Metamatic Forums Socialising The Green Room What Music Are You Listening To ?

unfortunately I remain immature, and I do still want to poke Mr Albarn in the eye!

Eye was in Fopp earlier this week and was treated to a couple of Heligoland tracks being played out, the second of which was Mr Albarn doing his usual Mockney stylee. From what I was hearing I don’t think this CD is for me, I was hoping for a progression/continuation of the music from the previous two albums.

Spent the last couple of days listening to William Basinski: Vivian & Ondine, his new CD, released just before xmas, but I got around to buying it this week. Its more accessible than some parts of his Disintegration Loops series, theres more feeling of movement, but its similar in nature in its absorbing slow-motion romanticism, this is one that I’ll easily be playing a lot this year.

Talking of

I've been exploring with Systems of Romance over that last couple of days.

My eight year old son likes Quiet Men

('Daddys music' is usually considered as one genre, all of which is rubbish...)

The Editors:
1) The Back Room (like "All Sparks" a lot - kind of reminds me of watching "The Old Grey Whistle" test, and "Open Your Arms", reminded of Joy Division), and "Munich", also "Blood")

2) In This Light And On This Evening - (like Papillion, EatRaw Meat = Blood Drool, Walk the Fleet Road)

First time in a long time I have sat through two albums straight and not hit the FF button (actually hit the RW button to hear "All Sparks" again!)

Youtube:
Papillion - unique..don't fancy being an extra in this though! Too much running!
Link to video

Blood - projecting images onto people - where have I seen that before? Link to video

Glad your enjoying them.

After watching the film Control the weekend I can now hear the strong Joy Division influences in Editors.

I've been listening to disc 2 of In Mysterious Ways.

Peter Gabriel - Scratch My Back

Is that a good album Alex? I've been thinking about buying it though haven't heard anything from it yet.

It's an interesting album, but one that will no doubt divide opinions.

PG with no drums or guitars - anybody expecting anything upbeat or close in style to the original songs is in for a bit of a shock - the songs bear no or very little resemblance to the originals, but surely the whole point of doing a cover is to put your own spin on a track, which is exactly what's going on here.

I'm in the lucky position where I'm only familiar with two or three of the album's tracks, and having little interest in the majority of original artists concerned, I'm approaching Scratch My Back with fresh ears and a largely unbiased opinion.

"Heroes" is arguably the best-known song on offer here, although Gabriel's version is nearly unrecognisable, having turned the track completely upside down, into a slow and moody affair, with a gradually building orchestral backing. Like "Heroes", "The Boy in the Bubble" is almost a complete opposite of Paul Simon's upbeat original; reduced to a sombre piano and vocal arrangement.

Elbow's "Mirrorball" is perhaps as optimistic as the album gets, with some lovely cinematic orchestral parts, but despite that, no memorable melody.

"Flume" is down right boring, but fortunately, salvation comes in the form of Talking Heads' "Listening Wind" – clearly the album's high point, perfectly lending itself to Gabriel's vocal style and the orchestral direction of the album, and perhaps the most overall successful new interpretation out of the whole selection.

Tracks such as "The Power of Your Heart" and "The Book of Love" are perhaps too underplayed and samey. Whilst quite emotive and easy on the ear, there's little added value.

The full impact of the orchestra comes into effect during "My Body Is A Cage" and "Après Moi", which has a typically Gabrielsque lyric to begin with so the overall result is quite impressive.

I'd started to yawn a little by Neil Young's "Philadelphia", feeling that the album was perhaps a couple of songs too long. And I was right. "Philadelphia" itself is not a great vocal performance at all and not easy on the ear, and the cover of Radiohead's "Street Spirit (Fade Out") is even worse.

I would have finished the album with Après Moi - it's just right for a dramatic closing number.

Sombre, slow and melancholic are perhaps the best three words to summarise the overall sound and style of the album. But it's not as suicidal as some critics have made out, and I can easily imagine many of the songs here turning up in film soundtracks in the near future.

Gabriel's raspy vocals are showing signs of age in places, although his upper range is not what it once was, age has blessed him with some lovely, earthy deep tones, adding a lot of character to the songs.

Given some of the comments I'd read prior to release, I'm pleased to say that I enjoyed it more than I was expecting to. Maybe not all the tracks work, some are wonderful, with some beautiful orchestral parts; others are pretty difficult to endure. However, detached from his usual world instruments and layers of production, this is Peter Gabriel at his most exposed and vulnerable, not to mention emotional.

Highlights: Listening Wind, Après Moi

Curious if anyone has heard/seen FAD GADGET BY FRANK TOVEY / A RETROSPECTIVE IN SOUND AND VISION

Discovered it today online, sounds quite interesting. Any opinions from this learned group?

I have that one Chris.
I really liked the DVD a lot, nice collection of the man.
Really like this "Grand Union" film.
For small money it is a great buy

greetings!
fons

Thanks Fons - appreciated!