The Album Review Club - Week #191 (page 1286) - Harlequin Dream - Boy & Bear

[mrbelfry]

I am not there yet tbh. As in, I haven't listened or taken in enough yet to have meaningful thoughts.

I am more going off what I have read in your commentary and spotify/wiki summaries, so maybe I should stop jumping the gun and just listen to it more.

But certainly Hawk's album, is one I love. Does it 'bother' me that it has man-man references or descriptions, not in the slightest. Can I find myself singing along to it and the pronouns not typical to me, yes no problem. Would I go to a gig with a bunch of straight lads and enjoy songs about it? Yes, have done, was great. Ultimately it is about love, it feels universal, and I perceive it so. Does it feel a gimmick, to be relevant or provocative? Not to me, if the music was weaker maybe, but the music holds its own. It feels way more honest and deep than Katy Perry kissing a girl and liking it.

That's ultimately what I would hope to say at the end of this one. BUT, the music has to hold its own. Currently, one listen in, I doesn't. Which then, unravels the questions above, potentially in a different direction. Not the theme, the music.

But let's see what two more listens bring. Ultimately there is a style issue here, that isn't my thing, and that I might just not be able to help.

So there is a chance that my reaction is the gammon in me

 

[Coatigan]

So there is a chance that my reaction is the gammon in me

Depends.

I am basing mine, on a completely different album. Because I haven't yet formed an opinion on this one. But certainly from the cover art of his other albums, making a point of it in online summaries of his work, and possibly being more and more explicit, maybe it feels like it Does maybe intend to provoke.

 

[Mr Grumpy]

I'm not wired to be diplomatic enough to give my 1st impressions here without triggering the sub so, i'll likely just keep my immediate thoughts to myself.

(this is not because i am a bigot or a Gammon (Eurgh) or a 'phobe, but rather i am quite able to separate the idea of internal thought from external action which society seems to now struggle with).

That said, the album cover is awful. I'd cross the street if i saw some tramp looking like that walking on my side. If he's trying to give the impression of being a A dodgy, narcissistic, exhibitionist, high on meth, he's winning.

I had a listen in the car to the start of the album. Interesting but quickly realised this was something to start on the headphones 1st. I think it needs that intimacy.

 

[RobMCFC]

That said, the album cover is fucking awful. I'd cross the street if i saw some **** looking like that walking on my side. If he's trying to give the impression of being a A dodgy as fuck, narcissistic, exhibitionist, high on meth, he's winning.

I hope you'll take this in the right spirit but I'd prefer it if you toned down the language in this thread.

I realise that throwing these words about in the footy, Ukraine and Trump threads is normal and even accepted, but I think that it's a bit unnecessary in here when we are simply reviewing music or even album covers.

I agree with your sentiments on the album cover by the way :)

 

[Mr Grumpy]

I hope you'll take this in the right spirit but I'd prefer it if you toned down the language in this thread.

I realise that throwing these words about in the footy, Ukraine and Trump threads is normal and even accepted, but I think that it's a bit unnecessary in here when we are simply reviewing music or even album covers.

I agree with your sentiments on the album cover by the way :)

Sweary words removed.

 

[RobMCFC]

Sweary words removed.

Cheers. Admittedly it doesn't pack the same punch now, but hopefully you see where I'm coming from.

Plenty of others - not me - have said that this is one of the most civilised threads on Blue Moon, and I'd like to keep it that way. I'm quite happy for people to throw the odd f*** in here and there for effect, but I don't want it to become the norm when slagging artists off.

 

[Mr Grumpy]

Cheers. Admittedly it doesn't pack the same punch now, but hopefully you see where I'm coming from.

Plenty of others - not me - have said that this is one of the most civilised threads on Blue Moon, and I'd like to keep it that way. I'm quite happy for people to throw the odd f*** in here and there for effect, but I don't want it to become the norm when slagging artists off.

Now you've triggered me lol.

I don't like swearing. I find it grating when i see it online and some of the more refined posters on here (lawyers) have a literal mouth like a sewer. Not cool. I think i mentioned this early on in my appearance in the forum.

It seems I've assimilated the cultural backdrop of the forum.

Point to self. Stay true.

 

[Coatigan]

Cheers. Admittedly it doesn't pack the same punch now, but hopefully you see where I'm coming from.

Plenty of others - not me - have said that this is one of the most civilised threads on Blue Moon, and I'd like to keep it that way. I'm quite happy for people to throw the odd f*** in here and there for effect, but I don't want it to become the norm when slagging artists off.

