THE HAZARDS OF LOVE

This is really something spectacular.

Mixing alternative rock, new prog and folk doesen't seem to be the easiest fusion, but it really does work.

This is a concept album (or rock opera as Wikipedia tells me), which means that it should really be listened from start to finish, and no real song should be singled out (it's also a bit like a big long song, as they all run into each other, wonderfully may I add)

The album is a tragic love story between a shape shifter forest man and a woman, and the "hazards" that prevent them from being together.

This album also bears a similar audible reference to Duke Special's (Ireland's only genius musician) Mother Courage And Her Children, due to it's theatric presentation.

This album could easily been a musical that was acted out (a bit like Duke's Mouther Coruage, which I have seen him do live, and it is amazing).

1. Prelude - Organ drone with some nice synths and strings. Pretty cool. 9/10

2. The Hazards Of Love 1 (The Prettiest Whistles Won't Wrestle The Thistles Undone) - Love the vocal harmonies and the discourse between the instruments. Vocals sound like Brian Moloko from Placebo. 9/10

3. A Bower Scene - Great change in dynamics. The atmosphere and the build up is amazing. Very Pink Floyd. 9/10

4. Won't Want For Love (Margaret In The Taiga) - Love the piano riff. The female vocals are amazing. Very beautiful. 10/10

5. The Hazards Of Love 2 (Wager All) - A quite beautifull song with some great discourse between male and female vocals. Great chorus. 8/10

6. The Queen's Approach - An interlude basically.

7. Isn't It A Lovely Night - Love the acoustic and accordian riff. Amazing vocals. Very beautifull. 10/10

8. The Wanting Comes In Waves/Repaid - Very dramatic. I love how the music gives an atmosphere to the characters. The vocals are amazing. 10/10

9. An Interlude - Basically what the song says. 10/10

10. The Rake's Song - Amazing lyrics. This charachter is just pure evil (he poisoned, drowned and burned his children, now that is deep). Pretty kick ass song. 10/10

11. The Abduction Of Margaret - The return of the main theme and the narrator. Pretty amazing.

12. The Queen's Rebuke/The Crossing - Pretty grungy. Quite doomy as well. Amazing vocals and organ work. 10

13. Annan Water - Another folky song. Love the vocal harmonies. 8/10

14. Maragaret In Captivity - Love the dramatic nature of this song. The orchestration is amazing. 10/10

15. The Hazards Of Love 3 (Revenge!) - Rake's children come back to haunt him. The childrens voices usually annoy me, but they work in this song. 9/10

16. The Wanting Comes In Waves (Reprise) - Return of main theme. 8/10

17. The Hazards Of Love 4 (The Drowned) - A nice beautifull ending. Sadly William and Margaret die. Awww. 10/10

CONCLUSION: I would advise you to check this album out. And Duke Special's Mouther Courage & Her Children.

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