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DVDfever.co.uk – Sweet Billy Pilgrim: Twice Born Men CD reviewElly Roberts reviews
Samadhisound Records
- Released: March 2009
- Rating: 8/10
- Vote and comment on this album:View Comments
File under Experimental/Pop the PR blurb suggests. Bang on.
(Are they Britains answer to Sigur Ros? Possibly)
If youre looking for something completely new, and er, different, then clap yer ears on Twice Born Men.
Now be warned, this isnt the sort of thing to bring you out in fits of dancing, or humming three minute pop tunes. Oh no, this serious stuff man.
Londoners SBP Anthony Bishop, Tim Elsenburg, and Alistair Hamer – arent for the casual listener at all, but for you musos whove got time on your hands, to look beyond. So, by definition, like previous albums, much time is needed to fully appreciate whats going on here, and in the end you might not. Its 50-50.
When I see the word experimental this reviewer is on his guard: it invariably means self-indulgence. And yes that applies here to a degree.
However, there is knack of making that appealing, much like the Prog Rockers on the 70s, not that this is rock per say.
After the spoken word accompaniment to some sound effects and gentle strums on Here It Begins, at just over two and a half minutes, Truth Only Smiles kicks-in. A slow build up sees the trio finally take flight with several instruments (banjo, drums, keys and more) merging gloriously, though because the CD gives no indication as to whos playing what, were left to wonder. They sound like Sigur Ros at this point, and it sounds incredible.
Again, things happen slowly on Bloodless Coup, but when the build-up happens, once again, it proves to be an incredible audio experience, complete with a whopping chorus, beautifully sung by Elsenburg. The clunking banjo hints at Americana, but as with everything they do, little is given away about the origins and influences, which is part of their charm and heightens their curiosity value. They do cite Wu- Tang Clan, Nick Cave, Blue Nile, Iron and Wine as influences, so its all probably thrown into the pot.
If there is a blot on the landscape here, its the lacklustre Longshore Drift, which feels more like a filler to me but not to them.
Bouncing right back comes the banjo-lead Kalypso, with several twists in stylings, swirling in harmony. How they pull all these audio colours is baffling and beguiling in equal measure, though it could have been shortened for maximum effect.
If I had to pick a best song, it would have to be the understated opus Joy Maker Machine, which they surprisingly pull-off at six minutes plus. Book-ending what is a fascinating listen, SBP close with the appropriately titled and sombre There It Will End.
Remarkably, another astonishing instrument is the multi-facetted voice of Tim Elsenburg, that puts the icing on the cake.
The verdict Bring on the next album.
Weblinks:sweetbillypilgrim.com /myspace.com/sweetbillypilgrim /samadhisound.com
Radio: Hear tracks soon on THE PLUG atwrexham.com
The full list of tracks included are :
1. Here It Begins
2. Truth Only Smiles
3. Bloodless Coup
4. Longshore Drift
5. Kalypso
6. Future Perfect Tense
7. Joy Maker Machinery
8. There Will It EndView the discussion thread.blog comments powered by Disqus= 0) {query += ‘url’ + i + ‘=’ + encodeURIComponent(links[i].href) + ‘&’;}}document.write(”);})();//]]]]>]]>
Elly Roberts passed away in 2011, but he was a man who was so passionate about all types of music and loved meeting his musical heroes, such as Mick Hucknall at a book signing at the Trafford Centre, Manchester in 2007.
A former teacher and also a music journalist, DJ and radio presenter on local community station Calon FM, plus appearances on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Radio 2, Elly started doing reviews for DVDfever.co.uk in 2004 and he did the majority of the CD and concerts reviews on the website.
I know also that he loved getting away for the summer to Spain and I hope that wherever he is now he is enjoying the hot sunshine and, as one of his friends has said on his Facebook page, that he is interviewing his musical heroes.