Beautiful Aguish
J. Cunningham | Ann Arbor, MI United States | 03/31/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I don't know anything about Black Heart Procession or Solbakken, but after hearing this collaboration, I plan to.
I'm amazed at the idea that these two different groups could put this together in two days. I don't know how much post production happened, but even so, some great ideas and songs came out of this little weekend's worth of work.
I really must commend the brooding piano work as it really forms the spine of most of the tracks. The vocalist's work is the other real stand out on all of the tracks. I should say also that there are some really great instrumental work throughout the bass and guitar on track 5 especially.There is a lot to compare this with. Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds piano anchored work, Radio Head's recent albums, the lyrics of Matt Johnson, the anguish of Ian Curtis. This falls into a little sub-genre that has no name that I've ever heard, but that includes the performers I've already mentioned, as well as Tom Waits, P.J. Harvey, Some of Leonard Cohen's work, and several others. I'm particularly blown away by track 5 'Things go on with mistakes'. This anti-anthem was worth the whole price of the CD and having so many other good tracks made the whole thing a steal."
In the fishtank, drowning at the bottom...
J. Cunningham | 03/17/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"it's like listening to the musical equivalent of Camus' the Stranger. listening to the Black Heart Procession... it's like being thrown to the bottom of the ocean in a burlap sack. Voiture en Rouge transport you to another time, brings a tear to your eye. Nervous Persian is the musical equivalent of a full body shiver. Things Go On With Mistakes is an eleven minute seánce, conjuring, cajoling Ian Curtis from the great beyond. Pall's vocals play like another instrument in each song, barely registering at times, but unmistakable and beautiful (i focus mainly on BHP, not having heard of Solbakken before. but rest assured, i am now looking for more of their music). very highly recommended."
Track Listings (6) - Disc #1