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Plainview · 12-10-2015, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Horror

Mark Hollis - s/t

1. The Color of Spring

Nice simple piano. His vocals are really able to shine thanks to that. And
his vocals are so unique. Is it vibrato? There's a twang in his voice that
is just lovely at the end of his statements. I've really never heard anything
like it. What can I say here? Other than it's just a beautifully simple song.
5 stars

2. Watershed

Some acoustic and tamborine, a little cymbals from the drums and in comes the
bass. Harmonica? Oh wow this song has a lot of instrumental build up. Violin
I think now. There's some scene in the country. A mother is holding her child
she's depressed. She feels like she has nothing left. A loss of hope. Does
she have anywhere to do from here? Well, you already know I love the sax.
And man is this sax player doing his job.
4.5 stars

3. Inside Looking Out

We're back to the piano. Just a few keys to start it off. I really wonder the
reason this guy kind of softens his vocals at the end of phrases. It works
though, it's very different in a good way. Is he the one playing the piano
and guitar? It doesn't really matter but, I imagine him being the one that
plays the guitar. I really miss this simple type of music. Today's autotune
pop mess really just can't compare to stuff like this. It's almost like a
ritual. Like a spell. Something you can't quite grab at.
4 stars

4. The Gift

Here we have something more complex. Is it weird that I'm not really
enjoying this track? I think there might be a little much going on. I do like
it but, I don't love it.
3 stars

5. A Life

Really odd opening. Very simple song. Relaxing. I'm starting to miss the
masterful things that happened in the opening of the record. It's getting
a little more experimental. I do like this part in the middle with the
distorted vocals. A female? It's interesting. This track is nice in a way
that it sounds like a band in a play. Like someone could create a masterful
dance number around it. A Swan Lake type of thing.
3 stars

6. Westward Bound

Nice acoustic. I kind of hope it will just stay with the acoustic. Yeah this
song is lovely and simple. Have you even sat on a cliff that shows the city
below? It's really reminding me of times I'd hike into the woods and do that.
Soft wind blowing through your hair. The smell of dry leaves and dirt.
5 stars

7. The Daily Planet

Hmmm the wind instruments again. Though, if I think of them with a
performance to pair like say, a shy flower greeting the sunlight for the
first time it's much more enjoyable. I do prefer his acoustics though.
There's more building up now. It does have a nice build up. The flower can't
meet the sun because it's cloudy, maybe it's going to rain. The flower is in
despair. But, it was just for a second, there's a sun again, he's there.
When the vocals come in, they come in at the perfect moment.
4 stars

8. A New Jerusalem

While I really wish it would have closed on an acoustic piano is just as nice
oh wait there's acoustic guitar. This is really nice. I really don't know
much else to say about it. There's little parts that are odd. Like the drums.
3.5 stars

Over all this was a great album. A little mellow but, it would be great
music to meditate to or, something of that sort. It's not the type of
acoustics I love but, it's a wonderful album none the less.

I give the whole album 4 stars all together. Would listen to it again but,
not in such a way that I'm just sitting around. Maybe if I wanted to read a
book or something I'd like it in the background.

Nice review, I like how you think in imagery. Yes I believe he plays the guitar and piano. I'd recommend giving it another listen sometime because the more experimental tracks (such as A Life) may soon become your favourites as they did for me. You might also want to check out Talk Talk's Spirit of Eden and Laughing Stock (of which Mark Hollis is lead singer and guitarist) for albums in a similar vein if this left enough of an impression on you.