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Anthony Phillips - 1984 CD (album) cover

1984

Anthony Phillips

 

Symphonic Prog

3.77 | 122 ratings

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Easy Livin
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator / Retired Admin
3 stars Orwellian?

Released in 1981, the same year as Rick Wakeman's album of the same name, I am initially struck by the similarities of the opening track on each. I don't know which came first, and in any case they are sufficiently different overall that there's no implication that one inspired the other, it appears to be just one of those co-incidences.

Given that the album is entirely instrumental, the title "1984" is pretty academic. There is nothing to link the different parts of that story to the music by way of section titles or narration, thus the listener is left to decide for themselves how the music and story relate, if at all.

The album consists of the main "1984" piece in two parts, book-ended by a couple of short tracks. Phillips largely rests his guitar, preferring to perform on keyboards for most of the time. This makes for a laid back, ambient feel a bit like a lightweight Mike Oldfield, with the occasion Banks/Wakeman-esque synth runs. Considering all three participants in the album contributed to the percussion, it is surprising that it is by far the album's Achilles heel, sounding rather processed and amateur.

A pleasant album, but one which has little to make me want to pull it out from the rack on regular occasions.

Easy Livin | 3/5 |

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