Exquisite Corpse cover

Exquisite Corpse

Daedelus · 2005

51 min · 14 tracks · electronic music

An eclectic fusion of glitchy electronics, hip-hop beats, and dreamy melodies that beckons listeners into a surreal auditory landscape.

Top tracks — play these first

  • →
    Dearly Departed Start here — This opening track sets the tone with its haunting vocals and intricate layers of sound, embodying the album's experimental essence.
  • →
    Impending DOOM — The brevity and intensity of this track create a sense of urgency, illustrating Daedelus's ability to convey emotion through minimalism.
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    The Crippled Hand — With its rich textures and evocative soundscapes, this track showcases Daedelus's signature blend of the organic and synthetic.
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    Thanatopsis — This piece stands out for its contemplative mood and layered compositions, reflecting themes of mortality that run throughout the album.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

Instrumental
58 /100
Treeline
Higher than 49% of albums we've rated

The album's eclectic sound and experimental approach create a unique listening experience, though it may not fully reward repeated plays.

What we noticed

  • The album features a wide range of textures, with glitchy electronic sounds layered over hip-hop influenced beats throughout its duration.
  • Several tracks incorporate abrupt tempo changes and unexpected sonic shifts, creating a sense of unpredictability.
  • The use of samples is prominent, with various vocal snippets and instrumental loops interspersed within the tracks, adding to the eclectic feel.
Composition 25% of the score
7/10

the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics

Craft 20% of the score
8/10

production, performance, arrangement

Durability 25% of the score
6/10

whether it rewards returning to it

Distinctiveness 18% of the score
7/10

whether it sounds like itself

Sequencing 12% of the score
5/10

running order, pacing, length

Influence 4/10

Known within its scene. 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

  • fragmented rhythms for focused listening
  • eclectic samples spark curiosity
  • short tracks encourage exploration
  • emotional collage for introspective moods

Maybe skip if you

  • prefer straightforward song structures
  • seek instant gratification tracks

Where this album fits

In the catalog
Experimental — The album showcases a significant departure into eclectic and avant-garde sounds.
Themes
surreal auditory landscapes· mortality reflections· glitchy electronic textures
Career context
By the time Daedelus released Exquisite Corpse in 2005, he was already gaining traction in the electronic music scene following his debut album, Of Snowdonia. This album marked a significant evolution in his sound, showcasing more complex production techniques and collaborations with other artists within the experimental genre.
Stylistic neighbors
Flying Lotus· Shlohmo· Teebs

Tracklist

  • 1 Dearly Departed Start here 4:09
  • 2 Impending DOOM 2:19
  • 3 Just Briefly 3:16
  • 4 Move On 3:02
  • 5 Now & Sleep (Prefuse 73 danse macabre) 3:15
  • 6 The Crippled Hand 6:26
  • 7 Welcome Home 3:35
  • 8 Drops 3:27
  • 9 Fallen Love 2:33
  • 10 Welcome Home 4:39
  • 11 I Sent Off II Sus Percoll (Jogger remix) 4:46
  • 12 The Trains Are Now So Clean 1:06
  • 13 Thanatopsis 5:20
  • 14 Cadavre Exquis 3:26

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata