Prt1 of 2 - 2 will follow tomorrow evening.
Right then... Before I begin I must say that I haven't written any reviews before ! (apart from a certain TD gig review in 97, less said about that the better
eh Colin !).
1. A Mellow Morning -
Starts of with a reminder of Neptunes in the guise of the glokenspiel opening notes, a simple keyboard mellody begins, then added by a grating Guitar, leading into a light drum undertone and added bass. This track has a wonderfully powerfull end section with everything to the full, and a Wah - Wahed guitar solo ( more of this later !). Phased keyboards lead the outro into track 2.......
2. Mrs.Misty Kiss -
Plucked harmonics form a guitar open this track, a nice guitar line begins with a mellowish bassline and then the TD trademark keyboard sound can be heard. Up the tempo and its starting to get a little rocky before fading into mellowness of the guitar line ,bass and key solo.
Drums back in and a nice shimmering guitar solo, followed by a nice overdriven one, into what could be described as a DMixes interlude with overlaid guitar. A pleasant little track - near to the version on PCM.
3. Airbourne -
This was the first listen stand out track for me.
Opening of this reminds me of a TD tracks that i just cannot name!.
A guitar riff opens up that continues like a sequencer for the entirety of the song. Looped guitars are added in a pure rythmic method. (This track would'nt be amiss on a Mike Oldfield CD !) imho). A bass loop opens up to further reinforce the rythmn of the track, a stirring Keyboard solo winds in along with stabs of guitar. God im in heaven (being a guitarist !). And not a drum of piece of percussion in site. Another haunting keyboard bridge floats in to finish the piece ,under the hypnotic guitar line, and fade out. Much too short !!!!!. If you haven't listen to this on HPhones !.
4. Cartony Universe -
Opens with a heavily reverbed overdriven guitar murmoring. This track to me sounds the most like some earlier JF/EF TD music. Lots of TD related sounds to devour. Along with a sterling Drum
line to glue it all together - I would think this to be JF with the sticks rather than M/C, but I could be horribly wrong. The track features some vocal sound bites, not signing !. A lazy sounding guitar solo knocks in to drive the song along, then its all over ! - My least favourite on the CD.
5.Inside The Secret -
This track is an absolute gem.
A quiet piano introduction is graced with glokenspeil, before being joined by some synth soundscaping and a rythmic 12 string.
A wonderfull sounding synth line opens up, this is where J is really starting to show what he's capable of !. A synth bass line is added to the already looping synth lines. Add in a string quartet with stabs keeps the track at a steady pace.
Strings part over, some wonderfull synth swoops grace the track, followed by a loop Synth chord, then the creme de la creme, the sound i think is a baritone guitar flanged and very deeply reverbed wonders into the stereo field with total grace.
A light sprinkling of drums add to the mix , before fading out to leave 12 string and keys to take control.
Till tomorrow unless anyone doesnt want the rest of it ?