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Elly Roberts reviews
Polydor
- Released: July 2006
- Rating: 10/10 PLUS
Fortune favours the brave. Guillemots win.
Daring Brummie Fyfe Dangerfield and international cohorts boldly go wherefew bands would venture, with the possible exception of Aussie outfit TheSleepy Jackson.
Through The Windowpane is nothing short of a sonic masterpiece adventurous, exquisite, eloquent, melodic, and yes, even pompous in parts,though it never borders on the experimental. This isnt just any old album;this is art, full of confidence which is both breathtaking and staggering.
Its the unashamed confidence that impresses most. Unfairly dubbedeccentrics, Guillemots bring together differing musical experiences fromBrazil Mc LorD maGrAO on guitar, Canada Aristazabal Hawkes on bass andthe Scottish highlands Greig Stewart on drums, they have created amulti-sonic opus that includes haunting ballads the simple Blue WouldStill Be Blue being the most effective (showcasing Dangerfieldsvocal mastery) to thumping complex beats such as the title track andsizzling 60s Motownesque Trains To Brazil.
Also key to its undeniable beauty is Dangerfields cultured and flexiblefalsetto. Production is another highlight, from the whopping 11 minutes 40seconds of epic closer Sao Paulo with its complex structure andexplosive mid-section blasts and cacophonous crescendo, where theyveadopted the Spectorish wall of sound, also found on Were Here andjoyous Annie, Lets Not Wait.
On the mellower end, theyve written heartfelt lyrics, some a bit bafflingto the heart wrenching and atmospheric If The World Ends which wouldfit a reprise to the orchestral opener Little Bear.
Through The Windowpane is outstanding in every department, showing theimaginative prowess of a band with a dazzling future.
The only foreseeable problem Guillemots have, is difficult album numbertwo until then, enjoy their awesome debut a timeless wonder.
Weblinks:Guillemots.com /Myspace.com/GuillemotMusic
The full list of tracks included are :
1. Little Bear
2. Made-up Love Song #43
3. Trains To Brazil
4. Redwings
5. Come Away With Me
6. Through The Windowpane
7. If The World Ends
8. Were Here
9. Blue Would Still Be Blue
10. Annie, Lets Not Wait
11. And If All
.
12. Sao Paulo
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.