Geidi Primes

Geidi Primes is the debut studio album by Canadian recording artist Grimes, released on January 10, 2010, by Arbutus Records. In 2011, the album was released in the United Kingdom by No Pain in Pop Records on CD and LP, containing a slightly different cover art. Geidi Primes is a concept album based on Frank Herbert's novel Dune and David Lynch's 1984 film adaptation of the book.[1]

Geidi Primes
Studio album by Grimes
Released	January 10, 2010 (2010-01-10)
Recorded	2009 (Montreal, Canada)
Genre	Dream pop experimental pop psychedelia electronica
Length	31:32
Label	Arbutus
Producer	Grimes
Grimes chronology
Geidi Primes (2010) Halfaxa (2010)

Background

The album's title refers to the fictional planet Giedi Prime, of the Dune universe in a series of novels by Frank Herbert, originating with the 1965 novel Dune, Grimes' favourite book.[2][3][4] "Caladan", the first track, refers to a fictional planet of the same name. The next, "Sardaukar Levenbrech", refers to the military rank of Levenbrech—roughly in between a sergeant and a lieutenant—in the fictional army of the Sardaukar. A Face Dancer, as used in track three's title "Zoal, Face Dancer", is a type of human in the series who can shapeshift. Track six, "Feyd Rautha Dark Heart", refers to the primary antagonist of the first novel in the Dune series, named Feyd-Rautha. "Shadout Mapes", the 10th track, refers to a minor character of the same name. Track 11, "Beast Infection", refers to the "Beast" nickname of the character Rabban.

Grimes did not expect that the album would be successful and so assumed that no one would ever hear it. She quotes this as being behind her reasoning for the album title and track names, though has since mentioned that the "decision has kind of haunted me".[2] She has also stated that she now feels that the album was "naïve".[2]

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Consequence of Sound	[5]
Dummy	8/10[6]
Fact	3.5/5[7]
NME	7/10[1]
Pitchfork	7.5/10[3]

Geidi Primes received positive reviews from music critics. Pitchfork's Lindsay Zoladz noted the album has an "eccentric, dreamy sound, which draws upon everything from dubstep to disco, Eastern music to 1990s R&B", adding, "Despite its modest production values and relative simplicity, it's a cohesive, enchanting, and surprisingly assured debut." Zoladz goes on to opine that "perhaps Geidi Primes’s greatest virtue is its resourcefulness", stating that it "excels at crafting evocative moods from deceivingly simple sonic materials and song structures". Of Grimes as a vocalist, Zoladz found that she can "work her range", from her "impressive falsetto" to a "spooky low tone" and her "tuneful deadpan" mid-range. In conclusion, Zoladz stated that "Geidi Primes shows that even her earliest recordings displayed a distinct point of view and an oddly mesmerizing quality [...] a dreamy soundscape that invites an escape from the glitchy universe, a brief provocation to let go and just bliss out."[3]

Siobhán Kane of Consequence of Sound described "Caladan" as "almost tribal in conceit"; praised "Rosa" for its "sweet, soft voice coos, soaring around staccato-like percussion"; stated "Venus in Fleurs" brings to mind "a darkly lit underworld that sounds like someone breathing ice". Kane continued, "There is something so unusual about this record, an artifact that sounds as if it is being transmitted from space, as if it were coming from a more creative place than could be found on earth".[5] Thomas A Ward of the NME viewed the album as "an instantly accessible and intimate listen", commending Grimes for her "chameleonic approach" to the genres of the record.[8]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Grimes.

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Caladan"	2:26
2.	"Sardaukar Levenbrech"	2:06
3.	"Zoal, Face Dancer"	2:36
4.	"Rosa"	3:13
5.	"Avi"	2:36
6.	"Feyd Rautha Dark Heart"	3:32
7.	"Gambang"	1:34
8.	"Venus in Fleurs"	2:43
9.	"Grisgris"	3:23
10.	"Shadout Mapes"	4:32
11.	"Beast Infection"	2:21

Personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Geidi Primes.[9]

• Grimes – vocals, production, artwork
• Erik Zuuring – design, layout
• Sebastian Cowan – mastering[10]

Release history

Region	Date	Label	Format(s)
Canada[11][12]	January 10, 2010	Arbutus Records	Cassette (limited to 30 copies) digital download
United Kingdom[13][14]	September 19, 2011	No Pain in Pop	CD LP
Canada[15]	January 31, 2012	Arbutus Records	CD

References

1. Perry, Kevin EG (December 4, 2015). "Our Album Of The Year Winner Grimes – The Full NME Cover Feature". NME. IPC Media. Retrieved September 6, 2016.
2. Farmery, Henry (August 30, 2011). "Interview: Grimes". The Stool Pigeon. Archived from the original on March 11, 2016. Retrieved June 26, 2012.CS1 maint: BOT: original-url status unknown (link)
3. Zoladz, Lindsay (September 7, 2011). "Grimes: Geidi Primes". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved June 26, 2012.
4. McBride, Gabe (October 3, 2011). "Grimes – Geidi Primes". Earbuddy. Retrieved February 19, 2012.
5. Kane, Siobhán (15 August 2011). "Album Review: Grimes – Geidi Primes". Consequence of Sound. Archived from the original on February 1, 2012. Retrieved 26 June 2012.
6. "Geidi Primes". July 29, 2011. Retrieved January 3, 2016.
7. Truss, Si (September 1, 2011). "Grimes: Geidi Primes". Retrieved January 3, 2016.
8. Ward, Thomas A (September 2, 2011). "Album Review: Grimes – 'Geidi Primes'". NME. IPC Media. Retrieved June 26, 2012.
9. Geidi Primes (CD liner notes). Grimes. No Pain in Pop. 2011. NPIP024.CS1 maint: others (link)
10. https://www.allmusic.com/album/geidi-primes-mw0002187926/credits Retrieved May 12, 2016.
11. "Grimes (4) – Geidi Primes (Cassette)". Discogs. Retrieved June 26, 2012.
12. "Geidi Primes by Grimes". iTunes Store Canada. Apple Inc. Retrieved January 26, 2013.
13. "Grimes (4) – Geidi Primes (CD, Album)". Discogs. Retrieved June 26, 2012.
14. "Grimes (4) – Geidi Primes (Vinyl, LP, Album)". Discogs. Retrieved June 26, 2012.
15. "GEIDI PRIMES by GRIMES". HMV Canada. Archived from the original on December 26, 2015. Retrieved January 26, 2013.

External links

• Geidi Primes at Arbutus Records