Good lass :thumb:

I've got a lot on my plate for the next few days, so the idea is to start the next one on Wednesday. Can't be bothered to think of a theme, so I think I'll just leave it unthemed, unless I come up with some brilliant idea for it in the near future.

I think I'll just give this whole thing a break for a bit and get another one going sometime next week. If anyone wants in for whenever I get that one started, just say so. I'll get my reviews up over the next couple of days.

I'd like to take part in the next trade, if you'll be so kind.

So much for that eh.

Sure.

I've been thinking this thing could do with a bit of a break, so it's on hiatus 'til next week. Plus, I'd feel bad starting another without reviewing the albums I've got. Starting tomorrow I've got a three-week break from uni, so I'll be able to put more thought into matters then. I've listened to both albums once so far, so I'll give them another spin before reviewing them.

Anyway, if anyone wants to take part in the next trade, just say so here and I'll get the next one started sometime over the next week.

If there's a break, then I guess I'll be able to join in for the next trade.
I'll try to review the first album now, and maybe review the one sent by Abdullah later this week.

Rickenbacker sent me:


Very soothing music, reminded me a lot of the smooth jazz albums I used to listen to some years ago.
Scott Walker's bassy voice is the first thing that hits you. He's got the most cordial voice, it just overwhelms you with its warmth. Then of course, come the arrangements. The strings play a big role in the whole orchestration. They plunge us in this Disney-esque universe, with their exaggerated presence, the rhythmic bowing and the dramatic pizzicato. The harp that concludes some of the passages, adds to the whole magic, so does the shy xylophone. Then suddenly, comes a very strong drumming that hides the strings and brake the whole atmosphere, in songs like Came through that immerse us in the drum rolling military.... and back to our mysterious world. One song I know I'll never cease to listen to, is Rosemary. What a sublime song, that one, truly breathtaking.

On another note, I must talk about the two Brel covers that conclude the album (Funeral Tango/Le tango funèbre and If you go away/Ne me quitte pas). As a long-time Brel fan, I'm used to the English covers butchering this man's songs, however, I found these covers in specific, very well done. They sound like a part of this album's atmosphere, as the arrangements carry on with the military drumming in Funeral Tango, and the overwhelming strings in If you go away. Which adds to the album's consistency, and gives the covers a kind of identity. We somehow know, that these two songs, belong to this album, and to this atmosphere. I don't think I'll listen to these covers instead of listening to the originals sang by Brel, but it's good to listen to a whole album, and not be annoyed by its ending.

The covers work well as a conclusion, and the album is very well built and structured. It feels like a concept, like there's some story behind it, as we dive in this mysterious underworld, that we strive to uncover from song to song. Very nice album, I finally got introduced to the great Scott Walker, and discovered what the tag "Baroque Rock" stands for .... so thank you Chris for this album.

Dear Anteater,
I downloaded your album, listened to it, reviewed it in one of my threads, and had no idea who the hell gave me the album.
I was reading, and all of a sudden I realized that it was you who gave me the album.
So here it is.

Page - http://www.musicbanter.com/general-m...nknown-10.html

Yeah, I think I'll leave the next trade 'til sometime next week. Can't really be bothered drumming up any interest in it now, so I may as well wait 'til later.

I've listened to both my albums, so here's one of them (courtesy of AwwSugar)...


Imogen Heap's an artist I've only discovered fairly recently, as in within the last few months or something. The first I ever heard of her was in Gavin B's rather vast journal. The second time I came across her was on this fairly immense 10-track 4ad compilation - this song here to be precise. Anyway, I loved that song (it remains my favourite of her's to this day), so it was then I started thinking about having a look for an album or two. Which one that was to be would take some thinking about, or enough so that it all took a place on the back burner for a while.

That's until I was offered this album as per the trade. I was actually really looking forward to hearing it then (kinda makes me wonder why it took this long to review it), so I went into this expecting something pretty cool. I'll tell you what I came out with just after a word or two about Heap's sound for those not in the loop. I guess you could stick a lazy indie/alternative pop label on her, but it doesn't really do this music justice. Overall, from what I've heard, Imogen Heap incorporates a mix of repetitive electronic beats, mazy studio treatments, pop melodies, acoustic polyrhythms and...well, it'd be better if you just looked up a video or two on youtube. Hopefully that gives you some idea what to expect of her then. She's clearly a very intelligent and fairly forward-thinking songwriter. Her accent's hot as too.

Anyway, this album. It does leave me wanting to hear more of her work, and I'm very grateful to Sugar for giving me the push I needed to listen to her back-catalogue. There are some very impressive and memorable songs to be heard here (the opening salvo of Headlock and Goodnight & Go in particular), and the production methods certainly do render a very clean sound perfectly suited to this kind of music. In some areas the album does sound a little hackneyed to me - Just For Now's a bit too syrupy for my liking, and I Am In Love With You coems across as a bit of a dud to me.

An impressive enough album though, so thanks a bundle Sugar. If you can recommend anywhere to go next with her discography, be my guest as I'd love to listen to more of this lady's stuff.

Anyway, cheers :thumb: Second review coming soon.

^ I'm glad you liked it. ;D
I'll see what I like most, and definitely recommend it to you next time.

^ I'll look forward to it :thumb:

Only just noticed you got sent that. First of all, kudos to Rickenbacker and secondly, I agree - fabulous album. Very good stuff all-round, particularly Sons Of and If You Go Away, but for m it lacks a little bit of what the followup Scott 4 as far as seamlessly awesome baroque pop goes (which is definitely the next Walker album you should look for.

I think I will.
Thank yous.