The Album Review Club - Week #195 (page 1310) - A New World Record - ELO

[mrbelfry]

Yeah yeah yeah... but what about the children?

Haha let's not start that again.

 

[RobMCFC]

You should find the time to give the Conflats album by Out Lines a listen. For a bit of an interesting twist attempt on folk. Some things don't quite work, out but some really do, worthwhile effort all the same. I don't imagine it being Rob's cup of tea but also worth a go, if nothing for the power accordian.

Had a listen to Conflats today. Not one I’d necessarily revisit but I quite enjoyed it for what it was. Some evocative soundscapes as I drove up the M61 through the desolate, snow-covered countryside. Definitely an album of atmospherics as opposed to tunes, but the accordion was good.

 

[Out on blue 6]

Had a listen to Conflats today. Not one I’d necessarily revisit but I quite enjoyed it for what it was. Some evocative soundscapes as I drove up the M61 through the desolate, snow-covered countryside. Definitely an album of atmospherics as opposed to tunes, but the accordion was good.

I've got an album I think you and a few others would like with an Americana feel that I missed at the time but picked up as a Christmas present.
Brown Horse - Reservoir. Unbelievably from Norwich

 

[Saddleworth2]

First couple of listens.
I love it.
It reminds me of trips to Harris and Lewis. White sands, azure seas, grey mountains shrouded in mist. Peat fires. Good pubs with fine malt and local music.
Will listen more.

 

[GoatersLeftShin]

I don't really like folk music, I'm not a fan of Irish pipes or folky violins or anything sea-shanty-ish so by rights, I really shouldn't like this album at all.

However, I actually put aside my dislike for the above and thought it was actually quite good. It's catchy and has a bit of energy about it that I really quite enjoyed. I thought his voice fitted it perfectly and I have to say the songs were really put together.

I'm not quite sure I'd listen to it again, basically for the reasons above but if someone put it on in the background I'd be quite happy about it.

However, I am going to give this another go maybe next week as there's something there that I feel I can get into.

Another great pick for this thread!

8/10

 

[LGWIO]

Having dipped in and out of this at home I gave it a first full listen on my way to work this morning.
It is certainly a case of listening to something with a for a reason, the reason being to join in with a "small group of friends", I think gives me a different angle.
I had of course read others views of their listens and that perhaps coloured how I listened to this. There was a mention of the lack of a bass/kick drum and yet I listened wondering how Richard D James would interpret this "moody" piece.
I also started thinking that it felt wrong to describe the different sections as tracks, as that almost felt like it was perhaps diminishing them, but then was that because they were taking themselves too seriously?
I also started to ponder about how this related to "traditional" music and the usual "reels" that you get round the pub fire etc.
The Burrian was a good start and I did enjoy that repetition and the tempo but then me thinking of the dance angle had me waiting for "the drop" on each tune. When it was going to come alive, sadly it rarely did.
Another listen on way home tonight ... and I have to say that although I wasn't a huge fan of the vocals on this I did appreciate the lyrics of Banks of Marble

 

[threespires]

I think this is partly a genre thing as it was highly praised in lots of reviews and it's partly a me thing. If violin is normally played much slower and you know that then hearing someone shredding on it is fun. The less he's doing the more I enjoy what he's doing typically.

Indeed. At the end of the day most folk fiddlers prioritise different things from say a classical violinist, more emphasis on rhythm and less on dynamics etc, basically the same instrument, bar a bridge adjustment or two, but quite different intents and it either works for you or it doesn't. It's all a bit like saying Marshall Mather's diction isn't as good as Elizabeth Schwarzkopf's, very much horses for courses. My personal bete noir is jazz violinists though I've never tried to work out why.

 

[threespires]

You should find the time to give the Conflats album by Out Lines a listen. For a bit of an interesting twist attempt on folk. Some things don't quite work, out but some really do, worthwhile effort all the same. I don't imagine it being Rob's cup of tea but also worth a go, if nothing for the power accordian.

Put it on and thought she sounds familiar, it's Kathryn Joseph isn't it? Feel like I've heard this before but it could just be her voice is so distinctive I'm confusing myself. Like you say, when it works it works well.

Edit: Lol - I've just checked back, you recommended this on the playlist thread 6 months ago and my response was she sounds like Kathryn Joseph! I am in proper FOC territory.

Despite thinking it was ok I think I only listened to it once last time which is presumably why it sounded faintly familiar. This time I might add a couple of tracks to a playlist. Will start worrying (for both of us) if you recommend it a third time and I respond in exactly the same way again!

 

[Coatigan]

Put it on and thought she sounds familiar, it's Kathryn Joseph isn't it? Feel like I've heard it this before but it could just be her voice is so distinctive I'm confusing myself. Like you say, when it works it works well.

We had a song on the playlist thread. Yea it is her, and the dude from the Twilight Sad. Funnily his voice imo sounds better suited to that than to the new new romanticism synth-rock indie thing they do.

 

[threespires]

We had a song on the playlist thread. Yea it is her, and the dude from the Twilight Sad. Funnily his voice imo sounds better suited to that than to the new new romanticism synth-rock indie thing they do.

See the edit to my prev post, written as you posted this!

 

[Coatigan]

See the edit to my prev post, written as you posted this!

It is a bit of a grower imo, I wasn't convinced at first myself, returned to it randomly a few years later and a few things there I quite like.

Can't beat a two for one in a given week. You and rob get this, @mrbelfry gets V. Although I wouldn't be surprised if you had already branched out anyway into some other overlaps.

 

[threespires]

It is a bit of a grower imo, I wasn't convinced at first myself, returned to it randomly a few years later and a few things there I quite like.

Can't beat a two for one in a given week. You and rob get this, @mrbelfry gets V. Although I wouldn't be surprised if you had already branched out anyway into some other overlaps.

This weeks' pick has prompted me to listen to Cape Breton fiddling. I worked in Nova Scotia for a while and as the 'out of towner' people were always keen to show off the local music scenes including traditional stuff but I don't think I've specifically listened to any of it since then. The Nova Scotian's very proud of their roots and cultural heritage, saw way more kilts there than I did working in Glasgow :-)

 

[Coatigan]

This weeks' pick has prompted me to listen to Cape Breton fiddling. I worked in Nova Scotia for a while and as the 'out of towner' people were always keen to show off the local music scenes including traditional stuff but I don't think I've specifically listened to any of it since then. The Nova Scotian's very proud of their roots and cultural heritage, saw way more kilts there than I did working in Glasgow :-)

Where and what haven't you worked as mate? Such a long list, it blows my mind every time you pull a new one out the bag. Off to stick on some cape breton folk mixes now. The only ones that junp to mind are named references, like the Caperceillie song etc.

 

[threespires]

Where and what haven't you worked as mate? Such a long list, it blows my mind every time you pull a new one out the bag. Off to stick on some cape breton folk mixes now. The only ones that junp to mind are named references, like the Caperceillie song etc.

Haha, a combination of flexibility and stupidity. For maybe the first 20 years of my working life I had limited commitments so was happy to be sent wherever and I was also too stupid to realise when I was being given a hospital pass, I just used to think '"that sounds interesting" ! The Glasgow gig was one of the less than glamorous ones, housed in a derelict nursing home behind the old (at that point still Victorian build) Stobhill General, on a nightmare project overseen by an absolute maniac.

Been listening to stuff like Beolach, suspect might a bit vanilla for you.

 

[FogBlueInSanFran]

Reading a few of the other reviews about this evoking misty hillsides and damp grass and roiling seas and what-not, I got a different feel -- one that was a lot more urban. Imagine if these guys had scored the movie "Amelie", only it was called "Amy" and set in Glasgow instead of Paris. Or given their mixed roots, maybe Carlisle. Anyhow, there's a little bite and edge to the songs here and there, and a bit of discordance, that lifts it a cut above what I might consider folk, or alt-Euro-bluegrass, or whatever other label one might apply. It's not so much beautiful or wonderous as it is workmanlike and "built", like a craftsman putting together a really, really nice armoire rather than a sculptor carving marble. As such, I found the cover oddly appropriate, though like others I was steeling myself for -- I don't know, death metal? -- when I first saw it.

While generally I enjoyed the longer instrumentals more than the lyrical bits, oddly it was the lyrical bits -- especially "Winter Moon" -- that kept running through my head as I tried to fall asleep. I don't get earwormed by bad songs, so they must be at least pretty decent, right? But what I'll come back for is the longer wordless songs, the ones that jump around from place to place and instrument to instrument and sound to sound -- especially "Frank and Flo's", which perhaps I liked so much because they ripped a bit of the melody from Rush's "Natural Science." I also liked "Stephen's" more than a few of you did -- kind of a folk Sonic Youth effort, that one, and as noted I really like the discordant bits that intrude on the melody. "The Burrian" and "Salty Boys" are solid throughout; I cared less for the slower ones like "Horizontigo" and "Temple of Fiddes" (the latter sounds like a Rush title, by the way).

Without quibbling too much, the lyric-inclusive songs could do with a female singer I think. It's not that I didn't like Kris Drever's voice, but I think a softer touch would sound better, or at least mixing the vocals a bit lower so we can hear the craftsmen at work on their instruments better. Since "Dear Prudence" was a bonus track, I won't hold it against/give them credit for it -- it's a perfectly fine cover, and perfectly disposable.

