''ISAM'' is the seventh full-length studio album by Brazilian electronic musician

Amon Tobin Amon Adonai Santos de Araújo Tobin (born February 7, 1972), known as Amon Tobin (), is a Brazilian electronic musician, composer and producer. He is noted for his unusual methodology in sound design and music production. He has released eight ...

, released on 19 April 2011 on

Ninja Tune Ninja Tune is an English independent record label based in London. It has a satellite office in Los Angeles. It was founded by Matt Black and Jonathan More (better known as Coldcut) and managed by Peter Quicke and others. Inspired by a visit ...

Background and composition

''ISAM'', its title being an acronym for "Invented Sounds Applied to Music", marked a significant evolution in Amon Tobin's sound due to the absence of vinyl samples and trademark jazz-oriented

breaks Break or Breaks or The Break may refer to: Time off from duties * Recess (break), time in which a group of people is temporarily dismissed from its duties * Break (work), time off during a shift/recess ** Coffee break, a short mid-morning rest ...

. Extending from his stylistic experimentation on ''

Foley Room ''Foley Room'' is the sixth studio album by Brazilian electronic music producer Amon Tobin, released on March 5, 2007, through Ninja Tune. The album was supported by the "Bloodstone" single, which was released digitally on January 9, 2007, and phy ...

'', prominent elements of ''ISAM'' include complex

sound design Sound design is the art and practice of creating sound tracks for a variety of needs. It involves specifying, acquiring or creating auditory elements using audio production techniques and tools. It is employed in a variety of disciplines including ...

and heavily processed

field recording Field recording is the term used for an audio recording produced outside a recording studio, and the term applies to recordings of both natural and human-produced sounds. It also applies to sound recordings like electromagnetic fields or vibra ...

s obtained from a variety of sources. Several tracks also feature computer-processed androgynous vocals. Tobin described the album as a "sound sculpture" and said that his intent was to move forward from the aesthetics of his previous work.– Full album with track-by-track commentary from Amon Tobin"
– Soundcloud

Release

''ISAM'' was initially slated to be released on both physical and digital media on 23 May 2011, but following the leak of a promotional copy the previous month, the digital release was moved forward to 19 April."Amon Tobin – 'ISAM' Available Digitally Now"
– Ninja Tune website The physical release included a limited edition CD artbook featuring images from ''Control Over Nature'', an installation conceived by Amon Tobin and Saatchi collection artist

Tessa Farmer Tessa Farmer (born 1978, Birmingham, UK) is an artist based in London. Her work, made from insect carcasses, plant roots and other found natural materials, comprises hanging installations depicting Boschian battles between insects and tiny wing ...

, which is thematically related to the music of ''ISAM''."Amon Tobin & Tessa Farmer present: ISAM - Control Over Nature"
– ISAM microsite, Installation section Farmer's work also features on the cover of the album.

Background and composition

Release

Track listing

Charts

References