Trollheart

Oh, I should also point out: now that we have separate threads for each album there's no need to quote it in your review if you don't want to. You can if you want, but it's superfluous now.

And on we go...

From the man who brought you Old Lady Drivers? I must admit, I was quite taken aback, given that I had (probably mistakenly) expected all Occult's picks to be harsh, abrasive, noisy things. I can, after reading some of the reviews here, find a lot to agree with. Let's enter the matrix...

1. What were your VERY FIRST impressions on listening to the album, say from the first five minutes in?
Wow! This is really relaxing! Did not expect this.

2. What did you think of the opening track?
Lovely, very soft and acoustic and laidback, very relaxing.

3. What did you think of the next track?
Kind of the same (problem ahead)

4. Did you like the vocalist? Hate him/her? Any impressions? (see note 1)
n/a

5. Did the music (only) generally appeal to you, or not? (see note 2)
Yes, it was all really nice and there was nothing I didn't enjoy

6. Did the album get better or worse as you listened to it (first time)?
Better, with a caveat, that being that although it improved, for me, in that it didn't suddenly become anything unexpected, it also stayed basically the same all the way through, to the point where on my second listen I had wandered five tracks into another album of his before I realised. It's all very similar.

7. What did you think of the lyrical content?
n/a

8. Did you like the instrumental parts? (see note 3)
n/a

9. What did you think of the production?
Insert answer here

10. Did you know of this artiste prior to listening to the album, and if so, did that foreknowledge colour your perception of this album?
No and no

11. Is this, generally, the kind of music you listen to or not?
I certainly would, though I'd prefer there to be a little more variety, perhaps some energy. Much of it could be described, I think, as quite lethargic, even boring? Good music to fall asleep to, certainly.

12. Assuming you listened to the album more than once, on repeated listens, did you find you liked the album more, or less?

Oddly, I kind of liked it less, as I realised that it all sound so much the same.

13. What would you class as your favourite track(s), if you have any?
I couldn't pick out one track; it all kind of blended together for me into one long composition. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but it isn't really a good thing either.

14. And the one(s) you liked least?
n/a

15. If the album in question is a debut, did that fact allow it, in your mind, any leeway, and if so, was that decision justified or vindicated? (see note 4)
n/a

16. Are you now looking forward to hearing more from this artiste, if you have not heard any of their other material?
I thought so, but on listening to the other album (well, part of it) – The Malady of Elegance – I realise that all his music seems to sound basically the same, so I'm not sure it's worth it. Would keep for a night-time/go-to-bed album for sure.

17. Were you surprised by your reaction - positive or negative - to the album?
Yes, initially, but I was more surprised by how bored I quickly became.

18. Did the album end well?
The closer sounded pretty much like every other track, so, well, I don't know. Probably not, on balance, as it was nothing particularly memorable.


19. Do you see any way the album could have been improved?
A bit (a lot) more variety. Something to break up the monotony of the piano – some strings, bit of acoustic guitar, a flute even?

20. Do you think the album hung together well, ie was a fully cohesive unit, or was it a bit hit-and-miss?
Considering the music was supposed to represent places, I didn't get this at all, since every track sounded much alike, and so I think, for me anyway, it failed in its mission. Therefore not as cohesive as it should have been.

Had intended to rate this quite highly, but I feel now all I can manage is a 7/10, based on the fact that the music is lovely, even if it is all pretty much the same.

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Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018