Product Description Supreme Beings of Leisure return with their third album, 11i a darkly cinematic collection of enchanting, hypnotizing songs. Sultry rhythms and understated electronica complement the sophisticated songcraft behind their signature sound.The album is a song cycle about daily life that begins with the sumptuous prelude of The Light and seamlessly evolves into the concluding drifting-into-dreams track, Lay Me Down. In between are standouts including the wistful and melodic This World, Mirror and Angelhead (feat. Lili Haydn). .com There may be no more aptly named band than Supreme Beings of Leisure. On this L.A. duo's third album, 11i, a musical aesthetic once called trip-hop reaches archetypal heights. Ramin Sakurai's loping, electro-orchestral production and Geri Soriano-Lightwood's breathy, clarion vocals tango with nary a misstep. Opener "The Light" sets the bar loftily. Despite how many others have lounged in these musical waters, it asserts, we do bass, beats, and luxuriant bombast better. Why? Take "Angelhead": Soriano-Lightwood sings a difficult but unmoving melody only "The Star-Spangled Banner" could love, but Surakai's lush instrumental wraps the vocal in a silken sheen that leaves the song sounding timeless--almost impossibly, it seems, but there it is. Skeptics may write SBL off as a 'Dead Can Dance for Dummies,' and lesser successes ("This World," "Oneness," "Lay Me Down") do tend too often toward romantic clichés and an forced cosmopolitan mojo that seems hell-bent for a future elevator. But when Sakurai emerges from his lagging tempi and turns up the volume, both musicians bloom. When, for example, the chorus of "Mirror" delivers its tectonic slab of drums and bass, this is a band bursting forth with its deluxe best yet. 11i is music for the leisure class, perhaps, but--as advertised--it doesn't get much better. --Jason Kirk
A**A
Pretty Good
Reviewing music is really somuch in the eye of the beholder, it's hard to really glean if you'll like someone with even similiar tastes as you.That being said - this is a pretty good album. I listened to the whole thing on mp3.com and was impressed by more than half the tracks - so I made a purchase. I prefer it when musicians try different things in the span of a cd instead having it sound all the same. I like variety in what an artist does in his/her work. 11i is a little bit of both worlds - it's got some variety but it's variety in the sound, not really different musical styles - if that makes any sense. On some tracks the girl singer will be soft and subtle. On others she'll croon and sing loud over some hard guitars.Most of the cd could be classified as trip hop - maybe even a little pop-ish. It's not bad, I do wish a little more variety had been put into some of the tracks. The main stand out tracks for me where "Mirror" and "Angelhead" - though the whole cd has something to offer.
U**N
Hypnotic,Lush, Emotional..Supreme
I just received this cd yesterday. At first I was a little put off and found it a little boring the songs were'nt hooking me like the previous two cd's. This morning I walked to work and played the entire cd and heard one of the most laid back groovy sexiest cd's in a long time. Though this cd is decidely down tempo unlike its predecessor Divine Operating System it's no snooze fest. Pour the drinks and enjoy.
R**L
amazing music
This is some of the coolest music ever. So thrilled to have found it.
J**S
Four Stars
Good
D**Y
Nice purchase experience.
Nice music.
M**R
Good Album
I own all three SBOL albums, and while I still think their first is the best, this is a great sound for them. I just got the album and am still listening for stand-out songs, but my initial impressions are very positive. I had mixed feelings about Divine Operating System, but 11i is much more consistent and I recommend it to SBOL fans.
C**Y
Love these guys and this album
If you are a SBL fan this album is a treat. If you are considering getting this album get the first album from 2000 "Supreme Beings of Leisure" and listen to that one. Then get this one and every other album of theirs.
O**K
11i ... Best Yet
This is a very interesting collection of noize.The work is excellent - another level.I was wondering who would be able to fill the void that Massive Attack left behind.Should Supreme Beings of Leisure continue evolving on this path, their next album should be revolutionary.I like "Mirror", "Swallow" and "Angelhead".Well done.
S**E
Another fine Album
This is the third album I have purchased from The Supreme Beings Of Lesiure, and it is just as good as the last two. Some bands lose it after the first good album, but not these guys, they just get better. I find it hard to say who they sound like, but all I can say is if you like very good songs that grow on you and you can't stop listening too then this is your band! I look forward to the next album!
P**A
Electronica music for people who usually do not listen to electronica
Very good compositions full of soul. Music that do not sound mechanical. I do not usually listen to this kind of music but I found it while browsing last.fm.
W**E
Ein neuer, musikalischer Juwel
Auch die mittlerweile 4te CD von "Supreme Beings of Leisure" ist ein neuer, musikalischer Juwel. Kein Hänger, durchwegs (elektronischer) Downtempo von seiner besten Seite. Fröhliche, positive Musik mit einem Schuß Laszivität. Genau das Richtige für einen guten Morgen oder einen sanft ausklingenden Abend. Schade nur, dass "Supreme Beings of Leisure" nicht die gebührende Aufmerksamkeit der Radiostationen zuteilt wird, sie hätten es sich wirklich verdient.