Fwiw. My language can be terrible as well. Most of the time I don't mean anything by it, more for comedic effect. Sometimes the odd c-bomb can actually take the sting out of an otherwise crude point.

 

[Mr Grumpy]

Well,
1st pass done (headphones).

Ooh.

Starts off ok, but quickly becomes an over extended and over sung gay homage to Lady Chatterley's lover.
One thing the headphones does is puts everything into sharp focus, the lyrics become sickly and the singing becomes irritating. I can't comment on the music because it didn't seem to be of any substance.

The lyrics especially are annoying me and this album is clearly all about the lyrics.
I think they are two much. Had this been a heterosexual album, i would be complaining that it's just outright obscene.
It's a album about shagging dressed up as one about love. Overly clever lyrics just make it worse.

Those are the initial thoughts anyway. I'll give it a few more spins and then post my review.

 

[RobMCFC]

Fwiw. My language can be terrible as well. Most of the time I don't mean anything by it, more for comedic effect. Sometimes the odd c-bomb can actually take the sting out of an otherwise crude point.

Yes, I agree with you. I swear far more than is healthy at home and work. I don’t think I’ve ever called anybody a c*** either in real life or online, though and I don’t think it’s appropriate on this thread. After all, we are not talking about somebody who has killed 1000s or has sold out democracy.

 

[Coatigan]

Yes, I agree with you. I swear far more than is healthy at home and work. I don’t think I’ve ever called anybody a c*** either in real life or online, though and I don’t think it’s appropriate on this thread. After all, we are not talking about somebody who has killed 1000s or has sold out democracy.

Not that it is any excuse, but the word really does have a whole other angle to it up here, and really is much more 'normalised'. But yeah probably enough on that now.

 

[mrbelfry]

I am quite able to separate the idea of internal thought from external action which society seems to now struggle with.

Hah I'm struggling with this - pm me an explanation if you're worried about triggering some response on the forum

I had a listen in the car to the start of the album. Interesting but quickly realised this was something to start on the headphones 1st. I think it needs that intimacy.

This would be interesting to me. i felt like I heard somethings for the first time this week as I was listening a bit more intently in prep of my write up.

 

[Mr Grumpy]

Hah I'm struggling with this

Thoughts don't define who or what you are, but your actions do, so no, your album prelude does not label you or suggest that you are in anyway a "Gammon".

(Eurgh, horrendous term.)

Clearly though, the subject matter offers the easily offended accusations of same should one dare to be uncomplimentary.

But to me, it can indeed be criticised because of what it is, including for it's subtexts.
I really don't like it's sordid and graphic descriptions of sex and the imagery it is trying to leave me about it.
Not because of any prejudice, but because i just find it crass and uncouth.

Same reaction when i see a female artist on stage dressed in next to nothing and shoving her bits and bobs in the camera. Clearly, you've nothing interesting to say so you are leaving it to the only talent(s) you have got to keep us watching.

This singer is a Gay version of Cardi B who i utterly loath for the reasons above.

 

[FogBlueInSanFran]

I'm off on vacation (holiday) today for a week and change, so wanted to get a brief review in before I go. I've given this a couple of go-rounds. We're back to my oft-stated view that there are get-up-and-move records and sit-and-listen-records, and this is decidedly the latter, whilst I tend to prefer the former. So this works for me more as an ambient, and even more as a choral ambient, almost like Gregorian monks. It wasn't a surprise to find swf grew up singing in a boys' church choir, and tended toward opera first before choosing this path. The rhythms are so pushed back, they're nearly non-existent; the timbre and pace of each song is so similar it's quite hard to distinguish tune from tune; the vocals are lovely IMO; the subject matter deeply-felt with lyrics that rival Prince in their conversational nature woven with poetry and sensuality. It's an impressive and unique achievement -- it's just simply not my thing. As with a few other records we've had here, it's nearly impossible to score because I have a blind spot for enjoying it. That isn't due to subject matter -- it's just due to style. I feel guilty scoring it because I don't have any context. If I have to, it's a 5/10 using my system because there isn't anything here I am dying to hear again, but I'm not even sure that's fair to @mrbelfry given I can appreciate the quality, however vaguely -- I just have no aural sense for how to enjoy it or be moved by it.

