From Within's self-titled debut released on Febuary 12th, 1994.[1]
From Within was a collaboration between Pete Namlook & Richie Hawtin
(AKA known as Plasikman, or F.U.S.E).
Okay, to start things off, I'm going to say that, while I know a decent amount about Namlook's work, I'm not too familiar with the works of Richie Hawtin. I've only listened to a single album in full years ago, along with a few snippets of his other stuff. The solo album I listened to by him was his debut under the Plastikman name: Sheet One. I thought it was good, but didn't really return to it all that much. (Although, a re-listen doesn't sound like a half-bad idea...) But, the reason why I got this album is because of how well regarded it is among "FAXheads"; they often consider this a must listen from the label. I've also heard this isn't really in Richie's usual style (my source is one YouTube video): being more experimental ambient techno than minimal acid techno. Which, from what I've heard checks out, but I also think this album as a whole is rather unique. And I'd say it's pretty nice.
The opener, Snake Charmer, is a bit more on the techno side of things. It has a danceable (if quite off-kilter) groove; sounding like a cosmic cowbell, ringing through the stars as they twinkle. The main melody is very catchy as well. And the traditional spaciness that Namlook tends to add is on point. If you tacked on a whole bunch of bass and reverb (don't slow it down, you monster) it would probably sound a little like something off of Aphex Twin's Selected Ambient Works 85-92. Easily one of the best ones off the album, and one I'd check out if you're at all interested in this album. The next track, Sad Alliance, I feel is a bit more ambient, with a hint of some techno. The track seemingly emulating the feeling of moving through space at a high speed. Sad Alliance also, as the title would imply, is slightly sad - leaning towards melancholy. The emotion and feeling together, this track could be seen as the speed of blasting off into space, but the bittersweet goodbye to your home planet as you leave; especially with the excellent balance of the duality. A very good, if a tad forgettable, track.
This leads well into the nearly half-an-hour in length track, A Million Miles to Earth. This one is much more on the ambient side, and is much, much slower than the others. If the last track was us going to space, this is the long trek back. The first eight minutes feel like a journey all to it's own; with these hypnotic synths that softly crash and retreat like the ocean waves. But it just keeps going, and going, and slowly gets larger, and more epic - eventually a string section is introduced - and it reaches an incredible apex. But it continues and eventually dies down and... Okay, I think this one goes on for a bit too long. Well, I don't mind the length that much; I certainly enjoy the first sixteen-ish minutes of it, and I guess it has more good than ""bad"" (which is just kind of uninteresting), but my enjoyment still Peters off. Although, I will say that all the tracks I've discussed so far have all been very original - I certainly haven't heard much like it. Regardless, it's incredible, but I find it gets a little boring after awhile.
Continuing the narrative I have written thus far, the next track, Homeward Bound, is us finally landing back on earth. This one returns to the ambient techno we've heard elsewhere on the album. And, despite all that I've said about A Million Miles to Earth, I can't say this album doesn't reward you for putting up with it's self indulgent moments. Homeward Bound is an amazing track. It has some incredible chiptuney bits in it that feel like rays of heaven slowly coming out of a cloudy sky; first a droplet, but an ocean during the climaxes. It also noticeably features a vocal sample of a woman speaking in German. The translation (according to the user Ceyarreck5 in the comment section of this YouTube upload of the track) roughly goes as follows:
Centuarium is the Greek key word for a location appropriate for a sanctuary... Step closer for identification...
And, on a totally unrelated note, the last track, Lost! ...Which just so happens to predominantly have that same sample. Lost is a rather ominous ending for something that was otherwise a pretty lighthearted-ish experience. And, while it's not bad - the dark ambiance is certainly dark - I can't help but feel like it's just kinda... there. I don't even really understand how this made the final cut. Not to point fingers, but Plastikman's Sheet One had a similar ending; so, this very well could've been Richie's doing. And as for the narrative uh... when you look back at the door to the spaceship you were in, you see a shadowy figure in the glass and realize you brought an alien with you! OoOOoo~ ...Yeah, this one's my least favorite - it's worse than A Million Miles to Earth.
And, that's From Within's debut. Despite my issues with it, I get the hype behind it and why it is considered as one of the greatest FAX CDs ever. Snake Charmer, Sad Alliance, Homeward Bound and even A Million Miles to Earth are all great! But I have some slightly mixed feelings toward the ladder and I don't think Lost is a good closer. Another issue I haven't brought up is the length. This album goes on for a little over 70 minutes, which for something I've found works better in the foreground, it was a little challenging for me personally (although, this is an issue I have with most FAX releases). Regardless, if you ever get into FAX, don't let me dissuade you. This is essential FAX listening and an album that should be cherished for it's originality. But, beyond that, I don't really know how much I'm going to return to this. I'll maybe listen to the second one, but probably not.
Now, for anyone who wants to buy this album: it's only been released in full on CD. There was a vinyl EP released on Plus 8 Records many years ago, but it only includes a cut-down version of A Million Miles to Earth and Homeward Bound (in full). In terms of CD versions: the original FAX releases, like many original FAX releases, are very expensive. But other versions (like the Ambient World rerelease that I own) you can get for much cheaper. Digital copies available only on Apple Music as of writing.
| The one you should listen to: | Should I listen to it?: | Cans or Woofers?: | Snake Charmer | If you get into FAX, yes! | Woofers |
(Review 3 written on 7/8/26)