A LUSH, TIME-LESS CHILLOUT CLASSIC
04/11/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"As a former admirer of The Drum Club and someone who greatly enjoyed Hammond's last foray into the genre of chillout - his 'Damage' collaboration with the multi-talented Roger Eno- it was with great anticipation I acquired a copy of thie album 'All This Is Bliss'.
Never has a title been more apt, this really is blissful! Beautiful, without being too head in the clouds, this album had classic written all over it.
First up there is the majestic and minimalistic 'Twilight Glitters', a short birst of horizontal delight. The second track 'Baby Piano' - where he collaborates with former Deacon Blue vocalist Lorraine Macintosh - is a stunning piece of music, haunting and ethereal it drags you in where you find yourself surrendering to its beauty and charm. It is apparent already Hammond is influenced much more by the likes of Eno and Budd as opposed to say Zero 7 and Lemon Jelly.
The contribution of the three stunning vocalists to this record cannot be underestimated: from Mackintosh's Liz Fraser type swoons to the angelic tones of A Man Called Adam vocalist Sally Rogers and the almost indie type swoons of Nina Walsh.Anyone who warmed to the delights of Hammonds collaboration with Roger Eno will find themselves loving this album even more.
The overall picture is wider than on the Eno collaboration with various guitar loops played by Hammond and so obviously influenced by the likes of Spacemen 3, Sonic Youth and My Bloody Valentine.
Another stand out track is the sonically crafted 'FX Halo' with beautiful sweeping fased guitar loops and dirty hip-hop drum breaks - we find ourselves in musically very interesting waters."