 

[mrbelfry]

I'm off on vacation (holiday) today for a week and change, so wanted to get a brief review in before I go. I've given this a couple of go-rounds. We're back to my oft-stated view that there are get-up-and-move records and sit-and-listen-records, and this is decidedly the latter, whilst I tend to prefer the former. So this works for me more as an ambient, and even more as a choral ambient, almost like Gregorian monks. It wasn't a surprise to find swf grew up singing in a boys' church choir, and tended toward opera first before choosing this path. The rhythms are so pushed back, they're nearly non-existent; the timbre and pace of each song is so similar it's quite hard to distinguish tune from tune; the vocals are lovely IMO; the subject matter deeply-felt with lyrics that rival Prince in their conversational nature woven with poetry and sensuality. It's an impressive and unique achievement -- it's just simply not my thing. As with a few other records we've had here, it's nearly impossible to score because I have a blind spot for enjoying it. That isn't due to subject matter -- it's just due to style. I feel guilty scoring it because I don't have any context. If I have to, it's a 5/10 using my system because there isn't anything here I am dying to hear again, but I'm not even sure that's fair to @mrbelfry given I can appreciate the quality, however vaguely -- I just have no aural sense for how to enjoy it or be moved by it.

Have a good time away.

I think after another 20ish listens you'd start to hear the differences in the tracks. I'm glad some things worked for you even if the overall rating is low

 

[FogBlueInSanFran]

Have a good time away.

I think after another 20ish listens you'd start to hear the differences in the tracks. I'm glad some things worked for you even if the overall rating is low

TBH I wish I had more time with this. The 5/10 shouldn't really be counted. I didn't dislike it in the least. But I am very much not one for vocal poetry, or if I am, I like big, declamatory harmonies, and some interesting/innovative musical accompaniment. Like The Roches, e.g. who I have mentioned before.

 

[Mr Grumpy]

Just respinning this on the Hi FI atm.

Messy: Interesting composition, and i do like the construction of it. Very good, but, he tries to go full vibrato/falsetto and misses the target a little bit.

Seems to be a thing with his voice. I dunno. I'll probably end up loving it by Wednesday lol.

 

[Mr Grumpy]

Something else (Sorry)

I'ts been bugging me who this guy reminds me of. or rather, who he is trying to be.
Then i remembered:

 

[Coatigan]

Thoughts don't define who or what you are, but your actions do, so no, your album prelude does not label you or suggest that you are in anyway a "Gammon".

(Eurgh, horrendous term.)

Clearly though, the subject matter offers the easily offended accusations of same should one dare to be uncomplimentary.

But to me, it can indeed be criticised because of what it is, including for it's subtexts.
I really don't like it's sordid and graphic descriptions of sex and the imagery it is trying to leave me about it.
Not because of any prejudice, but because i just find it crass and uncouth.

Same reaction when i see a female artist on stage dressed in next to nothing and shoving her bits and bobs in the camera. Clearly, you've nothing interesting to say so you are leaving it to the only talent(s) you have got to keep us watching.

This singer is a Gay version of Cardi B who i utterly loath for the reasons above.

Most often, acts like that do it, because it sells. Or they think it will sell. Or because they maybe want to shock a bit. To then sell the shock.

With this one, I'm not sure how much of it is driven by that. On his debut too. It may be that it is something he is really passionate about, and that's his way of expressing it. It may be that he thinks it will draw attention or provoke wider discussion or change. Perhaps he wants to challenge. Maybe he just wants the attention.

Whatever it is, I don't particularly care that much. I care about how it comes across to me as a finished thing, and whether it moves me. That includes being made uncomfortable if needed, music should be able to do that, as long as the music is there to back it.

At the moment, that's the part that is missing here for me. It is what isn't there with it, rather than what is, that I'm finding my issue is.

 

[mrbelfry]

Most often, acts like that do it, because it sells. Or they think it will sell. Or because they maybe want to shock a bit. To then sell the shock.

With this one, I'm not sure how much of it is driven by that. On his debut too. It may be that it is something he is really passionate about, and that's his way of expressing it. It may be that he thinks it will draw attention or provoke wider discussion or change. Perhaps he wants to challenge. Maybe he just wants the attention.

Whatever it is, I don't particularly care that much. I care about how it comes across to me as a finished thing, and whether it moves me. That includes being made uncomfortable if needed, music should be able to do that, as long as the music is there to back it.

At the moment, that's the part that is missing here for me. It is what isn't there with it, rather than what is, that I'm finding my issue is.

What's missing for you? Lyrics, delivery, music, bit of everything?