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Reviews of 'Metamorphic Reproduction Miracle'
"Is Portobello the new Detroit? Judging by the output from KFM Records and Benbecula, residents in the audl reekie's most salubrious of day-trip districts, there's something peculiar blowing through the sea air. Benbecula concentrate on laptop-generated soundscapes, and, in Christ, have an artist who's turned water into something a lot more stronger and warmer. Following last year's Pylonesque ep. this full-length affair is awash with pastoral symphonies offset by fripperies and toytown nostalgia sense memories. As more beats are ushered in midway through, subtle shades of the equally loved Boards of Canada peek through. Christ is his own man though however, having created a work of woozy, slo-mo squelchtronica for spacecake enhanced youths to squint at the sun to while grinning like village idiots who've just discovered beauty. Sigh."
Neil Cooper, The Herald, 05 July 2003
"Talk about throwing down the gauntlet with your band name ... Anyway, Christ is actually Chris H, otherwise known as 'liquid' (we think) and anyone wondering where all the good underground electronic music has gone (which isn't just a mash of clicks and cuts) might want to get off at this stop and check it out. With hints of the mesmeric hooks and smoky feel that Boards of Canada nod towards (not surprisingly, as Chris was in them apparently), this is an often stunning album. Just when think the more experimental edge will take it to the brink of oblivion, Chris drags it back and envelopes it with melodies and entwining riffs that wrap the ideas up in goodness rather than restrict them. What I mean is it sounds pretty bloody good, pretty bloody often. Unfortunately we've lost the info so if Christ wants to get in touch for an interview then phone, rather than any kind of divine intervention, will do ..."
Andy Jones, Future Music, July 2003
"Rumoured to be the third corner of Board of Canada's tangled triangle around the time of Twoism, Christ. are sure to demand similar hordes of disciples. Like BOC, Christ equally spook and soothe, creating stuttering rhythms that initially appear transparent, yet they transfix every sense with each passing hook. Its the sound of John Carpenter's The Thing slowly rescoring its own soundtrack, ingrained with an X-factor beamed in from the edge of Scotland. With this reincarnation of Christ, substitute the fish and bread with synth and samplers. Both are the stuff of equal myth and magic."
Ian Fletcher, Careless Talk Costs Lives, Issue 3 July/August 2003
"The title suggests a reborn Christ. emerging which is a novel idea considering this is actually a debut album, but some of the Edinburgh producer's new material confirms this image and it makes more sense if you count the utterly sublime Pylonesque debut EP as a mini-album. Christ.'s new sound is more akin to Autechre's reconstituted beats and corrosive audio and, curiously enough, the progressive electronics of Tangerine Dream circa 1980 than the old affiliations to Balerno schoolmates Boards of Canada. But the lo-fi, Casio tones are still here and fans of Pylonesque will enjoy much of this long player for the mournful melodies and troubled naivete. However MRM doesn't quite match the sheer beauty of that EP and there is a nagging sensation that this release has been rushed out slightly to meet the rapidly escalating demand for Christ.'s sound. Still, it is impressive as a second album and that alone is worth plenty." 4/5
Andrew Richardson, The List, July 2003
"Edinburgh's oddest, finest exponent of electronica (oops, apart from David Jack) has, at last, a new full length album, which along with some reworkings of previous material from the likes of the Pyonesque EP, brings a fair amount of fresh sequences to our ears. 'Lazy Daisy Meadow' sets the scene for a selection of potential film soundtracks. With that said its hard to review - the tracks complement each other, often merging seamlessly together, and, as I'm sure is the intention, wash over the listener taking them to a becalmed other state. Largely they split into two categories - the beat-driven almost-pop of "Fantastic Light", and the more atmospheric interludes of "Always to Play" which bridges the way to dance (yes!) of 'mk naomi'. Think a harder edged Boards of Canada, or a Tangerine Dream for the 21st century, and you're maybe halfway there. Naturally, a pun is required to round off any review of Christ - if its too much to suggest you bow down and worship him, lets just say he's back and this time he's staying."
SMcH, Is This Music?, Issue 6 Summer 2003
"His debut album on Benbecula is the aural equivalent of watching a bright sunrise through a kaleidoscope while sitting in an outdoor Jacuzzi."
Undercover Magazine, Vol:2, Doc:5
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He has arrived, the mountebank from Bohemia, he has arrived, preceded by his reputation.
Evil Dr. K "The Jimmy McNulty of Payment Protection Insurance"
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