Unlimited Streaming
Listen to this album in high quality now on our apps
Start my trial period and start listening to this albumEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
SubscribeEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
Digital Download
Purchase and download this album in a wide variety of formats depending on your needs.
Plastic Wood is a huge departure from the jangle rock albums that Lloyd Cole usually creates. Purely instrumental and recorded alone in New York and London in 1999 and 2000, the album is a startlingly beautiful collection of 18 ambient electronic songs. Cole's gentle, pastoral melodies are everywhere, but they're remarkably subtle and delicate here. Indeed, this is no noisy, experimental Aphex Twin wannabe at work. This is Cole operating in the hushed tones of Brian Eno's acclaimed ambient albums. One could easily confuse Plastic Wood with the work of ISAN or another of the acclaimed artists on the Morr Music label. When Cole features acoustic guitar on the tracks, the songs easily stand alongside those of Manual's Until Tomorrow. And while hints of the IDM of Aphex Twin and Mike Paradinas do appear, there's never a moment where one worries that Cole is about to riff away on some drum'n'bass tangent. "Headlights" is probably the high point, with its sweet whiffs of sorrow and superb use of high-pitched tones. Elsewhere, echoes of nursery box lullabies linger in the air, an atmosphere of melancholy hovers over extended passages, sad synthetic strings weep, sci-fi sound effects create spooky textures, and tender bells mingle with haunting, symphonic refrains. If there's a rare occasional lapse into a bit of sappy Tangerine Dream territory here and there, Cole more than makes up for it with the album's thoroughly modern sensibilities and smart, pretty arrangements. If the excellent Plastic Wood is any indication, alternative rock icon Lloyd Cole can add "master electronic musician" to his resumé.
© Tim DiGravina /TiVo
You are currently listening to samples.
Listen to over 100 million songs with an unlimited streaming plan.
Listen to this playlist and more than 100 million songs with our unlimited streaming plans.
From 12.49€/month
Emily Lazar, Mastering Engineer - Lloyd Cole, Composer, Artist, MainArtist - Chrysalis Music, MusicPublisher
2001 Edel Germany GmbH. earMUSIC is a project of Edel. 2001 Edel Germany GmbH. earMUSIC is a project of Edel.
Emily Lazar, Mastering Engineer - Lloyd Cole, Composer, Artist, MainArtist - Chrysalis Music, MusicPublisher
2001 Edel Germany GmbH. earMUSIC is a project of Edel. 2001 Edel Germany GmbH. earMUSIC is a project of Edel.
Emily Lazar, Mastering Engineer - Lloyd Cole, Composer, Artist, MainArtist - Chrysalis Music, MusicPublisher
2001 Edel Germany GmbH. earMUSIC is a project of Edel. 2001 Edel Germany GmbH. earMUSIC is a project of Edel.
Emily Lazar, Mastering Engineer - Lloyd Cole, Composer, Artist, MainArtist - Chrysalis Music, MusicPublisher
2001 Edel Germany GmbH. earMUSIC is a project of Edel. 2001 Edel Germany GmbH. earMUSIC is a project of Edel.
Emily Lazar, Mastering Engineer - Lloyd Cole, Composer, Artist, MainArtist - Chrysalis Music, MusicPublisher
2001 Edel Germany GmbH. earMUSIC is a project of Edel. 2001 Edel Germany GmbH. earMUSIC is a project of Edel.
Emily Lazar, Mastering Engineer - Lloyd Cole, Composer, Artist, MainArtist - Chrysalis Music, MusicPublisher
2001 Edel Germany GmbH. earMUSIC is a project of Edel. 2001 Edel Germany GmbH. earMUSIC is a project of Edel.
Emily Lazar, Mastering Engineer - Lloyd Cole, Composer, Artist, MainArtist - Chrysalis Music, MusicPublisher
2001 Edel Germany GmbH. earMUSIC is a project of Edel. 2001 Edel Germany GmbH. earMUSIC is a project of Edel.
Emily Lazar, Mastering Engineer - Lloyd Cole, Composer, Artist, MainArtist - Chrysalis Music, MusicPublisher
2001 Edel Germany GmbH. earMUSIC is a project of Edel. 2001 Edel Germany GmbH. earMUSIC is a project of Edel.
Emily Lazar, Mastering Engineer - Lloyd Cole, Composer, Artist, MainArtist - Chrysalis Music, MusicPublisher
2001 Edel Germany GmbH. earMUSIC is a project of Edel. 2001 Edel Germany GmbH. earMUSIC is a project of Edel.
Emily Lazar, Mastering Engineer - Lloyd Cole, Composer, Artist, MainArtist - Chrysalis Music, MusicPublisher
2001 Edel Germany GmbH. earMUSIC is a project of Edel. 2001 Edel Germany GmbH. earMUSIC is a project of Edel.
Emily Lazar, Mastering Engineer - Lloyd Cole, Composer, Artist, MainArtist - Chrysalis Music, MusicPublisher
2001 Edel Germany GmbH. earMUSIC is a project of Edel. 2001 Edel Germany GmbH. earMUSIC is a project of Edel.
Emily Lazar, Mastering Engineer - Lloyd Cole, Composer, Artist, MainArtist - Chrysalis Music, MusicPublisher
2001 Edel Germany GmbH. earMUSIC is a project of Edel. 2001 Edel Germany GmbH. earMUSIC is a project of Edel.
Emily Lazar, Mastering Engineer - Lloyd Cole, Composer, Artist, MainArtist - Chrysalis Music, MusicPublisher
2001 Edel Germany GmbH. earMUSIC is a project of Edel. 2001 Edel Germany GmbH. earMUSIC is a project of Edel.
Emily Lazar, Mastering Engineer - Lloyd Cole, Composer, Artist, MainArtist - Chrysalis Music, MusicPublisher
2001 Edel Germany GmbH. earMUSIC is a project of Edel. 2001 Edel Germany GmbH. earMUSIC is a project of Edel.
Emily Lazar, Mastering Engineer - Lloyd Cole, Composer, Artist, MainArtist - Chrysalis Music, MusicPublisher
2001 Edel Germany GmbH. earMUSIC is a project of Edel. 2001 Edel Germany GmbH. earMUSIC is a project of Edel.
Emily Lazar, Mastering Engineer - Lloyd Cole, Composer, Artist, MainArtist - Chrysalis Music, MusicPublisher
2001 Edel Germany GmbH. earMUSIC is a project of Edel. 2001 Edel Germany GmbH. earMUSIC is a project of Edel.
Emily Lazar, Mastering Engineer - Lloyd Cole, Composer, Artist, MainArtist - Chrysalis Music, MusicPublisher
2001 Edel Germany GmbH. earMUSIC is a project of Edel. 2001 Edel Germany GmbH. earMUSIC is a project of Edel.
Emily Lazar, Mastering Engineer - Lloyd Cole, Composer, Artist, MainArtist - Chrysalis Music, MusicPublisher
2001 Edel Germany GmbH. earMUSIC is a project of Edel. 2001 Edel Germany GmbH. earMUSIC is a project of Edel.
Album review
Plastic Wood is a huge departure from the jangle rock albums that Lloyd Cole usually creates. Purely instrumental and recorded alone in New York and London in 1999 and 2000, the album is a startlingly beautiful collection of 18 ambient electronic songs. Cole's gentle, pastoral melodies are everywhere, but they're remarkably subtle and delicate here. Indeed, this is no noisy, experimental Aphex Twin wannabe at work. This is Cole operating in the hushed tones of Brian Eno's acclaimed ambient albums. One could easily confuse Plastic Wood with the work of ISAN or another of the acclaimed artists on the Morr Music label. When Cole features acoustic guitar on the tracks, the songs easily stand alongside those of Manual's Until Tomorrow. And while hints of the IDM of Aphex Twin and Mike Paradinas do appear, there's never a moment where one worries that Cole is about to riff away on some drum'n'bass tangent. "Headlights" is probably the high point, with its sweet whiffs of sorrow and superb use of high-pitched tones. Elsewhere, echoes of nursery box lullabies linger in the air, an atmosphere of melancholy hovers over extended passages, sad synthetic strings weep, sci-fi sound effects create spooky textures, and tender bells mingle with haunting, symphonic refrains. If there's a rare occasional lapse into a bit of sappy Tangerine Dream territory here and there, Cole more than makes up for it with the album's thoroughly modern sensibilities and smart, pretty arrangements. If the excellent Plastic Wood is any indication, alternative rock icon Lloyd Cole can add "master electronic musician" to his resumé.
© Tim DiGravina /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 18 track(s)
- Total length: 00:42:12
- Main artists: Lloyd Cole
- Composer: Lloyd Cole
- Label: earMUSIC
- Genre: Electronic
2001 Edel Germany GmbH. earMUSIC is a project of Edel. 2001 Edel Germany GmbH. earMUSIC is a project of Edel.
Improve album information
Why buy on Qobuz...
-
Stream or download your music
Buy an album or an individual track. Or listen to our entire catalogue with our high-quality unlimited streaming subscriptions.
-
Zero DRM
The downloaded files belong to you, without any usage limit. You can download them as many times as you like.
-
Choose the format best suited for you
Download your purchases in a wide variety of formats (FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF...) depending on your needs.
-
Listen to your purchases on our apps
Download the Qobuz apps for smartphones, tablets and computers, and listen to your purchases wherever you go.