IDÉE FIXE

A film by Wil Ko. Music By Idée Fixe. Staring Gordon Liu (Kill Bill 1 and 2)
"For You" 2001
"The Pieces Of What You Lost" 2002
All of the tracks have a cinematic quality to them. And one of the things I mean by that is.. Imagine closing your eyes, discovering that you can still see, yet you are one Step removed from viewing the world and you are now observing and experiencing everything rather like the experience of Watching film, or better still, the sense of observation one has when watching a projection or screen. I saw a lot more blue and gentle soft afternoon colours. Aye, it is afternoon here, but this music just flooded into my Room and as I opened the windows, I realised that every action I did seemed to justified and reassured by the auditory Space your soundscapes were creating. Oh, and this was only the first track, "Run Down"!
... OH and "Theres no light".. Just wow.. Before this had even begun I'd been thinking back your older works. They way you developed these complex melodic drones And let them loose on listeners' ears, the swells and the way they grew and changed... And sure enough with this one, it Like those memories I have of listening to your work as I travelled around the outskirts of the city last year, near the End of winter on the north side. I always thought that the light was different on the north side of town, and for some Reason, it gave me stronger daydreams and memories, and your music used to be one of the perfect travelling companions. This track brings it all back, stronger and better than I could have imagined. It is simply stunning. A sheer joy to Listen to.
Oh and speaking of drones and complex twisting and evolving melodies.. I didn't know what to expect for "You" but it drifted on in and felt like someone touching my heart and bringing a moment of rest and peace. You've established it so Well, and those gentle beats that slowly drift in at the end.. There is only the sense of a tempo before that.. It feels Like it fades in and out of consciousness, only just on the edge of attention, then it grows in and settles itself into Something like a beautiful dream.
Wow, what an emotional journey these works are.
Lee Yates crafts elegant pieces of filmic music and cinematic soundscapes; like a young Brian Eno or something. All of his works have a haunting quality, an emotional depth; beauty and finesse.
"Liam McGrady www.godisinthetvzine.co.uk"
My only major criticism with the music is that there is not more of it. I feel that Yates has only scratched the surface with Idee Fixe, regarding both the individual songs and the entire collection. I hope to hear more from Idee Fixe....and for those who are equally captured by these songs, I recommend keeping an eye on this talented artist.
"Jason Holstein: www.getunderground.com"
More fine music and further proof that not everyone in Essex is an aspiringcelebrity hairdresser or a Reebok Classic clad inbred oik. In this case, Lee Yates a.k.a Idée Fixe who hails from East Tilbury. Amidst the blissed out haze of the five tracks on offer here we get a snatches of a budget Kid Loco, reverb drenched rim shots, hushed vocals and a definite 4a.m I'm-still-fucked-on-the-drugs-where-have-my-mates-gone?...vi be to it. Melancholy chill out of the highest calibre.
"Rich - Essex Uncovered, December/January issue. www.essexuncovered.com"