SameSame.com.au ~ Inside Out Australia

DVD - Cornelius - Sensurround

Reviews, By Cameron M, 19th November, 2008

After watching Sensurround I was speechless – but my friends weren’t.

Friend 1: “Who is Cornelius?”
Friend 2: “I don’t know but I’d like to know who his dealer is!”

You’ll forgive them once you’ve seen at least five minutes of Sensurround. Much of the music and imagery on this DVD looks as though it has been stolen straight from a schizophrenic’s frenetic imagination.

Instead it was written by Cornelius (aka Kiego Oyamada), the Japanese artist and producer famed for mixing harmonically beautiful sounds with strange sound samples from everyday society.

Unsurprisingly there doesn’t seem to be one genre known to man that can encapsulate Cornelius’ musical style. When it’s so calculated, so accomplished, so pleasing, “electro” seems inappropriate and “experimental” seems unfair. When it’s so compelling yet oh-so-very strange, “pop” it shall never ever be.

Throughout Sensurround baffling images synchronise perfectly with Cornelius’ complex music, an intense barrage of activity one second, a tranquil floating sensation the next.

It’s confusing, and at times it can feel like you’re on a theme park ride being tossed from side to side and completely out of control. But the entire DVD is so fascinating that it’s hard to look away – shutting your eyes only makes you listen more intently. When a DVD can achieve that kind of effect, you know you’re onto a very, very good thing.

While you wouldn’t play Sensurround as party-starter music, most people – including die hard Britney fans – will appreciate it for its flawless visuals and unique sound.

Retrospectively, Sensurround raises all sorts of questions for the viewer. Is it music or is it art? Who conceptualised these visual landscapes and what must it be like inside their mind? How did an artist as vivid as Cornelius survive – and succeed – in an industry full of fakes (read: Britney Spears)? If the images and music are so complimentary, is it worth listening to Cornelius without the animation?

I can only answer the last one for you. While Sensurround has been mixed to include an extra-trippy 5.1 surround sound experience, Cornelius is said to be even better in concert where he always comes as a stunning visuals + music package.

We’ve got 10 copies of Sensurround to give away to lucky Same Same members. Click here to enter the draw, and remember – all you have to do is enter!

In the meantime, check out these YouTube clips from Sensurround:

Fit Song:

Ever wondered what your house gets up to while you’re out? Check this out. It explains why you can’t find your keys, and why there’s never any sugar left in your cupboards.
Directed by Koichiro Tsujikawa. Music by Cornelius.

Gum:

Guaranteed to leave you speechless. Simplicity. Synchronicity. Trip-me-the-fuck-out-icity. Friend 2: “If I was tripping I’d want the valium by now.” Directed by Groovisions. Music by Cornelius.

Like A Rolling Stone:

A rock turns into a man, and then the entire scene explodes into a stop-animation video of humans all moving around in a very, very tripped out scene. They all turn back into rocks and it’s amazing. Any questions? No, I thought not. Directed by Koichiro Tsujikawa. Music by Cornelius.