STUDIES IN HEARTBREAK

Elegant Simplicity's 2005 release "Studies in heartbreak" is an accomplished, but ultimately dull affair. The music consists of extended easy listening pieces which are pleasant, but lack anything worth getting excited about. The nearest comparison I can offer for the music is the gently inoffensive music of SKY.

With Steven McCabe effectively performing the entire album himself, his proficiency on guitars and keyboards is commendable. Unfortunately, his compositional skills rely more on the improvisational, the album at times sounding more like the lounge music for a large hotel than anything prog. From time to time, McCabe will latch onto a theme and attempt to develop it, but all too quickly we are straight back into a lengthy lead guitar workout.

There are both rock and jazz overtones to the renditions, the music being very gentle on the ear. As such, it's not really a case of not liking the album, there's little to not like about it. It is much more a case of there being little which might be described as interesting, let alone inspired.

Those who are looking for some chill-out music to complement the sometimes very challenging aspects of the music to which this site is dedicated will find this album fits the bill well.

Share this ELEGANT SIMPLICITY review

Social review comments () BETA

---

---

Review related links

• Send comments to Easy Livin
• Report this review (#107269)
• Buy ELEGANT SIMPLICITY music online with PA partners
• Show all ELEGANT SIMPLICITY MP3/Stream
• Go to ELEGANT SIMPLICITY page for videos, full discography with ratings, reviews and much more
• Go to Studies in Heartbreak page for more details, where to buy and ratings/reviews
• Search the Forum for ELEGANT SIMPLICITY related discussions