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richardh View Drop Down
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Points: 26107 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote richardh Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 05 2014 at 03:08
Still going up my own personal favourite list of bands. I love Goodbye To The Age Of Steam especially but they have so many excellent albums to listen to. Seem to one of those bands that were (are?) flying under the radar.
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I`m with you on this band, as they where well under my radar...
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POTA View Drop Down
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The band just released a new EP (Wassail) with three new tracks and a live version of Master James of St. George. 

I'm really unsatisfied with the album. "Wassail" is just a bad song. That's saying a lot since I think they've only had one single truly bad song in many years -- that being "Make Some Noise" (the title is a good indicator of how horrible the song is).

"Lost Rivers of London" sounds like a parody of a Big Big Train song, like "Seen Better Days" or "Wincester from St. Giles' Hill" . It's almost hard to listen to at first. The second half of the song is actually delightfully progressive, though.

"Mudlarks" is the best of the three new tracks. It's a mostly-instrumental, progressive track. It alone brings any sort of value to the album.

The live version of "Master James" is significant since it's the first live track released by the band. They actually sound really good live, so it's unfortunate they chose this as the song to include, as it's not one of their best.

Anyway, check it out on Spotify.





Edited by POTA - June 02 2015 at 12:35
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Points: 99 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Duke of Rother Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 02 2015 at 13:15
So ok, Wassail and Make Some Noise don't float your boat, that's fine.

Bad songs?

Ermm, I'll say no more than just reassure those into whom POTA might have placed some doubts - ignore him, it's an excellent ep.
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Points: 16952 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Horizons Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 02 2015 at 13:34
Unfortunately i'm not too much of a fan of the EP myself. 

I think the background vocals are a bit predictable and the lyrics are just.. bad.

The music throughout the EP is fine, nowhere near the degree of earlier releases. 

A weaker EP than their last, and overall i'd say the sound is a bit uninspired. 
Crushed like a rose in the riverflow.
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Points: 12581 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Dellinger Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 02 2015 at 21:29
So, I just got my English Electric, Full Power CD a few months ago, this being my first encounter with the band. I must say I really enjoyed this album(s). I think it's a very nice kind of prog, mostly stripping all the weirdness and experimentation it might have, and using all the knowledge gained from said experimentations to make a wonderful sound, complex, but not for the sake of being complex and showing off... they do what the music asks them to do. And it's all so pastoral and nice, using as many instruments as necessary. I feel this would have been the natural evolution for Genesis, had they continued on the path set with Foxtrot and Selling England... actually, I would say this albums sound much more like Genesis than Marillion ever did.

Edited by Dellinger - August 21 2015 at 21:28
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richardh View Drop Down
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Points: 26107 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote richardh Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 03 2015 at 02:33
Originally posted by POTA POTA wrote:


The live version of "Master James" is significant since it's the first live track released by the band. They actually sound really good live, so it's unfortunate they chose this as the song to include, as it's not one of their best.

 


 
I would have to beg to differ on that point although I've yet to hear the live version or this EP.
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I've not got this ep yet but Master James of St George is one of my favourite BBT songs so.......
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POTA View Drop Down
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Originally posted by Dellinger Dellinger wrote:

So, I just got my English Electric, Full Power CD a few months ago, this being my first encounter with the band. I must say I really enjoyed this album(s). I think it's a very nice kind of prog, mostly stripping all the weirdness and experimentation it might have, and using all the knowledg gained from said experimentations to make a wonderful sound, complex, but not for the sake of being complex and showing off... they do what the music asks them to do. And it's all so pastoral and nice, using as many instruments as necessary. I feel this would have been the natural evolution for Genesis, had they continued on the path set with Foxtrot and Selling England... actually, I would say this albums sound much more like Genesis than Marillion ever did.

And the replay value on the band's tracks (at least for me) is so high. If I were forced to choose a band's discography to have on a desert island for the rest of my life, I would likely choose BBT (Pink Floyd being the close second). 
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Originally posted by Horizons Horizons wrote:

Unfortunately i'm not too much of a fan of the EP myself. 

I think the background vocals are a bit predictable and the lyrics are just.. bad.

The music throughout the EP is fine, nowhere near the degree of earlier releases. 

A weaker EP than their last, and overall i'd say the sound is a bit uninspired. 


Return to the womb
Deep down in the earth
Wait for the spring rebirth
The clayen cup
We douse the roots
With cider kept from last year's fruits
Cut in twain
A five pointed star
A sign of who we are
Let spirits fly
The apple of my eye
Wassail

That's a BAD lyric????

Oh well, can't please 'em all I suppose.
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Points: 99 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Duke of Rother Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 03 2015 at 14:09
And from Lost Rivers of London...

Lost rivers of London
Long lost rivers of London
By the palace and the abbeys
By the lakes in the parks
Black waters rise
From one hundred springs and wells

Lost rivers of London Town
Long lost rivers of London Town
Underneath the houses on the Old Kent Road
If you listen very hard
You can hear the river flow

Headwaters out on the hills and the meadows run through the fields
To the city streets paved with stone
And after the rain through the cracks in the pavement
The rivers will rise as they make their way to the shore

Another bad lyric.

(Shakes head)

Edited by Duke of Rother - June 03 2015 at 14:11
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Originally posted by Duke of Rother Duke of Rother wrote:

Originally posted by Horizons Horizons wrote:

Unfortunately i'm not too much of a fan of the EP myself. 

I think the background vocals are a bit predictable and the lyrics are just.. bad.

The music throughout the EP is fine, nowhere near the degree of earlier releases. 

A weaker EP than their last, and overall i'd say the sound is a bit uninspired. 


Return to the womb
Deep down in the earth
Wait for the spring rebirth
The clayen cup
We douse the roots
With cider kept from last year's fruits
Cut in twain
A five pointed star
A sign of who we are
Let spirits fly
The apple of my eye
Wassail

That's a BAD lyric????

Oh well, can't please 'em all I suppose.

You forgot the rest of the lyrics, the 1000 wassails, and every other bit of vocals. 
Crushed like a rose in the riverflow.
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Points: 16952 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Horizons Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 03 2015 at 20:19
Originally posted by Duke of Rother Duke of Rother wrote:

And from Lost Rivers of London...

Lost rivers of London
Long lost rivers of London
By the palace and the abbeys
By the lakes in the parks
Black waters rise
From one hundred springs and wells

Lost rivers of London Town
Long lost rivers of London Town
Underneath the houses on the Old Kent Road
If you listen very hard
You can hear the river flow

Headwaters out on the hills and the meadows run through the fields
To the city streets paved with stone
And after the rain through the cracks in the pavement
The rivers will rise as they make their way to the shore

Another bad lyric.

(Shakes head)

And yes these are pretty lame LOL
Crushed like a rose in the riverflow.
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Duke of Rother View Drop Down
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(Shrugs)
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I have all of the band's albums, so I like them very much. My favourite is Gathering Speed. One criticism though....some of their material can be a bit long-winded, where the same melancholy mood is sustained a little too long.
Haiku

Writing a poem
With seventeen syllables
Is very diffic....
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Points: 16952 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Horizons Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 05 2015 at 19:22
Originally posted by Green Shield Stamp Green Shield Stamp wrote:

I have all of the band's albums, so I like them very much. My favourite is Gathering Speed. One criticism though....some of their material can be a bit long-winded, where the same melancholy mood is sustained a little too long.

Gathering Speed is one of my Top 3 i'd say as well. 

I think my Top 3 is something like..

Difference Machine
English Electric 1
Gathering Speed
Crushed like a rose in the riverflow.
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Tom Ozric View Drop Down
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Points: 15916 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Tom Ozric Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 05 2015 at 19:48
Greg Spawton is a tremendous talent, both as bassist and (main) composer. Plus he has ample knowledge of all things Prog, past and present.
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POTA View Drop Down
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I've been listening to some of their stuff without David Langdon the past two weeks. It too is really, really good music. I can't stop playing English Boy Wonders and Wind Distorted Pioneers. Check out this track from EBW called "Two Poets Meet." 


It's unfortunately not on YouTube, but I was able to play the entire track in that link.


Edited by POTA - June 30 2015 at 09:15
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I still think The Difference Machine is their best work.

I dunno, guys - am I the only one who really likes the new EP?  I dig the rich, folky atmosphere in the title track, and I love the vocal arrangements in "Lost Rivers of London."  And all the melodies are so infectious!  I can't help but think it's a reasonably strong effort. Ah, well.
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I absolutely to date like this song so much!
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