)" and "Human (Reprise)". The first of these features nothing but some very cool mechanical noise percussion. When one thinks of the word "industrial" in its purest form, this is it. A truly great song for the old-school fan. Most of the sounds also appear on the original version of "Sira"... The reprise of "Human" consists mostly of waves of ambient background synths and occasional electronic sound effects. A eletric guitar plays lightly throughout. Again, much of this also shows up in the first part of "Human", but there it is totally dominated by some kind of lounge horn solo.

"A couple other parts are worthy of mention as well. The opening track, "The Riddle", has a couple different uses of vocals that are pretty cool. One section is done with a slow, death-style approach, and another uses some computer-sounding distortion. The last half of that song heads back into metal screaming... Track 3, "Window Pain", will please fans of early Tea Party, with its The Doors-like feel. Very catchy.

"All-in-all, a very well-done CD, with very good production qualities and impressive artwork."
--Carson Pierce

Nov/Dec `98

HM Mag -- These guys reviewed PARADIGM LOST's HUMAN CD and put "The Riddle", a song off the HUMAN slbum, on their Nov/Dec HM sampler given to all HM Mag subscribers (issue #74 November/December `98). "The Riddle" was chosen joining 13 other bands including KINGS X, BRIDE, GALACTIC COWBOYS, THE CHANNELSURFERS, ECHO HOLLOW (serveral members of the old band TOURNIQUET), to name a few.

Check out HM Mag's review of PARADIGM LOST's HUMAN CD:

"Here's a very ambient disc with an industrial tinge. The production is clean... For all you Mac users, this is an enhanced cd, including the band's latest video. Check out the band's song, "The Riddle," on this issue's Hard Music Sampler CD. (CO)

11/17/98

"I liked the way you [Paradigm Lost] worked in different elements of metal, ambient alternative, old school/traditional industrial, etc. to make for some great accessible industrial. Thanks again for sending us the disc." -Josh Spencer, Sr. Editor of the Phantom Tollbooth in an e-mail to the band. The Phantom Tollbooth is planning on reviewing the "Human" CD in the next month.

Sept/Oct `97

HM Mag -- Check out HM Mag's review of PARADIGM LOST's PROGRESSIVE REVELATION CD: