Stegzy's Music Project

A commentary on Stegzy's album collection

Nov 17

Exposition Internationale des Arts et des Techniques Appliques a la Vie – Les Joyaux de la Princesse [#445]

by steelrattus

Exposition InternationaleHi there! Steelrattus again, on day 7 of his 10 day guest stint.

Just when I thought the album titles couldn’t get any longer… this. Although it seems this album might actually be called Exposition Internationale, if Wikipedia is to be believed. Anyway, Les Joyaux de la Princesse (The Jewels of the Princess) are a French band, if you hadn’t guessed already. They’ve been around since 1986, and their music is a rather odd mixture of ambient and neo-classical, mixed in with samples from both French music and speeches. Their albums are typically limited editions, produced in elaborate box sets.

Exposition Internationale (des Arts et Techniques dans la Vie Moderne) is connected to said event, AKA the 1937 Paris Expo, and I’m assuming includes samples from speeches made there (it certainly includes olde-worldy French speeches). This album was released in 1998 though, not 1937. Although there are 10 tracks overall, they clock in at various times, with the opening track at almost 20 minutes in length, versus another that’s only 7 seconds.

When Stegzy handed over the blog baton, he did give me some brief notes on the album titles, and in some cases a one sentence description of the album. For this album said description was, “what is this shite?!”. As required under the terms and condition’s of Stegzy’s Music Project I have listened to the album, in this case probably three times. Technically the first time I listened to it though I had forgotten the MP3 player was on shuffle, on a playlist of all 10 albums. “Hmmm”, I thought, “this is a rather odd mixture, but I like it.” Which goes to show that my music taste probably shouldn’t be trusted. The second time I listened to the album it just didn’t sink in, so I gave it a third listen. As further evidence that my music taste shouldn’t be trusted I kinda liked this album, perhaps because it’s so unusual. The ambient tracks are quite nice and surreal, although not all delicate ambient as it’s quite heavy and military in places. I probably could have done without the French speeches to be honest. I’d give this a solid 3/5, but I’m not quite sure what situation would lend to me listening to it.

Here’s the opening track, which will give you a flavour of the album…

1998 Les Joyaux de la Princesse

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Nov 16

Exposition, Eaux-Fortes et Méandres – Collection d’Arnell Andréa [#444]

by steelrattus

Exposition, Eaux-Fortes et MéandresHi there! Steelrattus again, on day 6 of his 10 day guest stint.

I think today’s album must have the longest title of all those I’m reviewing. Collection d’Arnell Andréa, a French darkwave band, have been around since the mid-80s. Curiously, Pascal Andréa left the band before their first gig, but they kept the name. The band currently consists of 7 members, that play a mix of cello, synths, keyboards, viola, and of course the lead singer. Apparently their live performances are known for featuring much larger ensembles.

Exposition, Eaux-Fortes et Méandres is Collection d’Arnell Andréa’s eighth album, released in 2007. The concept is based on Modest Mussorgsky’s 1874 Pictures at an Exhibition piano suite, which I can’t say I’m familiar with, but apparently contains ten piano tracks. Exposition, Eaux-Fortes et Méandres is mostly based on darkly themed 19th century paintings. The album cover, and title track Les Méandres, are based on a 1999 painting though, by Richard Boutin.

I listened to the album without knowing any of the above, and after making it through a few tracks I thought, “here’s a goth band from the late 80s/early 90s”. OK, so the date was a bit out. It’s definitely all rather dark sounding, against a backdrop of what sound like cheap synths. Not really my sort of thing, but I found it just about listenable to. As always, YMMV.

Here’s the aforementioned title track, Les Méandres…

2007 Collection d'Arnell Andréa

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Nov 13

Exposed – Mike Oldfield [#443]

by steelrattus

Exposed Mike OldfieldHi there! Steelrattus again, on day 5 of his 10 day guest stint on Stegzy’s Music Project.

