Black Foliage: Animation Music Volume One
The Olivia Tremor Control · 1999
69 min · 27 tracks · indie rock
A surreal tapestry of experimental sounds and dreamy melodies that evoke the essence of a waking dream.
Top tracks — play these first
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I Have Been Floated — This track encapsulates the album's whimsical essence with its layered harmonies and surreal lyrical imagery, marking a standout moment of creativity.
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The Bark and Below It — As the longest track on the album, it showcases the band's expansive soundscapes and intricate arrangements, representing their experimental ethos.
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A Sleepy Company — This song features delicate instrumentation and haunting melodies that embody the dreamlike quality prevalent throughout the album.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album's innovative structures and sound collages create a distinct and immersive experience.
What we noticed
- The album features multiple interludes titled 'Black Foliage (Animation X)' that create a sense of continuity and thematic exploration throughout the record.
- Several tracks, such as 'Combinations' and 'A Sleepy Company', utilize layered instrumentation and unconventional song structures, often shifting dynamics unexpectedly.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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7/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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8/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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6/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- whimsical sound collage exploration
- short bursts of sonic creativity
- dynamic shifts in listening experience
- patiently unfolding auditory landscapes
Maybe skip if you
- seeking straightforward song structures
- prefer consistent rhythmic pacing
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released in 1999, Black Foliage: Animation Music Volume One was The Olivia Tremor Control's second studio album, following their critically acclaimed debut, Music from the Unrealized Film Script: Dusk at Cubist Castle. At this point in their career, the band was solidifying their status within the Elephant 6 Collective, which was gaining prominence for its distinctive lo-fi sound and eclectic approach to indie rock.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Neutral Milk Hotel· The Apples in Stereo· of Montreal
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Opening 0:25
- 2 A Peculiar Noise Called "Train Director" 3:02
- 3 Combinations 0:05
- 4 Hideway 2:34
- 5 Black Foliage (Animation 1) 1:11
- 6 Combinations 0:15
- 7 The Sky Is a Harpsichord Canvas 0:04
- 8 A Sleepy Company 3:41
- 9 Grass Canons 3:22
- 10 A New Day 2:29
- 11 Combinations 0:16
- 12 Black Foliage (Animation 2) 1:23
- 13 I Have Been Floated 3:40
- 14 Paranormal Echoes 3:30
- 15 Black Foliage (Animation 3) 0:45
- 16 A Place We Have Been To 2:25
- 17 Black Foliage (Itself) 2:55
- 18 The Sylvan Screen 6:07
- 19 The Bark and Below It 11:25
- 20 Black Foliage (Animation 4) 1:36
- 21 California Demise (3) 2:47
- 22 Looking for Quiet Seeds 3:13
- 23 Combinations 0:11
- 24 Mystery 3:26
- 25 Another Set of Bees in the Museum 3:08
- 26 Black Foliage (Animation 5) 2:08
- 27 Hilltop Procession (Momentum Gaining) 3:22
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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