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DVDfever.co.uk – Bell Orchestre: As Seen Through Windows CD reviewElly Roberts reviews
Arts & Crafts Records
- Released: October 2009
- Rating: 8/10
- Vote and comment on this album:View Comments
Sonic gem… from Canadian 6-pack.
As the by-product of Arcade Fire, Bell Orchestre have gone for a very different sound altogether. In many ways it has a Beirut chamber music feel to it.
AF members Richard Reed Parry, Sarah Neufield and Pietro Amato unleash their explorations scaling the various forms of classical music along with non-traditional forms creating an often edgy but expansive soundscape. It feels like the kitchen sink has been thrown in, such is the freewheeling nature of this exquisite As Seen Through Windows, though it has to be said, Im not exactly sure of the music target.
As a purely instrumental album, it comes as a welcomed delight.BO are venturing into new territory here away from the indie pop success of AF with a massive infusion of organic flavours that would even make the classical aficionados sit up and listen, such is the brilliance of this often lofty affair.
Fearless in every department, even down to the extraordinary production values steered by tweeker John McEntire, each track is careful crafted to bring out the best in the instrumentation. Some task.Its pseudo-classical overtones are found on opener Stripes, at track that builds up into a mini-opus all of its own. Clattering percussion and drone-like horn blasts set an ominous tone which disappointing does come to anything like a whopping crescendo.
Elephants, with snorting horns and sound effects spans nigh-on nine minutes. After a short string dip, the paces gathers menacingly to the mid-point then explodes with crashing cymbals and wiry violin virtually emulating the plodding pace of an, well, elephant. Icicles/Bicycles is a tender and fragile piece threaded by a piano loop, violin and brass gradually building into a symphonic crescendo whereas Bucephalus has a quirky cacophonous jazz flavour morphing into an urgent pace to close.
The Gaze is a rush of blood from all musicians, giving a nod to east European gypsy touchstones.The coolest track is the jazz infused Dark Lights. The opening upright bass leads to sumptuous brass and strings giving it a gypsy-like quality, sustained throughout the near six minutes.
Closer Air Lines/Land Lines masterfully combines classical elements with more gypsy overtones via violin strokes by Sarah Neufield a gorgeous mini-opus indeed.
The verdict Spectacular.
Weblinks:michaeljanisch.com / myspace.com/michaeljanischWebsite www.bellorchestre.com www.arts-crafts.ca
The full list of tracks included are :
1. Stripes
2. Elephants
3. Icicles / Bicycles
4. Water / Light / Shifts
5. Bucephalus Bouncing Ball
6. As Seen Through Windows
7. The Gaze
8. Dark Lights
9. Air Lines / Land LinesView 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.