Today’s album, Mike Oldfield’s Exposed (1979). This is the second of the two that I vaguely know in this 10 day stint. This one is a bit more vague that the previous, Trevor Jones’ Excalibur OST, as I don’t actually own Exposed. Coincidentally I have covered another Mike Oldfield album, Discovery, while guest posting on SMP, and double coincidentally I didn’t own that album either. Call yourself a Mike Oldfield fan?!

Whereas Discovery is a proper studio album, Exposed is one of only two live albums that Oldfield released, with the first being an orchestral version of Tubular Bells. This live album again features Tubular Bells, unsurprisingly with it being his most popular album, and also Incantations. Just to further highlight how much of a rubbish Mike Oldfield fan I am, I don’t seem to own nor do I remember listening to Incantations (1978), which is his fourth studio album. Having listened to the live version perhaps that’s understandable, as I didn’t find it very good. To round off the album there’s a short track called Guilty, which was just a single release, during Oldfield’s disco phase apparently (!). The album was recorded during a European tour in 1979, although apparently the musicians supporting Oldfield on the tour did not know they were being recorded. A DVD was released much later on, in 2005.

I’ve sort of already covered my view of the album. Tubular Bells is fab. I found Incantations rather weak and minimal. Guilty definitely has that Oldfield feel to it, and yes it is oddly disco. Generally speaking I don’t tend to enjoy live albums, as typically they’re somewhat worse versions of a mix of studio tracks. Exposed is pretty much this, but I would listen to it, if stuck on a desert island with nothing else. As always, YMMV.

Here’s Guilty, put on your disco pants!

1979 best of compilations Live Mike Oldfield Soundtracks

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Nov 12

Exile in Guyville – Liz Phair [#442]

by steelrattus

Exile in GuyvilleHi there! Steelrattus again, on day 4 of his 10 day guest stint.

Today’s album is Exile in Guyville by Liz Phair. This is another of the majority albums that I don’t know, so for those in the same boat let me edumacate you. Liz Phair first hit the music scene in 1991, when she was 24, distributing tapes under the name Girly Sound. After a failed disagreement with a label over the style of her music she signed in 1992 with Matador. She began the process of recording, and the album was released in 1993. The album cover is a cropped topless photo of Phair, taken in a photo booth. From what I can understand, Guyville refers to the sort of sexist small towns where men are very much in charge. Phair says she lived in a number of such places, and presumably felt she did not fit in.

I’ve listened to the album, and it’s somewhat reminiscent of Alanis Morissette, Suzanne Vega, Tori Amos etc. Albeit Morissette was first active a couple of years after this. It has a fairly consistent stripped back sound, and therefore sounds pretty similar throughout. It didn’t really hook me though, and bounced somewhere between a 1 and 2/5. The album was critically acclaimed though, and has sold over half a million copies, so YMMV.

Phair didn’t release any singles from the album, so here’s the opening track…

1993 Liz Phair

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Nov 11

Exciter – Depeche Mode [#441]

by steelrattus

exciterdepechemode.pngHi there! Steelrattus again, on day 3 of his 10 day guest stint.

Today’s album is Exciter by Depeche Mode. An album I know nothing about. My research tells me this was released in 2001, and is the tenth album by Depeche Mode. Apparently the picture on the album is an Agave attenuata, and used to produce tequila, although I couldn’t find why this was chosen. It was a popular release, arriving in the Top 10 in both the UK and USA. It consists of 13 tracks, and was re-released in 2007 with some additional tracks.

I don’t know a lot about Depeche Mode full stop, with the exception of being able to recognise their most famous track, Enjoy the Silence. To be fully compliant with the terms and conditions of Stegzy’s Music Project I have listened to the album. It’s kinda dark in places, but also kinda pop-y in places as well. I asked TheWife™, who knows a couple more Depeche Mode tracks than I, if she recognised it and she asked if it was Duran Duran. And it does sound rather Duran Duran in places. Again this is probably a 3/5 album for me, that is listenable to in places, but it didn’t evoke strong feelings for me. As always, YMMV.

Here’s Dream On, which appears to be the highest charting of the singles released from the album…

2001 Depeche Mode

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Nov 10

Excalibur OST – Trevor Jones [#440]

by steelrattus

500px-Eurovision_Song_Contest_2007_logo.svgHi there! Steelrattus again, on day 2 of his 10 day guest stint.

Today’s album is the soundtrack to Excalibur by Trevor Jones. This is the first of the two albums in this 10 day stint that I actually know something about, albeit I’ve never owned it. I first saw Excalibur when it was recommended to me by the lovely UniversityRichard™ – I’ve mentioned UniversityRichard™ previously, as he introduced me to a shit ton of music and film-ery back at… well, university. Excalibur is an odd old thing, filmwise. Whereas most Arthurian films (he says, trying to think of an example… A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court?) paint the legend as rather glamorous and freshly polished, Excalibur has this gritty feel to it. It feels about as real as make believe a legend can be. Aside from having relatively fab productions values, it is also rich with acting talent, including Nicol Williamson’s fantastic portrayal of Merlin (which UniversityRichard™ does a great impression of).

In terms of technical shtuff, the film was released in 1981. The soundtrack sounds rather familiar, because a lot of it is recycled classical tracks, including pieces from Orff’s Carmina Burana and Wagner’s Ring and Tristan und Isolde operas. I can’t seem to find anything on why they didn’t use an entirely original soundtrack though. There are 18 tracks on the album.

A lot of soundtrack albums have that issue of standing apart from the source, assuming that they have to of course. It’s not so bad in Excalibur’s case, because there are some literal classics on there. Jones’ tracks vary from the more medieval in style (think lutes and reed-y things), to the more traditional classical film soundtrack. Do I like it? Well it’s OK, but I can’t say I’d go out of my way to listen to it, which probably explains why I’ve never bought it.

Here is the Jones’ penned track, Igrayne’s Dance…

1981 Soundtracks

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Nov 9

Everything Picture – Ultrasound [#439]

by steelrattus

Screen Shot 2015-11-06 at 06.56.24Hello! It’s Steelrattus guest posting again, this time on a 10 day (10 DAY!) stint, while Stegzy is away. I should preface this stint with a warning that some of these posts might be a little brief, as trying to juggle work, kids, and daily album reviews might be pushing it. But I’ll try my best, and it will depend on the album.

I can also reveal that I only somewhat know two of the albums out of the ten, so will be coming to most of these fresh.

So, Everything Picture by Ultrasound. For those who don’t know (like me), Ultrasound were a band active for three years at the end of the 1990s, and again from 2010 to present day. The band first released a couple of singles, during their 1990s phase, which were received favourably by the music press. Everything Picture is their first album, but it wasn’t received so favourably, albeit it got to to No. 23 in the UK charts. An acrimonious break up followed, caused by severe tensions in the band. The band reunited in 2010 for a charity concert, and following on from that decided to make a new album, Play for Today released in 2012.

It’s often a bit odd listening to music cold, that is for a purpose other than just the pure listening experience. I’m not sure if it helps you be more objective, or means you have less chance of connecting, or a bit of both. I suspect this will become a theme over the next few days! Everything Picture is an unusual album, in that it has 10 fairly standard length tracks, followed by a final track that’s almost 40 minutes in length (although said track does end after about 20 minutes). I heard similarities to various artists throughout, including The Cure, The Beatles, and Pink Floyd. I would describe the overall genre as rock, but there are some odd flourishes throughout the album that mean it’s not just a straight rock album. Indy Rock is probably a better description. It was an interesting lesson, but I didn’t connect with it.

Here’s the track Stay Young, which was one of four released from the album…

1999 Ultrasound

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Nov 6

Even Worse – Weird Al Yankovic [#438]

by stegzy

Screen Shot 2015-11-06 at 06.56.24There was a time when I really wanted this album. I had heard Yankovic’s Fat on a yoof music programme on the telly in the eighties and was amused enough to look out for the album on my regular trips to HMV in Church Street.

I saw it once in the racks but didn’t get it because, like 90% of the music I was interested in, it was on “imported” only so cost a lot more than non-imported albums.

I’m glad I didn’t buy it though. Fat is the only track that’s not too irritating and it is clear that Even Worse was released at a time in Yankovic’s career when his humour started to struggle. Fortunately he claws his talent back in later albums but Even Worse and its predecessor, Polka Party, really are fan only albums.

1988 Weird Al Yankovic

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Nov 5

Eurovision Song Contest: Helsinki 2007 – Various Artists [#437]

by stegzy

500px-Eurovision_Song_Contest_2007_logo.svgPicture the scene. It’s 2006. Outsider, Lordi, have won the Eurovision Song Contest. Confused and out of touch officials around Europe scratch their heads in bewilderment. How can something as noisy as Lordi’s Hard Rock Hallelujah win by a land slide? Do the public know something others don’t? What ever the reason, imitation wins hearts and minds so let’s goth up our acts for 2007.

Which is exactly what happened. Especially with Switzerland.

The United Kingdom went all cheesy sleazy and failed.

Finland tried to win again (and this was my favourite)

But when it seemed that outsiders were going to win again, Plan B was put into action and Serbia’s entry won with Molitva.

After that, I lost interest in Eurovision for a few years…..

 

2007 compilations Eurovison Various Artists

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Nov 4

Eurovision Song Contest: Athens 2006 – Various Artists [#436]

by stegzy

For those not familiar with European traditions and culture, every year since 1956 European public broadcasters get together to find a song to unite Europe in culture.  In the UK, Eurovision is seen as a bit of a joke while the rest of the European Union see take it quite seriously. As a result it is often the case that the UK’s entry gets a low score while serious music producers across Europe are able to showcase a variety of talent which will never see the light in the UK because of inherent taught resistance to euro-culture, but will proliferate across more receptive mainland Europe.

Eurovision 2006 was possibly the most enjoyable Eurovision in the past 30 years.  2006 was the year that Goth and Rock culture broke onto the Eurovision stage with such ferocity that many returning countries in 2007 tried to mimic the whole scene too.

Unusually the contest started with quite sedate, run of the mill songs like:

Sense Tu Jenny (Andorra)

Je t’adore Kate Ryan (Belgium)

 

Other entries were more up beat such as Tornero (Romania)

and Congratulations Silvia Night (Iceland)

But while the tweeness of Switzerland’s Six4One’s If we all give a little was trying to capture the zeitgeist of peace and love arising from the conflict plagued noughties.

The shockingly bad UK entry, Daz Simpson and Teenage Life was like Timmy Mallet or Keith Harris trying to capture the gangsta culture.

But it was the winning entry, Hard Rock Hallelujah by Lordi (Finland) that resulted in the landslide victory that Eurovision needed to bring it back to centre stage.

 

2006 compilations Eurovison Various Artists

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Nov 3

European Tour 2005 – Dead Can Dance [#435]

by stegzy

Screen Shot 2015-10-24 at 12.51.27In 2005 an announcement was made to the effect that Dead Can Dance would tour again after several years of hiatus. Tickets for the few gigs that were to be played in the UK sold out like hot cakes.

I was unable to go.

What followed was months of people I knew saying how they were looking forward to going to the gig, followed by years of the same people saying how mind blowing the gig was. Yet all I have to remember the experience I never had is this “bootleg” featuring highlights of Dead Can Dance’s European tour in 2005.

Occasionally I listen to it from afar while sitting in an uncomfortable seat for full effect.

2005 best of compilations Dead Can Dance Lisa Gerrard Live Pieter Bourke

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Nov 2

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (OST) – Various Artists [#434]

by stegzy

Eternal_sunshine_CD_coverThis will be the last week of Music Project entries before a two week hiatus unless someone comes forth offering to write for two weeks while I’m on the other side of the planet.

While not a great lover of  Michel Gondry’s 2004 rom-com starring Jim Carey and Kate Winslet, the soundtrack does have some nice songs on.

Which is, in part, why I keep the album in my collection. Happy Twee-rock and pop abound, with the likes of Polyphonic Spree, ELO and Lata Mangeshkar interwoven with Jon Brion’s equally twee romantic soundtrack.

Great for feeling twee.

 

2004 compilations ELO Polyphonic Spree Soundtracks

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Oct 30

Essential Bob Dylan – Bob Dylan [#433]

by stegzy

Bob_Dylan_-_The_Essential_Bob_DylanEssentially I want to like Bob “Moped starting up” Dylan. Essentially I have tried and really tried. I tried so hard to like Bob “Hair Drier” Dylan, to see why so many people put him on a pedestal, why so many people think he’s the best thing to have ever happened to music since Mozart. I tried. I tried so hard I have strain marks on my ears.

Essential is the “best of” Dylan, not that I’ve been able to distinguish any mind blowing tracks apart from the surprise that Dylan was responsible for a number of songs I had attributed to other artists.

Legend has it the young Dylan mooched about Liverpool before he hit the main stream.While there he met a young bloke who had just started to learn how to play music who was called John Lemon or something or some such bollocks. This is, of course, utter shite,  just like Dylan’s placement on the pedestal of musical greatness.

I’m sure I’ve upset a great deal of people with that last sentence but don’t misunderstand my supposition. Dylan certainly has his place in the hall of music history but the way many people, including my contemporaries, insist on placing the guy on this heightened throne of greatness has become irritating of late. The likes of Presley, Ray Noble and even Glen Miller who came before Dylan and equally had a prolific change on musical culture should also enjoy the same platform. Indeed, let’s be fair about the whole throne thing, let’s turn it into a musical SOFA of greatness. Dylan, Morrison, Presley, Noble, Gallas and whoever else deserves recognition can sit happily on the Sofa of musical greatness and entertain us all with their jostling for the pouffe.

2000 best of Bob Dylan compilations

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Oct 29

Essential Jean Michel Jarre – Jean Michel Jarre [#432]

by stegzy

Screen Shot 2015-10-24 at 11.55.04<sigh> I really could re-use the “Essential/Essentially” gag here too as Essential is, essentially the first Jean Michel Jarre Best of Compilation. But I won’t because re-releasing old material as new stuff is so 1990s it’s unbelievable.

And lazy.

Aero, Essential is a kind of “Best of” revisited. Nice if you want to relive the cardigan wearing, garish carpeted childhood of the 1970s. Nicer still if you just want to pop some acid with your hipster friend while staring at their Mathmos glooping and shlooping about on the table.

It’s kind of thought provoking that this music evolved into Air.

 

1983 best of compilations Jean Michel Jarre

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Oct 28

Essence of the Deep Forest – Deep Forest [#431]

by stegzy

Essence of the deep forestThis week, it seems, we will mostly be listening to French and Belgian artists.

Today, Deep Forest. Essence, is essentially Deep Forest’s Best of album, though arguably they really only have a couple of songs that they remix continuously. Never the less, Deep Forest remain a firm favourite of the music project. I’m kind of interested to hear what Steelrattus has to say about the band as I know he is a fan.

Anyway, take Enigma to the rain forest, add some indigenous tribal chants and add a sprinkle of wholesome “I’ve seen the world and its colourful diversity” world  traveller and you have, in essence, Deep Forest. Indeed, you probably have the best of. Which, in essence is, Essence. But I’ve already said that. Kind of like how Deep Forest, Enigma and Era take the same theme and remix it over and over again. Remixing works in music I suppose, but not in prose. Which in essence, is Essence of the Deep Forest.

2003 best of compilations Deep Forest

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Oct 27

Era – Era [#430]

by stegzy

Era_Era_CoverEra are another of those bands jumping on the nu-age Enigma bandwagon complete with choral and world music overtones. Indeed, Era (or +ERA+ as they like to stylise themselves) sit nicely between Enigma and Deep Forest.
Not typically a band you’d want to listen to on repeat though. Nice for a bit of a “chill-out” session maybe, or perhaps one of those dinner parties where you intend to show off your collection of African masks and world music to bemused, easily impressed work colleagues. Or perhaps you’re looking for some music for a film set in the gritty hauntological Miami Vice  era of the eighties beset with pink neon, white linen suits and moody beach shots.

1996 Era

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Oct 26

Équinoxe – Jean Michel Jarre [#429]

by stegzy

Equinoxe_Jarre_AlbumHaving been brought up in the nineteen seventies and having two older brothers who had been brought through the future yearning decade of the nineteen sixties on a diet of Doctor Who and the promises of holidays on the moon and jet packs, it is no wonder that Jarre features heavily on the music project.

Having listened to Équinoxe for the first time since possibly 1988 I was struck by how Jarre’s music still causes ASMR in me.  From remembering the feeling of the sofa of my childhood, to recalling the scent of my father’s aftershave and the nu-electriconicz smell of the 1970’s record player. All these memories came flooding back. Moreover by the time part IV had started I was already considering nipping upstairs to put on some orange or brown clothing to fully immerse myself in 1970s popular culture.

Equinox was Jarre’s fourth studio album fresh on the heels of Oxygene. While it appears to not have been received well by music critics of the time, the album has proliferated itself into generation X’s collective subconsciousness having, in part, been featured on every futurism, “science” and schools and colleges related television programme between its release and 1986. In fact, I challenge anyone between the ages of 35 and 45 to listen and not think of the likes of Jonny Ball or video sequences of robotic production plants.

 

1978 Jean Michel Jarre

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Oct 23

En Vivo En Obras – Nightwish [#428]

by stegzy

imagesThe only remaining bootleg I have of Nightwish although bootleg is a bit of a misnomer as it is actually a recording from a live radio broadcast with a few interviews chucked in at the end.

The recording appears to be of the band in Buenos Aires in 2004 and includes a number of my favourite Nightwish tunes.

2004 Nightwish

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Oct 22

Empire – Queensryche [#427]

by stegzy

Queensryche_-_Empire_coverFirst of all, let me thank my good friend Jim Ellis for his contribution to my musical development. It was he who introduced me to the wonders of eighties/nineties big hair stadium rockers Queensryche and their albums Empire and Operation: Mindcrime.

Delicious hairy rock with a strong cheese flavour akin to a musical version of parmesan.

Empire is Queensryche’s fourth studio album and arrives on the back of their successful Operation:Mindcrime album. Sadly, the magic the band brought to the world wasn’t as strong in Empire as it was in Mindcrime but conceptually, Empire does stand well on its own and obviously points to the band’s golden era. Sadly, despite regular reshuffles, leavings and rejoinings, subsequent albums fail to reach the dizzy heights Empire’s aural swan song brings. But, of course, this didn’t stop me foolishly seeking out the band’s entire back catalogue.

1990 Queensryche

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Oct 21

Embrace the Storm – Stream of Passion [#426]

by stegzy

440px-Stream_of_Passion-Embrace_the_Storm-1Regular Music Project denizen, Arjen Anthony Lucassen (Ayreon), wanted to take his unique conceptualised music on tour. No mean feat when you regularly invite established musicians to join you in making records. So in order to ensure the sounds from his album were not too lost, Ayreon got together with a gang of session musicians and formed Stream of Passion.

Stream of Passion went on tour with Lucassen until he got bored and moved off to other things. However the behemoth he created continues on, storming Dutch and mainland European rock festivals with a mix of their own stuff and Ayreon covers.

Embrace the Storm is their first album, still with Lucassen and lead singer Marcela Bovio, as a result it sounds a lot like an Ayreon concept album, but it isn’t.

2005 Stream of Passion

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Oct 20

Elyria – Faith and the Muse [#425]

by stegzy

FatM_-_ElyriaElyria is Faith and the Muse’s first album. You might remember Faith and the Muse from their previous appearance on the Music Project, Annwyn, Beneath the Waves. Influences of Dead Can Dance and Ordo Equituum Solis can be heard.

Had I been twenty years younger I’d have probably really enjoyed this album. It’s the kind of sound I was looking for when I was in my twenties and looking for something more etherial and mysterious to fill a spiritual hole in my life. Sadly, I’m not in my forties and listening to this album while sitting in a corner on a massive bean bag sniffing joss sticks is not entirely practical.

1994 Faith and the Muse

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Oct 19

Elizium – Fields of the Nephilim [#424]

by stegzy

Fon_front_elizium_smallI’ve talked about Fields of the Nephilim (FON) before on the music project so I won’t over egg the pudding. Feel free to dig around in the music project archives.

Elizium is FON’s third studio album and features a number of tracks from the Cassette given to me by Chris Herbert back in 1996. As everyone knows, home taping killed music back in 1998. As a result little real music has been made since around that time.

This is why I hardly listen to this album. It is my way of preserving some good music in a  sort of digital bottle. As in, each time music from it is listened to, air gets to the contents and slowly turns the contents to vinegar.

 

1990 Fields of the Nephilim

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Oct 16

Elephant – The White Stripes [#423]

by zoefruitcake

UnknownLike most albums, this album is a snapshot of a time for me.  If I think of it I remember that it is one of the last albums I had in a particular format – cassette. 

Naturally I didn’t actually buy it on cassette.  No, my best friend taped it for me (remember: home taping is killing music) and I listened to it on my Sony Walkman walking to and from work, tramping along in time to Seven Nation Army. 

Fun fact kids: It is actually my second favourite ‘get-somewhere-quickly-when-walking’ song, my favourite being Sheriff Fatman by Carter USM.

Once I upgraded to my iPod I had just that one song left and I never listened to the album any more.  Such is life.

2003 White Stripes (The)

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Oct 15

Elegy – Scream Silence [#422]

by stegzy

UnknownOften during this project  I have had feelings of regret that I am no longer the spritely free spirited young adult I was. Being unemployed meant I had ample time to sit around and listen to music. Being single meant I could listen to music whenever I wanted. Living in a flat on my own meant I could crank up the volume to annoy the neighbours with nobody to tell me off. But also because there was little in the way of access to new music for me meant that I could invest time in any new stuff that I was presented with by friends.

Sadly, Scream Silence weren’t around when I was in my twenties. Had they been so, I may have invested the same amount of time in listening to their music as I did with the likes of Dead Can Dance and Chris Issaak. Instead, in my early forties, I find it difficult to focus on an album in its entirety. Usually I have to put myself in a situation where I can’t skip tracks or turn it off but with Scream Silence I listened to the album in its entirety and, surprisingly, enjoyed it while yearning for those days where I could listen to whatever I liked whenever I liked, free from employer and commitments.

It’s crucial to remember from previous Scream Silence appearances on the Music Project, that I had only been keen on one song prior to obtaining their entire discography so that must say a lot about them. I really wish the singer would take some elocution lessons though; his accent is quite distracting.

Elegy is Scream Silence’s fourth studio album.

2004 Scream Silence

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Oct 14

Electric Warrior – T Rex [#421]

by stegzy

220px-Electric_warrior_albumAnother tragedy, another electric album.

I was surprised to see Electric Warrior appear into the view of my iTunes. I’ve never really been a big fan of T Rex or, for that matter, Hendrix but it seems that this week we have had two goliaths of twentieth century popular music with more to follow over the next few weeks.

Electric Warrior is T Rex’s 6th studio album on which, Bolan and chums experiment with a new style of folky rock which seemed quite a glamorous thing to do at the time. Of course, this spawned a whole raft of imitative music and gave life to the Glam Rock movement of the seventies to which bands like Sweet and Kiss owe a great deal.

I can take or leave T Rex. I certainly wouldn’t have gone out of my way to obtain this album so I can only assume that it is in the music collection because someone “harvested” it for me or Previous-Mrs-Gnomepants (probably Gay Jamie). Still, there are a couple of songs on the album which seem to feature on TV whenever the producer is trying to send the viewer back to the nineteen seventies. Which isn’t a bad thing if you think about it.

Apart from the pollution and political incorrectness.

1971 T-Rex

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