On balance, while I don't think I'd come back to everything on the record, there are absolutely several songs I would gladly hear regularly, and listening kickstarted a desire to hear more. And I bet they are a lot of fun live too. This was an album that grew on me. A solid 7/10 from across the pond.

 

[bennyboy]

Totally get that. Said as much in the write up, you won't be alone. Rather than giving the whole album any more listens, just give the song horizontigo a full proper listen, and I am more than happy with that.

Came to the conclusion that the fiddle spoils a lot of this album as the Harmonica on the last Dylan album we reviewed.
Horizontal enjoying until the around the 5 minute mark when the fiddles became relevant for a minute.
Enjoyed the Dear Prudence cover most of all but like Horizontal the fiddles later on again spoiled the track a bit for me. 3/10

 

[Saddleworth2]

So I enjoyed this. What Scot wouldn't? I feel all the comments about fast fiddling understandable if you haven't been immersed in Scottish country music all your life. You can hear the more traditional aspects at any decent cailidh and that is what it reminded me of albeit the musicians got stoned beforehand and decided to push their skills into new progressive areas. I found the music familiar but innovative and fresh at the same time.

Every track was atmospheric and did conjure pictures of places I know and love in Northern Scotland. As such I found the music had deep emotional resonance.

Whilst I enjoyed the album I can imagine they are even better live.

I hadn't listened to this band before but I will listen to them now for sure so thanks @Coatigan for another good introduction.

Its an 8 out of 10 for me.

 

[Coatigan]

Reading a few of the other reviews about this evoking misty hillsides and damp grass and roiling seas and what-not, I got a different feel -- one that was a lot more urban. Imagine if these guys had scored the movie "Amelie", only it was called "Amy" and set in Glasgow instead of Paris. Or given their mixed roots, maybe Carlisle. Anyhow, there's a little bite and edge to the songs here and there, and a bit of discordance, that lifts it a cut above what I might consider folk, or alt-Euro-bluegrass, or whatever other label one might apply. It's not so much beautiful or wonderous as it is workmanlike and "built", like a craftsman putting together a really, really nice armoire rather than a sculptor carving marble. As such, I found the cover oddly appropriate, though like others I was steeling myself for -- I don't know, death metal? -- when I first saw it.

While generally I enjoyed the longer instrumentals more than the lyrical bits, oddly it was the lyrical bits -- especially "Winter Moon" -- that kept running through my head as I tried to fall asleep. I don't get earwormed by bad songs, so they must be at least pretty decent, right? But what I'll come back for is the longer wordless songs, the ones that jump around from place to place and instrument to instrument and sound to sound -- especially "Frank and Flo's", which perhaps I liked so much because they ripped a bit of the melody from Rush's "Natural Science." I also liked "Stephen's" more than a few of you did -- kind of a folk Sonic Youth effort, that one, and as noted I really like the discordant bits that intrude on the melody. "The Burrian" and "Salty Boys" are solid throughout; I cared less for the slower ones like "Horizontigo" and "Temple of Fiddes" (the latter sounds like a Rush title, by the way).

Without quibbling too much, the lyric-inclusive songs could do with a female singer I think. It's not that I didn't like Kris Drever's voice, but I think a softer touch would sound better, or at least mixing the vocals a bit lower so we can hear the craftsmen at work on their instruments better. Since "Dear Prudence" was a bonus track, I won't hold it against/give them credit for it -- it's a perfectly fine cover, and perfectly disposable.

On balance, while I don't think I'd come back to the whole record, there are absolutely several songs I would gladly hear regularly, and listening kickstarted a desire to hear more. And I bet they are a lot of fun live too. This was an album that grew on me. A solid 7/10 from across the pond.

Lau, with a female vocalist instead of Kris Drever?

Say no more, your wish is my command.



(Yeah I know, Rags, Rag me, sure).

They have indeed done a whole EP with her called Evergreen, 5 very nice songs including January Man that we had in the other thread, if you fancy testing your convictions. In this song, the bridge bit just as it breaks into 'people are leaving their squalor' always gets me.

Enjoyed reading that, and the bit about it being crafted, before you mentioned the cover I almost started typing, what like the cover? The Amelie line cracked me up too.

 

[RobMCFC]

I've got an album I think you and a few others would like with an Americana feel that I missed at the time but picked up as a Christmas present.
Brown Horse - Reservoir. Unbelievably from Norwich

Not a bad listen that. The electric guitar was way too high in the mix and the accordion a bit low, but it’s nice to hear another British band playing some proper music :)

 

[mrbelfry]

Have this on over dinner today.

Kid A "Dad is this a playlist or is it on the radio?"
Kid B "Why would they play this song on the radio?"
Kid A "People in Scotland are allowed to listen to music too"

Later The Master comes on
Me: "I like this one"
My wife "how can you tell?"

They weren't fans