A Map of the Floating City

Somehow I missed this when it came out—tumultous time in my life, perhaps. I listened to Astronatus and Heretics the other night (love that album) and wondered if Mr. Dolby had done anything in the last few years and found this here in iTunes. It's a gorgeous album. I love the diversity in styles, though it's all Dolby. Personally, I find his first album a little too "synth-y" for me (except "Science") but loved the subsequent ones (not so much "Mind's Eye," except for two songs). As a keyboardist myself, I appreciate the arrangements. TD: If you ever read these reviews, please keep on making music. You are a unique talent.

Guess my job devoured me in the 80s. I'm any case, late, early or just in time, I'm loving this album and hoping the few tracks that don't appeal are just outta reach for now.

I must admit that I was a bit nervous about this one. Breaking even with Astronauts and Heretics was a tall order, but leave it to one of the greatest songwriters of all time to deliver yet another masterpiece after a twenty-year leave in Silicon Valley. Backed by an army of fantastic guest artists, Thomas Dolby released A Map of the Floating City in the form of three EPs and quickly blew away any and all competition for new music offerings in 2011. Urbanoia, the last third to be revealed with the distribution of the record, is my personal favorite segment, opening with the edgy, rocked-out offering of “Nothing New Under the Sun.” Witty as always and darker than usual, Mr. Dolby offers a starkly different yet highly effective introduction to his latest work. “Spice Train,” a minimalistic dance track based around a two-note synth patch, is a rare example of an artist stretching his classic sound to the extremes of modern techno while maintaining his signature effect. I love it! “Evil Twin Brother” peaks out the first half of the album as one of the best songs of the decade, featuring the talents of indie queen Regina Spektor and an unforgettable hook. In an age where dubstep and prepackaged pop dominate the dance floor, a 53-year old Thomas seems to be reminding an enlightened few how the “big boys” go about creating a fantastic song with a contemporary edge and a KILLER groove. Simply genius. “A Jealous Thing Called Love” features some of my favorite horn arrangements in a very long time, and “Road to Reno” instantly puts me in touch with the better side of American folk music. The momentum crashes slightly with “Toadlickers,” but Thomas quickly recovers in the form of a most epic duet with Mark Knopfler on “17 Hills.” “Love is a Loaded Pistol” offers a jazzy intermission before the album’s final movement, Oceanea. The title track is absolutely one of the most beautiful songs ever written: a pantheistic musing on the healing power of the sea. It moved me to tears and at no point sounds “emotional for emotion’s sake”…embodying the spirit of some of Dolby’s most effective music in the 1980s. “Simone” tackles the issue of transgender life through a masterfully modulating bossa nova, and “To The Lifeboats” concludes the album with a haunting warning of the dangers of climate change. Brilliant as always, relevant as ever, Thomas Dolby has created something akin to a zen offering. A Map of the Floating City achieves a near-perfect merge of his classic sound with both traditional and modern explorations. The guest talents are utilized to their greatest possible benefit. The production is tight. Ten out of eleven songs successfully transform what should have been a disastrous merge of genres into a case study for everything that can go right for a comeback release. They haven’t left my iPod's daily rotation for a year. Buy this album; you won’t be disappointed!

Mixing up the usual dolby sound makes this a must buy

"Map of the Floating City" is a welcome return album for Thomas Dolby, with the expected multi-layering and techno subtle polishing. A lot of the album is cocktail-ish with a somwhat of a melancholy edge. I can't get enough of "Nothing new under the Sun". "Evil twin Brother" is a perfect example of ; I love the verses, but hate the chorus. "17 Hills has a great progression, and is highlighted by Mark Knopfler. I can't seem to get a handle on "Toad Lickers" It's a jaunty, fun, romp, and not entirely uncharacteristic for Thomas. To Dolby's credit many of the tracks seem to paint a scene, or create an atmosphere. All in all a solid, nicely polished effort and very enjoyable.

TMDR is back, baby! It's wonderful to have this pop nerdcore genius recording again. The final 3rd of this album, Oceanea, is by far the best, with the chilly "Oceanea" and "Simone" as good as anything on _The Flat Earth_, with "Spice Train" and "Nothing New Under the Sun" reminding me of his Lost Toy People days. Highly recommended.

I am so pleased to have been pulled in by this work. Really a masterpiece. I think this is the height of Thomas Dolby's power as a polished professional musician and producer. The slickness of the production is unnoticeable as the various musical styles are blended seamlessly throughout the collection. The collaborations with other similarly mature artists are wonderful. It was great to go on this musical journey with a master. If you are unsure, try Evil Twin Brother, 17 Hills, Road to Reno...I don't think you can go wrong.

I am not one for a deep analytical analysis of an album….all I can say when I catch myself humming several of the songs from an album….I must have liked the album a lot. This album is great and I have no buyers remorse about my purchase of this album. Thomas Dolby did himself proud with this album.

Thomas Dolby has always stood for integrity in my book and this album (yes, a real album, not just a collection of songs) doesn't disappoint. In fact, it's better than it has any right to be, considering that he hasn't produced any new material in almost twenty years. But then what else should you expect from the man who gave us so many beautifully layered albums during the '80s and '90s? "17 Hills" is the lyrical high point but there are so many memorable lines here ("God tried to fax you but there was no dial tone," all those Billie Holiday references in "Love Is a Loaded Pistol"). Not to mention the arrangements: love the acoustic riffs of the Americana songs, the global techno beats of the early tracks, the Bacharach-style horns, the jazz piano progressions that Donald Fagen would be proud to call his own. Enjoyed the musical journey this map to the Floating City takes us on--hope it won't be so long before the next one.

I'm just thrilled to see something from Mr. Dolby. Been a fan since the Golden Age -and this new album does not dissapoint. Love the layered sound, and mental visuals afforded by these tracks.