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I
must admit I knew very little about Talk Talk before hearing this recording.
The press release said they emerged from Britain's post punk New Romantic
movement, were signed to EMI and had hit singles in 1982, enjoying international
success thereafter. As the 1990's approached they move into 'modern
classical and free-form territory'. The only other thing I knew is that
Rolling Stone didn't like them at all especially when they moved from
sounding like 'an artier Duran Duran' to 'pointless noodling'.
'Missing Pieces' consists of different versions of tracks recorded for
the 'Laughing Stock' sessions (released on the jazz label Verve in 1991)
with two tracks that never made it to the original album replacing two
that did!
The CD starts with 'After The Flood', an atmospheric, haunting track
with Mark Hollis' voice sounding uncannily like Steve Hogarth of Marillion.
Tim Friese Greene's harmonium playing is another distinctive feature
of this song.
'Myrrhman' starts with broken guitar chords and trumpet (Henry Lowther)
Viola, cello and acoustic bass are also used as the music builds very
slowly and deliberately to create a 'wash' of sound punctuated by odd
piano notes and chords.
The real triumph of the album though is also the longest band track
'New Grass' (9:33). If I hear a more beautiful piece of music this year
I'll be pleasantly surprised. The lead guitar phrase is inspired and
Lee Harris' off beat drumming ideal, organ chords reverberating nicely
in the background and briefly emerging before giving way to piano and
harmonium. The organ, vocal and guitar return then give way again, the
music is timeless, words hard to distinguish but that doesn't really
matter, the atmosphere is all and the atmosphere is charged.
I wanted the album to stop there but am glad it didn't (although 'New
Grass' is the piece I've been playing over and over)
'Stump' shows just how experimental a pop band can become with a dense
industrial sound not far removed from 'musique concrète'.
'Ascension Day' (6:00) was on the original album. This has more of a
blues/ jazz, less restrained feel than the other tracks and brings to
mind (later) some of No Man's work. It's the first time you hear the
band having a bit of a 'thrash' and is probably the one I will listen
to after 'New Grass'.
'5:09' is Talk Talks' 'Revolution #9' I suppose. It doesn't go as far
perhaps but what could possibly follow that? Lots of backwards loops
and effects!
The last track the, 14 minute 'Piano', is a minimalist solo piano piece
by Mark Hollis originally recorded for a multimedia project called 'AV1'
The cover art (of a dodo) is by James Marsh.
A very worthwhile collection of 'missing pieces' that comes highly recommended.
(Voiceprint. PLVP004CD)
www.voiceprint.co.uk
Buy
for £11.99 at Amazon
(Phil JACKSON) musician and reviewer, Paradox
One
Peter
Lacey transports us back to a world where the dawning of a new technological
age inspired the recording of seminal works like The Beach Boys 'Pet
Sounds'.
Songs like 'The Sparkle Room' and 'Fools and Kings' are achingly poignant
and haunting while 'Inspiration' would be globally applauded had it
been written and sung by Stevie Wonder.
There is also variety and experimentation within the classic song structures-
the monastic overtones of' The Tower', the evocative imagery of 'White
World (Without Sound)' with its all too short electric guitar break,
the unexpected ending of 'The Sparkle Room' and the poetic 'Cloud Gathering'
on which Jon Fielder adds synth and timpani.
My only regret about this album is that some of the pieces would have
benefited from more instrumental work and some of the ideas like the
Camel like synth line on 'Sun Street' don't quite make the impact it
could have.
But then again we must remember that Peter plays virtually everything
himself (Never an easy task!) and sings beautifully. His songs will
appear in your head without warning and reappear, an altogether pleasant
experience I can assure you!
'Thru' A Glass Brightly' is one of the best releases of 2001 and comes
highly recommended.
www.pinkhedgehog.com
(Pink Hedgehog Records SMILE 2) Only
£9.99 at Amazon
Reviewed
by Phil Jackson) musician and reviewer, Paradox One
LOW
VIBES - Psychic Travel
Are
they psychedelic? Are they stoner? Well both really. Depends how you
view early Monster Magnet. For Low Vibes also take Space Ritual era
Hawkwind as their template. And it is good. But I would say that. They
also chuck in some Pink Floyd noodling and some AC/DC riffing to spice
things up, and you're left with a French psych Orange Goblin.
The
groove is kept mid tempo most of the way, but it's tight when it needs
to be. There is the occasional nod towards doom, particularly in "Traveller
Song", but if you were looking for a highlight it doesn't get much
better than "Soul Salvation", the opener, which trips away
merrily. 5 tracks, 26 minutes, well worth it.
http://members.tripod.com/lowvibes/
matt.lowvibes@netclic.fr
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