I've played this a fair few times now and thought I'd post some thoughts. Thoughts that haven't yet been pulled into a review as such, but presented here as they fell onto my notepad while listening.
Fragmented impressions. Previously unreleased demo version...
Louis Gordon - Blind AnorexicExcellent intro to
Girl with a Voltage teasing into a Detroit acid-beat track more reminiscent of Nation 12 than the pounding bass of Crash and Burn that I was expecting.
Infectious rhythm that has that game soundtrack quality.
Boom boom. Hiss. Squelch. Bring the beat back
Jailbait is immediately more melodic. Jerry Lee Lewis. Woody Allen. Are you tryin' to be funny?
This beat is, this beat is, this bit is disco-tronic. And it's a hit in anyone's language.
Memories of Water is a superb title. Nice nod of the hat to "He's a Liquid." Hints of ambience.
Clever but rather directionless.
Like water then? Nearly, but not quite.
Well placed track, hints at the variety to come.
The water trickles down the wall into the title-track.
Familiar to LG fans from the Deep Electric Blue EP. Picks up the breakbeats from the girl with a voltage, but feels strangely safe.
Quickly becomes over-familiar.
That inhuman presence next to your ear is John Foxx.
One starts to feel the under-presence of the quiet man as this album progresses, and he nearly surfaces on
Magic Eye. This is the intro to
Strange Individualsagain from the DEB EP. Sadly, Louis has chosen to leave the irritating blandness in this track rather than take the opportunity to mash-up a new version.
Underpass meets Hiroshima. Blend in a bit of Film One and you really do begin to
Move through Grey This track is very aware of its unrealised greatness and you can feel its frustration at a not-quite-brave-enough creator. Could become the best track on the album once time and confidence weave their magic.
Something is holding it back. The shadow of a grey man's hand?
So he stepped out. The shadow is passing. Let there be light.
Now I'm expectant. Interest re-kindled. Bass notes and strings. Gentle melody over the drum beat. Its touch and go whether
Movie Stars works or not, but I love it for that. Perhaps one idea too many - got predictable very quickly.
Frustrated. Promised greater things.
Baby you can
Ride My Bike. Impressive start, but a lot hangs on this track. Comes at that difficult point in any album that the listener isn't quite sure about. LG has been given the benefit of the doubt so far, but to carry off the next 20 minutes this track needs to work. He's pedalling up hill, but he's got my vote and I'm willing him on. It builds and builds and I'm smiling again.
Leaves you wondering what's next. That's a good thing. A song about girls. Hurrah.
Beautiful girls with Miserable faces. There's a lot of them round 'ere.
Go on Louis, sing. You know you want to. And this rocks! One quality LG has in abundance is humour, and he uses that to great to effect here. Wicked rhymes crash and Sparks fly in all directions. He's done it. Or is he just being silly?
For me, the album ends here.
The Return of the Red Eye is a bonus track.
Back in the acid-house, and fits into a better context here than on the DEB EP. It deserves to be heard, and I'm glad its got decent prodcution now.
I did struggle with a whole 15 minutes of it though.
Mind you, I'm rubbish at dancin'.
I'd go for a
six-nearly-seven for this after a handful of listens.
Its not quite what I was expecting and its not quite what I wanted it to be, but its a fascinating album that is chock full of ideas, talent and creative energy.
I think the middle third is just a little bit too Foxxy, but that's hardly surprising given Louis has been teaching John a thing or two about his own music for more than ten years now.
Everything Louis does sparkles with different, and
Blind Anorexic is infectiously individual.
That might sound a bit cheesy, but there's enough experimental twiddly bits and craziness mixed into to leave a rather exciting taste on the back of the tongue.
Congratulations to Louis for getting this far, and to Mr Toffee for bringing this onto the field of play.
Stand-outs:
Move Through Grey
Ride My Bike
beautiful Girls...
The beginning is nigh...
