(i'm having to split this into 3 parts, as my original post is stuck in "moderator hell" and it might be days before lazlo checks his emails). ***** 'ello folks. yes, i do have a copy of the album. i've had it for about a week, but haven't said anything yet as: 1. i was asked not to shout about it by the orb's management company (it was a pre-requisite of getting a copy in the first place) until just before the japanese release date (next wednesday) and 2. i also wanted to be able to listen to it a few times, so that when i did post some thoughts (IMHO, of course) they would be not just be first impressions...which can be misleading. **i was only allowed a copy of the album on the strict condition that i did NOT share it with anyone. no agreement = no album.** some of you may think that it's selfish of me to not share the album, and you may be right. but, if i did / do, then i would never get anything out of the management again, which would also mean that some of you would suffer from the regular information supply drying up... ...and what would you do in the same situation? exactly. (plus it will probably be all over the p2p network as soon as it comes out in japan.) anyway, for those of you that have managed to read this far, my thoughts on the album (and some news on the first single and video) are below... cheers, --- Smiley The Orb - Bicycles & Tricycles It's difficult to do much more than just describe the tracks, and I'm not egotistical enough to think that anything I say would / should have any influence on anybody else (yes, yes, quiet at the back, thankyou) - but here goes anyway. First things first, this is an album that really needs "listening to". I know that might sound stupid, but the times that I've listened to it while doing other things, it can pass you by if you're not paying attention to it. Maybe it's just me. It does need a few listens too, as it's a "grower"... Track 1: From A Distance (5:31) I can understand the mixed reaction to this track, but I'm firmly in the "I like it" camp. Those of you that don't like it will be overjoyed to know that the rest of the album is *nothing* like it, and really mellows out after this track. The track had to go on album, as it's the lead single, and that's why it's at the start. It's hooky, it's commercial, and it'll get the album noticed (hopefully). Our Japanese correspondent ("pinky") alerted me to the fact that the video for the single contains the "DORAEMON" cartoon character, and sent me these two links: http://www.mit.edu/people/rei/MANGA/Doraemon.html http://www.nephco.com/doraemon/ ...and I've since had it confirmed that the video should have been finished this weekend, and there may well be an "LX" character in it too. Watch this space... (part 2 to follow...)