Walls cover

Walls

Apparat · 2007

59 min · 13 tracks · glitch

Ethereal soundscapes intertwine with glitchy beats, creating a haunting yet intimate auditory experience throughout the album.

Top tracks — play these first

  • →
    Not a Number — This opening track sets the tone with its atmospheric layers and introspective lyrics, encapsulating the album's exploration of identity and existence.
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    Hailin From the Edge — This track showcases Apparat's ability to fuse driving rhythms with poignant melodies, illustrating the tension between chaos and calm that permeates the album.
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    Birds — With its sweeping soundscapes and emotive vocal delivery, this track stands out as a highlight, inviting listeners into a reflective space.
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    Like Porcelain — The lengthy closing track masterfully combines delicate instrumentation with an evocative build-up, leaving listeners in a contemplative state as the album concludes.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

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

66 /100
Alpine
Higher than 89% of albums we've rated

Walls blends ethereal soundscapes with glitchy beats, showcasing Apparat's unique style and emotional depth.

What we noticed

  • The album features a consistent use of layered synths that create expansive soundscapes, often punctuated by glitchy percussion.
  • Tracks like 'Fractales, Part 1' and 'Fractales, Part 2' serve as interludes, breaking the flow with ambient textures that contrast with more rhythmic pieces.
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
7/10

whether it rewards returning to it

Distinctiveness 18% of the score
8/10

whether it sounds like itself

Sequencing 12% of the score
6/10

running order, pacing, length

Influence 6/10

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

  • introspective journeys through sound
  • wave-like pacing for deep focus
  • haunting melodies for evening reflection
  • gradual builds with emotional depth

Maybe skip if you

  • seeking instant gratification
  • prefer upbeat party tracks

Where this album fits

Career context
Released in 2007, Walls marked Apparat's third studio album, following his acclaimed work with the electronic duo Moderat. At this point in his career, Apparat was transitioning from his earlier experimental roots towards a more accessible sound, melding intricate electronic textures with emotional depth.
Stylistic neighbors
Nils Frahm· Max Cooper· Ólafur Arnalds

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

  • 1 Not a Number 3:59
  • 2 Hailin From the Edge 3:39
  • 3 Useless Information 4:04
  • 4 Limelight 4:12
  • 5 Holdon 4:10
  • 6 Fractales, Part 1 3:34
  • 7 Fractales, Part 2 2:06
  • 8 Birds 5:03
  • 9 Arcadia 5:10
  • 10 You Don’t Know Me 4:24
  • 11 Headup 5:06
  • 12 Over and Over 5:07
  • 13 Like Porcelain 9:19

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata