Geidi Primes

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. "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". She has also stated that she now feels that the album was "naïve".

Critical reception

Geidi Primes received positive reviews from music critics. Pitchfork Media'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."

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". 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.

Track listing

All tracks written by Grimes.

Personnel

Credits for Geidi Primes adapted from album liner notes.